[Age 5] A roundup of anime for 5-year-olds that will draw them into the story
Just as anime has many adult fans, there are plenty of works with complex, profound stories and themes.
Once children turn five, they can start to appreciate the depth of anime as well.
It can be a good idea to choose titles with a different flavor from what they’ve watched so far.
With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of anime suitable for five-year-olds.
Not only will kids enjoy watching them, but they might also discover new favorite characters and scenes.
Teachers and guardians, please consider watching together with the children and sharing your thoughts afterward.
- [Age 4] Fun for grown-ups too! A roundup of anime for four-year-olds
- [Anime] For toddlers! A roundup of anime works to enjoy with your kids
- [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
- [Age 2] A Special Feature on Anime to Enjoy with Your Child!
- Recommended for 5-year-olds! A collection of ideas for plays and dances for senior kindergarteners’ performances
- Ideas for indoor activities and group games that 5-year-olds like
- [Kindergarten] Let’s Play with Quizzes! A Collection of Recommended Quizzes for Older Kindergarteners
- [For 5-year-olds] Let’s make origami! A collection of fun folding ideas
- [Riddles] Have Fun with Kindergarten Seniors! A Collection of Riddles
- A collection of recommended Christmas picture books that will captivate 5-year-olds!
- [Age 5] Exciting and fun! A special feature on ideas for at-home play
- Recommended anime theme songs for children: timeless anime song classics you should listen to at least once.
[Age 5] A compilation of engaging anime for 5-year-olds (1–10)
Tom and Jerry
Tom and Jerry, the wildly popular American characters, star in a cartoon comedy created in 1940.
For over 80 years, they’ve been loved by people all around the world.
Tom the cat is clumsy and a bit of a show-off.
He’s always trying hard to catch Jerry the mouse, but he fails often and is somehow impossible to dislike.
Jerry the mouse looks cute, but he’s sly, quick-witted, and loves to play pranks! This work humorously portrays the slapstick antics of the two.
There’s no dialogue and the story is simple, but the comedic action and snappy, captivating pace make it irresistibly engaging.
It’s an anime that can be enjoyed by a wide range of ages, making it perfect for parents and children to watch together.
Butt Detective
Butt Detective is a popular anime series based on children’s books.
It follows the brilliant detective Butt Detective—whose face looks like a butt—as he teams up with his assistant Brown to solve tough cases.
A classic gag is that when they’re in danger, Butt Detective lets out a fart so smelly that people around him faint, which always gets laughs.
Kids love keywords like “butt” and “fart.” There’s also a game in the anime where you look for butt-shaped marks, with the answers revealed at the end, letting kids feel like detectives too.
Encyclopedia of Unfortunate Creatures
Zannen na Ikimono Jiten (The Unfortunate Animals Encyclopedia) is an animated series based on a book.
The original books are a popular hit, with new volumes being released one after another.
The content introduces animals’ slightly “unfortunate” traits and behaviors.
When it comes to animals, their mysterious and wondrous sides tend to get the spotlight, but this work deliberately highlights the less impressive aspects.
By exploring a different side of animals, it may spark even more interest.
The animation is produced by NHK Educational TV (E-Tele), and it has also been adapted into a film.
It’s a perfect work for parents and children to learn about animals together.
Frozen
Disney’s 2014 film Frozen tells a captivating story about Elsa, princess of the Kingdom of Arendelle, and her bond with her younger sister, Anna.
Elsa possesses the power to freeze anything she touches, and after once putting Anna in danger with that power, she distances herself.
Unaware of the past because her memories were erased, Anna earnestly tries to reach out to Elsa.
Beyond its moving story, the theme song “Let It Go,” sung in Japanese by Takako Matsu, became a huge hit among children.
A sequel has also been released, so be sure to watch it along with the original.
Sesame Street
An animated long-running TV program that has been broadcast in more than 150 countries and regions worldwide since it first aired in the United States in 1969.
Just watching beloved characters like Big Bird, Elmo, and Cookie Monster is fun and gets you excited.
Each character has relatable traits—clumsy but positive, reserved yet good at drawing or singing—making the stories enjoyable for both young children and adults.
The catchy theme song is also great fun and makes it an excellent gateway into learning English!
