Top Primarily Animal Cast Anime Recommendations

BEASTARS

Also known as BEASTARS.

Studio: Orange
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery , Psychological , Romance , Slice of Life

In a world populated by anthropomorphic animals, herbivores and carnivores coexist with each other. For the adolescents of Cherryton Academy, school life is filled with hope, romance, distrust, and uneasiness.

The main character is Legoshi the wolf, a member of the drama club. Despite his menacing appearance, he has a very gentle heart. Throughout most of his life, he has always been an object of fear and hatred by other animals, and he’s been quite accustomed to that lifestyle. But soon, he finds himself becoming more involved with his fellow classmates who have their own share of insecurities and finds his life in school changing slowly.



Tags: Anthropomorphism , Coming of Age , Animals , Primarily Teen Cast , Full CGI , Cannibalism , School , Male Protagonist , Boarding School , CGI , Acting , Love Triangle , Gangs , Primarily Animal Cast , Psychosexual , Heterosexual , Philosophy , Crime , Bullying , School Club , Ensemble Cast , Shounen , Female Protagonist , Gore , Slavery , Interspecies , Mafia , Urban , Nudity , Unrequited Love ,

Shangri-La Frontier

Also known as Shangri-La Frontier.

Studio: C2C
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Fantasy , Sci-Fi

"When was the last time I played a game that wasn't crap?" This is a world in the near future where games that use display screens are classified as retro. Anything that can't keep up with state-of-the-art VR technology is called a "crap game," and you see a large number of crap games coming out. Those who devote their lives to clearing these games are called "crap-game hunters," and Rakuro Hizutome is one of them. The game he's chosen to tackle next is Shangri-La Frontier, a "god-tier game" that has a total of thirty million players. Online friends... An expansive world... Encounters with rivals... These are changing Rakuro and all the other players' fates! The best game adventure tale by the strongest "crap game" player begins now!



Tags: Video Games , Virtual World , Male Protagonist , Otaku Culture , Anthropomorphism , Swordplay , Shounen , Travel , Animals , Slapstick , Curses , Unrequited Love , Anachronism , Kemonomimi , Primarily Animal Cast , Assassins , Gender Bending , Heterosexual , Shapeshifting , POV , Dullahan , Goblin , Fugitive , CGI , Samurai

Odd Taxi

Also known as ODDTAXI.

Studio: OLM , P.I.C.S.
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery , Psychological , Thriller

The taxi driver Odokawa lives a very mundane life. He has no family, doesn't really hang out with others, and he's an oddball who is narrow-minded and doesn't talk much. The only people he can call his friends are his doctor, Gouriki and his classmate from high school, Kakihana.

All of his patrons seem to be slightly odd themselves. The college student who wants the world to notice him online, Kabasawa. A nurse with secrets named Shirakawa. A comedy duo that just can't catch a break named the Homosapiens. A local hoodlum named Dobu. An idol group that's just starting out named Mystery Kiss... All these mundane conversations somehow eventually lead to a girl who's gone missing.



Tags: Crime , Anthropomorphism , Urban , Animals , Ensemble Cast , Primarily Adult Cast , Male Protagonist , Work , Revenge , Noir , Satire , Aromantic , Gangs , Yakuza , Mafia , Fugitive , Primarily Animal Cast , Amnesia , Cars , Police , Idol , Tragedy , Philosophy , Bullying , Adoption , Anti-Hero , Twins , Martial Arts , Manzai , Suicide , Hip-hop Music , Video Games , Heterosexual , Age Gap , Bar , Teens' Love

BEASTARS 2nd Season

Also known as BEASTARS Season 2.

Studio: Orange
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery , Psychological , Romance , Slice of Life

"Beastar"—a title awarded to beasts who prove their excellence through fighting inequality to unite carnivores and herbivores in an anthropomorphic animal society. Cherryton Academy has gone five years without one such leader. However, following the murder of an alpaca within the school boundaries, the growing tension between the different species poses a greater need for a Beastar to ensure peace and harmony.

When Louis, the prime candidate for this prestigious role, rejects the offer and leaves the academy, the student council declares to honor any student who captures the culprit of the aforementioned murder as Beastar. Meanwhile, Legoshi's sense of duty as a strong wolf who must protect the weak pushes him to investigate the incident. To further complicate his life, he struggles to manage his complex feelings for the white rabbit, Haru.



Note: The first episode had an early delivery on Netflix Japan on January 5, 2021. The regular TV broadcast started on January 7, 2021.

Tags: Anthropomorphism , Animals , School , Mafia , Male Protagonist , Full CGI , Cannibalism , Crime , CGI , Psychosexual , Coming of Age , Adoption , Noir , Philosophy , Boarding School , Primarily Animal Cast , Tragedy , Gore , School Club , Heterosexual , Ensemble Cast , Primarily Teen Cast , Acting , Urban , Martial Arts , Guns , Nudity , Class Struggle , Interspecies , Shounen , Revenge , Love Triangle , Female Protagonist , Crossdressing

Bakemono no Ko

Also known as The Boy and the Beast.

Studio: Studio Chizu
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Drama , Fantasy , Supernatural

When Kyuuta, a young orphan living on the streets of Shibuya, stumbles into a fantastic world of beasts, he’s taken in by Kumatetsu, a gruff, rough-around-the-edges warrior beast who’s been searching for the perfect apprentice.

Despite their constant bickering, Kyuuta and Kumatetsu begin training together and slowly form a bond as surrogate father and son. But when a deep darkness threatens to throw the human and beast worlds into chaos, the strong bond between this unlikely pair will be put to the ultimate test—a final showdown that will only be won if the two can finally work together using all of their combined strength and courage.



Tags: Coming of Age , Male Protagonist , Urban Fantasy , Martial Arts , Found Family , Isekai , Cultivation , Anthropomorphism , Primarily Animal Cast , Time Skip , Tragedy , Orphan , Swordplay , Adoption , Estranged Family , Family Life , Kemonomimi , Gods , Philosophy , Youkai , Reincarnation , Bullying , CGI , Body Horror

Neko no Ongaeshi

Also known as The Cat Returns.

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

The Cat Returns is something of a loose spin-off of "Whisper of the Heart" as it features two characters from that film: Muta (the cat from "Whisper") and the Baron (the cat statue from "Whisper"). There is no other connection between the two movies and this is not a sequel. The story is based on Neko no Danshaku (Baron of Cat) by Hiiragi Aoi.

The main character of the story, Haru, is a clueless, ordinary 17-year-old girl. She has no special abilities and neither is she an extraordinary beauty. When faced with reality, she is unable to make decisions for herself, thus often sways to others' opinions to avoid challenge. One day, Haru saves the life of a cat without considering her own safety. The cat turns out to be the Cat Prince from the Kingdom of Cats, however as a result, Haru is trapped in the world of cats. Can Baron and Muta rescue Haru who has wandered into the world of cats?



Tags: Anthropomorphism , Animals , Fairy Tale , Female Protagonist , Nekomimi , Isekai , Primarily Animal Cast , Royal Affairs , Heterosexual , Shoujo , Kemonomimi , Arranged Marriage , Interspecies , Urban Fantasy , Male Protagonist , Swordplay , Crossover , School , Body Horror

Digimon Adventure

Also known as Digimon: Digital Monsters.

Studio: Toei Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Drama , Fantasy , Sci-Fi

Seven kids are transported to the Digital World, a strange place where digital creatures called "Digimon" reside. A group of Digimon soon befriend them and keep the kids out of harm's way. The children then discover they are the Chosen Children, which protect the Digital World from evil Digimon like Devimon and Vamdemon.

Tags: Isekai , Virtual World , Primarily Child Cast , Proxy Battle , Ensemble Cast , Artificial Intelligence , Coming of Age , Kaiju , Kids , Henshin , Wilderness , Animals , Anthropomorphism , Reverse Isekai , Dinosaurs , Creature Taming , Cosmic Horror , Angels , Primarily Animal Cast , Camping , Survival , Travel , Family Life , Time Skip , Dragons , Demons , Male Protagonist , Urban , Adoption , Desert , Tomboy , Vampire , Brainwashing

Aggressive Retsuko

Also known as Aggretsuko.

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

Some offices have stereotypical dynamics: the chauvinistic pig of a boss who never does any real work; the employees whose goal is to suck up to the boss; the ones whose lives seem perfect; and the individuals who have all the actual work pushed onto them. Retsuko the red panda is in the last group, as she stays late most nights to make up the work her coworkers are too lazy to do themselves.

Her relief from the stress of her everyday life comes in the form of singing death metal at a local karaoke club. Night after night, Retsuko channels her grief into a microphone and considers the place to be her own personal sanctuary. But as she moves further away from her comfort zone and the ideas people have of her, she discovers that letting others into her world of death metal may not be such a bad thing.

Tags: Work , Office Lady , Metal Music , Anthropomorphism , Primarily Adult Cast , Urban , Female Protagonist , Office , Animals , Chibi , Primarily Animal Cast , Flash , Unrequited Love , Rock Music

BEASTARS FINAL SEASON Part 1

Also known as BEASTARS Final Season Part 1.

Studio: Orange
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery , Psychological , Slice of Life

It is a world where carnivores and herbivores coexist.

Following the battle with the culprit who devoured his classmate at school, Legoshi decides to drop out and begins living alone at Beast Apartments. Louis has entered a prestigious university and resolves to face his father, Oguma. Haru also deals with many struggles as she tries to enjoy campus life.

Meanwhile, the city sees an increase of devouring incidents. The fangs of the heinous criminal who is pulling all the strings begin to close in on Legoshi and the others...



Tags: Anthropomorphism , Animals , Male Protagonist , Primarily Animal Cast , Heterosexual , Coming of Age , CGI , Psychosexual , Ensemble Cast , Full CGI , Urban , Interspecies , Primarily Teen Cast , Class Struggle , Crime , Philosophy , Chimera , Shounen , Suicide , Arranged Marriage , Tragedy , Mopeds , Bullying

Digimon Adventure 02

Also known as Digimon: Digital Monsters 02.

Studio: Toei Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Drama , Fantasy , Sci-Fi

A few years after the adventures of the Chosen Children in the Digital World, a new batch of Chosen Children are summoned to save the Digital World. An evil ruler known as the Digimon Kaiser, or Digimon Emperor, is forcing the Digital World's Digimon into enslavement. The new group of Chosen Children, with the help of their Digimon, then begin a journey to stop the evil Digimon Emperor.


Tags: Artificial Intelligence , Primarily Child Cast , Virtual World , Kaiju , Proxy Battle , Henshin , Animals , Primarily Animal Cast , Coming of Age , Urban Fantasy , Kids , Anthropomorphism , Alternate Universe , Cosmic Horror , Dragons , Dinosaurs , Augmented Reality , Ensemble Cast , Rehabilitation , Urban , Male Protagonist , Gods , Brainwashing , School Club , Chimera , CGI , Angels , Desert , Mythology , Software Development , Isekai

Aggressive Retsuko Season 2

Also known as Aggretsuko: Season 2.

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

Red panda Retsuko continues to work at her cyclic office job, with the occasional stress-venting via death metal karaoke on the side. With the company of her newfound friends Gori and Washimi, life is more enjoyable than ever before. But some new shake-ups to her status quo threaten to add more stress to her life. At the office, new employee Anai seems like a fine addition to the company. Yet when Retsuko is placed in charge of his training, she finds that beneath his steadfast dedication, he may pose a threat to the stability of the workplace. Meanwhile, at home, Retsuko's mother pays an abrupt visit, fully intent on having her daughter finally settle down and find a man. With this in mind, she sets Retsuko up for various marriage appointments, much to her chagrin.

Now, Retsuko finds all the more reasons to head to the karaoke bar and unleash her furious diatribes. However, knowing that this will not truly solve her problems, she decides to make a more spontaneous choice to avoid her issues. And so, Retsuko finds herself set upon another self-reflecting journey, coming to learn more about herself and love, with the ever cathartic support of death metal karaoke.

Tags: Work , Anthropomorphism , Female Protagonist , Animals , Primarily Adult Cast , Urban , Office , Metal Music , Office Lady , Chibi , Love Triangle , Coming of Age , Primarily Animal Cast , Musical Theater , Unrequited Love , Heterosexual , Interspecies , Flash

Niehime to Kemono no Ou

Also known as Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts.

Studio: J.C.STAFF
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Romance

The King of the Beasts and Demons regularly receives female human sacrifices to eat in order to assert the dominance of his people over the human race. However, for the 99th sacrifice, the human girl brought to the capital, Sariphi, intrigues the Beast King. In fact she isn't afraid of him or any other beast and even accepts her death without begging or crying as she has neither home nor family to return to if she were released. The King finds her intriguing and let her stay at his side as his consort despite being human. This is the story of how Sariphi will become the queen of the demons and beasts.



Tags: Female Protagonist , Politics , Shoujo , Monster Boy , Anthropomorphism , Animals , Magic , War , Rehabilitation , Coming of Age , Bullying , Royal Affairs , Demons , Revenge , Historical , Swordplay , Estranged Family , Kingdom Management , Primarily Animal Cast , Heterosexual , Fairy Tale , Love Triangle , Gore , Age Gap , Time Skip , Interspecies

Heisei Tanuki Gassen Ponpoko

Also known as Pom Poko.

Studio: Studio Ghibli
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Fantasy

Faced with the destruction of their habitat due to the growth of Tokyo, a group of tanuki try to defend their homes. They decide to use their transforming talents to try to hold back the new development. Two of them, especially skilled at transforming, are sent to Shikoku to enlist the help of three sages. Meanwhile, the rest of them do their best to disrupt the construction site, at first causing accidents, and then actually haunting the site. However, the humans are very persistent, and soon the tanuki are forced to use more and more extreme measures to save their home.



Tags: Environmental , Mythology , Ensemble Cast , Animals , Rural , Shapeshifting , Primarily Animal Cast , War , Anthropomorphism , Revenge , Primarily Male Cast , Youkai , Slapstick , Male Protagonist , Henshin , Tragedy , Kids , Travel , Transgender

Aggressive Retsuko Season 3

Also known as Aggretsuko: Season 3.

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

Retsuko’s rage rises another octave when she finds herself moonlighting with an underground idol group to pay off her debts.



Tags: Anthropomorphism , Female Protagonist , Work , Primarily Adult Cast , Unrequited Love , Metal Music , Animals , Urban , Office Lady , Primarily Animal Cast , Idol , Chibi , Love Triangle , Flash , Gyaru , Heterosexual

Nekojiru-sou

Also known as Cat Soup.

Studio: J.C.STAFF
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Horror , Psychological

Cat Soup is an extremely difficult film to describe, due to its awesome surrealism and almost nonexistant dialogue. It is more a work of art than an anime. There are many underlying themes, such as the transcience of man's existence, but it can be enjoyed without understanding any of them. The plot, though simple, isn't necessarily understandable without being explained. The main character, a cat named Nyatto, embarks upon a journey to save his sister's soul, which was ripped in two when Nyatto tried to save her from Death. She trails after him, brain-dead. They encounter many brilliant, mind-bending situations, beginning with a disturbing magic show.



Tags: Animals , Surreal Comedy , No Dialogue , Philosophy , Cosmic Horror , Afterlife , Body Horror , Urban , Survival , Primarily Animal Cast , Seinen , Anthropomorphism , Male Protagonist , Gods , Religion , Circus , Time Manipulation , Outdoor Activities , Rural , Ships , Cannibalism , Nudity , Revenge , Gore

Sonic X

Also known as Sonic X.

Studio: TMS Entertainment
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Fantasy , Mecha , Sci-Fi

Back on Sonic's home planet, Eggman has collected all 7 of the Chaos Emeralds, and is about to have absolute power when Sonic interferes, causing an explosion that sends everyone from their world to Earth. Sonic and his friends team up with 12 year old Christopher Thorndyke to collect all the Chaos Emeralds and defeat the evil Dr. Eggman.



Tags: Isekai , Robots , Animals , Reverse Isekai , Super Power , Kids , Male Protagonist , Lost Civilization , Urban , Primarily Animal Cast , Butler , Maids , Alternate Universe , Anthropomorphism

Neko to Ryuu

Also known as The Cat and the Dragon.

Studio: OLM
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Fantasy

The story follows a fire-breathing, human-hating dragon raised by a mother cat in a forest. The dragon, known affectionately as "Uncle Wing," watches over the many curious cats — such as one that goes on an adventure with a human prince, and another that lives in the city and people-watches as a hobby — and gradually warms up to humans along the way.



Note: Each episode streamed 1 week early on ABEMA and dAnimeStore. The original TV broadcast started on July 4, 2026.

Tags: Found Family , Animals , Dragons , Primarily Animal Cast , Medieval , Time Skip , Iyashikei , Episodic , Magic , Anthropomorphism , Environmental , Parenthood , Family Life , Wilderness , Royal Affairs , Shapeshifting , Ensemble Cast , Orphan , Survival , Witch , School

Shirokuma Cafe

Also known as Polar Bear's Café.

Studio: Studio Pierrot
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Slice of Life

Shirokuma Cafe revolves around a Canadian white bear that quits his boring job and starts a cafeteria near a zoo. He loves telling tall tales and always brags about himself. According to him, he was picked up by a human couple who owns a diner while he was drifting around on an iceberg.

Though he has lost all contact with his Canadian family, he has discovered a new home in serving the diners' clientele, thanks to the kind couple. His café is an embodiment of his personality. The place is always packed with many regulars, animals and humans, who are drawn by his charismatic magnetism.



Tags: Episodic , Animals , Work , Male Protagonist , Anthropomorphism , Primarily Animal Cast , Iyashikei , Josei , Ensemble Cast , Cute Boys Doing Cute Things , Mixed Media , Heterosexual

Niwatori Fighter

Also known as Rooster Fighter.

Studio: SANZIGEN
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Supernatural

Humanity is on the verge of collapse after the demonic Kaiju descend without warning, laying waste to cities and crushing all in their path. Resistance fails. Hope fades. Things look bad…until a lone rooster steps forward. Keiji, the neighborhood cock of the walk is more than just an ordinary rooster—he’s humanity’s greatest defender! His opponents may be ten stories tall, but with razor-sharp spurs and a battle cry that splits the sky, this unlikely hero carries the fate of the world on his wings. When defenses fall and hope fades, one bird will rise.



Tags: Revenge , Animals , Kaiju , Demons , CGI , Urban Fantasy , Male Protagonist , Urban , Super Power , Surreal Comedy , Primarily Animal Cast , Seinen , Body Horror , Parody , Tragedy , Netorare , Yakuza , Gambling , Natural Disaster , Unrequited Love , Heterosexual , Nudity

Bananya

Also known as Bananya.

Studio: Gathering
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Fantasy , Slice of Life

An adaptation of Bananya, the banana cat mascot of the stationary company Q-Lia.

Tags: Episodic , Kids , Animals , Chibi , Primarily Animal Cast , Iyashikei , Food