[Age 4] Fun for grown-ups too! A roundup of anime for four-year-olds
By the time they turn four, children start noticing deeper aspects of characters and stories, allowing them to fully enjoy picture books, animated shows, and other narratives.
Why not pick some anime you’d like four-year-olds to watch?
Here, we’ve gathered titles that kids can watch safely and comfortably.
You’re sure to discover shows they haven’t seen yet or haven’t really explored.
These are all series that adults can enjoy too, so watch together and share the world of anime with your children.
- [Age 3] A roundup of anime for 3-year-olds that adults can enjoy too
- [Age 5] A roundup of anime for 5-year-olds that will draw them into the story
- [Anime] For toddlers! A roundup of anime works to enjoy with your kids
- [For Age 4] Must-Read in January! Picture Books to Enjoy Winter
- For 4-year-olds! Introducing recommended indoor activities, group games, and crafts
- [Age 2] A Special Feature on Anime to Enjoy with Your Child!
- For 4-year-olds! A collection of indoor home play ideas that make time inside fun
- A collection of recommended picture books to read with 4-year-olds that will make the wait for Christmas exciting
- May: Craft Ideas That Excite 4-Year-Olds!
- [Childcare] A collection of recommended melodica (pianica) songs for 4-year-olds
- [March] Recommended for 4-year-olds! Picture books that will make you smile and grin
- [February] Recommended picture books for 4-year-olds: Works that let children feel winter at preschool
- [For 4-Year-Olds] Recommended Spring Picture Books | Engaging with the World and Friends
[Age 4] Fun for adults too! Anime roundup for 4-year-olds (11–20)
Butt Detective
Butt Detective is an animated series based on Troll’s children’s book Butt Detective.
The famed sleuth with a bottom-shaped face, Butt Detective, teams up with his slightly clumsy assistant, Brown, to brilliantly solve cases.
It’s a funny twist that Butt Detective’s special move is a fart.
The show also features a game where you can look for butt-shaped objects.
The opening theme, “Pupっとフムっとかいけつダンス” (Pup and Hm: The Solution Dance), is hugely popular as a dance song!
Moominvalley Friends
The Moomin series unfolds around the adorable fairy-like Moomin family.
It features distinctive characters, but there are no strict rules about how things should be—friendship and family take shape in a free, open environment.
You might even learn about elements that connect to diversity through the stories.
Even when various events or incidents occur, the series conveys the importance of creating your own sense of joy and finding ways to enjoy everyday life.
Even if something that happens isn’t good for you, the Moomin way is to view it with a positive mindset.
Find hints you can bring into daily life together with your children by learning from Moomin.
LEGO Friends
Many of you have probably played with LEGO bricks before.
Among LEGO sets, LEGO Friends offers playsets that tie in with the animated series.
They’re not just cars and dinosaurs aimed at boys; they let all children, including girls, express familiar experiences and ideas they come up with.
What’s more, the LEGO Friends anime takes the era and social context into account, and its characters are very appealing.
Through the show, kids also have opportunities to learn about differences in skin color and culture, as well as about people with physical disabilities or mental health challenges.
Snowtime！
Set in a small village, it all begins when the children plan a grand snowball fight centered around a “snow fortress” to make memories over their winter break.
A boy named Luke is chosen as the team leader, but he accidentally hits Sophie, a transfer student, with a snowball, leading her to become the leader of the rival team.
As friendship, budding romance, and competitiveness intermingle, the snowball fight gradually escalates into a serious battle.
What was supposed to be a game takes an unexpected, sorrowful turn, and through it the children come to realize there are things more important than winning or losing.
This story of growth and bonds, set against a snowy landscape, gently reflects both the purity and the pain found in a child’s world.
Thomas the Tank Engine: Find Santa! Percy’s Christmas Express
On Christmas Eve on the Island of Sodor, the air is filled with twinkling lights and the sweet aroma of baking cookies.
Amid it all, Thomas’s best friend Percy discovers a mishap: one letter to Santa hasn’t been delivered.
Realizing that a child’s wish won’t come true unless it’s delivered today, Percy sets off with Thomas and friends on a grand adventure to find Santa.
Racing along snow-covered tracks and searching the skies filled with stars, their journey feels like stepping into a picture book.
Seeing Percy never give up and trust his friends warms the hearts of not only children but adults too.
This film, where kindness and the belief in miracles intertwine, is a perfect choice for a winter night.