What better way to start the new year than by binge-watching some amazing short animated series? Whether you want stories full of action, heartwarming moments, or exciting mysteries, we’ve got you covered with this list. It includes some all-time favorites and newer shows too. These series are perfect for relaxing at home and enjoying something fun. With great stories and beautiful animation, they’ll keep you hooked and entertained. So grab your snacks, get comfy, and enjoy these awesome shows! Dive into the list:
The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting (2022)
In this funny show, Kirishima Toru, a scary and ruthless yakuza member, is given an unusual job of watching over the boss’s young daughter, Yaeka. At first, Kirishima feels awkward and unsure about being around a child, but he quickly becomes close with Yaeka and shows a kinder, more loving side he didn’t know he had. They deal with the problems they face every day, like problems at school and sudden threats from rival gangs. Kirishima lives in a violent world, but the story beautifully pairs it with the innocence of youth, making heartwarming moments. Being able to love people who are not related to you by blood is a big part of this story. The animated series has funny, exciting, and emotional scenes that make people laugh and cry. Kirishima stops being just Yaeka’s care and starts being a father figure she can count on.
91 Days (2016)
91 Days is a thrilling story of revenge and betrayal that takes place in a made-up American town during Prohibition. The mafia brutally killed Angelo Lagusa’s family, so he comes back under the alias Avilio Bruno to infiltrate the Vanetti family, who did it. As he gains their trust, he changes things to bring down the group from the inside. The suspense in the show stems from Angelo’s close relationship with the individuals he seeks to eliminate, making it challenging to distinguish between justice and revenge. Angelo wonders if getting even will make him happy, which brings up ideas of loyalty and betrayal. The story is very well put together, and each show adds to the mystery. This anime is a gripping story because of its dark mood and morally complicated characters. A scary story about how far someone will go to get back at someone.
Violet Evergarden (2018)
Violet Evergarden is the story of Violet’s emotional journey as she goes from being a child fighter to becoming an Auto Memory Doll, a writer who writes letters about other people’s feelings. Violet finds it hard to adjust to everyday life and understand feelings, especially what love means, which is something her late leader, Major Gilbert, told her before he disappeared. She meets people with different love and loss stories at work, which helps her grow as a person. In each show, she tells stories of her clients that are either heartwarming or sad. The animation is stunning, with gorgeous images and moving music that add to the story. Violet’s journey is to heal, find her humanity, and figure out what she’s here to do. Moving on after loss, love, and healing are all important themes in this story.
Summertime Rendering (2022)
The mysterious story of Summertime Rendering is about Shinpei Ajiro, who goes back to his island home for the funeral of his childhood friend Ushio. But he finds odd things happening, including shadow-like doppelgängers killing and replacing locals. Shinpei can go back in time after he dies, which helps him find the truth and stop the island from being destroyed. As the danger grows, he joins forces with his friends to fight the shadows and find out how Ushio is linked to the secret. Time loops, supernatural fear, and emotional ties are all part of the anime. With plot twists that keep people wondering, each show builds up the tension. There are painful times and exciting battles in the story. This story is about being strong, loving someone, and going against your fate.
Erased (2016)
Erased is about a man named Satoru Fujinuma who has a special power called “Revival” that lets him go back in time and stop terrible things from happening. After being wrongly accused of murder, Satoru is sent back 18 years to his childhood. There, he learns that the only way to clear his name is to figure out what happened to his friend Kayo. He goes back to being 10 years old and makes friends while trying to change the past. The anime looks at friendship, family, and making things right. As Satoru races against the clock, he has to deal with both exciting and touching turns of events. It’s a thrilling mix of mystery and drama with a message of hope for changing the future. The show is both exciting and moving, and it keeps people interested until the very end.
Highschool of the Dead (2010)
In Highschool of the Dead, there is an outbreak of zombies, and a group of high school kids are left to fight for their lives. As Takashi Komuro leads the group in the fight against hordes of zombies, they face moral problems and the end of society. There are times of strong action, fun, and drama in the show. As they meet other survivors, they have to deal with trust issues and the hard facts of their new world. The group builds relationships, which adds emotional meaning to the chaos. The animated series strikes a good mix between scary and fanservice, which makes it both exciting and fun. At its heart, it’s a story about surviving and how strong people can be. The show shows how people react when they are under a lot of stress, with times of hope mixed in with the sadness.
A Sign of Affection (2024)
A Sign of Affection is a sweet love story about Yuki, a happy deaf college student, and Itsuomi, a worldly traveler who doesn’t know much sign language. When they meet, Itsuomi is interested in Yuki’s different way of looking at life. They build a deep connection by being kind to each other and learning to talk to each other and understand each other’s lives. The animated series is mostly about love, acceptance, and getting past obstacles. Sweet and important times show how their relationship is growing. The story shows the beauty of human relationships through a mix of romance and everyday events. The show is sweet and moral, and it shows how important it is to understand and care about others in relationships.
Skip and Loafer (2023)
Mitsumi Iwakura is a country girl with big dreams who moves to Tokyo for high school. Skip and Loafer is a cute slice-of-life anime about her. She makes friends with Shima, a cool and laid-back boy, and their different personalities make their friendship sweet. The show is about Mitsumi’s efforts to fit in with city life while keeping true to herself. Along the way, she connects with her friends in deep ways. Each of them has their own quirks and fears. The anime has funny parts, sad parts, and lessons that are easy to relate to. It’s a story about getting older, making friends, and following your dreams without losing sight of what’s important. This show is nice and encouraging because the characters talk to each other honestly. It’s a gentle reminder to enjoy the good and bad parts of life.
Horimiya (2021)
Horimiya is a cute high school relationship that looks at both of the main characters’ lives, Kyouko Hori and Izumi Miyamura. Although Hori seems outgoing and smart, and Miyamura seems shy and plain, Hori is actually a homebody outside of school, while Miyamura is some sort of a rebel with tattoos and piercings. When their secrets are accidentally told to each other, they become friends and fall in love. The show shows the ups and downs of youth relationships with lots of funny and touching moments. It also shows how hard it is to accept yourself and be open. Supporting characters give the story more depth as their relationships and ties change along with the main pair. The anime does a great job of showing the good and bad parts of young love. This story will touch anyone who has ever felt like they weren’t understood.
Noragami (2014)
Noragami is about a small god named Yato who wants to be popular and respected. In order to do this, he gives out odd jobs for just five yen. He meets Hiyori, a kind girl who turns into a spirit after saving him, and Yukine, a disturbed spirit who turns into his weapon. Along with each other, they fight evil forces, rival gods, and their own inner problems. As Yato faces his dark past and tries to make things right, the anime has action, comedy, and deep dramatic moments. Friendship, trust, and self-worth are big ideas that run through their story. It’s both exciting and touching because of the interesting story and interesting people. It’s a story about finding our reason for living and the connections that make life worth living.
Death Parade (2015)
Death Parade takes place in a creepy bar where people who have recently died are judged by games that show what kind of person they really are. Decim, the mysterious bartender, watches them and decides whether they will be reborn or sent to the void. In each episode, a different pair of people with interesting pasts and moral problems are shown. As Decim works on more difficult cases, he starts to doubt his methods and his humanity. The anime is about life, death, and what makes a person good or bad. The psychological conflict and emotional depth keep people interested. It’s a deep look at human nature with beautiful pictures and haunting music. It makes you think as well as being interesting.
Odd Taxi (2021)
Odd Taxi is about a quiet and strange cab driver named Odokawa who works in a busy city and meets a lot of different anthropomorphic characters. Odokawa gets caught up in a web of mystery, crime, and lies when a case about a missing girl crosses over into his own life. The anime does a great job of putting together different stories that connect in strange ways, making a story puzzle. Odokawa’s own strange past makes things even more interesting. The book delves deeply and with a lot of charm into themes like loneliness, social pressure, and hiding who you are. It stands out because of its unique art style and smart stories. With each new turn, the series builds up to a rewarding and unexpected end. It’s a clever story that keeps you thinking because it’s about people.
Barakamon (2014)
Barakamon is about a calligrapher named Seishuu Handa who was sent to a remote island because he lost it over criticism of his work. On the island, he meets a lively group of people, including Naru, a young girl with a lot of energy who often gets in the way of his work. Seishuu learns to accept life’s flaws and rediscover his love for calligraphy through exchanges that are both funny and touching. The show is a mix of comedy, real-life stories, and personal growth. It shows the beauty of country life and how society can change a person. It’s touching and easy to relate to Seishuu’s trip from pride to humility. This is a story that makes you feel good about finding ideas in strange places. The relationships he makes with the locals show how important it is to connect and grow.
The Millionaire Detective Balance: Unlimited (2020)
The Millionaire Detective is about a rich and strange detective named Daisuke Kambe and his normal partner, Haru Kato. They solve crimes in strange ways. Because Daisuke is always rich, he can do things that are extravagant and almost careless, which often goes against Haru’s morals. The show is driven by their relationship, which balances fun, action, and character growth. As they learn more about a bigger plot, Daisuke’s personal goals and past become clearer. The anime looks at issues of fairness, power, and working together. It’s a great police show because of its stylish animation and smart writing. The ride is exciting and fun, and it also has deeper emotional levels. The story is full of excitement, but the relationship between Daisuke and Haru grows over time.
Pluto (2023)
In Pluto, a detective named Gesicht lives in a world with both people and robots. The story is a dark and emotional retelling of a familiar Astro Boy story. As well-known robots and the people who made them are suddenly killed, Gesicht discovers a plot that blurs the line between artificial and human life. Some of the deepest themes that the anime deals with are racism, sadness, and the morality of technology. The stories of each character add emotional weight and show how hard and complicated their lives are. The beautiful animation adds to the story’s tension and makes you think. It has a mix of mystery, sci-fi, and moral meaning. The show makes you think about what it means to be living and how much growth costs. It both honors the original work and builds on it.
No Game No Life (2014)
Sora and Shiro are smart twins and unbeatable gamers. In No Game No Life, they are taken to Disboard, a world where games decide everything. The two, who go by the name “Blank,” quickly move up the ranks and use their smarts and craft to take on gods and countries. With high stakes and a mix of imagination and mind games, each game is a show. Their goal is to get all the races of the world to work together against Tet, the One True God, for control of everything. The anime has funny scenes, bright graphics, and exciting battles. The story is mostly about trust and the bonds between siblings. It’s an exciting ride with lots of funny and interesting personalities. It’s a show that celebrates smarts, creativity, and the thrill of playing to win.
Deadman Wonderland (2011)
Deadman Wonderland is about a boy named Ganta Igarashi who is wrongly accused of killing his friends and is sent to a twisted prison amusement park. In this harsh prison, prisoners are forced to do dangerous jobs for the public’s pleasure. Ganta learns that he has a unique power called the “Branch of Sin,” which lets him use his blood as a weapon. He works with a strange girl named Shiro and other prisoners to find out the dark secrets of the jail and how it is linked to his past. There is a lot of powerful action, psychological horror, and mystery in the anime. Themes of fairness, deception, and staying alive are looked at. It’s an exciting, fast-paced story about how to keep going even when things look hopeless. The dark twists and reveals in the story keep people on the edge of their seats.
Run with the Wind (2018)
Run with the Wind is an inspiring sports animated series about a group of runners who don’t seem like they would be good at running trying to win the Hakone Ekiden, a famous long-distance relay race. Ten college students, led by Haiji Kiyose, make up the team. Each has their own personality and problems. They grow as individuals and as a team through tough training and close emotional bonds. The show does a great job of showing their story, which is mostly about sticking with things, making friends, and finding out more about yourself. The stories of each character give the story more depth and make the stakes more real and personal. The animation really shines when it shows running scenes, which show both physical effort and mental victory. It’s a touching and inspiring story about how people can work together to reach their goals. Anime makes people root for the losers all the way to the end.
Re-Main (2021)
The story of Re-Main is about Minato Kiyomizu, a former water polo star who quits the sport after an accident leaves him with some memory loss. Minato reluctantly goes back to the game, where he faces both physical and mental obstacles, after being pushed by his new friends. He rediscovers his love and finds out things about his past that he had forgotten as he works to improve his skills. The show focuses on teamwork, grit, and accepting yourself while mixing sports action with personal drama. Each teammate has their own attitude and problems, which makes the group interesting and easy to relate to. The anime shows how fun it is to keep doing a sport even when things go wrong or there are problems. It’s about getting a second chance and not giving up. The mental growth of Minato and his team is moving, which makes the show very interesting to watch.
Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill (2023)
Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill is about a normal salaryman named Mukouda Tsuyoshi who ends up being called to a fantasy world by accident. Unlike the heroes summoned with him, Mukouda’s “Online Grocery” skill lets him order food and goods from Japan in the present day. At first, people thought Mukouda wasn’t useful, but he uses his cooking skills and this one-of-a-kind skill to stay alive. His tasty food brings him strong allies, like the legendary wolf Fenrir, who becomes his familiar in exchange for food. Together, they go on fun journeys that mix magical action with scenes that make you want to cook. The anime shows how creative Mukouda is by using modern items to fix issues in a medieval setting. The show is fun and family-friendly, with comedy, food, and excitement. The mix of creative cooking and dream charm makes it a fun escape.
The Way of the Househusband (2021)
The Way of the Househusband is a hilarious slice-of-life comedy about Tatsu, who quits being a criminal and becomes a dedicated househusband. Tatsu is a famous and feared yakuza boss who is known as the “Immortal Dragon.” Now, Tatsu takes everyday jobs like cooking, cleaning, and looking for deals very seriously while using his strong yakuza skills. His scary personality and crazy past are a funny contrast to his new home life. The anime shows how he interacts with his loving wife Miku, his old coworkers, and his curious neighbors who can’t figure out how to live up to his scary reputation. Each show is made up of several short comedic skits with silly situations and mistakes. It’s a fresh and new way to look at changing yourself. The show makes you laugh out loud with its mix of gangster grit and daily humor.
And that’s all we have for this list! We hope you will find something that interests you enough to start binge-watching! Don’t forget to let us know which ones you like the most among all the anime series listed here. Happy New Year and happy binge-watching!
