7 Anime to Watch Based on Your Favorite TV Shows

We’ve had a lot of time to binge TV lately. People have sped through countless seasons and series and still continue to tear through Netflix getting their television fill. You might be worried about running out of things to watch. Don’t worry, there’s an offbeat option you may not have thought of yet.

Anime is an amazing medium. It can be for all ages, have all sorts of art styles and genre differences, and offer something for everyone. If you’re looking for something new and exciting, allow me to offer some animated options. Whatever you love to watch, there’s an anime out there for you to enjoy.

Romantic Comedy: Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun (Think New Girl or Never Have I Ever)

Nozaki-kun is hilarious. It’s a school setting, a girl interested in a completely oblivious guy, and their cast of insane and over the top friends to round things out. Whether it’s Chiyo’s internal breakdowns about Nozaki’s charms, or Nozaki’s absolutely ridiculous antics when it comes to writing his manga, the characters will always make you laugh. This one is also on Netflix, so it’s easy for you to put on and watch.

All the Comedy: Mr. Osomatsu (Think It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia or South Park)

This is one of my favorite shows at the moment. The 25 episodes of Mr. Osomatsu have no plot whatsoever, instead focusing on the wild antics of the lazy idiotic Matsuno sextuplets. They’re dumb and selfish, but it makes for some of the funniest stuff you’ll ever see. What makes is so great is that one second you’ll get witty wordplay and meta humor, and not a minute later it’s all about penis jokes. It’s such a fun comedy with every type of humor under the sun, and it’s easily available on Amazon Prime Video.

Teen/Dystopian: The Promised Neverland (Think The 100 and Stranger Things)

In TV and film, dystopian is a drama we love to see. The Promised Neverland has some horror and mystery elements that make it thrilling and terrifying to watch. It centers around children being raised in an orphanage out in the country. Occasionally, a child is sent out to be adopted. When protagonists Emma and Norman find out what happens to the “adopted” children, it sets the unnerving dystopian factor up to 100. You’ll be on the edge of your seat with this one.

Superhero: One Punch Man (Think The Boys and WandaVision)

The superhero genre is heavily saturated at this point, so why not watch a badass, off the wall superhero anime to spice it up? One Punch Man is all about taking superhero conventions and tropes and poking fun of them. It’s a show about a hero who can defeat anyone with one punch. You know Superman? He’s got nothing on the protagonist Saitama. You’ll have a ton of laughs and even more hype action that will keep you watching one episode after the other. Check this one out of Netflix.

Emotional Drama: Violet Evergarden (Think This Is Us or Downton Abbey)

We love dramatic shows, especially ones with fleshed out characters and heartfelt emotions. Violet Evergarden delivers this, with a small dose of action, Victiorian/steampunk-esque designs, and more. You’ll weep watching this one, and be invested in the character arc of the titular Violet within the opening minutes of the show. It’s beautiful to look at as well, and will give you an immense appreciation for anime and the artistic talent that goes into it. This one is also a Netflix original.

Medical Shows: Cells at Work (Think Scrubs or House)

The medical/hospital genre has been around forever, and like the superhero genre, it’s heavily saturated. Enter Cells at Work, a fresh, intelligent anime that will make you laugh and learn a little bit about the body while doing it. Cells at Work take’s place in the human body, with the main characters being a red blood cell and a white blood cell. It’s a creative way to show how people fights disease, and in a strange way, will make you appreciate the processes that go on in your own body. What's more, this is another one available on Netflix.

Family Friendly: How to Keep a Mummy (Think Disney channel, all the Disney channel)

This is one of the sweetest anime out there. It’s quirky and cute, and it’s literally all about what it says in the title. It’s all about a group of high schoolers and the various little creature that come into their lives to make changes for the better. There are sweet little lessons about friendship, and it’s something totally kid friendly. It’s a fun watch to enjoy with company, with low stakes and all the warm and fuzzy feelings.

Anime is an amazing medium. There are so many diverse shows to watch and enjoy, hopefully one of the above managed to grab your attention. Happy watching!