![[Age 4] Fun for grown-ups too! A roundup of anime for four-year-olds](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/2QboRksQ-sA/maxresdefault.webp)
[Age 4] Fun for grown-ups too! A roundup of anime for four-year-olds
By the time they turn four, children start noticing deeper aspects of characters and stories, allowing them to fully enjoy picture books, animated shows, and other narratives.
Why not pick some anime you’d like four-year-olds to watch?
Here, we’ve gathered titles that kids can watch safely and comfortably.
You’re sure to discover shows they haven’t seen yet or haven’t really explored.
These are all series that adults can enjoy too, so watch together and share the world of anime with your children.
[Age 4] Fun for adults too! Anime picks for 4-year-olds (1–10)
Thomas the Tank Engine: Search for Santa! Percy's Christmas ExpressNEW!
On Christmas Eve on the Island of Sodor, the air is filled with twinkling lights and the sweet aroma of baking cookies.
Amid it all, Thomas’s best friend Percy discovers a mishap: one letter to Santa hasn’t been delivered.
Realizing that a child’s wish won’t come true unless it’s delivered today, Percy sets off with Thomas and friends on a grand adventure to find Santa.
Racing along snow-covered tracks and searching the skies filled with stars, their journey feels like stepping into a picture book.
Seeing Percy never give up and trust his friends warms the hearts of not only children but adults too.
This film, where kindness and the belief in miracles intertwine, is a perfect choice for a winter night.
SPY×FAMILY CODE:WhiteNEW!
Learning that Eden Academy will hold a cooking practicum, Loid heads with his family to the snowy land of Frigis to make the headmaster’s favorite dish, “Melemele,” in hopes of earning a Stella Star.
Along the way, a key Anya happens to pick up from a suitcase drags them into a state-secret-level chocolate incident, putting their lives in danger.
Although Yor fends off the attackers with brilliant combat prowess, upon arrival a tyrannical soldier steals their Melemele—and then Anya is abducted by an unknown party.
A spy, an assassin, a telepath, and a future-seeing dog… a family with secrets joins forces to take on a heartwarming and hilarious winter tale.
Snowtime！NEW!
Set in a small village, it all begins when the children plan a grand snowball fight centered around a “snow fortress” to make memories over their winter break.
A boy named Luke is chosen as the team leader, but he accidentally hits Sophie, a transfer student, with a snowball, leading her to become the leader of the rival team.
As friendship, budding romance, and competitiveness intermingle, the snowball fight gradually escalates into a serious battle.
What was supposed to be a game takes an unexpected, sorrowful turn, and through it the children come to realize there are things more important than winning or losing.
This story of growth and bonds, set against a snowy landscape, gently reflects both the purity and the pain found in a child’s world.
Poupelle of Chimney TownNEW!
A town full of chimneys, covered in smoke.
No one has ever seen the night sky.
Yet the chimney-sweeper boy, Lubicchi, alone keeps believing, “Beyond this smoke, there are stars.” One Halloween night, a red, glowing mass falls from the sky and becomes Poupelle, a garbage man, who meets Lubicchi.
Though disliked by the townspeople, the two gradually open their hearts to each other.
Before long, Poupelle becomes the one who supports Lubicchi’s belief.
This is a moving tale about the courage to take a step forward without fearing to believe—perfect for Christmas.
Its world of fantastical visuals and music gently embraces the hearts of all who watch.
Curious George
George was born as a character in the American picture book Curious George.
In Japan, he’s beloved as the “Hitomane Kozaru” (Imitative Little Monkey) series, and an animated series began in 2008.
The many escapades sparked by George’s pure curiosity and adventurous spirit make not only children but even adults feel excited and on edge.
Although George is a little monkey and doesn’t speak, the story unfolds as he communicates with those around him through expressive emotions and gestures.
He sometimes fails or gets scolded, but children will surely relate to and be captivated by actions that stem from George’s pure interests.
Nintama Rantarō
Nintama Rantarō is one of the long-running anime series that has been airing since 1993 and celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2022.
It features a cast of distinctive characters who are ninja-in-training, and its stories of learning ninjutsu and deepening friendships likely resonate with aspects of children’s school life and everyday experiences.
Packed with humor, it’s enjoyable even for very young children who may not fully follow the plot.
The opening theme, “Yuuki 100%,” has remained unchanged since the show first aired and is familiar to many parents as well.
It’s an anime that parents and children can enjoy together.
Crayon Shin-chan
Crayon Shin-chan is an animated series that has been airing since 1992, based on Yoshito Usui’s gag manga Crayon Shin-chan.
The protagonist is a five-year-old boy named Shinnosuke Nohara, affectionately known as Shin-chan.
The stories generally follow Shin-chan causing some kind of commotion that drags the people around him into the chaos.
It portrays everyday life with both laughs and tears from a perspective that’s easy for children to understand.
There are also Crayon Shin-chan movies, which are known for being moving even for adults.