Any perfectly light anime?

[Bobtheduck]

Can't think of any perfectly light anime... Sailormoon classic gets kind of depressing toward the end (oh, and it's violent to a degree... I guess), Excel Saga is full of dark humor in addition to the hyper craziness, and I've heard there is one completely serious episode (though I didn't see it), Azumanga Daioh ends in tears (though it's not entirely sad), School Rumble was mostly light despite Harima and Tenma's comic angst, but had some serious downer moments in the last 1/3 of the manga, which the ending OVA hinted at, even freaking Lucky Star has Konata's mom...

Does anyone die a tragic death in Hamtaro? What about Chibi Maruko-chan? I've only seen it in raw Japanese, so I'm not entirely clear on all the relationships (I can't remember if she's got a dad at home) but is there anything tragic in that? Shin chan (Japanese version, I mean) was pretty light, I guess... I mean, yeah, they lost their house, but they got it back, so... I haven't seen close to the whole thing (Shin chan is pretty long)

I'm starting to get the idea that every anime will have some dark, sad moment in it, though

[blkmage]

Mostly comedies: Hidamari Sketch doesn't have any, IIRC, and neither does GA:GADC. The first season of Minami-ke (the only season that matters and is good) doesn't either. And Maria+Holic and Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei might trick you into thinking there are such moments, only to pull the rug underneath you at the last moment and laugh in your face (the ending of SZS season 1, episode 11, for example).

[battletech]

Nanaka 6/17

[Falx]

Seconding Sketchbook and Hidamari, and adding GA: Gejiutska Design Class as well as Ichigo Mashimaro (Strawberry Marshmallow), they're all pure lightness of heart.

[Akemijo]

"Chi's New home" is pretty light to me. Nice kitty that Chi is.

[Nate]

Bottle Fairy is pretty light (but short). Snow Fairy Sugar doesn't get dark or anything, though there are some sad moments (but nothing like mind-numbingly depressing).

I really can't think of any dark moments in Ranma 1/2, usually the stuff like that is played for laughs (I remember the episode where Ryoga learned a technique that fed off of sadness, and so he got really depressed and used it to beat Ranma, but then he got happy that he won and he couldn't use the technique anymore...then Ranma learned it and it led to a great fight where they kept using the technique on each other alternately).

[Mr. Hat'n'Clogs]

Ouran High School Host Club, unless you count the last two episodes(which I don't, as I don't think of them as dark per say, just not happy-go-lucky), is 100% cheery. I could go further in, but I don't feel like it right now.

[blkmage]

[quote="Mr. Hat'n'Clogs (post: 1355493)"]Ouran High School Host Club, unless you count the last two episodes(which I don't, as I don't think of them as dark per say, just not happy-go-lucky), is 100%]

Actually, I had thought about this too, but decided it didn't quite work. Ouran actually has some fairly uncheery material. For instance, other than the final two episodes, there's the exploration of Kaoru's and Hikaru's identities and how they try to define themselves as individuals apart from each other and Tamaki's and Kyouya's own respective struggles with their roles in their families. And beyond the anime, the manga actually heads further away from comedy and well into shoujo drama territory.

I can't believe I forgot Aria, but if you thought Azumanga Daioh's ending was teary, well, maybe Aria wasn't what you were thinking of either.

[rocklobster]

What about Azumanga Daioh? That's pretty light-hearted. And so's My Neighbor Totoro.

[Akemijo]

Bottle Fairy is pretty light (but short). Snow Fairy Sugar doesn't get dark or anything, though there are some sad moments (but nothing like mind-numbingly depressing).

I really can't think of any dark moments in Ranma 1/2, usually the stuff like that is played for laughs (I remember the episode where Ryoga learned a technique that fed off of sadness, and so he got really depressed and used it to beat Ranma, but then he got happy that he won and he couldn't use the technique anymore...then Ranma learned it and it led to a great fight where they kept using the technique on each other alternately).

Lol I was gonna mention Bottle fairy, but to me it got boring kind of fast :/

There's also Penguin No Mondai, but I've only seen the first episode and a little of the second so far. It's one of the most ridiculous short anime's ever. Each episode is kind of short though.

Also Digi Charat. Both of these mock seriousness and then go nuts.

[Fish and Chips]

Jagainu-kun.

[Radical Dreamer]

Jagainu-kun.

But they get attacked by a vampire apple bat! I dunno about you, but I always figured that was way scary.



XDD

[Nate]

Don't forget the last episode where they all die in a flood.

Lol I was gonna mention Bottle fairy, but to me it got boring kind of fast :/

Bottle Fairy was okay as far as anime goes. Not a whole lot happened but it was short, and fairly amusing. The boring-ness was to me offset by the fact that it was only 13 episodes long and each episode was 10 minutes or so.

[minakichan]

I was gonna say Doraemon, but then I realized how TRAGIC it really is.

Seconding Chii's Sweet-- oh wait, there's that graphic scene of Chi at the vet, never mind.

[Blitzkrieg1701]

Shingu: Secret of the Stellar Wars is pretty light and easy going, even though it DOES boast a plot about interstellar politics and giant robots.

[That Dude]

Grave Of The Fireflies

[Radical Dreamer]

Grave Of The Fireflies

I LOL'd. XDD

[Blitzkrieg1701]

"What? It's Studio Ghibli isn't? How could that POSSIBLY go wrong?"

[steenajack]

Um. Grave of the Firflies is extremely depressing. It's about these two kids living in poverty, and it does not have a happy ending. I don't think I can recommend anything, due to the fact that most of the anime I watch has some drama in it. I recomend some of Hayao Miyazaki's films that are more lighthearted and sweet. Ponyo I think is a good example, and so it whispers of the heart.

[animeguild53]

..if you are looking for a light anime, kimi ni todoke is good for you... the anime is not yet complete though... try reading it's manga... i like how shiina karuho did the visuals... it doesn't have any CHRISTian theme on it, but it's sure is nice and you can learn a lot of good values... teehee! tanoshimimasu!



..."Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtues, or if there be any praise; think of these things." ---Philippinians 4:8

[blkmage]

I really like Kimi ni Todoke (and I wish the translations for the manga would get pumped out faster) and in general, it is pretty light, but it has some pretty huge shoujo drama moments (like within the first few episodes/chapters, much faster than Ouran). And now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure that under the criteria that Bobtheduck has set out, pretty much every shoujo series is disqualified, because I'm sure that at some point, there will be drama.

[Maokun]

Jungle wa Itsumo Hale Nochii Guu (a.ka. Hare + Guu) is a crazy comedy that from time to time likes to lead to somewhat tender, contemplative and even a few sad moments, just to suddenly explode in your face in a "I almost had you there! hahaha" fashion. I can't remember a single "serious" scene that lasted more than one minute.

[mysngoeshere56]

Actually, I had thought about this too, but decided it didn't quite work. Ouran actually has some fairly uncheery material. For instance, other than the final two episodes, there's the exploration of Kaoru's and Hikaru's identities and how they try to define themselves as individuals apart from each other and Tamaki's and Kyouya's own respective struggles with their roles in their families. And beyond the anime, the manga actually heads further away from comedy and well into shoujo drama territory.

Yeah I was thinking the same thing, but figured it might not work for the same reason.

And ROFL at the Grave of the Fireflies thing. XDDDDD

Would the Hello Kitty anime work? I haven't seen it in years, but even though there were sad moments, I'd venture to say it was the lightest anime I'd ever seen (if memory serves correctly)... along with Mermaid Melody (though there were sad moments in that too, but it's probably the lightest magical girl anime I've ever seen).

[steenajack]

OMGOSH! I did not get that Grave of the Fireflies joke until just now! *bonks self in head* Now I'm totally lol-ing!!!!

[Shadowfax]

Someone mentioned this before, but i have say it again...

[SIZE="3"]ARIA[/SIZE]

Even though its ending may remind you of Azumanga Daioh's, it came across to me as a lot more cheerful and amazing. If you cry, it's only because it a touching beautiful moment, not because it was bittersweet. The entire show's atmosphere is "light" - watching an episode felt like it was bringing that relaxation you can only get on a vacation. It was that well written.

I highly suggest you give it a shot... it all begins with Aria the Animation. If you're willing to try it, I recommend looking at P79068 subs, they were great quality.

Other candidates are...
Angelic Layer (I don't recall any dark moments in this)
My Neighbor Totoro (doesn't get much more wholesome than this)

I'm trying to remember if Nodame Cantabile had a sad or dark moment in it... to be honest, for such a famous show, I look back on it and can only remember a lot of smiles.

[blkmage]

I'm trying to remember if Nodame Cantabile had a sad or dark moment in it... to be honest, for such a famous show, I look back on it and can only remember a lot of smiles.

Chiaki's strained family relations, discussions about Nodame's potential vs. her willingness to work at it, there's a lot more drama after they get to Paris.

[Maokun]

Other candidates are...
Angelic Layer (I don't recall any dark moments in this)

Except all the rather depressing moments dealing with the [spoiler]paralytic mother?[/spoiler] C'mon, it's CLAMP we're talking of.

[Shadowfax]

Chiaki's strained family relations, discussions about Nodame's potential vs. her willingness to work at it, there's a lot more drama after they get to Paris.

Except all the rather depressing moments dealing with the [spoiler]paralytic mother?[/spoiler] C'mon, it's CLAMP we're talking of.

Alright, I agree... neither of those are perfectly light.

If you're looking for something that wholesome, it sounds like you're looking for a kids show. And I don't know what cartoons children watch in Japan. =) What is the anime equivalent of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood? I'm curious to know too!

BUT... there are animes with a "light" overall feel, where their sad moments aren't so heavy that they detract from the whole experience.

If you try them out, I think you'll find they can be just as satisfying as a perfectly-light anime would be. Maybe even more.

Take Aria for example... it's a show that 80% of the time makes you feel good. The other 20%, when something serious is happening, is resolved in such a beautiful way that it makes you feel even more good than it usual does. Or something like that-- it's hard to describe.

You get the idea. There's not many "perfectly light" animes out there, but you'd be surprised how many "mosty light" animes can be "perfectly enjoyable".

[ilikegir33]

Excel Saga is full of dark humor in addition to the hyper craziness, and I've heard there is one completely serious episode (though I didn't see it)

Agreed, and the episode is 24, but the reason it's serious is because [color="Black"][spoiler]Rikdo wanted all the gags removed, which makes sense, considering that Excel became an amnesiac after the fall of the City of F. I think it's a great episode, and it's still got a few parodies as well. Kinda reminds me of Dragon Ball Z, in a way.[/spoiler][/color]

[quote="Shadowfax (post: 1357591)"]
If you try them out, I think you'll find they can be just as satisfying as a perfectly-light anime would be. Maybe even more.

Take Aria for example... it's a show that 80%]

Agreed. Aria is as light as they come.

I would consider Ponyo to be that way as well. The only really dark things about it are Ponyo's dad (who is initially pretty scary, but then again, so was the Catbus in Totoro) and the storm, but both are resolved in a good and nonthreatening way.

[Kaligraphic]

If Azumanga Daioh's ending (high schoolers graduate from high school) counts as "dark" at all, then I don't know any anime made for people over the age of 12 that would satisfy your lightness criterion.


...except one. An anime with so much Light that it has to be capitalized. An anime with so much Light that it overwhelms any dark themes, even though it mellows out near the end.

Death Note.