8 Highest-Rated Comfort Anime Perfect for the Fall Season, Ranked by IMDb

With short days, cool air, and cozy evenings, fall is the perfect time to wrap yourself in a blanket, make some hot tea, and immerse yourself in the warm and peaceful world of anime.

During this time of year, you don't want to watch dynamic shonen battles or tense thrillers. Instead, here is the list of calming stories that warm the soul.

8. 'Aria: The Animation', 2005-2015

IMDb Score: 7.2/10

In the distant future, the glaciers on Earth have melted, causing many cities to sink underwater. Akari arrives on Aqua, formerly Mars, which was renamed after being covered by the ocean.

Akari dreams of becoming a gondolier, a guide who takes tourists along the canals of New Venice. Akari meets other gondoliers, learns their trade, and immerses herself in the city's atmosphere.

In addition to humans, Aqua has other inhabitants – charming, intelligent cats. Thus, Aria exploits the three pillars of cuteness: naive schoolgirls, cats, and beautiful European architecture.

7. 'Hakumei and Mikochi', 2018

IMDb Score: 7.2/10

Hakumei and Mikochi are two young girls whose house is hidden in the roots of a huge tree. They lead ordinary lives, meeting friends and going to cafés, all while coexisting perfectly with their neighbors – forest animals.

There is no coherent plot in this anime – it focuses on the everyday lives of the inhabitants of a fantasy forest. The title's world resembles the works of Hayao Miyazaki and the cozy hobbit houses from J. R. R. Tolkien's works.

6. 'House of Five Leaves', 2010

IMDb Score: 7.5/10

The swordsman Masa gets a job working for Yaichi, the leader of the bandit group known as the Five Leaves. The group kidnaps people from wealthy but dishonest families and demands ransom.

Initially, Masa doubts the morality of his new employers, but he eventually embraces their philosophy and accepts his path.

Based on the premise, this title should be a dynamic, bloody samurai action. In fact, however, it is a meditative anime about fate. There are almost no fight scenes because the characters are not killers – society imposed this harsh profession on them.

5. 'Polar Bear's Cafe', 2012-2013

IMDb Score: 7.9/10

There is a popular cafe owned by Polar Bear not far from the zoo. The lazy young Panda decides to get a job there so his mother won't scold him. There, he meets the good-natured owner, a businesslike Penguin, and many other animals.

This anime series takes place in a world where people and animals coexist harmoniously. It's a heartwarming title that's perfect for relaxing after a hard, gloomy day.

4. 'Laid-Back Camp', 2018-2024

IMDb Score: 8.1/10

Rin is a schoolgirl who loves nature and often goes camping. One day, she meets Nadeshiko, a cheerful but slightly awkward girl who has never spent the night in a tent before.

Rin introduces her new friend to the culture of camping with her friends from the hobby group.

Laid-Back Camp, an anime about everyday life, is one of the most famous titles of recent years. In each episode, the five girls either go on a trip or prepare for one. The series immerses viewers in the culture of camping and introduces them to the geography and nature of Japan.

3. 'Barakamon', 2014

IMDb Score: 8.2/10

Seishu is a 23-year-old professional calligrapher who has been learning the craft from his father since childhood. One day, at an exhibition, Seishu's work is harshly criticized, and his father realizes that it lacks soul.

He then sends Seishu to live alone on a remote island. Skeptical at first, Seishu soon becomes imbued with the local customs thanks to schoolgirl Naru.

The series depicts how the artist reevaluates his work by immersing himself in the details of everyday life. The anime celebrates the simple joys: delicious food, long walks, and feeling the breeze on your face.

2. 'Bunny Drop', 2011-2012

IMDb Score: 8.2/10

Thirty-year-old office worker Daikichi travels to the suburbs for his grandfather's funeral. There, he learns that his grandfather had a six-year-old daughter named Rin, whose mother is unknown.

The other relatives are skeptical of the girl and want to give her up to an orphanage. Daikichi has no experience raising children, yet he decides to adopt Rin.

Bunny Drop is a title that explores the transformative power of parenthood and the associated feelings of guilt, sadness, fear, and boundless happiness.

1. 'Mushi-Shi', 2005-2014

IMDb Score: 8.5/10

The anime world resembles 19th-century Japan, except it is inhabited by supernatural creatures called mushi. These creatures cause illness and trouble for people.

Ginko is a mushi master and one of the few people who can see them. He travels the world trying to establish a balance between the two dimensions.

The anime explores the complexities of human relationships and our connection to the world around us. Mushi are not evil creatures – they represent the laws of nature that are beyond human control.