Top Chibi Anime Recommendations

Kimetsu no Yaiba

Also known as Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.

Studio: ufotable
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Supernatural

It is the Taisho Period in Japan. Tanjiro, a kindhearted boy who sells charcoal for a living, finds his family slaughtered by a demon. To make matters worse, his younger sister Nezuko, the sole survivor, has been transformed into a demon herself. Though devastated by this grim reality, Tanjiro resolves to become a “demon slayer” so that he can turn his sister back into a human, and kill the demon that massacred his family.



Tags: Demons , Shounen , Swordplay , Male Protagonist , Tragedy , Primarily Teen Cast , Monster Girl , Revenge , Travel , CGI , Gore , Primarily Male Cast , Orphan , Mythology , Slapstick , Rural , Historical , Rotoscoping , Super Power , Body Horror , Coming of Age , Chibi , Time Skip , Snowscape

Hagane no Renkinjutsushi: FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST

Also known as Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.

Studio: bones
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Fantasy

"In order for something to be obtained, something of equal value must be lost."

Alchemy is bound by this Law of Equivalent Exchange—something the young brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric only realize after attempting human transmutation: the one forbidden act of alchemy. They pay a terrible price for their transgression—Edward loses his left leg, Alphonse his physical body. It is only by the desperate sacrifice of Edward's right arm that he is able to affix Alphonse's soul to a suit of armor. Devastated and alone, it is the hope that they would both eventually return to their original bodies that gives Edward the inspiration to obtain metal limbs called "automail" and become a state alchemist, the Fullmetal Alchemist.

Three years of searching later, the brothers seek the Philosopher's Stone, a mythical relic that allows an alchemist to overcome the Law of Equivalent Exchange. Even with military allies Colonel Roy Mustang, Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye, and Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes on their side, the brothers find themselves caught up in a nationwide conspiracy that leads them not only to the true nature of the elusive Philosopher's Stone, but their country's murky history as well. In between finding a serial killer and racing against time, Edward and Alphonse must ask themselves if what they are doing will make them human again... or take away their humanity.



Tags: Alchemy , Conspiracy , Military , War , Tragedy , Shounen , Politics , Male Protagonist , Philosophy , Ensemble Cast , Coming of Age , Super Power , Fugitive , Foreign , Gods , Cyborg , Steampunk , Disability , Necromancy , Lost Civilization , Dissociative Identities , Anachronism , Revenge , Travel , Chimera , Primarily Male Cast , Religion , Gore , Body Horror , Slapstick , Kuudere , Demons , Trains , Chibi , Adoption , Guns , Tomboy , Cannibalism , Swordplay , Desert , Heterosexual , Tanned Skin , Crossdressing , Shapeshifting , Vore , Tsundere , Snowscape

Horimiya

Also known as Horimiya.

Studio: CloverWorks
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Romance , Slice of Life

A secret life is the one thing they have in common. At school, Hori is a prim and perfect social butterfly, but the truth is she's a brash homebody. Meanwhile, under a gloomy facade, Miyamura hides a gentle heart, along with piercings and tattoos. In a chance meeting, they both reveal a side they've never shown. Could this blossom into something new?



Tags: School , Family Life , Male Protagonist , Female Protagonist , Heterosexual , Ensemble Cast , Coming of Age , Primarily Teen Cast , Tsundere , Slapstick , Love Triangle , Shounen , Bullying , Episodic , Masochism , Sadism , Chibi

Made in Abyss

Also known as Made in Abyss.

Studio: Kinema Citrus
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Horror , Mystery , Sci-Fi

The "Abyss" is the last unexplored place in the world. Strange and wonderful creatures roam within, and it is full of precious relics that present humans can't recreate. Those that dare to explore the depths are known as "Cave Raiders." An orphan girl named Riko lives on the rim. Her dream is to become a Cave Raider like her mother and solve the mysteries of the cave system. One day, Riko starts exploring the caves and discovers a robot who resembles a human boy.



Note: The last episode aired with a runtime of ~48 minutes as opposed to the standard 24 minute long episode.

Tags: Survival , Primarily Child Cast , Environmental , Travel , Chibi , Body Horror , Philosophy , Tragedy , Lost Civilization , Dungeon , Seinen , Female Protagonist , Gore , Amnesia , Cosmic Horror , Robots , Male Protagonist , Steampunk , Outdoor , Anthropomorphism , Femboy , Food , Orphan , Tanned Skin , Agender , Religion , Rehabilitation , Crossdressing , Maids , Dissociative Identities , School , Time Manipulation , Conspiracy

Fruits Basket: 1st Season

Also known as Fruits Basket (2019).

Studio: TMS Entertainment
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance , Slice of Life , Supernatural

Tohru Honda thought her life was headed for misfortune when a family tragedy left her living in a tent. When her small home is discovered by the mysterious Soma clan, she suddenly finds herself living with Yuki, Kyo, and Shigure Soma. But she quickly learns their family has a bizarre secret of their own: when hugged by the opposite sex, they turn into the animals of the Zodiac!



Tags: Found Family , Female Protagonist , Family Life , Shoujo , Fairy Tale , Mythology , Coming of Age , Primarily Teen Cast , Urban Fantasy , Ensemble Cast , Orphan , Shapeshifting , Rehabilitation , Animals , Primarily Male Cast , School , Episodic , Slapstick , Bullying , Heterosexual , Male Harem , Unrequited Love , Denpa , Kuudere , Memory Manipulation , Tsundere , Love Triangle , Homeless , Yandere , Agriculture , School Club , Nekomimi , Kemonomimi , Femboy , LGBTQ+ Themes , Crossdressing , Body Horror , Gangs , Gender Bending , Delinquents , Amnesia , Suicide , Nudity , Chibi , Card Battle

Kaichou wa Maid-sama!

Also known as Maid-Sama!.

Studio: J.C. Staff
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance

Being the first female student council president isn't easy, especially when your school just transitioned from an all boys high school to a co-ed one. Aptly nicknamed "Demon President" by the boys for her strict disciplinary style, Misaki Ayuzawa is not afraid to use her mastery of Aikido techniques to cast judgment onto the hordes of misbehaving boys and defend the girls at Seika High School.

Yet even the perfect Ayuzawa has an embarrassing secret—she works part-time as a maid at a maid café to help her struggling family pay the bills. She has managed to keep her job hidden from her fellow students and maintained her flawless image as a stellar student until one day, Takumi Usui, the most popular boy in school, walks into the maid café. He could destroy her reputation with her secret... or he could twist the student council president around his little finger and use her secret as an opportunity to get closer to her.



Tags: Shoujo , Female Protagonist , School , Maids , Work , Tsundere , Primarily Teen Cast , Heterosexual , Episodic , School Club , Femboy , Otaku Culture , Love Triangle , Restaurant , Chibi , Kuudere , Crossdressing

Hagane no Renkinjutsushi

Also known as Fullmetal Alchemist.

Studio: bones
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Fantasy

The rules of alchemy state that to gain something, one must lose something of equal value. Alchemy is the process of taking apart and reconstructing an object into a different entity, with the rules of alchemy to govern this procedure. However, there exists an object that can bring any alchemist above these rules, the object known as the Philosopher's Stone. The young Edward Elric is a particularly talented alchemist who through an accident years back lost his younger brother Alphonse and one of his legs. Sacrificing one of his arms as well, he used alchemy to bind his brother's soul to a suit of armor. This lead to the beginning of their journey to restore their bodies, in search for the legendary Philosopher's Stone.

Note: Episodes 11, 12 and 37 were adapted from the light novel "Fullmetal Alchemist: The Land of Sand."

Tags: Alchemy , Magic , Philosophy , Tragedy , Male Protagonist , Military , Coming of Age , Shounen , Travel , War , Alternate Universe , Disability , Steampunk , Body Horror , Conspiracy , Chimera , Slapstick , Foreign , Cyborg , Chibi , Anti-Hero , Religion , Trains , Isekai , Lost Civilization , Guns

Kuroshitsuji

Also known as Black Butler.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Fantasy , Mystery , Supernatural

In Victorian-era Europe, a young boy loses everything he once held near and dear to a vicious plot. In his moment of death, he strikes a deal with a demon: his soul, in exchange for revenge. Ciel Phantomhive is now the head of the Phantomhive corporation, handling all business affairs as well as the underground work for the Queen of England. His new partner is a demon butler, Sebastian Michaelis, whose powers as a butler is only surpassed by his strength as a demon.

The story follows the two along with their other servants, as they work to unravel the plot behind Ciel's parents' murder, and the horrendous tragedies that befell Ciel in the month directly after.

Tags: Butler , Crime , Tragedy , Demons , Revenge , Historical , Anti-Hero , Male Protagonist , Foreign , Gender Bending , Detective , Assassins , Mythology , Food , Kuudere , Transgender , Angels , Primarily Male Cast , Episodic , Shounen , Agender , Crossdressing , Ninja , Chibi , Ghost

Ouran Koukou Host Club

Also known as Ouran High School Host Club.

Studio: bones
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

Fujioka Haruhi wins a scholarship to attend Ouran Academy, a school reserved for only the most rich and prestigious. Despite what other students may think of her, she cares little for physical appearances or the fact that she is a commoner.

Unfortunately for Haruhi, her high school days take a sudden turn when she stumbles upon the Host Club, an elite club filled with super rich and beautiful boys who use their specific traits and charms to entertain young ladies. Even worse, Haruhi accidentally breaks an 8-million yen vase in the club. Since she is unable to repay her debt with money, Haruhi finds herself with no choice but to work for the Host Club, becoming a male host herself.

Tags: School Club , Shoujo , Parody , Crossdressing , School , Female Protagonist , Primarily Teen Cast , Male Harem , Primarily Male Cast , Ensemble Cast , Tomboy , Cute Boys Doing Cute Things , Surreal Comedy , Femboy , Meta , Episodic , Twins , LGBTQ+ Themes , Mixed Gender Harem , Heterosexual , Found Family , Love Triangle , Unrequited Love , Chibi , Ojou-sama , Food , Martial Arts , Delinquents , Gangs , Yakuza

ReLIFE

Also known as ReLIFE.

Studio: TMS Entertainment
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

The story follows Kaizaki Arata, a 27-year-old jobless man, who fails at every job interview he had after quitting his last company. His life changes after he met Yoake Ryou of the ReLife Research Institute, who offered him a drug that can change his appearance to 17-years-old and to become a subject in an experiment for one year. Thus, he begins his life as a high school student once more.

Tags: Rehabilitation , Age Regression , School , Memory Manipulation , Male Protagonist , Time Manipulation , Heterosexual , Primarily Teen Cast , Coming of Age , Seinen , Hikikomori , Kuudere , Age Gap , Work , Chibi , Slapstick , Tragedy , Acting , Volleyball

Mahoutsukai no Yome

Also known as The Ancient Magus' Bride.

Studio: Wit Studio
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Romance , Slice of Life , Supernatural

Chise Hatori has lived a life full of neglect and abuse, devoid of anything resembling love. Far from the warmth of family, she has had her share of troubles and pitfalls. Just when all hope seems lost, a fateful encounter awaits her. When a man with the head of a beast, wielding strange powers, obtains her through a slave auction, Chise's life will never be the same again.



Tags: Magic , Female Protagonist , Fairy , Mythology , Monster Boy , Urban Fantasy , Teacher , Skeleton , Heterosexual , Tragedy , Dragons , Foreign , Age Gap , Philosophy , Primarily Adult Cast , Shapeshifting , Rural , Chimera , Body Horror , Suicide , Gore , Travel , Marriage , Slavery , Shounen , Witch , Male Harem , Chibi , Tanned Skin

Kimi ni Todoke

Also known as Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You.

Studio: Production I.G
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

Kuronuma Sawako is completely misunderstood by her classmates. Her timid and sweet demeanor is often mistaken for malicious behavior. This is due to her resemblance to the ghost girl from "The Ring", which has led her peers to give her the nickname Sadako. Longing to make friends and live a normal life, she is naturally drawn to Kazehaya Shouta, the most popular guy in class, whose "100% refreshing" personality earns him great admiration from Sawako. So when Kazehaya starts talking to her, maybe there is hope for the friendships Sawako has always longed for. Maybe...there is even a little hope for some romance in her future.

Tags: Shoujo , Female Protagonist , School , Coming of Age , Primarily Teen Cast , Heterosexual , Kuudere , Love Triangle , Bullying , Tsundere , Chibi , Tomboy , Unrequited Love , Gyaru , Baseball , Football

Hataraku Saibou

Also known as Cells at Work!.

Studio: David Production
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Sci-Fi

The average human body contains about 60 trillion cells, and each of them has work to do! But when you get injured, viruses or bacteria invade, or when an allergic reaction flares up, everyone from the silent but deadly white blood cells to the brainy neurons has to work together to get through the crisis!



Tags: Educational , Work , Medicine , Episodic , Anthropomorphism , Female Protagonist , Slapstick , Primarily Adult Cast , Ensemble Cast , Gore , Shounen , Chibi , Tragedy , CGI

Bocchi the Rock!

Also known as BOCCHI THE ROCK!.

Studio: CloverWorks
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Music , Slice of Life

Hitori Gotou, “Bocchi-chan,” is a girl who’s so introverted and shy around people that she’d always start her conversations with “Ah...”

During her middle school years, she started playing the guitar, wanting to join a band because she thought it could be an opportunity for even someone shy like her to also shine. But because she had no friends, she ended up practicing guitar for six hours every day all by herself. After becoming a skilled guitar player, she uploaded videos of herself playing the guitar to the internet under the name “Guitar Hero” and fantasized about performing at her school’s cultural festival concert. But not only could she not find any bandmates, before she knew it, she was in high school and still wasn’t able to make a single friend!

She was really close to becoming a shut-in, but one day, Nijika Ijichi, the drummer in Kessoku Band, reached out to her. And because of that, her everyday life started to change little by little...



Tags: Band , Female Protagonist , Primarily Female Cast , Primarily Teen Cast , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Coming of Age , Hikikomori , Rock Music , Rehabilitation , Surreal Comedy , Meta , Slapstick , Work , School , LGBTQ+ Themes , Rotoscoping , Chibi , Yuri

Vanitas no Carte

Also known as The Case Study of Vanitas.

Studio: bones
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Mystery , Supernatural

It’s 19th-century Paris, and young vampire Noé hunts for the Book of Vanitas. Attacked by a vampire driven insane, a human intercedes, rescues Noé, and heals the sick creature. Commanding the book and calling himself Vanitas, this doctor tempts Noé with a mad crusade to “cure” the entire vampire race. Allying with one who wields arcane power so easily may be dangerous, but does he have a choice?



Tags: Vampire , Male Protagonist , Conspiracy , Foreign , Steampunk , Tragedy , Anti-Hero , Primarily Adult Cast , Heterosexual , Anachronism , Tsundere , Historical , Gore , Chibi , Tanned Skin , Religion , Shounen , Assassins , Surreal Comedy , Primarily Male Cast , Henshin , Coming of Age , Drugs , Adoption , LGBTQ+ Themes

Blend S

Also known as BLEND-S.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Slice of Life

The story centers on a girl named Maika who gets a job at a cafe where all the waitresses are given certain attributes — such as "tsundere" or "little sister" — to embody while serving customers. The manager asks Maika to be the "Do S" (extreme sadist) waitress, so she will have to adopt a dominant and aggressive persona.



Tags: Work , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Female Protagonist , Primarily Female Cast , Sadism , Restaurant , Maids , Tsundere , Cosplay , Masochism , Urban , Femboy , Crossdressing , Otaku Culture , Slapstick , Heterosexual , Age Gap , Meta , Seinen , Male Protagonist , Chibi , Kuudere

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni

Also known as When They Cry.

Studio: Studio DEEN
Status: Finished
Genres: Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Supernatural , Thriller

After moving into the quiet town of Hinamizawa, Maebara Keiichi spends his days blissfully in school often playing games with his local friends. However, appearances can be deceiving. One fateful day, Keiichi stumbles upon news of a murder that had occurred in Hinamizawa. From this point on, horrific events unfold in front of Keiichi, as he soon learns his close friends may not be all that they seem. Based on the amateur mystery game by 07th Expansion, the story is told in a series of different scenarios.

Tags: Denpa , Alternate Universe , Time Manipulation , Ensemble Cast , Tragedy , Rural , Conspiracy , Achronological Order , Gore , Time Loop , Chibi , Body Horror , Bullying , Torture , Male Protagonist , Yandere , Twins , Urban Fantasy , Mythology , Pandemic , Primarily Female Cast , Cosmic Horror , School Club , Primarily Teen Cast , Shrine Maiden , Police , Female Protagonist , Historical , Board Game , Crossdressing

Gake no Ue no Ponyo

Also known as Ponyo.

Studio: Studio Ghibli
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Fantasy

A young boy named Sosuke rescues a goldfish named Ponyo, and they embark on a fantastic journey of friendship and discovery before Ponyo's father, a powerful sorcerer, forces her to return to her home in the sea. But Ponyo's desire to be human upsets the delicate balance of nature and triggers a gigantic storm. Only Ponyo's mother, a beautiful sea goddess, can restore nature's balance and make Ponyo's dreams come true.



Tags: Environmental , Primarily Child Cast , Rural , Magic , Coastal , Anthropomorphism , Natural Disaster , Urban Fantasy , Ships , Female Protagonist , Family Life , Kids , Male Protagonist , Gods , Swimming , Mermaid , Chibi

Kusuriya no Hitorigoto

Also known as The Apothecary Diaries.

Studio: OLM , TOHO animation STUDIO
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery

Maomao lived a peaceful life with her apothecary father. Until one day, she’s sold as a lowly servant to the emperor’s palace. But she wasn’t meant for a compliant life among royalty. So when imperial heirs fall ill, she decides to step in and find a cure! This catches the eye of Jinshi, a handsome palace official who promotes her. Now, she’s making a name for herself solving medical mysteries!



Tags: Female Protagonist , Medicine , Historical , Foreign , Detective , Conspiracy , Drugs , Ancient China , Politics , Work , Royal Affairs , Primarily Adult Cast , Adoption , Heterosexual , Unrequited Love , Alchemy , Maids , Tragedy , Episodic , Food , Slavery , Chibi , Asexual , Go , Seinen

Himouto! Umaru-chan

Studio: Doga Kobo
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Slice of Life

The sibling gag comedy manga centers around Umaru, Taihei's little sister who boasts beautiful looks as well as prowess in both school and sports. However, "Himouto" (beautiful little sister) has a certain secret.



Tags: Otaku Culture , Chibi , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Family Life , Female Protagonist , Primarily Female Cast , Urban , Ensemble Cast , Parody , School , Food , Seinen , Disability