“I’m bored.” It’s a phrase everyone has uttered as a kid or adult at one time or another. Before there was an abundance of games and easy ways to stream content, being bored made more sense. However, even with streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu, boredom can still crop up.
8 Must-Watch Anime, Ranked
Anime beginners and veterans will appreciate the history of these selections.
For anime fans, if they are bored, then they may want to watch something nostalgic or unchallenging to have on in the background. It’s not so much about being entertained as it is about vibing with the situation. These anime may cure boredom, or they just might add to it. It really depends on the person, but they will be ranked based on how chill they are.
Pokemon
A Nostalgia Trip
90s kids grew up with the Pokemon anime, which was a lot better than a lot of video game tie-ins. It worked because it wasn’t a direct adaptation of the games and instead came up with an original plot. Anyone who grew up with the anime can probably pop it on and have a good time with the first few seasons, including the Indigo League, Orange Islands, and Johto League. There is action, but the comedic bits are what fans like to come back to, whether they want to pay attention or doze off.
Pokémon
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 1997 - 2023
- Seasons
- 25
Case Closed
An Anime Procedural
There are a lot of good comfort police procedurals that mystery fans like to rewatch, like NCIS and Law & Order. Case Closed is that, but for anime with a bit of high-minded concept, as a teenage detective gets transformed into a child, but it still wants to investigate crimes. Most mysteries don’t last more than an episode or two, and the twists can be a bit ridiculous but thrilling nonetheless. Since most episodes are not important to the overall plot, it’s easy to jump in anywhere.
Case Closed
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- January 8, 1996
- Creator(s)
- Gosho Aoyama
Dragon Ball Z
Nonsensical Anime Fights At Their Finest
Dragon Ball Z is the most base Shonen anime out there that has a plot, but it seems secondary to the bombastic fight scenes. Turn it on, watch Goku destroy yet another invading alien, and then move on to the next Dragon Ball Z arc.
It gets formulaic after the Cell saga, to be generous, but fans don’t really care whether the plot makes sense or not. They just want to see Goku and his fellow warriors dominate villains, and that’s something that can be relaxing even in a dulled state of mind.
Dragon Ball Z
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 1989 - 1996
- Network
- Fuji TV
- Directors
- Daisuke Nishio, Shigeyasu Yamauchi, Osamu Kasai
- Writers
- Akira Toriyama, Neil Bligh, Hiroshi Toda, Katsuyuki Sumisawa, Aya Matsui, Keiji Terui, Reiko Yoshida, Toshiki Inoue
Cast
-
Masako NozawaSon Goku / Son Gohan / Son Goten (voice) -
Ryo HorikawaVegeta (voice)
Cowboy Bebop
Jump In At Any Point
Cowboy Bebop, like Case Closed, doesn’t have a lot of core plot episodes, making it easy to get sucked into. That might be one reason why it continued to air on Adult Swim for decades, besides it just being a masterclass example on how to create an evergreen anime. Even the “worst” episodes could have fans glued to their TVs as soon as the theme song blasted out with its barrage of trumpets. Cowboy Bebop is a great anime to vibe to, even when bored, as it never disappoints between its few well-crafted episodes.
Cowboy Bebop
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 1998 - 1999
- Network
- TV Tokyo, WOWOW Prime
- Showrunner
- Shinichirô Watanabe
- Creator
- Hajime Yatate
Aggretsuko
Office Life
Aggretsuko has shorter-than-average episodes of anime, which makes it an easy binge. It’s also highly relatable as the star, Retsuko, has a seemingly dead-end office job. Her boss disrespects her, she feels unwanted by the world in general, and even her office friends can’t do much. She blasts through stress by singing metal, which is a fun first episode reveal. While stressful as it can perhaps be, the comedy should perk anyone up once they start Aggretsuko.
Aggretsuko
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2018 - 2023-00-00
WHERE TO WATCH
Great Teacher Onizuka
From Gangster To Educator
Great Teacher Onizuka mixes its approach to comedy and life lessons well, which is surprising given that the main character, Eikichi Onizuka, used to be a gangster. He turned his life around and got a home room teaching job.
No one respects him right away, but he takes the time to get to know his students and solve their problems. It has touching moments, but Onizuka is also a weirdo and a bit of a creep whose antics would not fly in a normal school, which is where the comedy comes into play.
Great Teacher Onizuka
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 1999 - 2000
WHERE TO WATCH
Crayon Shin-Chan
Too Bizarre For Words
Crayon Shin-chan is a long-running anime series that looks like it is aimed at kids since the titular Shin is a child. However, it’s one of the most crass anime around as Shin loves to play with his butt onscreen. It’s silly and a bit heartwarming too, as Shin tries to navigate the world with his childlike wonder.
It had a limited adaptation when it was released in its dubbed form on Adult Swim, which are the episodes worth recommending for anyone needing a wake-up call. The localization went HARD on Crayon Shin-chan, and it needs to be seen to be believed.
Crayon Shin-Chan
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- April 13, 1992
- Seasons
- 33
- Studio
- Shin-Ei Animation
- Creator
- Yoshito Usui
FLCL
A Short Anime To Watch On Repeat
FLCL is a short, six-episode anime that is perfect from start to finish. The visual style is unique, the story is bizarre, and it’s full of Easter Eggs for animation fans to laugh at, from Lupin the 3rd jokes to referencing South Park.
Turning it on is just as comforting as watching Cowboy Bebop because FLCL was also a longtime staple of Adult Swim. It’s hard to ever feel bored while watching FLCL, even the hundredth time through.
FLCL
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2000 - 2001-00-00
WHERE TO WATCH
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