When children turn one, they become more active, and you can’t take your eyes off them even for a moment.
Playing with them and keeping them safe can be exhausting for caregivers.
When you want a little breather or a calm moment to relax, letting them watch some anime is one option.
Here’s a roundup of anime content that one-year-olds can enjoy.
If you create time for your child to enjoy anime, you’ll likely find more breathing room in your parenting routine.
Let’s make good use of anime.
- [Age 2] A Special Feature on Anime to Enjoy with Your Child!
- [For 1-year-olds] Fun Together! Recommended Songs and Hand Play Collection
- [Age 5] A roundup of anime for 5-year-olds that will draw them into the story
- [Age 3] A roundup of anime for 3-year-olds that adults can enjoy too
- [Age 4] Fun for grown-ups too! A roundup of anime for four-year-olds
- [Childcare] Fun Songs for 2-Year-Olds to Sing! Recommended Song Collection
- Nursery rhymes to sing to your baby! Recommended songs enjoyable from 0 months
- [For 0-year-olds] Recommended songs for babies: A special feature on bonding play and traditional nursery rhymes
- Sing and dance along to popular songs! Recommended hits from kids’ TV shows.
- [For 3-year-olds] Songs to sing at nursery schools and kindergartens! Popular and recommended songs
- [Preschool] Recommended choral pieces for 3-year-olds
- [Children's Songs] Cute songs recommended for childcare. List of popular nursery rhymes.
[Age 1] A roundup of anime kids can enjoy! Use it as support for childcare (1–10)
Shinapshu
The title “Shina Pushu” comes from “synapse,” the junction between neurons in the brain.
It’s the first educational program on commercial TV designed for children aged 0–2, created with the idea that kids’ ideas will bubble up “pushu-pushu,” while caregivers can let out a relaxing “pshuuu.” Within a 25-minute episode, there’s a rich variety of short, roughly two-minute segments—songs, dances, English, quizzes, and more—carefully arranged to keep little ones engaged.
It’s even said that crying babies break into smiles! With stylish original songs that even adults can’t help but get hooked on and adorable characters making appearances, it’s a show you can enjoy together as a family.
Shaun the Sheep
Shaun the Sheep is a British animated series also known as stop-motion animation.
It’s a full-on slapstick comedy that keeps the thrills and excitement coming nonstop.
Keep an eye on the adorable antics and expressive faces of the characters—like the protagonist Shaun, his best friend Bitzer, and the baby lamb Timmy.
The story is told from the animals’ point of view and contains no spoken dialogue.
It’s enjoyable just to watch, making it a great recommendation even for one-year-olds.
Pokémon Kids TV
Beloved not only by children but also by adults, Pokémon is hugely popular.
Pokémon Kids TV, where many Pokémon make appearances, is an official Pokémon YouTube channel that mainly features Pokémon songs as well as world nursery rhymes, English learning, dance, and educational videos.
It feels like an educational program aimed at young children.
There are plenty of short videos too, so you don’t have to worry about watching for too long—another nice plus.
You’ll also be soothed by the heartwarming scenes of the adorable Pokémon.
Be sure to check it out!
Shimajiro Channel
Shimajiro, a familiar character from children’s educational materials, has launched a YouTube channel.
They also share bright and fun content that 1-year-olds can enjoy.
By singing along with the videos, children may naturally move their bodies and express themselves with gestures.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to watch together.
The videos also teach about manners and roles when riding vehicles, so it’s great if adults can gradually introduce these concepts to 1-year-olds while talking with them.
Baby Bus
Baby Bus is a YouTube channel known for its high-quality, beautifully crafted animations.
It originally began as an educational app for children in China.
Today, its videos are available in 12 languages—including Chinese, English, and Japanese—making it a truly global animation series that captivates children around the world! Its popularity likely comes not only from the colorful, engaging visuals, but also from the abundance of content that lets kids enjoy learning about numbers, colors, nutrition, daily habits, and more in a friendly way.
It’s recommended for parents who want to turn their children’s YouTube time into enjoyable learning time.
The English version is also praised for its clear pronunciation, so be sure to check it out.
Thomas the Tank Engine
The anime Thomas the Tank Engine is based on works by British clergyman Wilbert Awdry.
The protagonist is a boy engine named Thomas.
The story unfolds around his interactions with his friends and the troubles they encounter.
All of the characters are modeled on real vehicles and have very distinctive personalities! Some are honest and cheerful, while others are quite self-deprecating and stubborn—and those traits can lead them to help others or get into trouble.
Surely that’s much like the world of children, too.
Please enjoy the world of Thomas the Tank Engine, which kids can relate to from their own point of view.
Go! Anpanman
When it comes to anime popular with toddlers, Soreike! Anpanman is a top choice.
The main character, Anpanman, was born when the Star of Life came to dwell in a sweet red bean bun.
From there, he grew up strong and became a hero of justice who helps everyone! He helps people in need and battles Baikinman, who was created to defeat Anpanman.
The stories are generally kind and easy to understand, and the battle scenes with Baikinman are simple, making it one of the anime we’d love even one-year-olds to enjoy.