The ever-growing popularity of the anime industry has many curious people looking to venture into the world of exciting shows. However, considering the number of anime out there, with many of them being long-running or having multiple seasons, choosing the right series for you can be overwhelming. Not to mention that a large portion of the famous shows are actually battle shonen series, which isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Luckily, the world of anime is way more vast than that. Relaxing series are often overlooked despite having captivating stories and intriguing characters. These series are ideal for beginners who don’t want to commit to longer shows from the beginning or watch anything that’s trending.
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The only downside here is that a lot of these comfort shows are often underrated, which studios don’t prioritize for sequels. Either fans have to wait for sequels for several years, only for the studios to drop them completely. We’ve compiled a list of 7 short but complete hidden gems that both beginners and even avid anime fans should definitely check out.
7) Barakamon
Barakamon has more of a summer vibe, which is perfect for you to watch this month. It focuses on slowing down from a hectic life and living in the moment. This heartwarming story of redemption and self-discovery is often considered one of the best slice-of-life anime series of all time. The story focuses on the hilarious journey of the protagonist as he tries to get used to country life with the villagers.
Sei Handa, a renowned calligraphist, spent most of his life perfecting his skills and sought to earn recognition by winning as many competitions as possible. However, when his prize-winning art gets criticized by the director, Handa loses his cool and punches the elderly man. His behavior urged his father to send him to a remote island to reflect on his actions. Little did Handa know that his life would be turned upside down as he found his own unique art style.
6) Snow White With Red Hair
This romance fantasy anime offers a cozy atmosphere set in a world with classic fairytale elegance but grounded enough to feel like the real world. The gorgeous setting, the character relationships, and everything else in the story oozes with warmth and comfort. The story centers around Shirayuki, a bright and cheerful herbalist from the small kingdom of Tanbarun, whose red hair often gets her in trouble. Unfortunately, her unique hair attracts the attention of the Crown Prince, who wants to keep her as his concubine.
Left with no other choice, Shirayuki flees to the neighboring kingdom of Clarines, where she meets its second prince, Zen Wistalia, and his attendants. Following their chance encounter with the Crown Prince of Tanbarun, Shirayuki begins a new life in Clarines as a professional herbalist. The story also focuses on Zen’s journey of becoming a man worthy of being the kingdom’s second prince, as well as the budding romance between the two as they face several challenges along the way.
5) Monthly Girls’ Nozaki Kun
The hilarious romantic comedy has no emotional rollercoaster, no heartbreaks, and no angst that keeps you at the edge of your seat. Instead, it offers laughter and warmth with the overly dramatic scenes, making it the perfect comfort watch for you this summer. When it comes to romantic comedies, not many anime can be compared to Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun. It’s the perfect Shojo series set in a high school, centering around all kinds of eccentric students.
The story primarily follows Chiyo Sakura, who confesses to her crush, Umetarou Nozaki, and accidentally calls herself his “fan.” Unexpectedly, Nozaki hands her his autograph, and it doesn’t take long for the girl to realize that he’s a famous Shojo manga creator using a pen name, Sakiko Yumeno. A strange turn of events leads her to become his assistant. Chiyo quickly befriends several of Nozaki’s quirky friends, turning even the most normal situation into a humorous rollercoaster. The anime never released a second season, but that doesn’t stop it from being one of the most hilarious stories of all time.
4) Kids on the Slope
MAPPA has released several incredible shows and films over the years, including global hits like Jujutsu Kaisen and Chainsaw Man. However, not many can come close to the level of beauty and comfort of this underrated masterpiece. Filled with romance, music, and coming-of-age themes that strike a chord in every viewer’s heart, Kids on the Slope is the very first TV anime from the studio. The story centers around Kaoru Nishimi, an introverted teenager from a wealthy family who keeps transferring schools due to his father’s job and fails to make friends for that reason.
After completely giving up on forming any real connection with kids his age, he pours his heart into classical piano. He transfers to a small island in Kyushu in the summer of 1966, where he meets Sentaro Kawabuchi, a delinquent drummer with an unrelenting passion for jazz. While he was initially hesitant to mingle with a group of new people, Kaoru slowly opens up as he discovers not only friendship for the first time but also the stirrings of something more.
3) Flying Witch
The story is set in a countryside filled with lush forests, old shrines, and dusty roads at sunset. Despite the beautiful and serene story, lovely animation, and, most of all, soothing OSTs, Flying Witch never received enough popularity for the animation studio to announce a second season. The story centers around Makoto Kowata, a young girl who moves out of her parents’ house to become a full-fledged witch. She has to follow the long-standing tradition of the witches where an apprentice must leave her home and become independent at the age of 15.
With her companion Chito, a black cat familiar, the fledgling witch moves to a region favored by witches due to the land’s affinity with magic. Aomori, the town she now calls home, is also the hometown of her distant relatives, where she is temporarily staying. On the surface, Makoto attends high school just like any ordinary teenager, but her eccentricity and witchcraft make her everyday life much more interesting. The story is episodic in nature, and each day offers something new for her to learn.
2) Horimiya
The beloved romantic comedy Horimiya released its anime adaptation a decade after the manga’s debut. The series already had a wide fanbase by then, which is why fans had high expectations from the anime. The fast-paced adaptation, which covered the full story in just 13 episodes, initially disappointed fans until the animation studio released another anime titled Horimiya: Piece to cover the rest of the story. The anime blends high school comedy with romance while also highlighting personal struggles and insecurities through the main couple and the side characters.
Kyoko Hori, a straight-A student popular for her personality and looks, never hangs out with her classmates after school. She hides the fact that she takes care of the house and her brother since her parents are always out for work. However, her secret is revealed when Izumi Miyamura, her classmate, brings her injured brother home and recognizes her. She is stunned to see that the quiet boy in her class is completely different outside of school, and thus begins their secret endeavors as Izumi continues to help her while keeping her secret safe.
1) Nodame Cantabile
Most of the globally famous music anime series, such as Given and Your Lie in April, are often laced with melancholy and tragedy, which is why Nodame Cantabile stands out as a refreshing, lighthearted alternative. This musical romance story follows Shinichi Chiaki, a brilliant pianist and aspiring conductor, and Megumi Noda, a quirky and carefree pianist attending the same prestigious music academy in Japan. Although Shinichi dreams of studying in Europe, his fear of flying keeps him trapped in his home country. However, his life takes a drastic turn when he meets Nodame, a messy and eccentric girl but also an undeniable genius.
Despite being polar opposites of one another, the two spend more time together since they are both neighbors and they go to the same school. As Chiaki helps Nodame refine her skills, he also begins to pursue his own dreams. Throughout the series, we see the two of them form friendships with other talented musicians, compete in high-level performances, and navigate their romantic relationship, which is full of comedic and heartwarming moments.
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