There are a lot of TV shows out there and in this golden age of TV streaming, the choices have never been greater. So how do you cut through the noise and find the “Best of” for any chosen topic? Well, we’re here to help celebrate and shine a spotlight on some of the latest, greatest, and unforgettable shows through the years.
For our ongoing series of articles depicting the best anime, our attention this time turns to revenge. From touching family dramas to emotional slice-of-life stories, there’s a good choice to whet your appetite.
Of course, if we’ve missed any of your favorites, feel free to comment below and we’ll get them added on!
Wolf Children
Wolf Children is a remarkable anime everyone should watch. It addresses significant matters surrounding single parenthood and how hard it can be to adapt to new environments. It offers many cheerful scenarios to provide fans with breathing room from its dramatic story beats. It follows Hana, a mother of two wolf-like children.
After her spouse passes away, Hana and her kids move to the countryside to start a new life. Problems arise for Hana and her kids, and you’ll wind up rooting for them to overcome their several internal and external dilemmas. Many people will relate to this work and cherish the anime for its fair stance on the issues it brings up.
Check Wolf Children out if you’re looking for a breathtaking anime to watch.
Clannad + After Story
Clannad is a fantastic romance and slice-of-life series. It contains excellent drama and comedy and has characters you’ll wind up loving by the series’s conclusion. It follows Tomoya’s mundane life as he tries to help a girl named Nagisa establish their school’s drama club. Tomoya and Nagisa will befriend and assist many people in this anime and they all play a vital role in strengthening their bond.
The first season’s a great start but offers some scenarios that don’t hold a candle to what you can anticipate in After Story. That is when the show truly turns into something magnificent. Everything from its drama to its romance is amplified tenfold. Viewers will find themselves getting overly emotional swiftly and consistently. The animation and visuals look better in After Story too. As a whole, this anime is a must-watch!
Silver Spoon
Silver Spoon was brought to you by the same mind who brought you Fullmetal Alchemist. It’s not as heavily discussed as the latter but offers some cheerful slice-of-life moments fans will appreciate. On top of some nice educational lore about farm life and culture, this is a wholesome comedy that will entertain you.
In it, we follow Yuugo. He enrolls in a countryside boarding school because he feels his current life dilemmas will vanish. Unfortunately, he’ll be proven wrong when notices his classmates start living a better life in this agricultural area than himself. Therefore, Yuugo embarks on a quest of self-discovery and fulfillment as he tries to learn the ropes of being a great farmer.
Many people will resonate with Yuugo’s character. Those who grew up or worked on a farm will admire the little details sprinkled into the series’s world. From raising cattle to managing stock, farmers will find Silver Spoon’s content relatable and charming. On top of that, fans will love seeing Yuugo’s relationship with his friends become stronger over time.
To The Forest of the Fireflies Light
This anime’s about a six-year-old girl named Hotaru. She wanders to a spirit-ridden forest and meets Gin. Gin pushes her away when she tries to run into his arms. He suffers from a dreadful curse that results in humans vanishing if he touches them. Despite Gin’s situation, Hotaru keeps him company and we examine their relationship from beginning to end.
This anime explores Gin and Hotaru’s companionship well. For better and worse, you’ll get to see these two develop wholesome feelings for the other and nothing ever feels forced. They grow a genuine attachment to each other after prevailing over several annoying obstacles. There are some moments that will make you cry and others that will make you smile.
With great intensity and satisfying interactions, To The Forest of the Fireflies Light is a must-watch!
Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day provides viewers with a gut-wrenching experience. While its cast indulges in some playful activities, you’ll feel this lingering feeling of sadness eating at them and yourself. The anime spends a great deal of time making you feel empathetic toward our cast as they try to help their friend ascend into the afterlife.
Some viewers will relate to its main character Junta a lot. Secluding yourself from human interaction after a friend’s tragic passing is a common route people take. No one likes dwelling on the death of a loved one, and this series understands that. However, fans will admire Junta’s efforts to restore the relationship he had with his other companions.
If you’re looking for a tragic tale that will entice you to smile, laugh, and whimper, watch Anohana.
Kids On The Slope
In need of a coming-of-age tale about romance and music, then Kids On The Slope is worth checking out. It features our cast dealing with friendship, love, and passion issues. Our two leads, Kaoru and Sentarou, are excellent protagonists who are fun to follow. Their goal is to brighten their fellow citizens’ lives by playing music.
The anime spends some time fleshing out our characters first, before getting into its fun content. This can bother some people who’d rather see Kaoru and Sentarou impress folks from the get-go. However, the anime chooses to characterize our cast first to make its later scenes hit harder with its audience.
Thankfully, the show does pick up near the middle and leads into something grander. Fans will enjoy the chemistry between Kaoru and his bandmates. Their love for playing music will feel semi-infectious and may inspire some to pick up and learn an instrument themselves.
Nana
This anime’s about two girls named Nana. They travel to Japan to accomplish their diverse goals. One Nana wants to get into a beautiful romance while the other prefers popularity. Both Nana will cross the other’s path, leading to a wholesome companionship between them. Although one prefers romance over the other, the concept binds and affects each’s personality.
The side characters receive equal attention and endure romantic quarrels that will interest several viewers. Stardom, fashion, and music crop up in this anime too, but fans will adore this show more for its drama and romance. If you’re searching for an anime with a charming cast, delightful story, and unique art style, check Nana out.
My Teen Romantic Snafu
My Teen Romantic Comedy: Snafu has great storytelling and characters. It contains stellar romance segments and inserts small comedic moments to provide viewers with time to breathe after its dramatic scenarios conclude. In it, we follow Hikigaya, a teenager that doesn’t live the best life.
His narcissistic behavior gets him tossed into a Volunteer Service Club. At the club, he must support students in achieving their goals. He’s given the most work in the club but receives some help from a fellow club member named Yukino. As they help each other out, Yukina and Hikigaya develop a strong companionship.
Fans will enjoy following these characters and seeing what weird scenarios they get roped into. This anime tackles realistic issues surrounding rejection and pessimism well. With some charming visuals and a quirky atmosphere, you’ll wind up enjoying the beautiful world Yukino and Hikigaya inhabit.
March Comes In Like A Lion
March Comes In Like A Lion delivers splendid visuals, animation, and storytelling. The story is about a boy named Rei. He’s an elite shogi player who isn’t living the greatest life. While he is talented, Rei carries enormous pressure on his back which entices him not to care for himself. However, he’ll meet three girls named Akari, Hinata, and Momo, who’ll change his life for the better.
Rei succumbs to many upsetting scenarios in this anime. He’ll endure stages of depression, anxiety, and perfectionism. Many people who suffer from these three notions will grow attached to Rei’s character and cheer for him. The anime handles these concepts with great respect and Rei’s growth never feels forced.
If you’re looking for another anime that features a likable protagonist who must overcome realistic mental hurdles, check this one out.
The Boy and The Beast
Many early anime and manga creators took cues from Walt Disney. Osamu Tezuka is a noteworthy manga author who had a strong attachment to Disney’s several works. The Boy and The Beast were created by Mamoru Hosoda, another talented anime director known for works like Summer Wars and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time.
Those who enjoyed Disney’s The Jungle Book will adore The Boy and The Beast as it examines a relationship between a human and an anthropomorphic bear. This anime delves more into martial arts than the former but promises to give fans fill fans with immense excitement. The protagonists develop natural bonds over time and you’ll adore seeing them persevere through many obstacles.
It tackles themes like growing up and informs viewers why it’s best to walk your own path. It contains several emotional story beats that will make you tear up. From its focus on the student-teacher relationship of its main stars to its beautiful surroundings, The Boy and The Beast is a wholesome work of art that you should watch.
So, there we have it, our picks for the best coming-of-age themed anime through the years!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!
I had to include it here. A must-watch anime series for sure!!
March Comes in Like a Lion is one of my favs – the relationships are beautifully developed. Thanks for this story!