Anime for Parents

This post is for either Adults who have an interest in Japanese anime, or you're the reason I'm writing this post, you're a parent of an Otaku (a fan of anime). Anime is a term used for Japanese animation, targeted to a variety of demographics, unlike most "cartoons" here in the west. The following list will be a small collection of different types of anime that you could pick up very easily if you have an interest in the medium, or if you'd like to bond with your son/daughter with something that seems pretty hard to get into.

Cowboy Bebop (Action/Space Western)

The first of our Anime to introduce is Cowboy Bebop. With spectacular animation, a soundtrack that'll get you pumped right from the opening, this anime is sure you catch action lovers from episode one.

Synopsis from MAL:

"In the year 2071, humanity has colonized several of the planets and moons of the solar system leaving the now uninhabitable surface of planet Earth behind. The Inter Solar System Police attempts to keep peace in the galaxy, aided in part by outlaw bounty hunters, referred to as "Cowboys". The ragtag team aboard the spaceship Bebop are two such individuals.

Mellow and carefree Spike Spiegel is balanced by his boisterous, pragmatic partner Jet Black as the pair makes a living chasing bounties and collecting rewards. Thrown off course by the addition of new members that they meet in their travels—Ein, a genetically engineered, highly intelligent Welsh Corgi; femme fatale Faye Valentine, an enigmatic trickster with memory loss; and the strange computer whiz kid Edward Wong—the crew embarks on thrilling adventures that unravel each member's dark and mysterious past little by little.

Well-balanced with high density action and light-hearted comedy, Cowboy Bebop is a space Western classic and an homage to the smooth and improvised music it is named after."

The barrier to entry for this anime is very thin as it coheres to many western culture elements, including our love of drugs, guns, and sex in pop culture. Monster (Mystery, Psychological Horror)

Looking to test your psyche? Monster is a great choice for that. Rooted in a setting very similar to our reality, Monster experiments with the idea of evil in a way that will make you feel uncomfortable but curious at every turn, testing the viewer with elements including mass murder, child abuse, human experimentation, and the value of life. Though this anime shows the dark side of the real world, it balances it well showing compassion and love like a pendulum swinging from light to dark. Synopsis from MAL:

Dr. Kenzou Tenma is a renowned brain surgeon of Japanese descent working in Europe. Highly lauded by his peers as one of the great young minds that will revolutionize the field, he is blessed with a beautiful fiancée and is on the cusp of a big promotion in the hospital he works at. But all of that is about to change with a grave dilemma that Kenzou faces one night—whether to save the life of a small boy or that of the town's mayor. Despite being pressured by his superiors to perform surgery on the mayor, his morals force him to perform the surgery on the other critical patient, saving his life and forfeiting the mayor's. A doctor is taught to believe that all life is equal; however, when a series of murders occur in the surgeon's vicinity, all of the evidence pointing to the boy he saved, Kenzou's beliefs are shaken. Along his journey to unravel the true identity of his little patient, Kenzou discovers that the fate of the world may be intertwined with the mysterious child.

Psycho-Pass (Crime Fiction)

Though sporting an extreme first episode with a graphic rape-scene, Psycho-Pass is an anime where all you crime lovers will feel right at home. To spice up things, a sci-fi spin is taken on the crime genre, keeping things interesting by making you question the very definition of justice and giving you a glimpse of both the side of the "law-keeper" and "criminal".

Synopsis by MAL:

"Justice, and the enforcement of it, has changed. In the 22nd century, Japan enforces the Sibyl System, an objective means of determining the threat level of each citizen by examining their mental state for signs of criminal intent, known as their Psycho-Pass. Inspectors uphold the law by subjugating, often with lethal force, anyone harboring the slightest ill-will; alongside them are Enforcers, jaded Inspectors that have become latent criminals, granted relative freedom in exchange for carrying out the Inspectors' dirty work.

Into this world steps Akane Tsunemori, a young woman with an honest desire to uphold justice. However, as she works alongside veteran Enforcer Shinya Kougami, she soon learns that the Sibyl System's judgments are not as perfect as her fellow Inspectors assume. With everything she has known turned on its head, Akane wrestles with the question of what justice truly is, and whether it can be upheld through the use of a system that may already be corrupt."

Like I said before, the first episode has a graphic scene, so go into it knowing it does not represent the rest of the series. This anime is definitely something you could jump into easily, and it's popular enough where you'll be able to have conversations with most fans of anime about it. Fullmetal Alchemist (Action/Adventure/Fantasy)

One anime that most fans have seen is Fullmetal Alchemist. Set in an alternate Edwardian Era, Fullmetal Alchemist, or FMA for short focuses on two boys and their search magical stone to combine with alchemy and bring back their mother from the dead. Sound a bit dark? FMA does not hold it's punches on dark elements such as death, sin, and murder, but also has comedy and inspirational scenes to balance it off.

Synopsis by MAL:

"Edward Elric, a young, brilliant alchemist, has lost much in his twelve-year life: when he and his brother Alphonse try to resurrect their dead mother through the forbidden act of human transmutation, Edward loses his brother as well as two of his limbs. With his supreme alchemy skills, Edward binds Alphonse's soul to a large suit of armor.

A year later, Edward, now promoted to the fullmetal alchemist of the state, embarks on a journey with his younger brother to obtain the Philosopher's Stone. The fabled mythical object is rumored to be capable of amplifying an alchemist's abilities by leaps and bounds, thus allowing them to override the fundamental law of alchemy: to gain something, an alchemist must sacrifice something of equal value. Edward hopes to draw into the military's resources to find the fabled stone and restore his and Alphonse's bodies to normal. However, the Elric brothers soon discover that there is more to the legendary stone than meets the eye, as they are led to the epicenter of a far darker battle than they could have ever imagined."

FMA is great for someone looking for magical powers and abilities in shows, but also brings drama fitting for an older audience. Note: There are two versions of Fullmetal Alchemist. The original, simply titled Fullmetal Alchemist and a reboot: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. Both are fine in their own right, but honestly I recommend watching both, starting with the original first.

Ghost in The Shell (Mystery/Sci-fi/Action)

Honestly with this anime, I've only seen pieces here or there, but from what I can tell, the western audience is rather large for this one. The episodes I have seen were mostly action oriented, but I've heard of situations like people's brains being hacked and the hardships of being a person who chooses to not use cybernetic parts.

Synopsis by MAL:

"In the not so distant future, mankind has advanced to a state where complete body transplants from flesh to machine is possible. This allows for great increases in both physical and cybernetic prowess and blurring the lines between the two worlds. However, criminals can also make full use of such technology, leading to new and sometimes, very dangerous crimes. In response to such innovative new methods, the Japanese Government has established Section 9, an independently operating police unit which deals with such highly sensitive crimes. Led by Daisuke Aramaki and Motoko Kusanagi, Section 9 deals with such crimes over the entire social spectrum, usually with success. However, when faced with a new A level hacker nicknamed "The Laughing Man," the team is thrown into a dangerous cat and mouse game, following the hacker's trail as it leaves its mark on Japan."

Code Geass (Tragedy/Mech/Fantasy)

Code Geass is definitely something to look for if you're looking for a "smart" show. The storyline will test your brain to figure out where it's going, and will please you whether you figure it out beforehand or not. I'm not a fan of politics, but Code Geass knows how to make it fun for people like me without diluting it and making it boring for those who know politics. The whole show aptly plays like a giant chess match, mixing fantasy elements with something I wouldn't call a mystery, but more like a "strategy".

Synopsis by MAL:

"In the year 2010, the Holy Empire of Britannia is establishing itself as a dominant military nation, starting with the conquest of Japan. Renamed to Area 11 after its swift defeat, Japan has seen significant resistance against these tyrants in an attempt to regain independence.

Lelouch Lamperouge, exiled prince of Britannia, unfortunately finds himself caught in a crossfire between the two nations' armed forces. He is able to escape, however, thanks to the timely appearance of a mysterious girl named C.C., who bestows upon him Geass, the "Power of Kings." Realizing the vast potential of his newfound "power of absolute obedience," Lelouch embarks upon a perilous journey as the masked vigilante known as Zero, leading a merciless onslaught against Britannia in order to get revenge once and for all."

Death Note (Occult/Psychological Thriller)

Similar to how Code Geass is like a game of chess, Death Note works in a similar fashion combined with a game of extreme cat and mouse. Quite possibly one of the most popular starting anime, Death Note will draw you in and not let you go, each episode is melodically conducted to play with your mind and make you need to see where it's going. If you're a fan of crime thrillers plus a slight bit of supernatural elements, you'll feel right at home here.

Synopsis by MAL:

"A shinigami, as a god of death, can kill any person—provided they see their victim's face and write their victim's name in a notebook called a Death Note. One day, Ryuk, bored by the shinigami lifestyle and interested in seeing how a human would use a Death Note, drops one into the human realm.

High school student and prodigy Light Yagami stumbles upon the Death Note and—since he deplores the state of the world—tests the deadly notebook by writing a criminal's name in it. When the criminal dies immediately following his experiment with the Death Note, Light is greatly surprised and quickly recognizes how devastating the power that has fallen into his hands could be.

With this divine capability, Light decides to extinguish all criminals in order to build a new world where crime does not exist and people worship him as a god. Police, however, quickly discover that a serial killer is targeting criminals and, consequently, try to apprehend the culprit. To do this, the Japanese investigators count on the assistance of the best detective in the world: a young and eccentric man known only by the name of L."

Mushishi (Occult Detective/Fantasy)

This anime could be called a piece of art, it's beautiful settings and stories will amaze your eyes and move your soul. Though maybe not as exciting as others, Mushishi is a beautiful anime that tells episodic stories similar to that you would hear in fairy tails with only the recurring main character travelling and helping those is need. If you're looking for an anime that you can watch once in a while, and not make any commitments to, Mushishi is a great fit. Synopsis by MAL:

""Mushi": the most basic forms of life in the world. They exist without any goals or purposes aside from simply "being." They are beyond the shackles of the words "good" and "evil." Mushi can exist in countless forms and are capable of mimicking things from the natural world such as plants, diseases, and even phenomena like rainbows.

This is, however, just a vague definition of these entities that inhabit the vibrant world of Mushishi, as to even call them a form of life would be an oversimplification. Detailed information on Mushi is scarce because the majority of humans are unaware of their existence.

So what are Mushi and why do they exist? This is the question that a "Mushi-shi," Ginko, ponders constantly. Mushi-shi are those who research Mushi in hopes of understanding their place in the world's hierarchy of life.

Ginko chases rumors of occurrences that could be tied to Mushi, all for the sake of finding an answer.

It could, after all, lead to the meaning of life itself."

Samurai Champloo (Action/Adventure/Comedy)

If you could sum up Cowboy Bebop as "Jazz in Space", then this would be "Hip-Hop in Japan". With spectacular fights and fun stories, Samurai Champloo uses sex, drugs, and samurai to make every episode a fun ride full of laughs and excitement. Honestly, as an Adult/Parent, if you're mature and can handle R-rated things, it's directed right towards you. Synopsis by MAL:

"Fuu Kasumi is a young and clumsy waitress who spends her days peacefully working in a small teahouse. That is, until she accidentally spills a drink all over one of her customers! With a group of samurai now incessantly harassing her, Fuu desperately calls upon another samurai in the shop, Mugen, who quickly defeats them with his wild fighting technique, utilizing movements reminiscent to that of breakdancing. Unfortunately, Mugen decides to pick a fight with the unwilling ronin Jin, who wields a more precise and traditional style of swordfighting, and the latter proves to be a formidable opponent. The only problem is, they end up destroying the entire shop as well as accidentally killing the local magistrate's son.

For their crime, the two samurai are captured and set to be executed. However, they are rescued by Fuu, who hires the duo as her bodyguards. Though she no longer has a place to return to, the former waitress wishes to find a certain samurai who smells of sunflowers and enlists the help of the now exonerated pair to do so. Despite initially disapproving of this idea, the two eventually agree to assist the girl in her quest; thus, the trio embark upon an adventure to find this mysterious warrior—that is, if Fuu can keep Mugen and Jin from killing each other.

Set in an alternate Edo Period of Japan, Samurai Champloo follows the journey of these three eccentric individuals in an epic quest full of action, comedy, and dynamic sword fighting, all set to the beat of a unique hip-hop infused soundtrack."

Attack on Titan (Dark-Fantasy/Post Apocalyptic)

One of the most popular anime in the recent years, and a must-see if you're looking to watch all the mainstream anime. I use mainstream, but not in derogatory way, Attack on Titan gained it's popularity because of it's no-holds-barred action scenes that hold back no punches. There will be blood, plenty of it, if you're the squeamish type of person, stay away from this anime. Not only is the action amazing, but the characters as fleshed out and the story keeps you wanting for more, similar to many of the other anime I've mentioned on this list.

Synopsis on MAL:

"Centuries ago, mankind was slaughtered to near extinction by monstrous humanoid creatures called titans, forcing humans to hide in fear behind enormous concentric walls. What makes these giants truly terrifying is that their taste for human flesh is not born out of hunger but what appears to be out of pleasure. To ensure their survival, the remnants of humanity began living within defensive barriers, resulting in one hundred years without a single titan encounter. However, that fragile calm is soon shattered when a colossal titan manages to breach the supposedly impregnable outer wall, reigniting the fight for survival against the man-eating abominations. After witnessing a horrific personal loss at the hands of the invading creatures, Eren Yeager dedicates his life to their eradication by enlisting into the Survey Corps, an elite military unit that combats the merciless humanoids outside the protection of the walls. Based on Hajime Isayama's award-winning manga, Shingeki no Kyojin follows Eren, along with his adopted sister Mikasa Ackerman and his childhood friend Armin Arlert, as they join the brutal war against the titans and race to discover a way of defeating them before the last walls are breached."

Parasyte (Dark-Fantasy/Phsychological Thriller)

Another anime that will keep you thinking is a more recent popular show Parasyte. Focusing on elements on death, finding ones-self, and what being human really is, Parasyte is a wierd, yet through provoking anime that has a wonderful story and follows it's source (the Manga) perfectly. This anime has a good mix of action, a glimpse of eastern culture, and even politics that makes it a perfect entryway anime, given you have a strong stomach. This anime is a perfect example of how anime is not directed to just children, but adults as well.

Synopsis by MAL:

"All of a sudden, they arrived: parasitic aliens that descended upon Earth and quickly infiltrated humanity by burrowing into the brains of vulnerable targets. These insatiable beings acquire full control of their host and are able to morph into a variety of forms in order to feed on unsuspecting prey. Sixteen-year-old high school student Shinichi Izumi falls victim to one of these parasites, but it fails to take over his brain, ending up in his right hand instead. Unable to relocate, the parasite, now named Migi, has no choice but to rely on Shinichi in order to stay alive. Thus, the pair is forced into an uneasy coexistence and must defend themselves from hostile parasites that hope to eradicate this new threat to their species."

Studio Ghibli Movies

Studio Ghibli movies are one of the best ways to get into the world of anime without having to spend a ton of time watching multiple different series. Owned by Disney, many of the films have been shown worldwide in theaters including Spirited Away, Ponyo, and The Secret World of Arriety. Now, each of the films have their own stories, and thus they are all different genre, but, they all have a very fun theme to them, and have great voice acting and stories in themselves. Some notable examples:

Spirited Away Howl's Moving Castle Kiki's Delivery Service

My Neighbor Totoro Princess Mononoke Nausicaaa of the Valley of The Wind

I hope this helped any of you who were looking to get into the medium of Anime, or are looking to bond with your children. If you like this article, please share it and like/share our page on facebook. We'd greatly appreciate it, and we look forward to writing more.

#Anime #Parents