The best anime to watch during the holiday season to get in the Christmas mood Posted Nov 20, 2023
Watching Christmas movies around the holiday season is a tradition in many households. There’s no denying the comfort and joy these motion pictures bring, as their visuals combine with the music and themes to create a unique and memorable result. If you’re an anime fan, you’ll probably want to watch some animated movies or series centered on the Christmas atmosphere. Luckily, there are many options available for those who want to watch something that warms the soul while huddled under plush blankets and surrounded by glowy lights.
Tokyo Godfathers
This 2003 tragicomedy has become a staple for anime fans from all over the world. Written and directed by Satoshi Kon, the story begins on Christmas Eve. It follows three homeless people: a runaway teenager named Miyuki, Hana, a trans woman and Gin, a middle-aged man dealing with alcoholism. The trio discovers an abandoned newborn baby while searching through the garbage for discarded presents. They set out to find the child’s parents. Their adventure takes them through the streets of Tokyo, where they encounter yakuza bosses and hitmen, and the main characters’ backstories are gradually revealed.
The central theme of Tokyo Godfathers is family, in its many shapes and forms, making it the perfect choice for Christmas. Animism is also an important theme, suggesting that even places and objects have a soul and that things that might seem random are actually connected.
Whisper of the Heart
If you’re looking to get an anime fan a Christmas present, you can’t go wrong with Anime and Manga figures featuring their favorite characters. You can choose between a wide assortment of characters, as well as different versions of the same character. While some figurines are widespread and commonplace, others are rarer and might even be more appreciated by hardcore fans.
If you’re having a movie marathon with an anime-loving friend, you must add a Ghibli film to the list. They’re classics that feel fresh no matter how many times you watch them. While there’s no Ghibli movie that is Christmas-themed, they all follow themes of friendship, finding happiness and overcoming adversity that have made them popular for all people regardless of age. Whisper of the Heart is particularly fitting for the holiday season. It is a cozy watch, with much of the plot taking place in antique shops and quiet libraries. Shizuku, the protagonist, a 14-year-old girl with a lot of imagination and a love for books, wants to pursue a career as a writer and falls in love with a boy named Seiji, whose dream is to study violin-making in Cremona, Italy.
Yuri on Ice
This sports anime went viral in 2016 and became a favorite even among those who don’t typically watch anime. It has received praise for its depiction of anxiety and the competitiveness of the professional sports environment, as well as the portrayal of the relationship between the two main characters, Yuuri Katsuki and Victor Nikiforov. While the anime itself isn’t centered on Christmas, it features the festivities during episode 10, when Yuuri and Victor stroll through a Christmas market. It is also revealed that Victor’s birthday falls on December 25th. The pair later exchange golden rings in a church. The anime also emphasizes the importance of love and human connection to achieve happiness.
Saint Young Men
This slice-of-life story follows Jesus Christ and Gautama Buddha as they move to Tokyo and share an apartment. Much of the story is focused on jokes and puns referencing Buddhism and Christianity. The anime film runs for 90 minutes, and there’s also a live-action series spanning three seasons starring Ken’ichi Matsuyama and Shota Sometani in the leading roles. Christmas celebrations are naturally featured in Saint Young Men as well. Hilariously, Jesus isn’t aware of the true meaning of Christmas and instead focuses on Santa and reindeer.
5 Centimeters per Second
A 2007 romantic drama, 5 Centimeters per Second, features three different storylines, each taking place during different stages in the protagonist’s life. The main character, Takaki Tono, is forced to move often because of his parents’ jobs. He becomes close to a girl named Akari, but they ultimately attend different high schools. They keep in touch via post for a while, and he later meets Kanae, a classmate who has a crush on him. He also has an ex-girlfriend, Risa.
Takaki’s life is still dictated by his feelings for Akari, and it seems he cannot move on from her. He quits his job as a programmer as she is preparing to marry another man. If you’re not afraid of a story that pulls at the heartstrings and wants to be delighted by the beautiful sights of the snow-filled Iwafune Station in Tochigi, you’ll love 5 Centimeters per Second.
Mercury Retrograde on Christmas – Toradora!
If you prefer stories that are more on the cute and fun side rather than the nostalgic, Tordadora! is the best option for you. It is a romance series featuring a quirky but adorable couple, Taiga and Ryuji. They eventually become a couple, but their relationship starts platonically, as they’re both trying to build better love lives. In this episode, Taiga decides to play matchmaker and wants to help Ryuji and Minori to make points for Santa.
Merry Christmas! – Hamtaro
If you’re looking for a series that’s pure wholesomeness, nothing can beat Hamtaro. The story focuses on a hamster, Hamtaro, who ventures outside daily to go on adventures and make new friends. The Christmas episode is the 25th in the series. It features Laura, Hamtaro’s owner, who is eager to receive a dollhouse. The hamsters are also thinking about the gifts they want to receive. Boss, a field hamster and the leader of the Ham-Hams, discovers that Santa only gives presents to those who are good, so he decides he must become better himself. Meanwhile, a search for the real Santa Claus begins.
There are many Christmas movies out there, but for animation lovers, or even those who want to get in the holiday spirit a little differently this year, anime is the best choice.
