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Anime Recommendations for 12-Year-Olds: Our Favorites

With its huge collections, different anime can appeal from adults to teens and preteens. Our recommendations for today are anime for 12 year olds.

Kids of this age have a lot of options for anime since they can enjoy the heartwarming wholesome ones, the mainstream action anime and even those anime with a bit of darkness in it, depending on their taste.

That’s why we’ve made a list of 15 anime for 12-year-olds from various genres so that everyone can find at least one from their preferred genre. Here are the anime recommendations for 12 year olds.

Anime Recommendations for 12-Year-Olds

1) Your Lie in April

Your Lie in April

Anime NameShigatsu wa Kimi no Uso
MAL Rating8.65
Number of Episodes22
Genre(s)Drama, Romance
StudioA-1 Pictures
Where to WatchCrunchyroll, Funimation, Netflix

This beautiful tale of music and healing revolves around Kousei Arima, a piano prodigy who can no longer hear the sound of notes after the death of his abusive mother.

Then Kaori Miyazono bursts into his life like a wild wind, with her playfully charismatic personality and unconstrained playing of violin.

With her boundless enthusiasm, Kousei begins healing and begins to love his music again, all the while falling for the beautiful Kaori, unknowing of the tragedy that awaits them.


2) Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You

Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You

Anime NameKimi ni Todoke
MAL Rating8.00
Number of Episodes37 (2 seasons)
Genre(s)Romance, Drama, Comedy
StudioProduction I.G.
Where to WatchCrunchyroll, Funimation

One of the most beloved shoujo anime of all time, Kimi ni Todoke is an innocent love story perfect for 12 year olds.

It tells the story of Sawako Kuronuma, a shy introverted girl who resembles Sadako from the horror movie Ring. Because of this, she’s never managed to make a single friend.

In high school, she meets the handsome and kind-hearted Shouta Kazehaya, the most popular guy in class. As Sawako begins to fall for Kazehaya, she makes new friends for the first time in her life.


3) Assassination Classroom

Assassination Classroom

Anime NameAnsatsu Kyoushitsu
MAL Rating8.09
Number of Episodes47 (2 seasons)
Genre(s)Action, Comedy
StudioLerche
Where to WatchCrunchyroll, Funimation, Netflix

The government of Japan is thrown into a chaos when an unknown being destroys half of the moon and declares to destroy the whole world in 84 days.

To their shock, the being begins teaching Class 3-E of Kunugigaoka Middle School, introducing itself as Koro Sensei.

To take advantage of the situation, the government provides the students of Class 3-E with weapons made of the only material that injures Koro Sensei and promises a big reward for whoever kills him.

As the students try to kill the powerful being, Koro Sensei teaches them both academics and life lessons.


4) Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood

Anime NameFullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
MAL Rating9.10
Number of Episodes64
Genre(s)Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
StudioBones
Where to WatchCrunchyroll, Funimation

When their mother dies, young alchemists Edward and Alphonse Elric try to bring their mother back with human transmutation.

But it fails, and as punishment, Edward loses his right hand while Alphonse loses his whole body. To keep his brother, Edward sacrifices his leg to bind Alphonse’s soul to a metal armor.

Vowing to get their bodies back, Edward becomes a State Alchemist as the brothers look for the fabled Philosopher’s Stone. They soon uncover nefarious conspiracies that have been happening within the very core of the country.


5) Bleach

Bleach

Anime NameBleach
MAL Rating7.91
Number of Episodes379 (2 seasons)
Genre(s)Action, Adventure, Fantasy
StudioPierrot
Where to WatchCrunchyroll, Funimation, Netflix (season 1)

Disney + (season 2)

One of the most popular shounen anime of all time, Bleach has plenty of action and intriguing plots to hook preteens. It starts with Ichigo Kurosaki who ends up becoming a Substitute Shinigami after his encounter with Rukia Kuchiki.

With Rukia and his friends’ help, Ichigo begins to unearth his tremendous potential, all the while protecting the citizens of Karakura Town from Hollows.


6) Hunter x Hunter

Hunter x Hunter

Anime NameHunter x Hunter
MAL Rating9.04
Number of Episodes148
Genre(s)Action, Adventure, Fantasy
StudioMadhouse
Where to WatchCrunchyroll, Netflix

Hunter x Hunter follows the adventure of Gon Freecss and his friends as they venture into the world with different motivations after passing the difficult Hunter Exams and becoming a Hunter. Gon, joined by Killua Zoldyck, is looking for his father Ging, a famous Hunter.

Leorio Paladiknight is studying to become a doctor. And Kurapika is acting to exact revenge on the infamous Phantom Troupe who slaughtered his whole clan and took their Scarlet Eyes. This anime has its dark moments but its adventurous tone makes it a perfect anime for 12 year olds.


7) Haikyuu!!

Haikyuu!!

Anime NameHaikyuu!!
MAL Rating8.44
Number of Episodes85 (4 seasons)
Genre(s)Sports, Comedy, Drama
StudioProduction I.G.
Where to WatchCrunchyroll, Netflix

This wildly famous sports anime is beloved for all the right reasons. From gripping matches to well-written characters, Haikyuu!! has to be one of the best anime for 12 year olds.

It revolves around Shouyo Hinata, a short boy who wants to become the best at volleyball, and Tobio Kageyama, a genius who can’t get on with his teammates.

When these two rivals are thrown into a team together, they discover what they can achieve with each other and their team at Karasuno.


8) Ranking of Kings

Ranking of Kings

Anime NameOusama Ranking
MAL Rating8.55
Number of Episodes33 (2 seasons)
Genre(s)Adventure, Fantasy
StudioWit Studio
Where to WatchCrunchyroll, Funimation

As adventurous as it is wholesome, Ranking of Kings tells the story of the deaf and mute Prince Bojji who is mocked by everyone around him.

When Bojji encounters a strange shadow creature, he finds his first friend in Kage. Emboldened by his friendship with Kage, Bojji sets out to conquer his fear and insecurities, and prove himself worthy beyond his disabilities.


9) Buddy Daddies

Buddy Daddies

Anime NameBuddy Daddies
MAL Rating8.18
Number of Episodes12
Genre(s)Action, Comedy
StudioP.A. Works
Where to WatchCrunchyroll

Two rough guys finding a child and coming to care for them is a popular and beloved trope, and Buddy Daddies plays that trope perfectly. It starts with a young Miri arriving in Tokyo and stumbling across an assassination plan.

She’s found by the assassins, Kazuki and Rei, who are stuck with her and plan to return her to her mother after they realize the guy they killed was her father.

Soon they find themselves caring for the cute and innocent Miri, and vow to give her a normal childhood despite all odds.


10) Your Name.

Your Name.

Anime NameKimi no Na wa.
MAL Rating8.85
Number of Episodes1 movie
Genre(s)Drama, Romance, Supernatural
StudioCoMix Wave Films
Where to WatchNetflix

Your Name. is one of the most popular anime movies of all time, taking the world in a stride with its brilliant plot and gorgeous visuals.

This Makoto Shinkai masterpiece tells the story of village girl Mitsuha and city boy Taki, who find themselves switching bodies at random.

When one day Taki is suddenly unable to switch bodies again, he sets out to find Mitsuha. This anime is a must-watch for everyone, and is an awesome anime for 12 year olds.


11) Ace of Diamond

Ace of Diamond

Anime NameDiamond no Ace
MAL Rating8.11
Number of Episodes178 (3 seasons)
Genre(s)Sports
StudioProduction I.G., Madhouse
Where to WatchCrunchyroll, Netflix

After suffering a loss in his last junior high baseball game, Eijun Sawamura is disheartened until he is scouted into the prestigious Seidou High School in Tokyo. At Seidou, Eijun finds himself lost between all the talents in the team.

Aspiring to become the Ace of the team and making a battery with the team’s prodigious Catcher Kazuya Miyuki, Eijun finds a rival in Satoru Furuya, another first-year Pitcher.


12) Spy x Family

Spy x Family

Anime NameSpy x Family
MAL Rating8.63
Number of Episodes25
Genre(s)Action, Comedy
StudioWit Studio, CloverWorks
Where to WatchCrunchyroll, Netflix

Charming and hilarious, Spy x Family is about Westalis’ best spy Twilight going undercover in Ostania as the psychiatrist Loid Forger to stop Ostanian politician Donovan Desmond’s plans.

To perfect his cover, he adopts a young orphan Anya and marries beautiful and airheaded Yor.

Unknown to him, though, Anya is a telepath and Yor is a deadly assassin, known as the Thorn Princess. Watch as this fake family finds true love and care in one another.


13) The Dangers in My Heart

The Dangers in My Heart

Anime NameBoku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu
MAL Rating7.15
Number of Episodes12
Genre(s)Comedy, Romance
StudioShin-Ei Animation
Where to WatchHIDIVE

The Dangers in My Heart is a delight from this season’s collection of anime. It follows Kyotaro Ichikawa, a middle schooler with dark urges, who wants to kill his popular classmate Anna Yamada.

When he witnesses her gorging on sweets and candies ungracefully in the library, he finds another side of the ever-perfect Anna. Not only that, the girl is also a complete airhead.

Kyotaro can’t help but look out for the ditzy Anna while she can’t help but tease him. Soon, a sweet and wholesome bond forms between them.


14) Ouran High School Host Club

Ouran High School Host Club

Anime NameOuran Koukou Host Club
MAL Rating8.16
Number of Episodes26
Genre(s)Comedy, Romance
StudioBones
Where to WatchCrunchyroll, Funimation, Netflix

After getting enrolled in the elite Ouran High, scholarship student Haruhi Fujioka stumbles into the school’s famous Host Club and accidentally breaks an expensive vase.

To pay off the huge price of the vase, Haruhi joins as one of the Hosts of the club, charming the beautiful heiresses of the school.

Ouran High School Host Club is amazingly funny with its colorful characters and its clever parody of the shoujo genre. Hilarious and entertaining, it’s a very good anime for 12 year olds.


15) That Time I Got Reincarnated As a Slime

That Time I Got Reincarnated As a Slime

Anime NameTensei shitara Slime Datta Ken
MAL Rating8.14
Number of Episodes48 (2 seasons)
Genre(s)Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Studio8bit
Where to WatchCrunchyroll, Funimation, Netflix

When a middle-aged man dies on the street, he’s reborn as a slime in a fantasy world. Though  at first being a slime seemed like a disadvantage, he soon finds the advantage in it. After saving a dragon in the cave he woke up in, he’s granted the name Rimuru Tempest by the dragon.

Soon Rimuru sets out into the world and makes many allies, all the while becoming more and more powerful.

This ends our list of anime recommendations for 12 year olds. Watch these amazing anime with friends, and when you’re done, visit Otakus’ Notes for other anime recommendations like this.


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