A wonderful classic

An anime popular among upper elementary school students! A show that will get conversations with friends buzzing just by watching it.

A Vocaloid producer who is also a music writerAraki Jakkan
I’ve worked in a variety of roles—regardless of pro or amateur settings—including live event PA, cameraman for video and photography, restaurant staff, and logistics center staff. I now spend my days as a part-time writer. I’ve contributed to music and manga websites with feature/review articles, and wrote the liner notes included as a bonus for 1st PLACE Inc.’s “IA SUPER BEST.” As for my music background, I started playing guitar in junior high and focused on band activities during my school years. For over 15 years since then, up to the present, I’ve continued releasing original tracks as a Vocaloid producer. My areas of expertise are Japanese rock, Vocaloid, and manga.
10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: spinning-top tricks.

Looking for anime that’s popular with elementary school kids—something you can enjoy together with your child? As they reach the upper grades, anime often becomes a common topic in conversations with friends.

Stories full of adventure, friendship, laughter, and tears can really move kids’ hearts.

With that in mind, this article is packed with anime that are popular among upper elementary students! It’s perfect for anyone looking for shows to watch with friends, and it’s also great for spending a relaxing weekend with the family.

Find a favorite and dive into the world of anime!

Popular anime among upper elementary school students! Shows that will get conversations with friends going just by watching (11–20)

Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Wander the Dungeon

Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon Non-Credit Opening BRADIO “Fanfare”

Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Wander the Dungeon

An unexpected and unique isekai fantasy where the protagonist is reincarnated as a vending machine and survives in a labyrinth with his companions.

Even though he can’t speak or move, the idea of helping people by dispensing drinks, food, and handy items is fresh and fun! The battles against monsters are thrilling too, as they overcome challenges by combining the team’s strengths with the vending machine’s functions.

The bond with the heroine, Lammis, is heartwarming, making this an adventure that’s funny, soothing, and exciting—perfectly accessible for elementary school readers as well.

The particularly unique combat methods are a real highlight!

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Akebi’s Sailor Uniform

TV anime “Akebi’s Sailor Uniform” Non-Credit Opening Animation / Opening Theme “Hajimari no Setsuna” — Roubai Academy Junior High, Class 1-3

Akebi’s Sailor Uniform

This coming-of-age story follows Asahi Komichi, who enrolls in a prestigious girls’ middle school in the countryside and races through her new days wearing the sailor uniform she admires.

Casual conversations, small gestures, and the moments when the distance between friends subtly shrinks are depicted with fresh sensitivity, making your heart flutter just by reading.

With overwhelming artwork that carefully captures light, wind, and even the slightest shifts in expression, the world feels almost cinematic.

It gently embraces not only the sparkle but also the anxieties and conflicts, letting you experience the “dazzle” of adolescence head-on.

For upper elementary school students, it’s a work that can help them imagine a not-too-distant future.

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Villainess-Reincarnated Middle-Aged Man

TV Anime “Reincarnated as a Villainess Uncle” OP Video | Cider Girl — “Choose!!!”

Villainess-Reincarnated Middle-Aged Man

A serious, mild-mannered middle-aged man reincarnates as the “villainess” in an otome game world—a full-throttle gap-moe isekai comedy! She’s supposed to be the hated character, yet her workplace-honed consideration, planning skills, and polite speech keep shining through, sending everyone’s affection for her skyrocketing in the funniest way.

She wants to pull off classic villain moves, but her fundamentally good nature trips her up, which only makes her more endearing.

It’s a breezy read that, somehow, warms the heart as well.

A feel-good story that’ll make you laugh and heal you, whether you watch it with friends or enjoy it as a parent and child.

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Undead Unluck

TV anime “Undead Unluck” Cour 2 Non-Credit Opening Movie / Opening Theme: Siyui “Love Call” | Undead Unluck | Non-Credit Opening Movie Part 2

Undead Unluck

An “immortal man” named Andy and a “girl who brings misfortune” named Fuko meet and take on the world’s unreasonable rules in this superpowered battle series.

The ability to inflict bad luck on anyone she touches explodes in unexpected ways during fights, which is exhilarating, and the idea-driven battles are just blazing hot.

While it starts off with a comedic tone, the deeper it goes, the stronger the bonds and resolve with their comrades become, drawing you in with gut-wrenching drama and a whirlwind of payoff from earlier foreshadowing.

Its momentum and emotional range are incredible, making it a must-watch anime that will pull in viewers of any age.

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The Vampire Dies in No Time

TV anime “The Vampire Dies in No Time” Non-Credit OP

The Vampire Dies in No Time

A high-energy gag series starring Draluc, a vampire so weak he turns to sand instantly, and Ronald, a vampire hunter who’s serious to a fault.

It’s hilarious how pathetic Draluc is—he looks tough but dies in a split second—and the chaotic developments keep coming so fast even the straight man can’t keep up! Strange vampires and strong-willed oddballs appear one after another, delivering nonstop laughs every episode, yet it sneakily slips in moments of friendship and kindness that really hit home.

It’s the perfect pick-me-up on a tiring day.

The paradoxical premise of an immortal vampire who dies right away is brilliant, too.

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Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun

TV Anime “Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun 2” Part 2 Non-Credit Opening

Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun

Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun is a slightly spooky yet tender and heartwarming school fantasy that begins with the twist that Hanako, one of the school’s Seven Mysteries—the spirit said to haunt the girls’ bathroom—is actually a boy.

Nene, the girl who meets Hanako, ends up confronting the various apparitions lurking in the school alongside him.

The story blends the thrills of ghost tales with the characters’ delicate emotions, packing kindness and humor amid the scares.

Its unique worldview and stylish use of color are also appealing, drawing readers into a picture book-like atmosphere that makes it especially recommended for children.

It’s a slightly mysterious, memorable work that portrays friendship, secrets, and emotional growth.

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An anime popular among upper-grade elementary schoolers! A series that will get conversations with friends going just by watching it (21–30)

Apocalypse Hotel

TV Anime “Apocalypse Hotel” Non-Credit Opening | aiko “skirt”

Apocalypse Hotel

This anime, based on a popular post-apocalyptic manga, follows the only hotel that remains “open for business today” in a quiet town after the world has collapsed.

In a place where no people should be, the sight of beings calmly carrying out their work is both poignant and beautiful, gently reminding us of the preciousness of everyday life.

Are the visitors survivors—or something else? Its atmosphere blends unease with warmth, and the more you read, the more it stirs your heart.

It’s a work that pierces not with flashiness but with lingering afterglow—a quietly addictive gem.

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