As a long-time sufferer of depression and anxiety, I’ll be the first to admit that when I’m at my lowest, very few activities seem appealing to me. My usual interests become dull and I find myself disenchanted with almost everything around me. But at the very least, I’m able to put on a show and watch for a while, and sometimes I find that’s what helps me the most. Below are 5 of my go-to anime that cheer me up when I’m feeling sad. I hope at least one of them can help you too.
1. My Love Story!!
This is a sweet, happy shoujo with one of the most adorable anime couples of all time. The tough, muscular Takeo saves the small, cute Yamato from a groper on a train. The series follows Takeo and Yamato as they start dating. Takeo’s best friend, the handsome and aloof Sunakawa, also usually ends up involved somehow. I know that this type of slice-of-life shoujo is not for everyone; for those of you who prefer action-packed or plot-heavy shows, you probably won’t enjoy this. But for me, the simple sweetness and utter cuteness of this anime never fails to make me smile. It also has plenty of comedic moments.
2. Kamisama Kiss
The premise of Kamisama Kiss is that a high school girl named Nanami gets evicted from her house due to her dad’s massive gambling debt, but is kissed by a land god and told to take over his shrine as the new god. She quickly finds herself falling for her familiar, Tomoe, and making friends with other spiritual beings. This anime is a funny yet romantic shoujo that focuses on Nanami’s struggles with being both a god and a human. There’s plenty of romance, and Nanami is a fantastic protagonist. She is resilient, she makes mistakes, she gets angry, and she stands up for herself. Also, the ending is very satisfying!
3. Nichijou
I’ll be the first to admit that Nichijou is not for everyone. Some people find its comedy stupid, while others feel it’s just a pointless show in general. But personally, I think Nichijou is one of the most hilarious anime ever made. It’s a slice-of-life show about the daily lives of three school girls who have been friends since childhood. There’s also a robot girl and a cat, so it checks all the “weird anime character” boxes. In a similar vein, if you like Nichijou then The Daily Lives of High School Boys will be right up your alley as well.
3. Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-Kun
Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-Kun is a great romantic comedy, with emphasis on the comedy. Chiyo is a high school girl with a massive crush on her classmate, Nozaki. But when she confesses, he thinks she’s complimenting his work, because Nozaki is actually an immensely popular shoujo mangaka! Watch hilarious antics ensue as Chiyo and friends help Nozaki with his manga research. The characters of this anime are really what make the show, with a weird yet perfect mix of handsome girls and 2D obsessed boys. If you’re looking for romantic gratification, though, you might want to look elsewhere. Still, this show is perfect if you need a laugh.
5. Azumanga Daioh
Now this is how you do a school life comedy. If you like Nichijou, you’re guaranteed to like Azumanga Daioh. The premise is similar (and for the record, Azumanga came before Nichijou): the show follows a group of high school girls and two of their teachers through their day-to-day lives. Originally a yonkoma manga (essentially a 4-panel comic strip, usually with comedic gags), the series was adapted into an anime that managed to keep the comedic timing of the original. With characters like a child prodigy who has removable pigtails and a spaced-out Osakan transfer student, the series never has a dull moment. The opening theme is also extremely catchy as an added bonus.