Looking for a good anime series or movie to watch with 11yo niece
September 8, 2011 11:25 AM Subscribe
Looking for a good anime series or movie to watch with 11yo niece
My 11 year old niece is spending the weekend with us, and we'd like to get her into anime!
She's seen the Miyazaki films that we think she'd enjoy.
Any other thoughts on good ones? We'd love it if they were entertaining to adults, as well.
I've seen the post from 2005, but wanted to get any new series in!
My 11 year old niece is spending the weekend with us, and we'd like to get her into anime!
She's seen the Miyazaki films that we think she'd enjoy.
Any other thoughts on good ones? We'd love it if they were entertaining to adults, as well.
I've seen the post from 2005, but wanted to get any new series in!
She's seen the Miyazaki films that we think she'd enjoy.
Could you give a list? Unless you've seen them all yourself there are probably a few you've missed.
Miyazaki is really the go to guy for anime that satisfies both kids and adults.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 11:30 AM on September 8, 2011
Could you give a list? Unless you've seen them all yourself there are probably a few you've missed.
Miyazaki is really the go to guy for anime that satisfies both kids and adults.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 11:30 AM on September 8, 2011
Mushishi! Very low key and beautiful, IMO done in the spirit of Miyazaki. Bonus: All episodes are currently streaming on Netflix Instant.
posted by jbickers at 11:45 AM on September 8, 2011
posted by jbickers at 11:45 AM on September 8, 2011
Hmm, in terms of series, the first thing that comes to mind is Azumanga Daioh. Especially if your niece likes cats or "cute" things in general (as the series is full of these). Nothing in it strikes me as inappropriate for an eleven-year-old -- I mean there's one very irresponsible adult character (a teacher) and one creepy character (another teacher) but
no nudity or gore or anything. It's a very quirky, funny, and earnest series and I think I would have loved it at your niece's age.
posted by aecorwin at 11:47 AM on September 8, 2011 [3 favorites]
no nudity or gore or anything. It's a very quirky, funny, and earnest series and I think I would have loved it at your niece's age.
posted by aecorwin at 11:47 AM on September 8, 2011 [3 favorites]
Has she taken an interest in love stories? If so, Voices of a Distant Star is bittersweet and lovely. If she likes it, you might explore the rest of the works of Makoto Shinkai, the director.
posted by jbickers at 11:54 AM on September 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by jbickers at 11:54 AM on September 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: We believe she has seen the following -
My Neighbor Totoro
Kiki's Delivery Service (which she was sort of "eh" about - said it was weird. however, this was over a year ago)
Ponyo
Howl's Moving Castle
Spirited Away
We're afraid Princess Mononoke may be a bit old for her still.
posted by needlegrrl at 12:13 PM on September 8, 2011
My Neighbor Totoro
Kiki's Delivery Service (which she was sort of "eh" about - said it was weird. however, this was over a year ago)
Ponyo
Howl's Moving Castle
Spirited Away
We're afraid Princess Mononoke may be a bit old for her still.
posted by needlegrrl at 12:13 PM on September 8, 2011
Another Miyazaki: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.
Also, I highly recommend Millenium Actress and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time.
posted by methroach at 12:21 PM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Also, I highly recommend Millenium Actress and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time.
posted by methroach at 12:21 PM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
It's a series, but what about School Rumble? We watched the whole first season with our 2&4 yr olds and they loved it. Over the top crazy antics, cute characters and really hilarious lines. It's on netflix instant que right now!
posted by Sweetmag at 12:22 PM on September 8, 2011
posted by Sweetmag at 12:22 PM on September 8, 2011
OH! We also watched Little Nemo and that was a HUGE hit in our house.
posted by Sweetmag at 12:24 PM on September 8, 2011
posted by Sweetmag at 12:24 PM on September 8, 2011
I really enjoy Ranma 1/2. It's cute and funny, and I know other young pre-teens who enjoy it.
posted by LightMayo at 12:24 PM on September 8, 2011
posted by LightMayo at 12:24 PM on September 8, 2011
It's not technically anime, but very close in style: Avatar: The Last Airbender, the Nickelodeon series, not the horrible movie. It's 8- to 14-year-old crack in our house.
posted by bonehead at 12:53 PM on September 8, 2011 [10 favorites]
posted by bonehead at 12:53 PM on September 8, 2011 [10 favorites]
Another Miyazaki: Porco Rosso.
It's fairly good natured, certainly less scary than Howl's Moving Castle.
I wouldn't underestimate Princess Mononoke, btw. My eight year old niece absolutely fell in love with it.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 1:31 PM on September 8, 2011
It's fairly good natured, certainly less scary than Howl's Moving Castle.
I wouldn't underestimate Princess Mononoke, btw. My eight year old niece absolutely fell in love with it.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 1:31 PM on September 8, 2011
Seconding Avatar: The Last Airbender. It is a Nickelodeon show rather than 'proper' anime, but it is very much that style.
posted by maybeandroid at 1:52 PM on September 8, 2011
posted by maybeandroid at 1:52 PM on September 8, 2011
Thirding ATLA. It has a lot of the same elements that make the best anime a lot of fun, plus there are some great female characters. I'm 32 and it's still like crack for me~
posted by ashirys at 1:59 PM on September 8, 2011
posted by ashirys at 1:59 PM on September 8, 2011
I would think Kaleido Star would be great. It's about a plucky young circus performer.
Also, I really liked Bamboo Blade about a plucky student who starts a kendo club at her school. The girls are the heroes in this very entertaining series. The best kendo competitor in the club is also a young girl.
Both are available on Netflix. They are somewhat reality-based in that there are not dream sequences and alternate realities and the like.
My husband and I both really like these series and we are both adults.
posted by rw at 2:15 PM on September 8, 2011
Also, I really liked Bamboo Blade about a plucky student who starts a kendo club at her school. The girls are the heroes in this very entertaining series. The best kendo competitor in the club is also a young girl.
Both are available on Netflix. They are somewhat reality-based in that there are not dream sequences and alternate realities and the like.
My husband and I both really like these series and we are both adults.
posted by rw at 2:15 PM on September 8, 2011
Ranma 1/2 is great, but it is better suited for teenagers as it has some semi-nudity and sexual innuendo.
If she likes cats or pets in general, Chi's Sweet Home is adorable.
I really liked Card Captor Sakura, although it has some lesbian/gay characters and a girl with a major crush on her teacher. It's very subtle and sweet, though. The English dub (CardCaptors) is americanized and avoids those subjects.
Also from CLAMP, Angelic Layer is fun and has no mature subjects. The plot is predictable, though.
posted by clearlydemon at 2:16 PM on September 8, 2011
If she likes cats or pets in general, Chi's Sweet Home is adorable.
I really liked Card Captor Sakura, although it has some lesbian/gay characters and a girl with a major crush on her teacher. It's very subtle and sweet, though. The English dub (CardCaptors) is americanized and avoids those subjects.
Also from CLAMP, Angelic Layer is fun and has no mature subjects. The plot is predictable, though.
posted by clearlydemon at 2:16 PM on September 8, 2011
Voices of a Distant Star
Oh man, the first time I watched this, I cried. A lot. Wonderfully told story.
How about The Cat Returns?
Seconding Nausicaa. Just, wow.
posted by xedrik at 2:30 PM on September 8, 2011
Oh man, the first time I watched this, I cried. A lot. Wonderfully told story.
How about The Cat Returns?
Seconding Nausicaa. Just, wow.
posted by xedrik at 2:30 PM on September 8, 2011
Nausicaa.net has information about all of the films by Miyazaki and other people at Studio Ghibli.
Of the lesser known ones, I really liked The Cat Returns and especially Pom Poko (all about shape-shifting raccoons trying to save their home from developers - funny and silly but also very sophisticated and touching - and like Spirited Away, it draws heavily on traditional Japanese folklore). Only Yesterday is also great, but it might be boring for a kid (it'd about a 25-year old remembering being 10 years old, and trying to figure out what to do with her life - a must for adult Studio Ghibli fans).
I haven't seen the whole of the film sequel to Lupin III, Miyasaki's first feature length film (not Studio Ghibli), but my friends love it.
Isao Takahata is also just as brilliant as Miyasaki (he directed Pom Poko and the critically acclaimed Grave of the Fireflies). His first film is also a good one for kids - The Little Norse Prince.
posted by jb at 3:11 PM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Of the lesser known ones, I really liked The Cat Returns and especially Pom Poko (all about shape-shifting raccoons trying to save their home from developers - funny and silly but also very sophisticated and touching - and like Spirited Away, it draws heavily on traditional Japanese folklore). Only Yesterday is also great, but it might be boring for a kid (it'd about a 25-year old remembering being 10 years old, and trying to figure out what to do with her life - a must for adult Studio Ghibli fans).
I haven't seen the whole of the film sequel to Lupin III, Miyasaki's first feature length film (not Studio Ghibli), but my friends love it.
Isao Takahata is also just as brilliant as Miyasaki (he directed Pom Poko and the critically acclaimed Grave of the Fireflies). His first film is also a good one for kids - The Little Norse Prince.
posted by jb at 3:11 PM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Haibane Renmei (charcoal feather) is excellent.
posted by media_itoku at 3:11 PM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by media_itoku at 3:11 PM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Oh - she hasn't seen Laputa: the Castle in the Sky? That one is great, though not as good as Spirited Away or Nausicaa (which is truly brilliant).
posted by jb at 3:13 PM on September 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by jb at 3:13 PM on September 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
The sexuality in Ranma 1/2 is more like Saved by the Bell - boy turns into a girl when he gets wet, runs into bath to get hot water to turn into a boy again, bumps into girl wearing nothing but a towel. She screams, he screams, end of scene. Lots of characters "crushing" on each other, but not serious stuff.
posted by jb at 3:19 PM on September 8, 2011
posted by jb at 3:19 PM on September 8, 2011
Just to throw in my 2 cents re: Ranma. My son, who's 10, absolutely loves the series. There are gratuitous shots of boobs and butts (male and female), but it doesn't bother him. The nudity is played for laughs. Once in a while, there are jokes/nuances that maybe only adults would get.
I think the only really questionable aspect of the series is an antagonist who likes to steal girls' underwear, and sexually harasses most of the main female characters. But from what I recall, he doesn't appear until season 3 or 4, so you can always stick to the first 2 seasons (the best ones).
posted by methroach at 3:43 PM on September 8, 2011
I think the only really questionable aspect of the series is an antagonist who likes to steal girls' underwear, and sexually harasses most of the main female characters. But from what I recall, he doesn't appear until season 3 or 4, so you can always stick to the first 2 seasons (the best ones).
posted by methroach at 3:43 PM on September 8, 2011
Nthing Habane Renmei; sweet, lovely story about angel girls that I think an eleven year old would love.
Mushishi is a bit spooky for an eleven year old I feel, and fooly cooly is way, way too full on for an 11 year old unless you have a really mature kid quite conversant with anime.
Another series she might enjoy is His and Her Circumstances. It's like a sweet high school romance with a bit of drama thrown in there.
posted by smoke at 4:58 PM on September 8, 2011
Mushishi is a bit spooky for an eleven year old I feel, and fooly cooly is way, way too full on for an 11 year old unless you have a really mature kid quite conversant with anime.
Another series she might enjoy is His and Her Circumstances. It's like a sweet high school romance with a bit of drama thrown in there.
posted by smoke at 4:58 PM on September 8, 2011
Ranma also has the most hilarious Panda ever.
(I like Kung Fu Panda a lot, but Po has nothing on Mr. Saotome and his signs).
Also a theme song I can still sing some 10 years since I last saw an episode.
posted by jb at 5:20 PM on September 8, 2011
(I like Kung Fu Panda a lot, but Po has nothing on Mr. Saotome and his signs).
Also a theme song I can still sing some 10 years since I last saw an episode.
posted by jb at 5:20 PM on September 8, 2011
I think the only really questionable aspect of the series is an antagonist who likes to steal girls' underwear, and sexually harasses most of the main female characters.
Yeah, pretty much. OP, here's an episode with the character methroach mentions in case you haven't seen this series so you can judge it by yourself. I remember seeing female Ranma topless in some episodes, too.
Seconding jb's recommendations, although be advised that Pom Poko has an abundance of raccoon scrotums.
Sorry if I sound like a spoilsport with my warnings. I tend to be overcautious with kids that are not my own.
posted by clearlydemon at 6:26 PM on September 8, 2011
Yeah, pretty much. OP, here's an episode with the character methroach mentions in case you haven't seen this series so you can judge it by yourself. I remember seeing female Ranma topless in some episodes, too.
Seconding jb's recommendations, although be advised that Pom Poko has an abundance of raccoon scrotums.
Sorry if I sound like a spoilsport with my warnings. I tend to be overcautious with kids that are not my own.
posted by clearlydemon at 6:26 PM on September 8, 2011
i've been wanting to watch Kino No Tabi for a while...awesome sharp-shooting teenage girl and her talking motorcycle exploring different lands, sounds pretty good.
posted by daisystomper at 7:58 PM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by daisystomper at 7:58 PM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Porco Rosso is excellent, but very strange and not likely to engage an 11-year-old who thought Kiki was too weird. (And so I'm a little hesitant about Whispers of the Heart and The Cat Returns, as well, but they're much more ordinary--at least the first one, and the second one is kind of a spinoff, in a way. I love Whispers.)
I've only seen a bit of Shrine of the Morning Mist, Kamichu!, and Someday's Dreamers, so I can't swear that they're OK for 11-year-olds, but they seemed like they might be suitable. Maybe someone else can weigh in.
posted by wintersweet at 9:44 PM on September 8, 2011
I've only seen a bit of Shrine of the Morning Mist, Kamichu!, and Someday's Dreamers, so I can't swear that they're OK for 11-year-olds, but they seemed like they might be suitable. Maybe someone else can weigh in.
posted by wintersweet at 9:44 PM on September 8, 2011
Upvotes for Avatar, Cardcaptor Sakura (the original even). I LOVE both and they are absolutely age appropriate.
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is lovely, but I suspect she might be a little bored? Azumanga is also GREAT but a teeny bit older. Not inappropriate at any rate.
Do folks think InuYasha is too old? I'd definitely say it's fine for a 13 year old, but it's been a long time since I knew an 11 year old.
Downvotes for FLCL (it's just very deeply weird, a bit more than I'd impose on a kid, personally), His/Her Circumstances (...but maybe I'm misremembering?). Both are more for high school kids, I think. Ranma 1/2 is a bit questionable for the reasons jb described (better than I could).
Whatever you do, for the love of god, do not watch Grave Of The Fireflies.
posted by maryr at 10:24 PM on September 8, 2011
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is lovely, but I suspect she might be a little bored? Azumanga is also GREAT but a teeny bit older. Not inappropriate at any rate.
Do folks think InuYasha is too old? I'd definitely say it's fine for a 13 year old, but it's been a long time since I knew an 11 year old.
Downvotes for FLCL (it's just very deeply weird, a bit more than I'd impose on a kid, personally), His/Her Circumstances (...but maybe I'm misremembering?). Both are more for high school kids, I think. Ranma 1/2 is a bit questionable for the reasons jb described (better than I could).
Whatever you do, for the love of god, do not watch Grave Of The Fireflies.
posted by maryr at 10:24 PM on September 8, 2011
PS: Reminded while flipping through Netflix to see if anything jogged my memory - Not anime, but animated and not American - The Secret of Kells is great.
posted by maryr at 10:28 PM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by maryr at 10:28 PM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Nthing Cardcaptor Sakura. And Avatar. Absolutely Avatar. The storytelling is brilliant, the characters are awesome, it's funny, it's beautiful - everything a series should be.
Familiar of Zero is a really fun one too, about a really untalented student witch who gets stuck with a human as her familiar (most of the students get dragons, cats etc).
posted by lovedbymarylane at 2:37 AM on September 9, 2011
Familiar of Zero is a really fun one too, about a really untalented student witch who gets stuck with a human as her familiar (most of the students get dragons, cats etc).
posted by lovedbymarylane at 2:37 AM on September 9, 2011
Kamichu! is pretty good for a younger watcher, I think, and centers around a middle-school-aged girl.
K-on! has no scary drama and is pretty light-hearted and silly.
A big portion of anime out there is definitely geared towards adults and is aired at a time that makes this obvious (midnight to 3am is a pretty standard slot for anime in Japan).
For an anime actually geared towards children, I would suggest Shugo Chara. Pretty Cure is also very popular among the kids these days but I'm not sure how entertaining it is for adults.
posted by that girl at 4:08 AM on September 9, 2011
K-on! has no scary drama and is pretty light-hearted and silly.
A big portion of anime out there is definitely geared towards adults and is aired at a time that makes this obvious (midnight to 3am is a pretty standard slot for anime in Japan).
For an anime actually geared towards children, I would suggest Shugo Chara. Pretty Cure is also very popular among the kids these days but I'm not sure how entertaining it is for adults.
posted by that girl at 4:08 AM on September 9, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Kitteh at 11:29 AM on September 8, 2011