This list is written primarily for parents who want child-appropriate anime recommendations, including Christian families seeking safe family-friendly anime recommendations.
Why Finding Family-Friendly Anime Is Hard
In this day and age, it’s hard to hide from anime. Anime is literally everywhere in the United States. However, many of the most popular anime are not family-friendly. To make matters worse, it’s not uncommon for anime fans to offer inappropriate anime suggestions to parents asking for help finding anime appropriate for children, whether intentionally or not.
As an anime reviewer passionate about protecting kids from inappropriate anime, I’m often irritated with the recommendations I see from others online. Quite frankly, many of the “kid-friendly anime” suggestions I find are not kid-friendly at all.
Sometimes, these suggestions are well-intentioned and come from a misunderstanding of what’s truly “appropriate” for kids (because sometimes an adult will forget the content of an anime, or sometimes they may not truly understand that 6 year olds are not ready for Demon Slayer, which is not an anime for kids). Other times, internet trolls find joy in recommending the most inappropriate anime titles in existence as a “joke.”
I’ve even found lists written by well-intentioned bloggers that suggest titles for kids that are not okay. Regardless of the reasoning, there’s a ton of noise out there and truly finding family-friendly anime suggestions that are actually safe for kids is extremely hard. I’ve made this list for parents as a starting point in their anime research.
How We Choose Family-Friendly Anime
I often see parents asking for kid-friendly anime suggestions that are actually age appropriate, so I wanted to start a list of the ones we have personally vetted. Everything on this list (unless specified otherwise) has been viewed by one or more members of the Renewed Mind Reviews staff. Most anime on this list have been reviewed on our site, so we’ve linked them below.
One of the titles listed, Ponyo, was actually the only anime I watched as a child.
I’m very picky about the anime I include on this list and separate them into multiple categories so that it’s clear what age they may be okay for.
Important Disclaimer for Parents
I want to preface: just because an anime is on this list does not mean it’s right for your family. Some shows/films listed may contain content that would be uncomfortable for your family. Please do your own research.
If we’ve written a review on a particular title, we will link it below (and please read them; if there are any content flags, we will outline them in the review as best as we can).
Please be involved in your child’s anime journey, prescreen things if possible, and always do your own research. Although there are some great family-friendly anime recommendations for kids out there, there are still plenty of inappropriate titles out there. I don’t want these anime to become a gateway into inappropriate content.
The Bible, in Proverbs 22:6 (ESV), reminds us to “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
This page will be updated as we gain new recommendations.
Family-Friendly Anime for Most Ages
This section lists family-friendly anime for kids that you can consider watching as a family (with discernment). Some of the titles listed may involve non-Christian cultural beliefs or magic, so parental discretion is advised.
Ponyo | Rated: G
The Secret World of Arrietty | Rated: G
My Neighbor Totoro | Rated: G
Anime Recommendations for Older Kids (10-12)
This section lists anime that may be appropriate for kids in their preeteen years or higher. Discretion is advised as these titles may contain more questionable content than the family-friendly anime listed above. Some titles listed may be rated higher than the 10-12 range, but our reviews should explain more context.
A Journey Through Another World: Raising Kids While Adventuring | Rating: PG on IMDB; 14+ on Crunchyroll.
Family-Friendly Anime Adjacent Shows
Gabriel and the Guardians | TV-PG
Avatar: The Last Airbender | TV-Y7-FV
Frequently Asked Questions About Family-Friendly Anime
What anime is appropriate for kids?
Finding safe anime for kids is not always easy. Some anime, such as G-rated Studio Ghibli or anime in the kodomomuke demographic, are sometimes appropriate for children, but it depends on the individual child/family. For older children and teens, some shonen and shojo anime can be safe, but it depends on the show. Each anime/film should be considered on a case by case basis.
Is anime safe for children?
Some anime, such as G-rated Studio Ghibli or anime in the kodomomuke demographic, can sometimes be safe for young children. Most anime, however, is not safe for kids, and each show or film should be considered on a case by case basis.
What age is anime appropriate for?
Anime is classified into various demographics, which determine the general age group an anime is created for. There are anime demographics for young kids, adolescents, and adults. However, these demographics do not automatically mean an anime is safe for that age group.
Is anime safe for Christians?
Some anime can be safe for Christians, and some anime is not safe for Christians. It completely depends on the title
What anime should parents avoid?
Parents should avoid any anime classified as ecchi or hentai and use discernment and caution when selecting titles outside of those genres. Even shonen, which is intended for adolescents, is not always appropriate for that age group. It’s easier to find inappropriate anime than appropriate anime. Each title should be researched individually and considered with caution, wisdom, and Godly discernment.
Are Studio Ghibli films good for kids?
Studio Ghibli films can be good for young kids, but it depends on the individual Studio Ghibli title. Anime films such as Ponyo, The Secret World of Arrietty, and My Neighbor Totoro are intended for young children, rated G, and overall fun family films with discernment. Other Studio Ghibli films, like Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Princess Mononoke, or Grave of the Fireflies are intended for a more mature audience.