All About Anime

Anime And Manga For Kids: What To Recommend

Waifu For Laifu

Nowadays, the otaku and entertainment community already understands that anime and manga are media aimed at all ages, from the youngest to adults close to the third age. So you need to have a sense of what to indicate for children, nephews and children in general.

For a long time, anime and manga were understood as media for children and North American drawings. Even though the elders, aged 40+, have this same thought, some ideas are being deconstructed.

In the past, those born in the 80s used to watch the headline drawings, and not all of them were so child-oriented (Genocyber passing through regular hours still breaks me today).

In the 90s, that changed slightly; we had some drawings more for teenagers, like Dragon Ball, Knights of the Zodiac and Sailor Moon. It pleased the children of that time and still do today, being great media to start.

But in the 2000s, television channels and comic book publishers began to show the indicative ratings of products more clearly. At this time, stories more focused on children were broadcast at the correct times and for the adult audience at times more at night, outside prime time.

Publishers also began to put age recommendation tags on manga that were sold at newsstands. So from then on, the consumer market realized that the majority of the public was a teenager older than 14 years. Most of the manga released was not for children.

Among these works, Hamtaro, Beyblade, Bakugan, Waifu For Laifu and Sakura Card Captors were great doors of entry.

What Defines A Child

According to the Statute of Children and Adolescents, "a child is considered, for the purposes of this Law, the person up to twelve years old incomplete". From the age of twelve to 18, the child becomes a teenager. Youth can reach 24 nowadays.

Following this definition, there are many animes and manga that have a rating above 14 years. These stories are not recommended for children (which is different from prohibited, okay?).

Shonen magazines, the most famous Japanese demography globally, have a wide age range, and not all stories are also aimed at children aged 11 or 12. Shonen Jump, the most teen-oriented magazine, has a reader rating from 11 to 18 years old.

With that, some shonen stories can be recommended and recommended to children, but not all. There are violent stories and with very heavy subjects, such as suicide, self-mutilation, murders and not so healthy sexual/sensual moments. These are really for teenagers over the age of 18.

Kodomo, The Demographics For Children

Knowing that Shonen and Shoujo would not be such ideal demographics for boys and girls, Japan's culture market has created an alternative category called the Kodomo.

This category is not so widely spoken as it is also somewhat confusing, as some Kodomo stories can fit well in a shonen and even seinen magazine. So everything is more in the matter of indication on bookstore shelves and on streaming platforms.

Besides, Japan has specific schedules for children's programs, and in those times, it does have more childish drawings, as we have in the West - like Peppa Pig - but also more serious pictures, like One Piece, which is shonen.

Therefore, the indications here will fit so much in this view of shonen/seinen more focused on children and anime that are kodomo! So for directions, then, they all have official options to view or read.

Chi's Sweet Adventure

You know a child who likes watching YouTube, Netflix, and Prime Video very much. There's a very cute and light anime called Chi's Sweet Adventure, available on Prime Video. So far, there are 2 seasons, each with 25 episodes.

The synopsis is straightforward: "The story tells about the chi kitten's daily life that was adopted by the Yamada family. Still only three months old. Chi got lost from his family during his first outing. While she was lost on the street, she was found by little 2-year-old Youhei and his mother. They decide to take care of Chi, even though they know that it is not allowed to bring animals to the apartment where they live. And that is how the busy life of the Yamada family begins"

The anime only has audio in Japanese, with Portuguese subtitles, so it is recommended for children over 10 years old or who already know how to read and write. The incredible thing is that the manga, written by Konami Kanata, in a seinen Kodansha magazine, Morning.

The manga is already complete, in 12 volumes. But because the theme is much more light and delicious, it is very worthwhile for children.

Pokémon Franchise

Well, Pokémon has been in our lives since the 90s and is still an excellent recommendation for kids. Pokémon actually has a huge community with people of very different ages.

Anime and manga are good ways to start in the middle otaku. The anime has already been broadcast on open TVs in Brazil and has dubbed in Portuguese, making everything more accessible.

Besides, dozens of films are already translated and official in Brazil, which can be purchased or viewed on streaming platforms.

Only on Netflix can you do damage. If we go to the comics, Panini has already released some stories from each region, and there is still a lot to come out here. But they are also very accessible comics, in the same way as Monica's Gang comics.

Both products are great for teaching reading and writing.

Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball is more alive than ever. Despite its great success in the 90s and 2000s, Dragon Ball has its cool in continuation with the Dragon Ball Super. The series is available on Cartoon Network and is also part of the Crunchyroll catalogue.

So, to do that marathon from the Dragon Ball Classic to the Super, it's 1, 2. You can have fun, you can accompany your children and children watching and also look for other content creations on YouTube about the work.

In addition to the anime, all Dragon Ball films are very accessible, have dubbing and everything. Many have already arrived in Brazilian cinemas, so to buy or rent on movie platforms is also simple.

We talked a lot about animations, but Dragon Ball is also available in Brazil in comics. Panini launched the whole story and currently launches the DB Super manga. So you can make children happy with all the products.

Yo-Kai Watch

After Ben 10 and Bakugan's fevers, Yo-Kai Watch is an exciting drawing that instigates the children's creativity. Both boys and girls will love the adventures of Youkai Whisper and Jibanyan with the boy Nate and his friends.

In a footprint very similar to Pokémon, Digimon and Monster Hunter, Yo-Kai Watch is very funny and light to entertain all types of children. The anime is available on Netflix, with Portuguese dubbing to make it easier!

In addition to the anime, Panini launches the manga in a very close style to comics, usually more geared towards children. Thus, the 18 volumes that have already been released in Japan (history is in progress) are being divided in half here in Brazil.

So far, we have 20 volumes of Yo-kai Watch released, but with only 18 already complete, we will have twice that number, reaching 36 volumes.

Super Eleven (Inazuma Eleven)

Inspired by Super Champions, the anime for kids in the 80s, Super Onze (or Inazuma Eleven in the original) became a fever in Brazil too and has already aired on open TV, Rede TV and Band.

In addition to open TV, the Super Eleven season can be seen on Prime Vídeo. Inazuma Eleven the Movie: The Ultimate Force, Team Ogre, Attacks! It is also available on the platform.

Already in a comic book, JBC released the complete story in Brazil, in a very Turma da Mônica format, to be as accessible as possible. The manga has 34 volumes and came with the translated name: Super Onze.