Festivals are usually a time for people to connect with friends and family and a reason to celebrate, but for some, it is more than that. People look forward to it, and it gives them an escape from their day-to-day life. Anime is a perfect thing to watch this holiday season, considering they contain everything from romance, laughter, drama, story, and much more.
The holiday season is upon us, and Christmas is just around the corner. Anime is a perfect blend of drama, romance, laughter, and emotions, just like the festive season. So, here are 25 Animes that fit perfectly into that mood. These animes might not all be related to Christmas, but they will surely tell a story that will make you feel warm inside.
Carefully curated, this anime list is a few of the most critically acclaimed and perfect for festival season. So, take a cup of hot chocolate, cuddle up in a warm blanket, and enjoy it with your friends and family. Our list includes everything from romance, a slice of life, drama, Fun, and action. Pick anyone you would like.
Tokyo Grandfathers
What better start to the list than the most liked and people’s favorite Tokyo Grandfathers? It is the story of three homeless individuals with strikingly different personalities who discover an abandoned child on the eve of Christmas and set out on a mission to find its parents. Full of emotions, laughter, and drama, this story is sure to take you on a roller-coaster journey as you go through it.
Written and directed by Satoshi Kon, the story follows the emotional journey of three homeless individuals, who discover a baby on the day of Christmas eve, and set out to find its parents. Will these people save the baby, or will it be the other way around? This is the question of the movie. As the story progresses, we see every protagonist going through character development and fighting their daemon while finding their true selves. The film received quite good reviews on Rotten Tomato and IMDB, where most of the watchers called it heartwarming and different.
Toradora!
Toradora! It is a fun-filled drama that follows the life of two high schoolers, Ryuuji and Taiga. As fate has it, the two end up in the same class and start liking each other. The series is very fun and adoring to watch. It also has many Christmas-themed episodes, which makes it perfect for watching around Christmas.
Santa Company 2019
Ever since Noel was a child, she lived with her father after her parent’s divorce, but since he is always busy, she ends up lonely. One such day, on Christmas eve, she went out and got lost in a Christmas factory owned by Santa Claus.
After that, Santa company follows the life of Noel and her friends, who set out on Christmas to deliver presents on Christmas eve. Filled with love, excitement, and humor, the series is set to get you in a festive mood.
The story follows the life of our main character named Noel, whose mother left a long time ago, and her father is extra busy around Christmas, making her lonely. One day she accidently came across Santa’s factory, where she found out that her father works in the present’s department. She agrees to be an apprentice, whose main task is to deliver the gifts on time but to pass the test required to fulfill certain criteria. Will Noel be able to fulfill the task and be an intern, or will she fail? Watch the cute anime to find out.
5 Centimeters Per Second
Although 5 centimeters is not a Christmas theme movie, it will make you feel cozy and warm. In one of the most memorable scenes of the movie, you see a boy and a girl standing next to the train station while the snow falls.
It tells a story of a boy and a girl who gets separated in childhood due to their parent’s jobs, and as the distance between them grows, they start to think of what life could have been.
The film went on to receive many awards, including Best Animated Feature Film at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards in 2007. The story is divided into three segments, with each segment telling the relationship of our protagonist with three different girls around him.
Itsudatte, My Santa!
Itsudatte, my Santa, tells a story of a boy named Santa, who hates everything about Christmas literally. As fate would have it, he met a girl who was in training to become Santa.
She then sets a goal to change his thinking and show him everything that is good about life and Christmas in general. If you want to experience Christmas in its full glory in a series, then this anime is your one-stop destination.
Santa was a boy born on 24th December, which led him to hate the festival. Also, growing up, he celebrated no festivals or got no gifts, that further led to his dislike. He then meets a girl who is in training to become Santa and gets a mission to change his view and show him everything good about the festival.
K-On
Although it is not a big series, this anime will give you full-on festive vibes. The episode of the anime follows the life of Ritsu and her friends as they are in full of festive mode. They decide on what gifts to give to each other and make plans accordingly. A fun and short series for anyone to watch who loves musicals.
A few high-school girls come together to form a band and save it from disbanding. Yui, who has no experience playing any instrument or reading music sheet, eventually learns to play music and is joined by other members of the band, who stay after school, to practice and make it big. The band is overviewed by their music teacher named, Sawako Yamanaka, who also becomes their homeroom teacher, and then they are joined by another member of the band. The anime follows the lives of the girls and their musical journey.
Also Read: 47 Anime Like Holo No Graffiti: Best Comedy Anime Recommendation
Chocotto Sister
A heartfelt anime that follows the story of a boy wishing Santa for a little sister as a Christmas present. Skipping a few years, we see his wish would come true as he receives a sister whom he must now teach the ways of the world. A series that is sure to make you feel more and wish for bigger things in life.
The story revolves around our protagonist named, Haruma Kawagoe, who desperately wanted a baby sister, but his mother had a miscarriage. He then asked Santa for a baby sister as a Christmas gift, but it did not deliver. Years later, when he was in his teenage years, a woman came knocking on his door with his sister’s delivery. On being asked, “Santa” says that it takes a long time to make a sister, thus the delay. The little girl also came with an instruction manual on how to be a good sister. Haruma has to teach her the workings of the world now, and the story revolves around their adventure.
Lucky Star
The lucky star was released in 2007, and it tells the story of a bunch of schoolgirls who go on to celebrate Christmas after giving their exams. A fun series filled with Christmas theme episodes; it will take you back to your school days.
Lucky star tells the story of four girls in school, one of them being very lazy, who just loves to watch anime and play video games. Although she hates studying, she is also very intelligent and athletic. The series follows the school life of these girls while also mentioning a lot of famous animes, mangas, and series.
Also read: 25 Anime Like Lucky Star With Enjoyable Slice Of Life Stories
Winter Sonata
Based on the Korean series of the same name, the anime tells the story of a boy named Joon-sang, who, although liked by everyone around him, is an introverted human with a past. The story explores his life and his connection with Korea. Although the story is a melodrama, its wintery feels and good storytelling will have you hooked on your streets. With some amazing visuals, the anime remains a classic.
The anime is too beautiful to be missed. The story is so beautiful and well-written that you fill find yourself rooting for the main characters in no time. What makes it more special is that it clearly depicts the feelings people experience when they are in love. No wonder it is a classic.
Strawberry Marshmallow
The anime revolves around the lives of 5 ordinary girls who find themselves while navigating through life. It is a slice-of-life drama that will make you feel like an everyday story where a bunch of girls are doing ordinary things like collecting money to celebrate a holiday.
This anime will take you back to your childhood days when you believed in Santa, it is all about the innocence of a child, and it is very cute for the same reason. This anime will strike a chord with many because of its story. Moreover, it is filled with cute scenes, laughter and drama, just like a good anime.
Strawberry Marshmallow received quite a good response from its English viewers, one of them describing the anime as “a clever little comedy that delivers laughs via its straight-faced approach”. While the anime got 7.8/10 on IMDB, it still remains fan favorite.
White Album 2
If you are looking for a warm, romantic story to watch this Christmas along with your loved one, White Album 2 is the one for you. This anime will make you feel giddy and loved at the same time. A perfect watch for a cold winter night.
White Album 2 is the sequel to its much famous series named White Album. It continues the story of the same protagonist but ten years later, in the winter setting of October. The story revolves around music, love, and confessions of three friends.
The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya
The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya is the fourth adaptation of Haruhi’s novel. The mystery in the story will surely keep you on edge. Also, it has a lot of romantic scenes to keep you entertained. Haruhi Suzumiya mysteriously disappeared one day, and what is strange is that her friends suddenly started to forget all about her. What happened to her and how this strange phenomenon came about, find out in this anime.
If you are looking for a mysterious, fun anime to watch this season, this is it. The story starts after the sudden disappearance of Suzumiya at a Christmas party. What is odder is that everyone suddenly starts to forget all about her. In for a mystery? This is your go-to anime this Christmas season.
Love Hina Christmas Special – Silent Eve
It is not all merry for Keitarou on Christmas, as he has exams on the very next day. However, he has heard of a rumor that if you confess your love on Christmas eve, it will come true, so he is planning to do just that, unaware of the fact that he is not the only one. As Christmas approaches for our characters, so does their exam. Keitaro being a retaker thinks if he can afford any distraction during exams, but it is the first Christmas of the millennial, and there is a rumor going around that if you confess your love on Christmas eve, it will come true. Will he succeed in his ambitions, or will he fail? Watch this fun-filled movie to find out.
Sailor Moon S Movie: Hearts in Ice
An evil ice queen is threatening to freeze the whole planet, and our heroes are saving the day. What not to like about this plot? Based on the Christmas and winter theme, this movie has it all; a bunch of superheroes, villains, cats, monsters, and an end-of-the-world scenario. Not only a typical Christmas theme movie, but this anime is a good one to watch with your friends and family. The sailor moon series is a well-known anime among anime lovers, and this movie does not disappoint. A villain and our favorite superhero to save the day, this movie has everything to lift up your festive spirits.
Polar Bear’s Café
Your ordinary Christmas day, the difference being that instead of humans, a bunch of animals is fretting over what gifts to give each other on Christmas. The story turns a lot cuter when all of them comes out of their metaphorical shell and celebrate the holidays together, doing ordinary human things. Shirokuma cafe is a regular cafe owned by a polar bear named Shirokuma. People and animals just come to his café after a hard day at work and love to relax, and he loves nothing more than to serve them. Fun, gossip, friendship, bond, and love; you will find it all here at Shirokuma’s cafe.
If you love animals and are in to watch a bunch of them doing normal human things, then this is the anime for you. Telling s very relatable story through animals, this anime is different from your regular one.
Cardcaptor Sakura
The Christmas episode of Cardcaptor Sakura is a fun-filled one, where Sakura goes to the theme park with her friends. As Sakura looks for an appropriate gift to give to Yukito, whose birthday is on the same day as that Christmas, the anime follows their adventure. Even if the anime is a little bit old, you can still have a fun time watching this show and experiencing the Fun along with our main character.
Hamtaro
The story follows an ordinary day in the life of a hamster named Boss and his friends, who set out to find Santa in the hope that they will get a gift for Boss from him. A cute anime where a bunch of people comes together to help a friend, this show is sure to be a good anime to watch this season.
Aggretsuko: We Wish You a Metal Christmas
The story is all about Retsuko and her recent obsession with social media. While this news of her is about to ruin her Christmas, Haida still hasn’t given up on her and makes plans to spend Christmas with her. A deep story with lots of twists and turns, this anime will keep you on edge throughout. The anime is available on Netflix to be watched by its viewers and is a story that people can easily relate to. These days when social media has become so trendy that everyone wants to hop on the wagon of fame, this anime tells a story that is very likely to happen today. The characters are much like real-life people, and their obsessions and problems can easily be understood.
Due to its reliability, the show did quite well among its fans, and the visuals of the show are something to look forward to.
Hetalia Axis Powers
An anime with a slightly different story, Hetalia Axis Powers, shows a time when all the countries come together to celebrate a holiday. In a time when everyone around us is fighting over boundaries, it can be a good and refreshing show to watch. Although this anime is more historical, its Christmas episode will give you all the feels and a ray of hope.
Characters of this show are the personification of countries and depict their different cultures, habits, climate, and their politics. The main characters of the show are made from allies of World War 2. The story is a lighthearted take on very serious topics of history and tells the tale through a different lens. At the same time, the Christmas episode of the show is when all the countries come together to celebrate Christmas.
The manga series of the anime was very well-received and topped the charts, while the readers gave mixed reviews for the anime version of the show.
Usagi Drop (Bunny Drop)
The Christmas episode of Usagi drop centers around Daikichi and Rin as they prepare for Christmas. A heartfelt story of an ordinary family who celebrates Christmas together, doing things that a normal family does.
The story follows the life of our protagonist named, Daikichi Kawachi, who is a normal 30-year-old bachelor with no prior experience in childcare. One day when he returns home on his Grandfather’s death, he finds out that his Grandfather had an illegitimate daughter. The poor girl was being cased aside by everyone, which Daikichi did not like. Hence, she took it upon himself to take care of her. With no prior experience, Usagi Drop is a heartfelt story of a man who discovers fatherhood in a strange way, leaning on his way.
Clannad: After Story
A sequel to the critically acclaimed story of the same name, the story follows the life of Tomoya Okazaki and Nagisa Furukawa after they graduate from high school. The story is all about the struggles of adulting and growing up, which every one of us can relate to. If you are planning to watch this anime this Christmas, be prepared to feel a lot of emotions and cry.
Based on the visual novel by Key, Clannad: After Story tells an emotional story of two individuals and the importance of family. The anime gained huge popularity, with an 8.6/10 rating on IMDB.
Log Horizon
More action-packed anime, this series has a Christmas theme episode, where one group of villains is trying to destroy the Christmas fun, and another is trying to save the planet. Not everyone’s a cup of tea, but it can surely be something one can watch for a change, maybe.
The 25 episode anime was released on 5th October, 2013 and was available on Crunchyroll for everyone to watch. An interesting plotline, a bunch of superheroes, and action-filled anime, what more can one ask for?
Hachimitsu to Clover (Honey and Clover)
A heart-warming story of five friends who are on a journey of self-discovery. Hachimitsu to Clover is a much-loved anime that is a slice of life. The story follows the lives of five students who have very different tastes and ambitions, but the story weaves itself beautifully as their lives intertwine and they help each other on the way.
The series depicts the lives and relationships of a bunch of art school students who live in the same building. As their lives intertwined, they fell in love with each other and explored the various intricacies of life, love, relationships, and hardships. The series gained huge popularity among its female readers and topped the charts during 2006-2007.
Winter Garden
A sweet and sour story that begins on the day of Christmas, when Di Gi Carat is working part-time in a bakery store. On her way back from the store, she meets a boy named Senba Taokuo, and fate makes them cross paths again and again.
The story is all about their encounters and loves life. Will they get want they want? Will they succeed in their love? The anime explores the answer to these questions as we see their lives through the series.
Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu ka?
Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu ka? It is a comedy about the life of five young waitresses with different personalities. One of them, Kokoa, is an extrovert who makes friends with anyone she meets, while the other is an introvert who is close to only a few.
After moving with a family and befriending their granddaughter, Kokoa befriends another waitress at her job, who has some very significant disabilities due to her upbringing. The story is about these girls’ adventures in the new town. Full of silliness, aesthetically beautiful visuals, and a lot of charm, this is a fun anime to watch this Christmas season.
Animes are usually with deep, intricate storylines carefully wrapped around the given theme. What makes them more special is that every character has their own story and development. Whether you are in the mood for a slice of life, romance, drama, or action, there is something for everyone in them.
You can find any genre you like, and there are always episodes that center around a particular theme. In this case, it’s Christmas. Cuddle up in a warm blanket, forget about all your worries, pick the one you like, according to your taste and mood, and have a jolly time with your friends and family.
Also Read: Top 25 Best Noir Anime Shows That You Must Watch!
