With November kicking into full swing, Thanksgiving in the United States is just around the corner. Ideally, this also means anime fans across the nation will have more opportunities to catch up on their watchlists. Whether it's with the family after a hefty meal, or relaxing alone and huddled tightly under a blanket, this is a prime chance to pull out the movies and series that fill the soul with toasty good vibes. As the temperatures start to drop, here is a specially catered lineup of anime available on Netflix to cuddle up with.
Mirai
Thanksgiving is a time to get together and express thankfulness for loved ones. Among the many feature-length anime films on Netflix, few carry this sentiment better than Mamoru Hosoda's Mirai. When Kun Ota's only child status is revoked with the arrival of his baby sister Mirai, his jealousy drives him to constant tantrums. However, everything changes when a teenaged girl, claiming to be Mirai from the future, arrives to take him on a voyage through time and space. Filled with emotional and humorous moments, Mirai has the power to both warm sprits and bring everybody together, making it the perfect pick to watch with the whole family after Thanksgiving dinner.
Rilakkuma and Kaoru
Thanksgiving and the holidays to follow have a way of making people feel like kids again. Because of this, there's no better time to enjoy the snuggly mishaps and adorable faces of Rilakkuma and Kaoru. Based on the characters from San-X's Rilakkuma mascot brand, Rilakkuma and Kaoru is a stop-motion anime following a year in the life of a salarywoman, her teddy bears and a plush bird. Filled with seasonally appropriate vignettes, the episodic series will bring out a sense of play to enjoy all the festivities these days might bring. Not only that, but it might might just help audiences fight the autumn chill by prompting them to nuzzle up to their favorite stuffed animals.
Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun
When the leaves change colors, the fall cold fronts tend to bring notions of romance with them. For those who enjoy cozying up with their significant other during this crisp weather, Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun provides the right balance of heartwarming flirtation and hilarious hijinks. The show focuses on Chiyo Sakura and her crush Umetarou Nozaki, who, despite his stern demeanor, writes for a frilly shoujo manga magazine. Between laughing over Nozaki's oblivious nature and squirming over the heartthrob-inducing chemistry, Nozaki-kun will warm bodies and keep the seasonal melancholy at bay.
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K
The lead-up to the holidays can be a bit stressful. Instead of risking bodily harm during Black Friday or debating politics with uncles, it may be a better choice to heat things up with laughs. The Disastrous Life of Saiki K follows the misadventures of the world's most powerful psychic as he learns to tolerate the many bothersome individuals who surround him. If people are a little too much to handle over Thanksgiving, Kusuo Saiki will be more than a kindred spirit. The side-splitting (yet surprisingly sincere) comedy also features numerous Christmas and New Year's episodes to set the stage for the days ahead.
Carole and Tuesday
Family get-togethers often lead to talk about the year to come. When questions about the future start to seem intimidating, Carole and Tuesday is an excellent pick to provide some optimism and encouragement to chase those distant dreams. The Netflix series takes place in a future civilization on Mars, following the musical journey of Carole Stanley and Tuesday Simmons as they chase after stardom. Though their path is filled with challenges, they conquer each of them with bright spirits and show-stopping musical numbers, and their retro feel-good tunes will make viewers nostalgic for days gone by. This story of two underdogs rising to artistic recognition is sure to invigorate and inspire anyone who picks it up in time for Thanksgiving.