Best Cozy Anime

Anime can be all things to all people. It can be a medium for some of the most heart-wrenching stories, the most action-packed shonen, or the most chilling psychological thriller. But anime is also great for providing an escape, and a place of peace when the world is at its most difficult.

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By  Mark Sammut

Similar to the trend of cozy games, there are many cozy anime series that have a big place in many people's hearts. Cozy anime is feel-good, and comfortable, with warm visuals and positive characters. It takes different forms for different people, but cozy, comfortable anime is often slice-of-life, packed with nostalgia, and is rarely overwhelmed with fight scenes or difficult moments.

Updated on March 21, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: There's an allure to anime that makes viewers feel all warm and fuzzy instead, in stark contrast to most popular shows that feature blood, guts, gore, battles, and anything else that gets the blood pumping. Sometimes, players just want to check out a series that's simple, laid-back, and lets viewers witness normal interactions with believable characters who don't have to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders. People seeking out such cozy anime will be glad to learn about several options that do a great job of portraying endearing slice-of-life scenes and light drama that isn't too overbearing.

13 Bananya

MAL Rating: 6.76

Bananya is a strange little show about a species of tiny cats that live inside bananas. Bananya (the main banana cat) dreams of one day bathing in chocolate with all his banana friends. There's not necessarily a plot, but the show follows the lives and antics of each banana cat trying to live their best life in a normal house environment.

For viewers who just want to turn their brains off for a while, Bananya offers bite-sized episodes packed with cute and cozy charm. It's also a great anime to watch with kids.

12 Flying Witch

MAL Rating: 7.51

Flying Witch is a perfect example of a cozy slice-of-life. Great for fans of Studio Ghibli, the series follows the day-to-day life of witch-in-training Makoto Kowata, who moves to Aomori to stay with her witch relatives. There's a delightful cast of characters, including Kowata's black cat familiar Chito, and her little cousin Chinatsu.

The series is based on the ongoing Manga series by Chihiro Ishizuka, so there's plenty more material for people who want to spend more time in the Flying Witch universe.

11 All Saints Street

MAL Rating: 7.84

All Saints Street is not technically an anime, but it does have a Japanese dub available on Crunchyroll. Neil, a college-aged demon moves out of hell and into the big city. A human culture fanatic, he's disappointed when it turns out his roommates are a vampire, a mummy, a werewolf, and an angel.

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By  Levana Jane Chester-Londt

Split into five-minute shorts, each episode is a charming, found family comedy with incredibly lovable characters. The episodes are very rarely high-stakes, and its short length makes it perfect to binge on a cozy afternoon.

10 K-On!

MAL Rating: 7.86

For a series that focuses on a high school music club with not many members to speak of, it's amazing just how much of a phenomenon K-On! Has become. The slice-of-life goodness coupled with some genuinely heartwarming moments makes this anime a blast to get through for any fan of the series.

Watching the club members bond and learn how to play some good tunes together makes for a great time. The simplicity of K-On! Played a huge role in turning the series into a major hit that fans love. Anyone searching for a cozy anime to watch will find K-On! To be right up their alley.

9 Yuri!!! On Ice

MAL Rating: 7.90

Yuri!!! On Ice, as well as being a ground-breaking LGBTQ+ anime, is also a great comfort anime. It's a sports anime based around figure skating, with stunningly choreographed routines by national skating champion Kenji Miyamoto.

It follows Yuri Katsuki, a Japanese figure-skater who puts his career on hold until Russian coach Victor Nikiforov takes an interest in him, and he falls in love with the sport all over again. It takes place during the Grand Prix, so there's a fair amount of conflict and high stakes, but the show maintains a relaxing and cozy atmosphere nonetheless.

8 Cardcaptor Sakura

MAL Rating: 8.17

A classic 90s anime, Cardcaptor Sakura is a magical girl show that often gets overshadowed by the likes of Sailor Moon. The story revolves around ten-year-old Sakura Kinamoto, who accidentally releases a series of magical cards that wreak havoc on the world. As the one who released them, she's chosen to retrieve them and save the world.

With seventy episodes, there's plenty of cozy content for fans to get stuck into. In an era where LGBTQ+ representation in anime was very hard to come by, Sakura's brother is in a healthy relationship with another boy that Sakura also adores.

7 Kotaro Lives Alone

MAL Rating: 8.20

Kotaro Lives Alone is on the more emotional side of cozy anime, but the family that Kotaro finds is the embodiment of warm and fuzzy. The art style might be initially jarring, but it's easy to get used to when the characters are so charming.

The anime, available on Netflix, follows Kotaro, a four-year-old who moves into an apartment complex on his own. Concerned for his wellbeing, and with stories of their own, his neighbors take it upon themselves to provide him with a family he can rely on, as it's revealed that his odd tendencies are a result of a tumultuous home life.

6 Laid-Back Camp

MAL Rating: 8.37

Viewers who just want to see a group of close friends go on a cross-country camping trip will love what Laid-Back Camp has to offer. These girls love experiencing every inch of Japan, having a great time bonding with each other in exotic locations, and endearing themselves to viewers.

Rin, Nadeshiko, Chiaki, and Aoi are four of the cutest friends in anime history, and it helps that their interactions feel natural and well-written. Anyone interested in Japanese culture and feel-good storytelling should not give this anime a pass. They'll regret it immensely.

5 Barakamon

MAL Rating: 8.37

The idea of a talented artist going on a retreat to find their own style is a simple premise that Barakamon rolls with, but there's more to this series than what meets the eye. In an attempt to get in touch with his artistic self, Seishu ends up going to a retreat on Goto Island, near Kyushu. Not only is the place relaxing, but the many colorful individuals he finds here help him develop as a calligraphy artist and slowly come out of his shell.

The simple slice-of-life moments in this series coupled with a fair heaping of comedic moments make Barakamon a nice, engaging series that viewers can use to relax. The multiple endearing storylines in this series will keep fans occupied for quite some time, to the point where they will be actively rooting for Seishu to become the greatest calligraphist Japan has ever seen.

4 Bakuman

MAL Rating: 8.53

An unexpected tone from the author and artist duo behind Death Note, Bakuman is a slice-of-life about two high schoolers determined to take the anime and Manga world by storm. It's especially high-stakes for Mashiro, the main character, who has made the slightly odd promise to only see his girlfriend when his Manga becomes an anime.

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Full of rich characters with their own stories, and genuinely interesting knowledge about the Manga industry, Bakuman is a great cozy anime for viewers looking for a long-form series.