My 13-year-old got me into anime. Not the other way around. She started drawing anime characters in fifth grade, and one night she asked if we could watch Demon Slayer together. I figured it was a cartoon. Twenty minutes in, a demon ripped someone’s head off.
That was three years ago. Since then, anime has become our family thing. My son (11) watches Dragon Ball with me on weekends. My daughter and I binged Solo Leveling. We all watched My Hero Academia together during a power outage last winter, huddled around a laptop.
The problem is figuring out what to watch. Age ratings on anime are useless. A show rated TV-14 might have mild slapstick comedy. Another TV-14 show has graphic decapitations. So I started keeping track of what works in my house, what to skip, and where to watch everything. This is that list.
Quick Navigation
- What We Watch in My House
- Best for Family Viewing (Ages 10+)
- For Older Teens (Ages 14+)
- Where to Watch (2026)
- What’s Next
What We Watch in My House
These are shows I’ve actually watched with my kids. Not recommendations from a list. Real opinions from sitting on the couch together.
Dragon Ball (All Ages)
I grew up watching Dragon Ball Z after school. Goku vs. Frieza was the first time I stayed up past midnight on a school night. So when my son turned 9, I started him on the original Dragon Ball. He loved it. We moved to Z, then Super, then Daima.
Dragon Ball is the safest anime for families. The violence is cartoonish. Nobody bleeds much. The stakes feel real but the tone stays light. Goku is basically a golden retriever who punches things. Hard to find a better role model for persistence.
Daima just wrapped up in February 2026 and brought back chibi versions of the characters. My son thought it was hilarious. More Dragon Ball content is reportedly in the works, though nothing confirmed yet.
Where to watch: Crunchyroll, Netflix, Hulu. The original Dragon Ball is on Crunchyroll. Z and Super are everywhere.
The manga: If your kid gets hooked, the manga is where the story started. Akira Toriyama’s original 42 volumes hold up. The box sets are the best value.
What We Like Less:
Box sets are bulky if shelf space is limited. Some prefer the 3-in-1 omnibus format for portability.
Why You Are Going to Like it:
Complete original series in one purchase. Includes exclusive poster and booklet. Great value compared to buying volumes individually. This is where the entire Dragon Ball story begins.
Demon Slayer (Ages 11-13+)
This is where honest parenting matters. Demon Slayer is violent. Demons eat people. Characters get decapitated. There’s blood. If you Google “is Demon Slayer appropriate for kids” you’ll get wishy-washy answers. Let me be direct: it depends on your kid.
My 13-year-old handles it fine. She’s been watching since she was 10, and the emotional story hits her harder than the violence. The show is really about a boy trying to save his sister, processing grief, and never giving up on family. My wife, who’s a therapist, actually pointed out how well it handles loss.
My 11-year-old watches it too, but some episodes make him cover his eyes. The Entertainment District arc (Season 2) and Swordsmith Village arc (Season 3) got progressively more intense. Hashira Training (Season 4) dialed it back. The Infinity Castle movie is coming, and based on the manga, it will be the most intense yet.
Tanjiro Kamado is one of the best protagonists in anime. Kind, determined, empathetic. He fights demons but feels sorry for them. That’s a character worth your kid watching.
Where to watch: Netflix, Crunchyroll, Hulu. All four seasons are available. The Mugen Train movie is on Crunchyroll and Netflix.
The manga: 23 volumes, complete. The story is finished, so no waiting for new chapters. The box set includes everything.
What We Like Less:
Heavy box set, not portable. The manga is less colorful than the anime (obviously). Some panels are intense for younger readers.
Why You Are Going to Like it:
Complete series in one purchase, no waiting for volumes. Includes exclusive poster and booklet. The manga has scenes the anime skipped. Great value compared to buying all 23 individually.
My Hero Academia (Ages 12+)
If your kid likes Marvel, start here. My Hero Academia is basically X-Men meets anime. Kids are born with superpowers (called Quirks), and the main character, Izuku Midoriya, is the only one born without one. Then he inherits the greatest power of all. You know the formula. It works.
Both my kids watched this together. It’s less violent than Demon Slayer, more action-focused than Dragon Ball, and the school setting makes it relatable. The villain arcs get dark in later seasons, but it stays within bounds for a 12-year-old.
The final season aired in Fall 2025. Eight seasons total, and the story is complete. No cliffhanger ending, which is rare for anime. The whole thing wraps up.
Where to watch: Crunchyroll, Netflix, Hulu.
The manga: The box set covers the first 20 volumes, which is roughly the first four seasons. A solid way to own the best arcs.
What We Like Less:
Only covers volumes 1-20 of a 40+ volume series. You will need to buy remaining volumes separately. Box is bulky for shelf storage.
Why You Are Going to Like it:
Great entry point covering the best arcs. Exclusive booklet with bonus art. Perfect for kids who already love the anime. Superhero genre makes it accessible for Marvel/DC fans.
Solo Leveling (Ages 13+)
I watch Solo Leveling with my 13-year-old. Not my 11-year-old. The violence is a step above Demon Slayer, with gory battle scenes and genuinely terrifying monsters.
The story is simple and effective: Sung Jinwoo is the weakest hunter in a world full of dungeon gates. After nearly dying, he gets a video game-like leveling system that lets him get stronger. It’s an underdog story with RPG mechanics baked in, and the animation is some of the best I’ve seen.
Two seasons on Crunchyroll. The second season, which aired in early 2025, covered the Jeju Island arc, and it delivered. If your teen plays video games, the leveling system will hook them immediately.
Where to watch: Crunchyroll (exclusive).
The manhwa: Solo Leveling is actually Korean (manhwa, not manga). It reads left-to-right and is full color. The art is stunning.
What We Like Less:
Manhwa reads left-to-right (opposite of manga), which can confuse manga readers at first. Story starts slow before the leveling system kicks in. 13+ for violence.
Why You Are Going to Like it:
Full-color art throughout, unlike most manga. The underdog story hooks readers fast. Perfect test volume before committing to the series. Action sequences are some of the best in any comic.
One Piece (Ages 12+)
Here’s the truth about One Piece: the anime is 1,100+ episodes. Nobody is starting that. What my family did instead was watch the Netflix live-action series, which covered the East Blue saga in 8 episodes. Both kids loved it. My daughter binged it in a day.
The live-action is a great entry point. It captures the spirit of the original without requiring a semester-long commitment. Season 2 is in production. If your kids want more after the live-action, the manga is the way to go, not the anime.
I’ve read the manga myself. The themes of friendship, loyalty, and chasing your dreams hit different when you’re reading it with your kid versus reading it alone in college (which is what I did the first time). Oda’s storytelling gets better with every arc.
Where to watch: Netflix (live-action + anime), Crunchyroll (anime).
The manga: Box Set 1 covers volumes 1-23, which is the East Blue and Baroque Works sagas. Same ground as the live-action Season 1, but with way more detail.
What We Like Less:
23 volumes is just the beginning of a 100+ volume series. Oda’s early art style is rougher than later volumes. Box set is heavy.
Why You Are Going to Like it:
The best way to start One Piece without 1000+ anime episodes. Covers the first major story arcs that hooked millions of readers. Includes exclusive extras. Much faster than watching the anime.
Best for Family Viewing (Ages 10+)
These are shows I can recommend based on research and what I’ve seen my kids and their friends watch. Some I’ve watched parts of, others I know through my daughter who consumes anime like oxygen.
Spy x Family
My daughter watches this on her own and tells me about every episode. A spy needs a fake family for a mission. He adopts a girl who can read minds. He marries a woman who’s secretly an assassin. Nobody knows anyone else’s secret. It’s a comedy, and it’s genuinely funny.
Spy x Family is probably the safest recommendation on this list. Rated TV-14, but the content is closer to PG. Three seasons are out, with more coming. The action is mild, the humor works for all ages, and Anya (the telepath kid) has become one of the most popular characters in anime. Your daughter will want Anya merch within a week.
Where to watch: Crunchyroll, Hulu.
What We Like Less:
Ongoing series with no end date announced. Each volume is short (about 200 pages). Story can feel episodic rather than building to a big climax.
Why You Are Going to Like it:
Genuinely funny for both kids and adults. Clean enough for ages 10+. Great art and expressive characters. Anya is one of the most beloved manga characters in years.
Haikyu!!
A volleyball anime with zero gore, zero fan service, and zero reasons not to watch it with your family. Haikyu!! follows a short kid named Hinata who wants to be a volleyball champion despite being 5’4″. It’s about teamwork, rivalry, and not giving up.
Sports anime works for kids who don’t like typical shonen fighting shows. There are no superpowers, no demons, no death. Just competitive volleyball that somehow makes you care about who wins a high school tournament. The movie “The Dumpster Battle” released in 2024 and was a hit.
Where to watch: Netflix, Hulu, Crunchyroll.
What We Like Less:
Sports manga is not for everyone. Slow start before matches get intense. 45 volumes is a long series commitment.
Why You Are Going to Like it:
Zero violence, pure sports competition. Teaches teamwork and persistence without being preachy. You do not need to know volleyball to enjoy it. 45 volumes of completed story.
Naruto
The classic underdog story. Naruto Uzumaki is an orphan and outcast who dreams of becoming the leader of his ninja village. The early arcs are some of the best in anime: the Chunin Exams, the Zabuza arc, the fight with Gaara. These hold up today.
The catch: Naruto is long. The original series is 220 episodes, and Shippuden adds 500 more. About 40% of those are filler. If you go the anime route, use a filler guide. Better yet, read the manga, which has none of the padding.
Where to watch: Netflix, Crunchyroll.
What We Like Less:
Only Part 1 of Naruto. You need two more box sets to finish Shippuden. 27 volumes is a big commitment upfront.
Why You Are Going to Like it:
Classic shonen manga that defined a generation. 27 volumes with tons of extras (poster, stickers, trading card). Covers the best early arcs: Chunin Exams, Sasuke Retrieval. No filler episodes like the anime.
For Older Teens (Ages 14+)
These shows are worth watching but need maturity. Not appropriate for younger kids.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
If someone asks me “what’s the best anime to start with,” this is the answer. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is 64 episodes of a complete story with a beginning, middle, and end. No filler. No cliffhanger. Two brothers try to bring their mother back from the dead using alchemy. It goes wrong. They spend the series trying to fix it.
The themes are heavy: war, genocide, sacrifice, government corruption. It’s not a kids’ show. But for a 14-year-old, it’s one of the most rewarding stories in any medium. My daughter has it on her list. She’s not quite there yet, but soon.
Where to watch: Crunchyroll, Hulu, Netflix.
What We Like Less:
27 volumes is a significant investment upfront. The manga and Brotherhood anime cover the same story, so owning both may feel redundant.
Why You Are Going to Like it:
Complete story in one box, no waiting. Includes a bonus novel. Widely considered one of the best manga series ever made. Perfect companion to Brotherhood anime.
Jujutsu Kaisen (Ages 16+)
I haven’t watched this one yet. It’s on my radar because it’s the biggest anime trending right now, with Season 3 airing since January 2026. My daughter’s friends are all over it. From what I’ve seen in clips and read about, the violence is a notch above Demon Slayer. Cursed spirits, body horror, characters dying in shocking ways.
The manga finished in 2024 at 29 volumes, and the anime is adapting the final arcs now. I’m including it because your teen will ask about it. My honest take: 16+ for the anime, maybe 14+ for the manga where you can control the pacing.
Where to watch: Crunchyroll (exclusive).
What We Like Less:
Different protagonist than the main series (Yuta vs Yuji). Very dark themes and violence, not for younger readers. Only one volume, so it ends quickly.
Why You Are Going to Like it:
Great starting point, works as a standalone story. Adapted into a hit movie. Sets up the world before the main series. Shorter commitment than jumping into the full series.
What to Skip for Family Viewing
Attack on Titan is the one that comes up most. It’s a masterpiece. It’s also extremely violent, with graphic death scenes, psychological horror, and themes of war and genocide that would overwhelm most kids under 16. I’ve watched it myself. Would not put it on with my 11-year-old in the room.
Other anime to hold off on: Chainsaw Man (gore, sexual content), Tokyo Ghoul (body horror), and Vinland Saga (realistic medieval violence). All great shows. All for older audiences.
Where to Watch Anime in 2026
Three services cover almost everything. Here’s what you actually need to know.
Crunchyroll ($7.99/month) has the largest anime library and gets new episodes the same day they air in Japan. If your family watches anime regularly, this is the one to get. Solo Leveling and Jujutsu Kaisen are exclusive here. Dubbed and subbed options for most shows.
Netflix is where casual viewers start. Smaller anime library, but the UI is family-friendly and most shows have English dubs. The One Piece live-action is here. Dragon Ball, Demon Slayer, and My Hero Academia are all available. If you already have Netflix, you have enough anime to start.
Hulu bundles with Disney+ and ESPN+, which makes it practical for families already in that ecosystem. Good anime selection, though it overlaps heavily with Crunchyroll. My Hero Academia and Spy x Family are both here.
My setup: Netflix for casual family watching, Crunchyroll for the anime my daughter and I watch weekly. That covers everything on this list.
What’s Next
If your family is getting into anime and wants to explore the source material, check out our Dragon Ball manga reading order guide for a complete breakdown of every series and box set.
We’re working on more manga reading order guides for Demon Slayer, One Piece, and Naruto. The manga versions of these shows often have content the anime skipped, and they’re a great way to get kids reading.
FAQ
Some anime is made specifically for children, while other series contain graphic violence and mature themes. Unlike Western animation, “anime” covers every genre and age range. Shows like Dragon Ball and Spy x Family are fine for ages 10+. Others like Attack on Titan and Chainsaw Man are strictly for older teens and adults. Always check the specific show before watching.
Dragon Ball is the safest starting point for a 10-year-old. The violence is cartoonish, the humor is kid-friendly, and the story about persistence and friendship holds up across generations. Spy x Family and Haikyu!! are also great choices with even milder content. All three are available on Crunchyroll and Netflix.
Demon Slayer contains graphic violence including decapitations, blood, and intense battle scenes. It’s rated TV-MA in some regions. For most kids under 11, it’s too intense. For kids 12-13 who have watched action movies and can handle animated violence, it may be appropriate. The emotional story about family and perseverance is excellent, but parents should watch a few episodes first to judge for their own child.
Crunchyroll has the largest anime library with over 1,000 titles and gets simulcast episodes the same day they air in Japan. It costs $7.99 per month. Netflix has a smaller but growing anime selection and is better for casual viewers who want English dubs. Hulu has a solid anime library and bundles with Disney+.
Watch together, at least at first. Anime covers heavy topics like death, sacrifice, and loss that can spark good conversations. Watching together also lets you gauge whether the content is appropriate for your child. Once you know a show is within your comfort zone, letting them watch independently is fine. My daughter watches Spy x Family on her own, but we watch Demon Slayer and Solo Leveling together.
Attack on Titan (extreme violence and war themes), Chainsaw Man (gore and sexual content), Tokyo Ghoul (body horror), and Vinland Saga (realistic medieval violence) are popular anime that are not suitable for family viewing. These are aimed at older teens and adults. Stick with Dragon Ball, Spy x Family, or My Hero Academia for family-friendly options.