There is nothing like the thrill of finding and falling for a new anime series. After a stressful day with my kids, though, I am absolutely not in the mood to “take a chance” on something that might end up being a disappointment. That’s when I go back to the list — you know the one. The comfort anime list. The shows you’ll happily rewatch any day. The series that make you kick your feet, fill your brain with serotonin, and unclench your jaw without even realizing it.

For me (and honestly for a lot of other anime fans), Fruits Basket and Horimiya rank pretty high. Horimiya is definitely a newer favorite, and Fruits Basket is a classic. Can you even call yourself an anime fan if you’ve never watched Fruits Basket at least once?

But maybe you’re not in a place where you want to sob every few episodes like you do with Fruits Basket. Maybe you’ve rewatched Horimiya so many times you can quote it and you’re just looking for something else that still feels safe and warm. The good news? You’ve got options. A lot of them.

Below are some of the best comfort anime (and one movie) to curl up with when you’ve had a long day and just need something to make your heart feel softer.

1. Ouran High School Host Club

Ouran High School Host Club is a classic for a reason, and honestly it would be criminal not to include it on a list of comfort anime. It’s pure chaos in the sweetest possible way.

The series follows Haruhi Fujioka, a scholarship student who accidentally stumbles into the elite (and ridiculous) Host Club at her fancy new school. From there, it’s a perfect mix of comedy, friendship, identity shenanigans, and gentle romance. Every member of the club has their own weird little quirks, and you end up loving them in different ways.

One of the biggest reasons Ouran is such a comfort watch is the tone. It’s funny without being mean, dramatic without being stressful, and emotional without breaking you into tiny pieces. It also hits the nostalgia button for a lot of longtime anime fans — especially if you watched it early in your anime phase and still know entire scenes by heart.

Series Synopsis:

Ouran High School Host Club (2006) follows Haruhi Fujioka, a smart student at the elite Ouran Academy. After accidentally breaking an expensive vase, Haruhi is forced to work for the school’s Host Club — a group of boys who entertain female students. Because of Haruhi’s short hair and clothes, the club initially thinks she’s a boy and recruits her as a host. She goes along with it to pay off her debt while trying to keep her identity a secret.

2. Howl’s Moving Castle

Yes, it’s a movie and not a series. No, I don’t care. Howl’s Moving Castle belongs here. I’ve watched Howl’s Moving Castle enough times that I could narrate it myself. There’s just something about this world that feels like wrapping up in a warm blanket straight from the dryer.

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, this comfort anime movie follows Sophie, a young woman cursed and turned into an elderly version of herself by the Witch of the Waste. She ends up meeting Howl, a dramatic (and beautiful) wizard who lives in a walking castle powered by a fire demon with attitude. It’s whimsical, romantic, and so visually cozy you could pause any frame and hang it on your wall.

The soundtrack, the tea-making-in-a-war zone energy, the quiet domestic moments in the castle kitchen — it just does something to your nervous system in the best way.

Movie Synopsis:

Sophie lives a quiet life working at her late father’s hat shop until she crosses paths with a mysterious wizard named Howl. After she’s cursed into the body of an old woman, Sophie finds refuge in Howl’s moving castle and slowly becomes part of his strange, magical household. Together, they confront jealous witches, emotional damage, and the fallout of war — while quietly falling in love.

3. The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.

When I’m looking for comfort anime, I usually go straight for soft romance or slice-of-life sweetness. But sometimes you’re not in the mood for hand-holding and blushing. Sometimes you just need to laugh because the day has been that bad. That’s when The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. becomes perfect.

The series follows Saiki, a pink-haired high school student with ridiculous psychic powers — telepathy, teleportation, telekinesis, you name it. You’d think he’d be unstoppable. Actually, he’s miserable. He just wants to live a normal, quiet life and be left alone, and the universe refuses to let him have peace.

It’s fast, it’s stupid in the BEST possible way, and it never takes itself too seriously. Zero emotional damage, maximum serotonin.

Series Synopsis:

The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. is a slice-of-life comedy about Kusuo Saiki, a high schooler born with psychic abilities like mind-reading and teleportation. He wants nothing more than to stay under the radar, but he’s constantly dragged into chaos by over-the-top classmates and weird situations. Every episode is basically “please don’t notice me” vs. “everyone notices him.”

4. Sasaki and Miyano

Some shows feel like chamomile tea and a soft hoodie. Sasaki and Miyano is one of those shows.

This adorable BL (Boys’ Love) story follows two high school boys: Miyano, who is shy and deeply into BL manga, and Sasaki, an older student who becomes obsessed (in a cute way) with Miyano’s whole vibe. Their relationship starts with manga recommendations and little acts of attention, and slowly turns into full-on romantic tension.

One of the best things about Sasaki and Miyano is the pace. It’s slow-burn. Like, painfully slow-burn. You will yell at the screen. But that’s part of the comfort. It lets you soak in the glances, the tiny moments, the way feelings build before they’re spoken out loud.

Also, it’s funny. There’s a constant layer of sweetness and light humor, which keeps it from ever getting heavy. It’s just… soft. It lets you exhale.

Series Synopsis:

Miyano is self-conscious, nerdy, and quietly obsessed with BL manga. Sasaki is a little chaotic, a little bold, and instantly drawn to him. After Sasaki steps in to break up a conflict at school, the two start spending time together. What begins as a friendship slowly shifts into something more, through teasing, nicknames, and an almost embarrassingly tender crush on both sides.

5. Given

If your version of comfort includes crying in a good way and then feeling weirdly lighter afterward, Given is it. This BL series leans into grief, healing, and music in a way that almost sneaks up on you.

Given follows Mafuyu, a quiet boy carrying something heavy, and Uenoyama, the guitarist who ends up pulling him (and his voice) into a band. The music in this show isn’t just background. It’s story. There’s a live performance in Episode 9 that is genuinely one of the most emotional turning points in anime. Mafuyu basically bleeds on stage in song, and you can feel everyone in the room realizing what he’s been holding.

Important note: Given deals with loss, complicated love, and suicide. If you’re already raw and you need something gentle and low-stakes, maybe save this one for another night. But if you’re in that mood where you need a release and a reminder that broken doesn’t mean finished — this series will sit with you in that space and not flinch.

Series Synopsis:

Mafuyu Sato lives quietly, barely engaging with the world, until he meets guitarist Ritsuka Uenoyama. After Uenoyama reluctantly agrees to fix Mafuyu’s guitar and teach him to play, Mafuyu is slowly folded into a new friend group and a band. Through music, he starts processing old pain, new feelings, and the possibility of moving forward.

6. A Sign of Affection

A Sign of Affection is one of the sweetest comfort romance anime to come out in recent years. If you want something kind and sincere, put this one high on your list.

The series follows Yuki, a deaf college student with a soft, sunny personality, and Itsuomi, a worldly upperclassman who is instantly drawn to her. What makes this one special is how it treats communication as part of intimacy. Itsuomi doesn’t just “like” Yuki — he actively learns how to connect with her in her language. He studies sign, pays attention to her world, and shows her she’s not “too much work.”

The whole vibe is gentle, respectful, and emotionally safe. No screaming fights. No cruel drama. Just two people figuring out how to show up for each other.

Series Synopsis:

Yuki is a Deaf college student who meets Itsuomi, a multilingual traveler who doesn’t treat her disability like a barrier or an inconvenience. The two slowly fall for each other as they learn to communicate, build trust, and create a shared language — emotionally and literally. Their relationship grows from curiosity to tenderness to love.

7. Tadaima, Okaeri (Welcome Home)

This one comes with a content note: if you’re not into BL or omegaverse-style storytelling, you’ll probably want to skip Tadaima, Okaeri (Welcome Home). But if you’re open to it? This show is one of the softest, sweetest little pockets of domestic peace you’ll ever watch.

The series focuses on two husbands raising their child together and trying (sometimes awkwardly, sometimes beautifully) to build a loving home. The family moments are honestly devastating in the best way. Their son is so cute it almost hurts. There’s a scene toward the end of Season 1 where he fights for his best friend and it’s so tender it could crack your ribcage.

It’s slow, warm, and built around everyday care. If you want pure wholesomeness, this is it.

Series Synopsis:

Two husbands build a life together while raising their child. The story focuses on small domestic moments — meals, comfort, worry, playtime, reassurance — and shows how family is something you choose and protect every single day.

8. Say I Love You

Say I Love You is one of those quiet high school romances that sneaks up on you emotionally. I found it on Hulu one day and binged the entire thing in a single sitting. No regrets.

The story follows Mei Tachibana, a girl who has basically given up on trusting people after being hurt in the past. Then Yamato Kurosawa — the popular boy, the one everyone loves — decides she’s worth knowing. Instead of pushing her to “get over it,” he actually shows up for her. Patiently. Consistently. Softly.

Watching Mei let herself be loved, and watching Yamato try so hard to make her feel safe, is honestly healing. If you like the emotional rhythm of Horimiya or A Condition Called Love, you’ll click with this one fast.

The only downside is that it’s just one season. But honestly? That also makes it perfect for a weekend comfort watch.

Series Synopsis:

Mei Tachibana has kept to herself for years after a childhood betrayal left her convinced that people can’t be trusted. One day she crosses paths with Yamato Kurosawa, the most popular boy in school. After he protects her from a stalker and declares himself basically “in her life now,” Mei is forced to deal with friendship, attention, and first love for the first time.

9. Romantic Killer

Romantic Killer is pure guilty pleasure. It’s on Netflix, it’s fast, it’s unhinged in the best way, and it’s basically what happens when a stubborn, romance-hating teenage girl gets forced into an IRL dating sim against her will.

Anzu Hoshino just wants snacks, her cat, and video games. The universe (okay, technically a chaotic little magical creature) says: absolutely not. Suddenly she’s surrounded by handsome boys and nonsense situations straight out of a shoujo manga. She is furious about it, and watching her stay furious about it is half the fun.

This one is peak comfort anime when you’re tired and want to turn your brain off, laugh, and still get cute romantic tension. The only real heartbreak is that there’s only one season, and the manga never gives a final answer on which boy actually “wins.” You’re just kind of left to decide for yourself, which has caused wars in the fandom and also, yes, in my brain.

Series Synopsis:

Anzu Hoshino lives for video games, sweets, and her cat. Then a mischievous matchmaker spirit throws her into a “make you fall in love” mission and literally steals her comforts to force her into romantic situations. Suddenly she’s surrounded by beautiful boys and drama clichés — and she is not happy about it.

10. Erased

If you’re in the mood for something more intense — not soft and romantic, but gripping in a way that distracts your brain from everything else — Erased is that show.

The main character, Satoru, has this strange ability he calls “Revival,” which lets him jump a short distance back in time to prevent something bad from happening. But after a tragedy, he’s thrown way farther back than ever before — all the way to his childhood — and realizes he might be able to stop a serial killer and save kids who went missing when he was young.

It’s suspenseful, emotional, and full of twists, but it’s also deeply human. Under the thriller layer, it’s about protection, survival, and making sure the kids around you feel seen and safe. There are heavy moments, but it’s so gripping that you get pulled straight out of your own stress for a while. Sometimes that’s the comfort you need.

Series Synopsis:

Satoru Fujinuma is a struggling 29-year-old manga artist with the ability to involuntarily travel back in time to stop disasters. After a devastating event, he’s sent all the way back to his fifth-grade body, where he tries to prevent a series of kidnappings and murders — including the death of a lonely classmate he realizes he should have saved the first time.

Bonus comfort picks that basically live rent-free in my heart: Horimiya and Fruits Basket. They’re not on the numbered list because they’re such obvious picks, but they’re always there when you need guaranteed emotional safety (and okay, occasional sobbing).

What’s your go-to comfort anime when you’ve had it with the day? Tell us in the comments so we can all add to our emergency serotonin list.