Many children want to watch anime shows. However, if you are not an anime expert or a big fan yourself, it will be difficult for you to find a show that is suitable for your little one! Anime genres such as shonen, shojo, and kodomo are suitable for children, but some other genres such as hentai are only for adults. Learn how to find shows, select inappropriate content, and choose the right anime for kids to keep your little one happy and safe.
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Part 1 of 3: Finding Anime for Your Little One
Step 1. Consider your little one's age
Think about their age and maturity level when you select an impression. Some 12-year-olds aren't ready to watch school romance anime, but some 10-year-olds might like the same.
Step 2. Find anime that reflects your child's interests
Think about things your little one likes, and find out online or ask for recommendations on anime that cover similar topics. For example, if your child likes racing cars, he might be interested in the Speed Racer anime.
Step 3. Ask your little one if there are any shows he would like to watch
Parents usually look for shows because their kids start the chat! Ask your little one if there is a particular show he would like to watch. If it's age-appropriate, you can buy or give the anime to your child. If not, try looking for other, lighter, and safer shows with similar genres.
For example, if your 10-year-old wants to watch Hellsing, a seinen vampire anime, he or she may enjoy an age-appropriate shonen vampire show (eg Owari no Seraph)
Step 4. Choose kodomo genre shows for younger children
If you have children under seven years old, you can give kodomo anime genre. These shows are offered for younger children and usually feature light comedy with valuable values or lessons. Girls often love girly anime like Hello Kitty, while cartoons like Doraemon are among the most popular shows for both boys and girls.
Step 5. Choose a shojo or shonen anime for young teens
Shojo is a genre of anime that is offered for early teens and teenage girls, while shonen is a similar genre, but for teenage boys. Anime like this are usually set in school and have supernatural, adventure, or romance themes. Sailor Moon is one of the most popular shojo series of all time, and Naruto could be a great choice for boys.
- These genres are also sometimes written as "shoujo" and "shounen".
- Be careful! There are several related categories called “shojo-ai” and “shonen-ai”. These categories contain more sexual content and are offered to older teens.
Step 6. Try an anime themed game
The variety of anime made for younger children often includes card or video games that can be played off-screen. Anime or cartoons like Pokemon and CardCaptor Sakura can be the right choice if you want to involve your little one in social activities.
Step 7. Watch Studio Ghibli films with your family
Studio Ghibli makes anime films that are suitable for children of all ages, as well as fun for adults to watch. These films can be an "introduction" to anime, and can be enjoyed with the family. You can watch Spirited Away, Kiki's Delivery Service, or My Neighbor Totoro.
Part 2 of 3: Selecting Indecent Anime
Step 1. Check impression ratings
Anime sold on DVD will display an age rating on the box, and if you watch anime through a streaming service, the rating or age information is usually listed in the description of the show. If you're interested in an anime that doesn't feature ratings or age information, look for ratings from online stores. Pay attention to the ratings and make sure you know what they mean!
The scoring system is usually different for each country and streaming service provider. However, shows rated “G”, “Y7”, and “TV-Y” are suitable for children. Meanwhile, anime with "MA", "R", and "NC-17" ratings can only be enjoyed by adults
Step 2. Read reviews from the internet
Every parent has a different opinion on what shows are appropriate, and the rating given may not be in line with your own opinions or values. Make sure you look online for reviews of anime that you think your little one should watch.
Step 3. Ask for opinions from friends
If you have a friend who knows a lot about anime, ask them for recommendations or opinions. This step is useful, especially if your friend knows your little one. If your child is afraid of spiders, for example, anime with a spider attack scene may not suit him or her, even if your child is older than the rating/viewing age level. If you don't know anyone who likes anime, ask an employee at a nearby anime shop or anime forum users for advice.
Step 4. Beware of adult anime genres like hentai
Some anime genres are for adults only! If you see the words “horror”, “hentai”, or “seinen” in the description, do not buy or pass the show to children. Seinen is a genre of anime offered to grown men and often has a very violent theme, while hentai is pornographic anime and should not be watched, even by older teens.
Pay attention to each show title in other genres. Fruits Basket and Beelzebub were offered as comedy shows, but only Fruit Basket was deemed suitable for children
Step 5. Watch your chosen anime yourself
Always watch the anime of your choice if you're not sure if it's suitable for children, especially if your little one is very young or you don't know anything about anime. Watch for violent scenes, sexual content, images of unhealthy relationships, or anything else that your child shouldn't see.
Step 6. Buy anime from a reputable seller
If you buy shows from unknown websites or download something illegally, you could end up getting shows that are not suitable for children. Only buy content from stores you have visited or have a good rating/review record from the internet. If you need to download anime, make sure you watch it first.
Part 3 of 3: Buying Anime
Step 1. Find out the site or place to buy anime
Most people watch anime through online streaming services, but you can also buy shows from physical stores. If you want to buy anime copies or CDs, shop at anime specialty stores or shopping sites like Tokopedia. If you don't know anything about anime, try visiting the nearest entertainment media store or searching the internet for information on anime shops in your city. The staff on duty will be happy to find the show you want.
You can also download anime, but make sure you check the video file before letting your little one watch it
Step 2. Subscribe to a streaming service
Services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Video offer a wide variety of anime shows. However, you can also subscribe to anime-only streaming sites like Crunchyroll. Choose a subscription plan that is suitable for your family.
Step 3. Find out about international shipping and customs fees
If you buy anime from a company or store in Japan, you may need to pay quite high shipping and customs fees. Ask about these costs before you make an online purchase or order from the mail.
Step 4. Check the anime title before you buy it
There are many anime with the same title or with multiple volumes, and it's not uncommon for anime shops to not accept returns. Therefore, double-check the anime of choice before you buy it or stream it!
Tips
- Usually, fans like anime with captions. However, the shows that are dubbed into Indonesian may be more suitable for children who cannot read quickly.
- Discuss options with your child. Explain to him that he is not old or mature enough to see things. Therefore, it is important for you to check and find out information related to the anime of your choice first.
- In the original show (not an adaptation), some children's anime may contain content that is not suitable or questionable in Indonesian values and culture due to differences in Japanese values in terms of decency/politeness and age. However, for that reason, some localized versions are usually censored so you don't have to worry.
- Ecchi anime is here for a more mature audience and is usually comedy-themed. However, this show is not suitable for children.
