Help us find new anime to mindlessly stream at night
July 3, 2017 9:40 AM Subscribe
We have a Crunchyroll account, purchased during the Great Yuri! On Ice Frenzy of '16. We only really watch one or two shows. What else should we watch?
We currently enjoy re-watching Y!oI and the impeccable Polar Bear Cafe. In the past we've enjoyed Attack on Titan and Assassination Classroom, but we're really after light, breezy shows that you can dip in and out of.
We're in dire need of more faintly mindless, cheery shows to pop on when you've come home exhausted from work and need a palate cleanser. We're not after anything super involving with a ton of back story.
So tell me, what should we get into?
We currently enjoy re-watching Y!oI and the impeccable Polar Bear Cafe. In the past we've enjoyed Attack on Titan and Assassination Classroom, but we're really after light, breezy shows that you can dip in and out of.
We're in dire need of more faintly mindless, cheery shows to pop on when you've come home exhausted from work and need a palate cleanser. We're not after anything super involving with a ton of back story.
So tell me, what should we get into?
Ore Monogatari!! is sweet and hilarious. Watch the first episode before judging the awful summary.
Little Witch Academia is also cute. The ending is good.
Edit: 2nding Sokka's Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun and Ore Monogatari/My Love Story rec.
posted by typify at 1:02 PM on July 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
Little Witch Academia is also cute. The ending is good.
Edit: 2nding Sokka's Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun and Ore Monogatari/My Love Story rec.
posted by typify at 1:02 PM on July 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
Natsume's book of friends (natsume youjin chou). A young boy interacts with spirits he has power over courtesy of his grandma's old magic book. Really, though it's about forming new relationships and being a misfit and still being loved (really).
posted by smoke at 1:58 PM on July 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by smoke at 1:58 PM on July 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
The Royal Tutor! It's a light comedy with a good heart about the mysterious (and tiny) tutor brought in to groom four teenage princes for the throne in faux-19th century faux-Central Europe.
posted by haruspicina at 2:54 PM on July 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by haruspicina at 2:54 PM on July 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
One thing you might want to do is look at what other users are recommending on MyAnimeList. For example, here is what people who also liked Shirokuma (Polar Bear) Cafe are recommending. I've found a lot of what's on both my currently watching list and planned to watch list by doing that.
posted by ralan at 3:34 PM on July 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by ralan at 3:34 PM on July 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
I totally watch anime in the same way now! So, in no particular order, here are anime that I have recently watched that I've been able to turn my brain off for/haven't had to analyze too deeply/feel good to watch, not exhausting:
The Devil is a Part Timer (cute, only a little fanservice)
Flying Witch (soothing witchcraft, cooking and gardening. Absolutely lovely.)
Yakitate!! Japan (easy to zone out in front of, and lots of episodes as well!)
Humanity Has Declined (delightfully surreal at times)
Sakura Quest (rural Japan slice of life with realistic female characters)
The Royal Tutor (a lot of bishonen eye candy, but also heartwarming)
Gargantia on the Verduous Planet (giant robot on future earth, some melodrama but not too much)
Poco's Udon World (slice of life with bonus tanuki child)
ClassicaLoid (Don't think about it too hard, it's fun.)
And maaaaaaaybe Black Butler, but it's not exactly what I would call light and breezy. However in my experience there's a lot of overlap between Black Butler and YoI fans so there's that.
Potentially also Saga of Tanya the Evil (if you're into alternate WWI with magic; it LOOKS like it could be terrible but was actually OK. Definitely not light viewing though.)
I also have a couple of non-Crunchyroll suggestions for posterity's sake:
Netflix: Little Witch Academia is nice. Mob Psycho 100 is interesting.
Hulu: Azumanga Daioh
Funimation: Escaflowne
And one anti-recommendation - Interviews with Monster Girls started out OK but then became creepy AF. I had to nope out after a few episodes due to the way the relationships between the female students and the male teacher were presented.
posted by daikaisho at 4:19 PM on July 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
The Devil is a Part Timer (cute, only a little fanservice)
Flying Witch (soothing witchcraft, cooking and gardening. Absolutely lovely.)
Yakitate!! Japan (easy to zone out in front of, and lots of episodes as well!)
Humanity Has Declined (delightfully surreal at times)
Sakura Quest (rural Japan slice of life with realistic female characters)
The Royal Tutor (a lot of bishonen eye candy, but also heartwarming)
Gargantia on the Verduous Planet (giant robot on future earth, some melodrama but not too much)
Poco's Udon World (slice of life with bonus tanuki child)
ClassicaLoid (Don't think about it too hard, it's fun.)
And maaaaaaaybe Black Butler, but it's not exactly what I would call light and breezy. However in my experience there's a lot of overlap between Black Butler and YoI fans so there's that.
Potentially also Saga of Tanya the Evil (if you're into alternate WWI with magic; it LOOKS like it could be terrible but was actually OK. Definitely not light viewing though.)
I also have a couple of non-Crunchyroll suggestions for posterity's sake:
Netflix: Little Witch Academia is nice. Mob Psycho 100 is interesting.
Hulu: Azumanga Daioh
Funimation: Escaflowne
And one anti-recommendation - Interviews with Monster Girls started out OK but then became creepy AF. I had to nope out after a few episodes due to the way the relationships between the female students and the male teacher were presented.
posted by daikaisho at 4:19 PM on July 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
Just popping in to second Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun. It's sweet and charming and very funny, and you can pop in and out without worrying too much.
posted by AmandaA at 8:15 AM on July 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by AmandaA at 8:15 AM on July 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
I like low-key and calming anime series too.
Royal Tutor Heine
Flying Witch
Gingitsune
Natsume Yuujinchou
ACCA: 13-ku Kansatsu-ka
Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou
Fukigen na Mononokean
Free!
Gugure! Kokkuri-san
Haibane Renmei
Humanity has Declined
Kyousou Giga
Ristorante Paradiso
Seirei no Moribito
Shirobako
Uchouten Kazoku
Mushishi
posted by chrono_rabbit at 9:15 AM on July 5, 2017
Royal Tutor Heine
Flying Witch
Gingitsune
Natsume Yuujinchou
ACCA: 13-ku Kansatsu-ka
Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou
Fukigen na Mononokean
Free!
Gugure! Kokkuri-san
Haibane Renmei
Humanity has Declined
Kyousou Giga
Ristorante Paradiso
Seirei no Moribito
Shirobako
Uchouten Kazoku
Mushishi
posted by chrono_rabbit at 9:15 AM on July 5, 2017
Seconding the recommendations for:
Uchouten Kazoku (The Eccentric Family) - About a family of transforming tanuki, and their relationships and antics. Does have a storyline, but is such a zany show that I'm sure it can be enjoyed episode-to-episode, for the most part.
Sound! Euphonium - Sweet, optimistic show about a high school band. If you watch from the beginning, it actually has quite a lot of depth in its interpersonal relationships.
Humanity has Declined - Whip-smart with a postmodern sensibility. But it's also hilarious, and doesn't take itself too seriously.
I think Mushishi is one of the best shows I've ever watched, but if you want cheerfulness I don't know if it'd suit. It's certainly calming, but also quite melancholy and philosophical!
You might also like some of the Kyoto Animation series, which are beautifully rendered and tend to be very slice-of-life. The two lightest & fluffiest, that would be easiest to dip in & out of:
Love, Chuunibyou & Other Delusions! - High school romance and fantasy world imaginings. If you were ever a little kid who wanted to grow up and become a wizard, this one's great.
Tamako Market - A quirky little slice-of-life story about a girl, a talking bird, and her close-knit community in a market shopping centre. Very funny and heartwarming.
posted by stellarc at 1:25 PM on July 5, 2017
Uchouten Kazoku (The Eccentric Family) - About a family of transforming tanuki, and their relationships and antics. Does have a storyline, but is such a zany show that I'm sure it can be enjoyed episode-to-episode, for the most part.
Sound! Euphonium - Sweet, optimistic show about a high school band. If you watch from the beginning, it actually has quite a lot of depth in its interpersonal relationships.
Humanity has Declined - Whip-smart with a postmodern sensibility. But it's also hilarious, and doesn't take itself too seriously.
I think Mushishi is one of the best shows I've ever watched, but if you want cheerfulness I don't know if it'd suit. It's certainly calming, but also quite melancholy and philosophical!
You might also like some of the Kyoto Animation series, which are beautifully rendered and tend to be very slice-of-life. The two lightest & fluffiest, that would be easiest to dip in & out of:
Love, Chuunibyou & Other Delusions! - High school romance and fantasy world imaginings. If you were ever a little kid who wanted to grow up and become a wizard, this one's great.
Tamako Market - A quirky little slice-of-life story about a girl, a talking bird, and her close-knit community in a market shopping centre. Very funny and heartwarming.
posted by stellarc at 1:25 PM on July 5, 2017
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K
Short episodes, not much of an ongoing plot. Funny show about a teenage psychic
posted by KateViolet at 10:05 AM on June 29, 2018
Short episodes, not much of an ongoing plot. Funny show about a teenage psychic
posted by KateViolet at 10:05 AM on June 29, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
Here are a few suggestions that are on Crunchyroll. If you're looking for suggestions that can be found in other locations, MeMail me for more details.
Full-length shows:
Non Non Biyori (two seasons - this is one of my all-time favorite SoL anime)
Interviews With Monster Girls
Is The Order a Rabbit? (two seasons)
New Game (with a new season starting on July 11th!)
Yuru Yuri (three seasons)
Girls Und Panzer (seriously, this one is great)
Flying Witch
Some anime shorts:
Please Tell Me! Galko-chan
Aiura
I Can't Understand What My Husband Is Saying (two seasons)
Wakako-zake (there is a 1 season anime and also 3 seasons of a live-action drama)
Nyanko Days
Nyanbo! (from the creator of Yotsuba&)
posted by ralan at 10:20 AM on July 3, 2017 [3 favorites]