Most Wholesome Anime

There are many genres of anime, from action to fantasy. Viewers enjoy mechas fighting and protagonists wielding massive weapons to defeat a great evil; however, sometimes people just want to sit back and watch something wholesome. When it comes to relaxing in front of the screen, some of the most feel-good anime tend to fall under the categories of comedy, romance, and slice of life. These often have less fan service and conflict appears in the form of everyday issues or comedic misunderstandings.

The best wholesome anime are a fresh change of pace from the high stakes and death-defying action sequences that define the most popular series. Suffice it to say, these shows strive to leave viewers satisfied after seeing their characters enjoy life and their relationships blossom.

Updated on January 25, 2025 by Mark Sammut: Nearly a month into its run by this point, Winter 2025 has been solid so far. Tension-free shows are not difficult to find, but the season's most wholesome anime standout from the crowd.

Most Wholesome Winter 2025 Anime

The Winter 2025 anime season is well underway by this point, and the lineup has options for every mood. If someone is craving an action-heavy dark fantasy, they can check out Ubel Blatt or Solo Leveling. Want a medical or murder mystery? The Apothecary Diaries and Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detective cover both. Isekai has a lot of representation, and the same can be said for comedy.

So, what about wholesome anime? Does Winter 2025 have any series that can make viewers feel all warm and fuzzy in their stomachs? Fortunately, the answer is yes. Let's highlight two of them.

I Have a Crush at Work/Can You Keep A Secret

Frustratingly, Winter 2025's best wholesome anime is not readily available to watch on Western streaming platforms. Still, if someone can find a way to access this workplace rom-com, they will get to experience Yui and Masugu's adorable relationship.

As they prefer to keep their work and personal lives separate, these two coworkers decide to keep their romance a secret. Consequently, in the office, they are harsh with each other, to the point of seeming like they feel genuine hatred. At home or in secret, they are all over each other. Simple but effective, this concept lends itself perfectly to both humor and cute romance. The characters are also adults who, for the most part, act their ages.

Related

Winter 2025 Anime Season Guide: Previews, Episode Reviews, & Discussions

A compilation of articles related to Winter 2025 anime like Solo Leveling, The Apothecary Diaries, Dr. Stone, and Sakamoto Days.

Posts 1

By  Mark Sammut

Welcome to Japan, Ms. Elf!

As isekai is often used for escapist fantasies, the theme has produced quite a few slow-life stories. That said, Welcome to Japan, Ms. Elf!'S coziness stems from a cute core relationship rather than the removal of tension through the usage of an OP protagonist. Through the power of sleep, Kazuhiro can travel back and forth between Earth and a fantasy realm; more importantly, he manages to bring an elf named Marie with him.

When the focus is on the fantasy world, Welcome to Japan, Ms. Elf! Is fine but nothing more than that. However, when focusing on the reverse isekai side of things, the anime is fantastic. Marie's enthusiasm for Japan's food and culture is infectious, and her reactions make sense due to her upbringing.

1 My Love Story!!

The Ultimate Romance

A few exceptions notwithstanding, most romance anime are wholesome. Sure, they might take forever to get to the point, but they usually consist of cute interactions with a hint of comedy, character development, and some minor melodrama. My Love Story!! Represents the genre at its peak wholesomeness, and the story also does not waste too much time in bringing together its main couple.

Takeo is the ultimate guy friend, but he has not had much luck with the ladies. Comparatively, his closest friend, Makoto, tends to be very popular with the opposite sex. One day, Takeo saves a girl named Rinko from a molester (which is probably the least wholesome thing that happens in the anime), and they start a friendship that blossoms into a romance.

Takeo and Rinko are completely head-over-heels in love with each other, and their scenes never fail to get that point across. Makoto is also a fantastic friend who always has Takeo's best interest in mind, and the same can be said in reverse. Except for a couple of dramatic moments, My Love Story!! Is always exclusively a feel-good romance.

2 Bunny Drop

A Heartwarming Story Of A Middle-Aged Man Becoming A Guardian To His Grandfather's Daughter

If there's anything recent entertainment media has confirmed, it's that the parent-child dynamic elevates the emotion present in any given scenario. Many shows, movies, and video games have upped the emotional stakes with this dynamic, so it's nice to see shows like Bunny Drop focus entirely on this dynamic without any other distractions.

Watching the reluctant Daikichi slowly become a father for Rin as they share many memorable experiences makes for a great time that quickly endears fans to the duo. The cute and funny scenarios these two find themselves in form the heart of Bunny Drop, making it an easy pick for fans who want to check out a simple and wholesome anime.

3 Barakamon

Watching Seishu Regain The Love Of His Craft Is A Touching Experience

Barakamon is a comedic slice-of-life anime about the calligrapher Seishu Handa and his humorous interactions with other characters. The story starts when his writing is criticized as being too strict, and he travels to an island in an attempt to find his style. While there, he meets many villagers on the island and their interactions are funny and heartwarming.

This anime shows how opening up to people, letting go, and taking a break can benefit someone. The interactions between Seishu and the hyperactive kid Naru impose a sense of family into the story, such as helping the younger child with homework. The people of the island are a key example of how important a loving support system can be, how impactful random acts of kindness are, and that the term 'family' doesn't need to remain limited to blood relations.

4 School Babysitters

A Slice-Of-Life Anime With Many Hilarious Moments

School Babysitters is a comedic slice-of-life anime. Three brothers are left homeless when their parents suddenly die. Two are in high school and one is a preschooler. The chairwoman of an academy takes them in, giving them free housing and school if they help with the school's daycare center.

This show is about taking care of one another. The normally strict chairwoman shows her soft motherly side to the boys, while the older boys make sure that their little brother is always taken care of. The show enforces the values of compassion, charity, and selflessness, which turns it into one of the most wholesome watches in the show.

5 Natsume's Book Of Friends

A Lighthearted Show About A Boy Who Can See Yokai

Natsume is one of the most endearing protagonists that fans can appreciate, with this boy being unfairly marginalized by everyone around him because of his ability to see yokai. After finding his grandmother's Book of Friends, he decides to track down and help the yokai listed here.

Related

Most Iconic Anime Girls With Red Hair

There are a ton of iconic anime characters with colorful hair, and these are the best redheads among them.

Posts 4

By  Danny Guan

This slice-of-life tale has some tense moments, but the show's lighthearted nature is what will convince most people to stick around. The bullied yokai make for interesting characters whom Natsume helps out every step of the way.

6 Bocchi The Rock!

An Introverted Girl Whose Aspiration To Become A Rockstar Slowly Becomes A Reality

Social anxiety is a tough topic to cover in any anime, which is what makes Bocchi the Rock! So appealing. Hitori Goto dreams of being a rockstar despite being incredibly shy, but her friends help her overcome this issue time and time again.

It helps that Hitori actually has great skills as a rockstar, and only needs a stage and some confidence to show what it's all about. The anime's humor and writing have been highlighted repeatedly as some of the very best the genre has to offer.

7 Spy X Family

The Fictional Forger Family Displays Love And Adoration

Spy X Family is one of the more unique shows in recent times that has exploded in popularity. The show focuses on three people who are hiding their identities from each other while pretending to be a happy family. Lloyd is a secret agent called Twilight who works for Westalis and has to form a family to maintain his secret identity. This leads to a hilarious chain of events as he decides to become a father to Anya, who is a telepath.

To make things even more entertaining, Twilight also decides to get a fake wife called Yor Briar... Who is an assassin. What follows is a hilarious series of events as all three members of the family try their hardest to hide their true identities, engaging in some funny hijinks along the way. It's an extremely entertaining show, and it's easy to see why it has such a dedicated fanbase that is finally overjoyed to see the second season airing after a lengthy wait.

8 Tanaka-kun Is Always Listless

Shows How Friends Can Help Uplift And Elevate Each Other

Apathy is a very common issue that has been plaguing many people for quite some time now. The idea of not finding joy in anything and deigning to put any effort into living life can make for a really serious show... So fans are glad to see Tanaka-kun is Always Listless take a more lighthearted approach to things.

Related

Most Iconic Anime Poses Ever, Ranked

Anime always finds a way to make the mundane seem extraordinary. These poses are as iconic as anime itself.

Posts

Tanaka is a funny protagonist in his own right, but the real heart of this show is Ohta. His unwavering loyalty to a friend who doesn't wear his heart on his sleeve is easily one of the best parts of the show, and watching the two form an unbreakable bond makes for a truly heartwarming tale.

9 Non Non Biyori

The Definitive Iyashikei Anime

Filled with beautiful scenery and moving at a glacial pace that succeeds in being relaxing rather than tedious, Non Non Biyori represents the iyashikei slice of life genre at its absolute best. The show follows a group of girls who live in a tiny village in the countryside, one so small that they all attend the same class despite being different ages.

Technically, Non Non Biyori does not contain many notably wholesome moments, at least not ones that are emotional or represent major character milestones. With nothing significant happening, the girls just lead their normal (and somewhat idealized) lives. This recommendation is primarily inspired by the show's tone, pacing, and vibe.

10 K-On!

A Group Of Girls Bond After Joining Their High School Music Club

K-On! Is easily one of the most popular anime on this list by a country mile, and it's easy to see why this is the case. The premise of this title is pretty simple, with a group of high-school girls joining the music club to save it from dissolution.

Watching these characters bond and become friends while honing their musical talents is a joy to watch. It seems like a run-of-the-mill show, but great character development and wholesome storylines help it stand out from the rest.