This post was originally written for the November 2018 (and revival) issue of Mangaverse, the anime, manga, and comics ‘zine published by the National Fantasy Fan Federation (N3F) which I am currently in charge of editing. If you are interested in contributing to Mangaverse, please contact me at jessi@s1e1.com. I am always on the lookout for writers and artists!
This post has been minimally edited to include hyperlinks, as well as for some minor spelling/grammatical corrections.
Though the Winter holidays are still a ways off, the snow has already been falling here in Minnesota. It makes me want to curl up under a blanket with a cup of tea and some good anime to watch. Obviously as the icy wind whistles outside, not just any anime will do. This time of the year calls for the type of anime that prompts warm feelings in viewers. Here are a few of my favorite anime that I like to watch when I need that “cozy” feeling.
Natsume’s Book of Friends
Takashi Natsume can see yokai, a skill that has always caused him strife and driven others from him. When he’s adopted by some of his distant relatives, he begins to learn more about his grandmother, who also had this supernatural ability. Reiko Natsume kept a “book of friends,” a list of names of the yokai she defeated. Takashi, with the help of the cat-shaped spirit Nyanko-Sensei, returns the names of the yokai to their owners and begins to learn more about his family’s history.
While this series features its share of emotional intensity and moderate peril for its protagonist, it’s also an anime that, above all else, shows that Takashi’s kindness and warmth are often preferable to the weaponized exorcisms that his antagonists use to battle yokai. This is also a series that, like many Japanese anime, makes atmospheric use of the passing seasons. The sultry heat of Summer, the colors of autumn, and yes, even the softly-falling snow of winter, feature heavily as supplementary mood imagery throughout the show’s six seasons (and likely its upcoming feature film as well).
The entire series is available to watch at Crunchyroll.com. The first four seasons were released on DVD by NISA
Ristorante Paradiso
20-something Nicoletta travels to Rome to confront her absentee mother, who left her behind to marry a man. When she arrives that the restaurant her mother co-owns with her husband, Nicoletta is taken by surprise; the restaurant is staffed almost entirely by attractive middle-aged men in glasses, which is apparently one of her mother’s peculiar preferences. Nicoletta’s angry confrontation quickly morphs into a cooking internship opportunity, and eventually she finds herself falling for Claudio, one of the waiters (and recently-divorced).
May-December romance aside (though, even as someone uninterested in those sorts of things in real-life I was thoroughly convinced by this example!), this series based on the manga of the same title by quirky author Natsume Ono, is the definition of atmospheric warmth. Not only does delicious food and wine feature heavily in the show, it also portrays gentle and humanizing character relationships with good humor and a palatable doses of drama. If you’re in the mood for a romantic dinner over flickering candlelight (or just a quiet night in alone), this is the perfect helping of wit, warmth, and grown-up sensibilities.
The series is available to watch at Crunchyroll.com and for DVD purchase from publisher Lucky Penny.
Flying Witch
Makoto Kowata is a 15-year-old recently-graduated witch who moves to Aomori Prefecture to live with her relatives and finish her high school education. While there she hones her magical skills and interacts with the many magical aspects of her adoptive home. She even inspires her young cousin, Chinatsu, to become interested in natural magic and following in Makoto’s magical footsteps.
Fans may complain about anime series that “don’t have a plot,” but those are rarely as inherently charming as Flying Witch. While the show is decidedly light on story elements or conflict, it has a singular handle on its portrayal of natural magic and the inherent humor of a world in which magical spells are possible (and even useful!… sometimes). Aomori’s semi-rural setting is almost a character itself, providing a backdrop that feels as though it cold be populated by friendly spirits and magical creatures alike. And little Chinatsu steals every scene with her child-like reactions and sense of humor.
The series is available streaming on Crunchyroll.com and Hidive.com. The series is available on disc from publisher Sentai Filmworks.
Girls’ Last Tour
Years of war have brought society to its twilight years. To escape the deadly conflict, Chito and Yuuri, along with their all-terrain vehicle, are sent away to wander the desolate world and find some way to survive. They travel through the broken-down landscape in search of fuel and food, and through doing so rediscover the wonder of some of the things humanity has since lost.
It may seem odd to label a post-apocalyptic tale as “comforting,” but Girls’ Last Tour is an anime series of many odd contradictions. While the atmosphere of the series is at times melancholy, it is also defined by its main characters’ adventures in rediscovery and their behavior, which mirrors that of almost any other teenage friends – past, present, or future. There is also an element of quiet that permeates the series; without other characters around the echoes of the characters’ voices between vacant buildings and the crunch of their boots in the constantly-falling snow are striking. This may not be comfort food for everyone, but for those who can handle some bitter with their sweet I recommend it highly.
The series is available streaming on Amazon Prime and Hidive.com. The series will be available on disc from publisher Sentai Filmworks in January 2019.
Laid-Back Camp – Read my Series Review
Nadeshiko has little experience out in the wilderness, so when a trip to see Mount Fuji takes a turn due to weather, she doesn’t know what to do. Luckily she meets Rin, a girl her age who’s an experienced camper. Though Rin is a bit of a loner, she and Nadeshiko strike up a friendship that inspires Nadeshiko to join their school’s outdoors club. While both girls enjoy camping in their own way, through their relationship they both learn to appreciate the experience of roughing-it outdoors.
Laid-Back Camp is the quintessential relaxation anime; set against the backdrop of Mount Fuji and the colorful autumn leaves, the characters do nothing more but enjoy each-other’s company, learn about camping gear, cook great food over a campfire, and sleep in tents and sleeping bags. There’s really not that much too it, but what’s there is chicken soup for the soul aimed with pin-point accuracy. As someone who’s apprehensive about going outside most of the time, this series’ portrayal of cool-weather camping even started to wear down my resolve.
The entire series is available to watch at Crunchyroll.com.
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As fans with different tastes, what’s comforting for one of us might lack that special warmth for someone else. I encourage you to think about the anime that brings you joy and to enjoy it as you watch the snowflakes accumulate (or, if you live in a warmer climate, as you get the opportunity for a nice quiet day to yourself).