Anime for tweens
A list by Nora
These gentle and imaginative anime selections are perfect for nine-year-olds who enjoy magical stories, heartwarming friendships, and inspiring journeys.
- 1
Kiki's Delivery Service
Movie · 1989
“A teenage witch starts a broom-based delivery service in this gentle, slow-burn Ghibli classic that modern kids might find... very quiet.”
IMDb 7.8The list creator says5/5beautiful to look atgreat message - 2
Little Witch Academia
TV Show · 2017
“A cheerful underdog witch-in-training proves that heart and determination beat natural talent at this magical academy.”
IMDb 7.8 - 3
My Neighbor Totoro
Movie · 1988
“Two sisters befriend a giant fuzzy forest spirit while their mom is in the hospital—it's Studio Ghibli's gentlest masterpiece.”
IMDb 8.1RT 94% - 4
Magical DoReMi
TV Show · 1999
“A heartwarming magical girl classic that swaps world-ending battles for the high-stakes drama of third-grade friendships.”
- 5
Howl's Moving Castle
Movie · 2004
“A walking castle, a fire demon, and a girl cursed to be 90—Miyazaki's dreamy, weird, beautiful meditation on self-worth and war.”
IMDb 8.2RT 88% - 6
Hikaru no Go
TV Show · 2001
“A kid finds a ghost who's obsessed with an ancient board game—and it's actually riveting.”
IMDb 8.3 - 7
Ponyo
Movie · 2008
“Studio Ghibli's gorgeous, gentle tale of a goldfish who wants to be human—think Little Mermaid meets pure childhood magic.”
IMDb 7.6RT 91% - 8
Flying Witch
TV Show · 2016
“A witch-in-training moves to rural Japan for the world's most chill magic school experience—think Kiki's Delivery Service meets Bob Ross.”
- 9
Cardcaptor Sakura
TV Show · 1998
“An elementary schooler captures escaped magical cards in handmade battle costumes, solving supernatural crises with rollerblades and empathy.”
- 10
Castle in the Sky
Movie · 1986
“Miyazaki's steampunk sky-pirate adventure is still a total blast—if your kid can handle some pew-pew and peril.”
IMDb 8.0RT 96% - 11
Mai Mai Miracle
Movie · 2009
“A beautifully animated time-slip into 1950s Japan that treats a child's imagination like a superpower.”
- 12
Pompo the Cinephile
Movie · 2021
“An anime love letter to filmmaking where a movie buff gets his directing shot—charming, inspiring, and surprisingly heartfelt.”
- 13
The Secret World of Arrietty
Movie · 2010
“Tiny people, big feelings—Studio Ghibli's gorgeous but glacially-paced tale of a borrower girl discovered by a human boy.”
IMDb 7.6RT 94% - 14
The Colors Within
Movie · 2024
“A visually stunning anime about seeing emotions as colors—think Inside Out meets Your Lie in April, but fresher and with a band.”
IMDb 7.1RT 92% - 15
Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko
Movie · 2021
“A tender Japanese anime about a loud mom, her mortified tween daughter, and learning that imperfect love is still real love.”
- 16
Kaleido Star
TV Show · 2003
“Dream-chasing circus anime from 2003 that's genuinely inspiring—if your kid can handle the glacial pacing and dated animation.”
- 17
Studio Ghibli Films
Movie · 2001
“Miyazaki's Oscar-winning masterpiece—a girl, a bathhouse, some very weird spirits, and the courage she never knew she had.”
- 18
Seven of Seven
TV Show · 2002
“A middle school girl gets split into seven clones representing her different mood swings, who then team up to help her pass her exams.”
- 19
The Case of Hana & Alice
Movie · 2015
“Dreamy Japanese rotoscoped mystery about two awkward girls investigating a disappearance—artistic, slow, and genuinely wholesome.”
- 20
Little Witch Academia: The Enchanted Parade
Movie · 2015
“Misfit witches must pull off a magical parade or face expulsion—teamwork, chaos, and sparkly spells ensue.”
- 21
A Place Further than the Universe
TV Show · 2018
“Four high school girls work odd jobs and navigate bureaucratic dead ends to hitch a ride on an Antarctic research vessel.”
- 22
The Tale of Princess Kaguya
Movie · 2013
“Studio Ghibli's watercolor masterpiece about a moon princess who just wants to be human—breathtaking, bittersweet, and utterly unforgettable.”
- 23
From Me to You: Kimi ni Todoke
TV Show · 2023
“A heart-meltingly slow burn about the girl everyone's afraid of and the one guy who actually bothers to say hello.”
- 24
Let's Make a Mug Too
TV Show · 2021
“A high school girl moves to her late mother's hometown, joins the school pottery club, and discovers her mom was a legendary ceramic artist.”
- 25
Teasing Master Takagi-san
TV Show · 2018
“A sweet, low-stakes game of middle school psychological warfare where the only casualty is a boy's pride.”
- 26
The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity
TV Show · 2025
“The anti-toxic teen romance where characters actually talk to each other and kindness is the main event.”
- 27
Spirited Away
Movie · 2001
“Miyazaki's masterpiece about a girl trapped in a spirit world—breathtaking, weird, occasionally terrifying, and absolutely unforgettable.”
IMDb 8.6RT 96% - 28
A Whisker Away
Movie · 2020
“A lovesick middle schooler turns into a cat to get her crush's attention—then can't quite figure out how to turn back into herself.”
IMDb 6.7RT 93% - 29
Weathering with You
Movie · 2019
“Gorgeous anime about a runaway teen and a girl who controls weather—stunning visuals, heavy themes, real feelings.”
IMDb 7.5RT 91%
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