Anime is an excellent source of entertainment for people of all ages. While there are plenty of series with dark plots and mature themes, there are just as many that stay wholesome and family-friendly. These anime are perfect for kids while still having enough to interest adults.
But viewers can even find darker subject matter in age-appropriate shows. While they usually remain kid-friendly, these series can feature sensitive topics, violence, or even death. Sometimes, these moments can be too brutal for kids. However, most anime aimed at children handle these topics with care, portraying them in a way that even the youngest viewers can understand but still feel safe watching.
10 My Neighbor Totoro Focuses On Dealing With Illness And The Fear Of Losing A Parent
The Kusakabe Family in My Neighbor Totoro moves out into the country due to the declining health of the girls’ mother, Yasuko Kusakabe. She spends most of the film in the hospital, with Satsuki and Mei doing their best to prepare for her homecoming. When Yasuko is unable to visit home due to her condition worsening from a cold, Mei becomes upset and runs away in hopes of finding the hospital and seeing her mother. It is a rather heavy subject for such a lighthearted story and shows the fear children experience when growing up with a sick parent.
9 Yo-Kai Watch Has Some Disturbing Elements
Yo-Kai Watch is a popular franchise for kids and adults alike, following protagonist Nate Adams as he collects mischievous Yo-kai around town. While it is overall very innocent and fun, there are some surprisingly dark themes at times. The series especially carries many disturbing backstories for various characters, such as Manjimutt’s death before becoming a Yo-kai. There are also many moments where Yo-kai themselves are killed, with Nate tracking down the culprits responsible. However, the darker moments in the series are still very tame and are noticed more by adult fans than kids.
8 Naruto Has Many Moments Less Than Suitable For Children
For years, Naruto has been a household name in anime. It is still one of the most popular series out there, appealing to both kids and adults. Its original run is aimed at a younger audience, though there are many scenes in Naruto that might be too intense for a younger audience. As can be expected from an anime about ninjas, there is a lot of violence and death, which only increases as the series continues. There are many disturbing fights throughout, psychological moments caused by genjutsu, many deaths of fan-favorite characters, and themes of discrimination against the Jinchuriki. Despite these more adult themes, the series is loved by many kids and is safe for a younger audience to enjoy overall.
7 Yu-Gi-Oh! Is Much Darker Than It Seems
The Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise has been a favorite among kids since the first series. Kids can’t get enough of the adventures of each protagonist and the monsters added to the game with every new season. However, despite being aimed primarily at children, the series is darker than it appears on the surface.
From evil spirits bent on taking over the world to duelists’ souls becoming trapped in a nightmarish place known as the Shadow Realm, Yu-Gi-Oh! never runs short on its list of frightening elements. There is even an arc in Yu-Gi-Oh! GX where protagonist Jaden Yuki becomes the evil Supreme King, causing the deaths of those he loves. Though it always manages to stay family-friendly, the franchise pushes the limits with each new series, finding creative ways to include darker, more mature themes.
6 Sailor Moon’s Premise Deals With Death, Grief, And Suicide
From its very premise, Sailor Moon deals with some very tough subjects despite being widely popular with younger fans. In her first life, Princess Serenity watches her love, Prince Endymion, die at the hands of the Dark Kingdom. Overcome by her grief, she then takes her own life, unable to go on without him. The two gain a second chance when they reincarnate into Usagi Tsukino and Mamoru Chiba. There is a continuous theme of death and rebirth throughout the series, with many of the show’s beloved characters dying in battle on screen. It is a dark topic that many would find unsuitable for children. Nevertheless, the series remains one of the most iconic anime to this day.
5 Wolf Children Tackles Heavy Subjects In A Beautiful Way
The anime movie Wolf Children is a modern classic that is revered by fans of all ages. It deals with many mature topics as viewers watch Hana fall in love and raise a family with a mysterious wolfman. After his tragic death, Hana must raise her two half-wolf children on her own, helping them learn and grow until the day they decide whether they wish to remain as humans or live as wolves. The story is very touching and handles sensitive topics such as death, coming of age, and grief in a way that kids can understand. It is a beautiful tale for fans, young and old, teaching the importance of family and self-discovery.
4 Pretty Cure Pushes The Limits With Its Darker Plots
Overall, the Pretty Cure franchise is a cute, cheery story of friends working together for the greater good. With its colorful palette and adorable designs, it’s a perfect show for young girls. While each series remains family-friendly, there are many darker elements within the stories of the franchise. HeartCatch is one of the darker series of the franchise, showing on-screen deaths and realistically portraying grief. Other series also focus on the subject of death, as well as more intense fighting that involves blood. On the whole, while the franchise is mostly tame, it has its moments where things get more intense than usual.
3 Avatar: The Last Airbender Covers War, Death, And The Struggle To Do The Right Thing
Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of the most beloved animated series of all time, and rightfully so. The series has always been able to portray dark topics in a true and impactful way. Throughout the three “Books,” fans watch as the characters they know and love struggle for liberation against the Fire Nation.
There are countless episodes that feature the cruelty faced by the other nations, the consequences of war, and even the deaths of beloved characters. Avatar shows fans of all ages the horrors of war while staying true to the message of hope and peace the series reflects.
2 Digimon Tamers Is One Of The Darkest Series Of The Franchise
There has been a fair share of mature themes in the Digimon franchise, but none compare to the dark turns taken in Digimon Tamers. From the very first episode, the audience sees a Digimon killed and eaten by two other Digimon, setting the tone for the series. Along with this brutal death, the series also covers more horrifying battles than in previous series, suicide attempts, the permanent death of a hero’s Digimon, and the deletion of a large portion of the Digital World. In some cases, the story becomes so dark that it’s easy to forget that Digimon Tamers is a show for kids.
1 Magical Princess Minky Momo Shocks Fans With The Death Of The Protagonist
Magical Princess Minky Momo is a classic anime series that attracted fans both young and old in its original run. It follows the titular character Momo, the Princess of Fenarinarsa, tasked with helping Earth regain its faith in dreams. For most of its run, it is a sweet and innocent show loved by young girls. However, the series shocked fans everywhere with its infamous 46th episode in which Momo is hit by a truck and killed on-screen. It is a horrifying moment in what is supposed to be a kids’ show and is a catalyst that opens up the possibility for future series to explore darker themes.
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