Thanksgiving traditions have developed and changed over time as people find what they enjoy about the holiday -- and what they want to implement in their celebrations. Some stick with family gatherings while others join friends or take the time to treat themselves for the day. Others experiment with different side dishes and main courses to disperse across the wide variety of foods to choose from.
One tradition that not all can get behind is watching football on television. Whatever the reason may be, some prefer to watch something else instead. There is no better way than to change up this tradition and put some of the best, feel-good anime on the screen for whomever is included in the holiday celebrations -- and all of these series can be found on Crunchyroll.
Great Anime for Thanksgiving, From Delicious Food to Deeper Stories
Most can agree that one of the best things about Thanksgiving is the food. So give in to the holiday traditions and pick an anime all about food. One of the greatest to play while enjoying the day is Yakitate!! Japan. This 69-episode series follows Kazuma Azuma as he follows his dream to create a national bread for Japan, and meets many bakers who help him along the way. Whether it be through inspiration or competition, Azuma is able to learn from his peers. This anime will make viewers not only hungry but also inspired.
One of the toughest aspects of Thanksgiving can be the emphasis on family. There are many people who struggle with familial ties, have lost loved ones, or would rather just do something else. A popular choice for Thanksgiving is to have a “Friends-Giving” or celebrate with found family.
March Comes in Like a Lion is a 44-episode anime about an orphan, Rei Kiriyama, who struggles with his adoptive family and loneliness. While the story touches on many hard topics, Rei finds a group of sisters who understand the harsh realities life has sent his way and do their best to take care of him. What is so beautiful about this story is the love and support Rei is able to find, the approach to family hardships, and the understanding and necessity of mood-lifters while telling a tough story.
Ideal Feel-Good Anime for Viewers of All Ages
Barakamon is a great selection for an anime to start and complete on Thanksgiving Day. With only 12 episodes, it tells the story of Seishu Handa, a calligrapher who is sent on an island retreat after punching a curator who criticizes his work. On the island, Handa meets an interesting cast of villagers and attracts the attention of many children who reside there. He is forced to put up with the reckless children and is given the opportunity to grow as a person as his patience gets tested. Thanks to the help and care of the other villagers, Handa matures greatly and falls in love with life on the island. This highly-rated anime is a must-watch for anyone looking to find their place and for those who want to feel their hearts melt during the holiday.
For a great laugh and adorable cast, School Babysitters is one of the best anime to watch during the holiday. This 12-episode story with an additional OVA is a quick watch and difficult to pause. Due to the loss of his parents, Ryuichi and his brother, Kotaro, are offered the opportunity to be taken care of by the chairwoman of Morinomiya Academy -- as long as Ryuichi can handle the school’s daycare center.
Viewers see Ryuichi figure out how to babysit at a daycare while also being a freshman at Morinomiya. As a preschooler, Kotaro interacts with the other daycare students, which portrays humorous childish interactions and the extreme differences between everyone. School Babysitters is both heartwarming and hilarious, an anime that is begging to be on the screen during Thanksgiving celebrations.
What is wonderful about all these choices is that they are available to stream through Crunchyroll. March Comes in Like a Lion and Barakamon even offer English dubbed versions for the busy Thanksgiving guests who haven't had the time to study up on the Japanese language but still want to enjoy some cozy anime.