The connection between kids and cartoons is strong. The bright colors, the fanciful settings, the energetic characters–everything about cartoons call out to kids, as well to the kid inside every grownup. Anime continues that trend.
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For every serious anime about war and death, there’s a lighthearted, playful one. Games, friendship, and kindness are the order of the day here. Even those that occasionally tackle serious topics do so with a gentle touch, neither condescending to kids nor overwhelming them. The best anime for kids do what any good cartoon should, telling stories that engage the heart as much as the mind. Here are those anime.
10Doraemon
Doraemonis more than a show, it’s a franchise, with more than 40 movies to its credit in addition to multiple television series. That’s good news for kids because it means there’salways more content to love.And it’s hard not to love this tale ofa robotic, time-traveling cat and the gadgets he stores in his fourth-dimensional pouch.
The franchise’s staying power has more than proved itself in the decades since it first arrived on the scene. With fun adventures and a great lead character to propel the action,Doraemonisn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
9Little Witch Academia
Kids and magical schools have been a recipe for success for a long time, andLittle Witch Academiaproves that pointy hats and broomsticks aren’t going anywhere.
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Luna Nova Magical Academy is the school where young girls train to be witches, and Atsuko Kagari enrolls despite her non-magical background. Though she struggles at first to keep up with the other witches,everything changes when she discovers a magical relic left behind by another witch.Little Witch Academiais a coming-of-age story that happens to feature a great deal of sorcery. Fun characters and an interesting world seal the deal.
8Cardcaptor Sakura
The magical girl genre is a natural fit for kids anime. These typically bright and colorful series are all about friendship, bravery, and the empowerment of girls.Cardcaptor Sakurais no exception. After 10-year-old Sakura accidentally releases the magical Clow Cards into the world,it’s her job to get them back before they wreck the world.
The cast islovable instead of ruthless,the character designs are pretty, and the action is fun. Compared to thematically heavy magical girl series likePuella Magi Madoka MagicaorMagical Girl Site,Cardcaptor Sakurais light and sweet, a great way to introduce kids to a whole new world of animation.
7Chi’s New Address
Sometimes it’s hard to pinpoint what kids like about a show. Sometimes there’s a cat with big eyes and a bigger smile, and there’s no question about what kids like.Chi’s New Addressis a slice-of-life anime bent on overloading viewers with its cuteness.
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It succeeds. Even by the standards of cartoon animals, Chi is adorable, andevery adventure the little cat gets up to is somehow cuter and more endearing than the last.Chi’s New Addressis a show sure to leave viewers feeling warm and cozy, and with over 100 episodes in the original series in addition to spin-off series likeChi’s Sweet Adventure,the cuteness won’t run out any time soon.
6Pretty Cure
There is plenty of magical girl anime competing for kids' attention, fromCardcaptor Sakurato classics likeSailor Moon.One that deserves particular consideration isPretty Cure.Wholesomeis a word that gets thrown around a lot in discussions of the series, and that’s for good reason.
When it comes to anime,not many beatPretty Cureand itsstylish cast of girl warriorswhen it comes to heartwarming adventure.Sporty Nagisa and geeky friend Honoka are 7th graders uniting to save the universe from evil. Action, heart, elaborate transformations–everything a fan could ask of a magical girl series is here.
5Silver Spoon
The creator ofFull Metal Alchemistmay seem like an unlikely person to turn to for the next great children’s anime, given the intense fight sequences and mature themes on display in that series. WithSilver Spoon,however, one gets a series that ticks all the desired boxes.
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Yuugo attends Ooezo Agricultural High School, the perfect setting to showcase farm life for kids that might’ve never seen this side of it. Between the adorable animals and the good-natured students that care for them,Silver Spoonoffers a vision of a less stressful, happier life.Cows, chickens, and horses for the win.
4My Hero Academia
Commercially successful and critically acclaimed,My Hero Academiais what happens when the elephant in the room gets big enough to squish the entire house. Unique character designs, a fast plot, stellar animation and music, and a thoroughly developed setting all help distinguish the series from its would-be rivals.
Though its action will be too intense for especially young kids,its themes of friendship, bravery, selflessness, and hard workare important at every age.At every level,My Hero Academiais one of the best anime of all time. It just happens to be one of the best for kids too.
3Hamtaro
The hamsters inHamtaroare the definition of dewy-eyed adorableness.One look at them explains how the series ran for almost 300 episodes.Unfortunately, the English dub was never completed, so those that want to see the series in its entirety will have to live with subtitles.
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Fortunately, subtitles are a small price to pay for a kids anime this good. Given that the series once aired on Toonami for US audiences, many will already be familiar with the series, but now is as good a time as any to introduce a new generation of kids to Hamtaro, Bijou, Pashmina, Sandy, and the rest of the gang.
2Bananya
Banana cat hybrids. One doesn’t really need anything more than those three words to explain whyBananyais a work of genius and one of the best kids anime in existence.The three-minute runtime of each episode makes it easily digestible, which can begreat for younger kidsor anyone during a busy day.
The narration, animation, and charming characters combine to make the series feel like a children’s book come to life.Bananyahits all the marks, and it somehow does it with fruit felines, which is an accomplishment in itself.
1Pokemon
Ever since Ash Ketchum first made it his mission to catch ‘em all in 1997,kids around the world have clamored to live the life of aPokemontrainer.Collectible card games, video games, toys, and backpacks sprang into existence to support the franchise, but in many ways, the heart of it will always be thePokemonanime.
Watching Ash, Misty, and Brock travel around with their cutest, fiercest friends in toe, battling the nefarious Team Rocket and growing together, will always be a delight. Best of all,Pokemonintroduced the world to Pikachu, one of the most shockingly cute characters around.
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