Nothing betters the warmth of family and friendship when you embark on a Christmas adventure. Here are five feel-good anime movies and shows, currently streaming on Netflix, YouTube and Crunchyroll, that you can add to your watchlist to tie up the spirit of the festive season.
Tokyo Godfathers
Satoshi Kon’s Tokyo Godfathers tops any Christmas anime watchlist as it celebrates the true spirit of the season with unlikely friendships and small miracles. Three homeless people — former drag queen Hana, runaway teenager Miyuki and middle-aged alcoholic Gin — meet on the streets of Tokyo after they find an abandoned baby girl in the garbage on Christmas eve. Leaving their differences aside, the trio take the infant in and name her Kiyoko. Afterwards, they go on a quest to find Kiyoko’s parents and encounter several Christmas miracles on the way.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
Spy x Family
Spy x Family is the story of the Forger family, put together by a spy named Loid Forger for his ultimate mission. What Loid does not know is that his wife is an assassin and his adopted little daughter, Anya, is a telepath. The plot, involving an unusual but functional family, moves forward jauntily as the five-year-old Anya’s yearning to turn her fake family into a real one makes for the story’s emotional moments.
Where to watch: Netflix
My Neighbour Totoro
Presented by Studio Ghibli, Hayao Miyazaki’s My Neighbour Totoro follows two young sisters— Satsuke and Mei — who move to the countryside and discover a magical forest spirit named Totoro. The girls befriend Totoro and other whimsical creatures along the way. Though nothing major happens in the story, the film celebrates the little things of life and champions the potential of the trivial. It belongs to a genre called Iyashikei, which literally means “therapeutic anime”.
Where to watch: Netflix
Gakuen Babysitters
Gakuen Babysitters revolves around Ryuuichi and Kotaro Kashima, who lose their parents in a tragic plane crash and find themselves enrolled in a prestigious academy. To support themselves, Ryuuichi takes a job at the school’s daycare, where he looks after toddlers accompanied by other quirky staff members. The slice-of-life series explores themes of family, friendship and responsibility with heartwarming comedy.
Where to watch: YouTube
Laid-Back Camp
A heartwarming journey of friendship and exploration across Mount Fuji, Laid-Back Camp follows the adventures of outdoorsy high school girls. The story starts with Rin Shima, a solo camper whose love for camping has given her the strength to pitch her tent and collect firewood all by herself. Things take a turn for her when another girl named Nadeshiko Kagamihara takes refuge at her camp.
Where to watch: Crunchyroll