When watching anime, it’s easy to want to watch as much as possible, looking for something new to enjoy and expand your taste. However, this can quickly become exhausting, and occasionally you just want something that you can turn your brain off and enjoy as a simple comfort.
This can be a series that you’ve watched multiple times, but more impressive is an anime that you’ve never watched before that becomes comforting on your first viewing. There is no strict set of rules for what constitutes a comfort anime, and it can shift from person to person, but there are definitely some series that better suit the categorization than others.
10
Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad
Make To Hit In America
A popular but rare subgenre of anime is music anime. There’s a lot of pressure on a series to have an outstanding soundtrack, give an appropriate amount of attention to this music narratively, while also managing to tell an engaging story. That’s why these series are so enjoyable when executed well, and Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad is a perfect example of this.
With its grungy and relaxed Y2K atmosphere, character-driven narrative, all while still having stakes, it still manages to remain a relaxing series to watch. Series like Beck unfortunately don’t get made that often anymore, since it’s not a constant dopamine rush of stimulation, rather a well-paced narrative that rewards sticking around for the long-run.
9
Girls’ Last Tour
Across The Tundra
In spite of the desolate environment and post-apocalyptic circumstances, Girls’ Last Tour doesn’t get bogged down by its world-building, instead using it as a perfect contrast to the charming relationship between its two main characters.
We follow Chito and Yuuri as they travel across the mysterious ruins of a society that has long since gone extinct. As they explore, we learn more about the pair, their friendship, and the history of the world they’re traveling through.
8
Yuru Camp
Cosy Camping Trip
One of the beauties of anime is how there can be a series about a topic you otherwise wouldn’t care about, or aren’t personally interested in, and it gets you invested in its intricacies throughout the entire length of its runtime.
Whether you care about camping or not, Yuru Camp will explain the basics of the leisurely activity in the most charming way possible. While the characters are nothing revolutionary, the relationship that forms between the group is heartwarming and perfect for rewatching.
7
Nodame Cantabile
A Classical Classic
While there are a few series that delve into the realm of classical music, none choose to take such a boldly comedic approach as Nodame Cantabile. You wouldn’t initially think a romance between two opposites-attract aspiring classical musicians could manage to be so consistently charming and funny, but Nodame Cantabile pulls it off.
As our two leads develop an unconventional relationship, the series manages to balance humour with the focus on their music while never taking itself too seriously. This light tone defines the series, as well as it’s pastel aesthetic, making it an overall easy watch.
6
Tiger & Bunny
More Than Just A Buddy Cop
While action-focused series don’t tend to lend themselves to being cosy or comforting, Tiger & Bunny’s cast of loveable characters and believable core rivalry/friendship makes the series one you won’t want to stop watching.
We’re shown a world where superpowered heroes have their bravery televised and their suits covered in the logos of their sponsors. While the action looks fantastic, the heart of the series is the relationships that form between these heroes when they’re both on duty and dealing with their personal struggles.
5
Angel Beats
Who Knew The Afterlife Would Be So Emotional
Angel Beats’ setting of a mysterious high school populated by the souls of adolescents who died with strong regret sounds like it would be too heavy for casual enjoyment. While it does have its more impactful and emotional moments, it’s structured in a lighthearted enough way that it’s easy to watch.
The ensemble cast unfortunately don’t all get enough time to shine in the 13 episodes that the series has to work with, but the characters they do choose to focus on are given meaningful backstories and development. While it’s a certifiable trope how often anime takes place in a high school, this is one of the more creative and effective incarnations.
4
Mushi-Shi
Becoming A Mushi-Master
Mushi-Shi introduces us to naturally occuring creatures called Mushi, beings that mimic the natural world and take the form of plants, natural phenomena, or even diseases. Ginko, a Mushi aficianado in the Meiji period, explores Japan following rumours of Mushi activity and helping out the people who are impacted by them.
The slow pace, beautiful scenery, and focus on the natural world, all paired with Ginko’s laidback attitude makes Mushi-Shi an engaging but relaxing series to sit through. With most of the episodes being separate from one another, it’s a perfect candidate for random episode rewatches when you want something to help you decompress.
3
Kino’s Journey
Exploring The Settlements
In Kino’s Journey, we follow the eponymous Kino as she travels around the world on her chatty motorbike Hermes and commits herself to only spending a handful of days in each settlement she comes across.
This episodic structure makes the pacing of Kino’s Journey easy to follow, and the amount of detail and unique culture in each of the areas means there’s always something new to look forward to. It also helps that Kino’s an enjoyable protagonist to follow, with her quiet wit making each conversation a delight to listen to.
2
Nichijou
Anything But Monotonous
Comedy anime can be very hit-and-miss, with your enjoyment heavily relying on your sense of humour, but even so, its no wonder that Nichijou is one of the most universally beloved in the genre. While there is some semblance of an overarching narrative, the show revels in the contrast between quiet moments and chaos.
Each episode is split into smaller segments with each feeling like part of a sketch show. But instead of each scene being standalone, they’re instead treated as different glimpses into the daily lives of the fun cast of characters.
1
Polar Bear Café
Café Break
The term cosy has almost lost all meaning with how liberally it’s been used as an adjective in the last decade or so, but if there is one anime where its truly fitting, it’s Polar Bear Cafe.
In a world where animals inexplicably act like people, we follow the friendship that forms between a lazy Panda, the Polar Bear who owns the café he frequents, and the neurotic Penguin who finds himself in the middle. Without the pressure of a strong overarching narrative, you can easily dive in and out of Polar Bear Cafe, safely knowing that you’ll have a chill and entertaining time with each episode.
