“RECS: Love Turning Red? Here Are 5 Anime To Watch Next”

Turning Red and its spirited girl-turned-red-panda protagonist Mei Lee have won the hearts of everyone who was once an awkward teenager. When Slashfilm spoke with Turning Red’s director Domee Shi about her animated hit, she chatted about her love of anime series of the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Shi called out three timeless anime series in particular that stood out to her, both as personal favorites and as inspiration for the animated feature film: Sailor Moon, Ranma ½, and Fruits Basket. Those selections all include plucky teens and outrageous transformations — one even features a huge fluffy panda. Here's to you, Genma Saotome, the original martial arts panda.

Let’s take a closer look at anime that share those themes, starting with one of Shi’s choices that's so universally loved it's been made into a series twice!

Fruits Basket

Sweet romance, laugh-out-loud comedy, and emotional drama, Fruits Basket just about has it all. The supernatural anime originally aired in 2001 as a 26-episode television series. In 2019, it was adapted again into a three-season series, bringing back beloved characters Tohru Honda and her relationship with the unique Soma family.

Like the Lee family in Turning Red, the Soma clan is hiding a secret … a big, fluffy secret. When one of them is embraced by someone of the opposite sex, they transform into one of the animals of the Chinese Zodiac. And, like Mei Lee, strong emotions like surprise or stress can also cause a partial or full transformation in a burst of colorful smoke.

Of all the anime in this list, Fruits Basket might be the most similar to the vibrant Disney movie. "I loved that series growing up," said Shi in the Slashfilm interview.

The Eccentric Family

The Lees and the Somas might think they're the only ones that have a shapeshifting family to deal with, but The Eccentric Family takes a similar concept into a more mature direction. In the supernatural drama series, humans, tanuki (raccoon dogs), and tengu (flying creatures) share the same world. Tanuki have the ability to transform into any form, including animal, human, or even plants or objects.

The Shimogamo family of tanuki live in Kyoto. Yasaburo, who often chooses the form of a teenage boy, is an aimless but clever young member of the family. As the story unfolds, he’s increasingly caught up in the intricate politics of tanuki society and the secrecy surrounding his father's death.

While The Eccentric Family lacks the whimsical nature of Turning Red, it's the compelling family dynamics and unusual mystery that make this anime worth watching.

Aggretsuko

Image: Netflix

For a lot of anime fans, hearing "red panda" and "anime" in the same breath can mean only one thing. That's right, Aggretsuko!

Red panda and put-upon office lady Retsuko might be a fraction of Mei's size in Turning Red, but what she lacks in height, she more than makes up for in pure rage. The adorable red panda channels her frustrations into heavy metal karaoke with matchless intensity.

While listening to Retsuko take out her endless anger on the mic is consistently incredible, it's her relationships with her quirky co-workers and steadfast friends that will keep you coming back for more.

Nichijou – My Ordinary Life

You might think nothing could match the wild energy of Aggretsuko, but wait until you see Nichijou – My Ordinary Life.

Anyone who adores the intensely loyal friendship between Mei, Miriam, Priya, and Abby will also love to meet high school friends Mio, Yuko, and Mai in this wacky comedy.

There's also a talking black cat, a deceptively young mad genius, and a teenage girl with a secret she's furiously hiding — she's a robot who just wants to live an ordinary life. Add it all into one ludicrous mix and you have an unforgettable anime to add to your "to watch" list.

Nichijou – My Ordinary Life isn't easily explained. It's one of those series you have to see to really understand. And even then you still might wonder what just happened! You never know what to expect in this series of comedic vignettes. The trio of friends find themselves in one absurd situation after another, but they can get through anything as long as they're together.

Polar Bear Cafe

Polar Bear Cafe is just as wonderfully offbeat as Nichijou – My Ordinary Life, but with 1000 percent more talking animals. The slice of life comedy is just as warm and cozy as its titular café. Young (and slightly spacy) Panda discovers the friendly restaurant after chasing a butterfly one fateful day, inside, he finds kindred spirits who are all quite the characters.

From the practical penguin with a romantic side to the pun-loving polar bear who runs the café, everyone in this adorable anime has a personality all their own. Come for the huge, fuzzy friends and stay for … well, the huge, fuzzy friends.

The series is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year in a big way.

Who's your favorite anime panda? Tell us in the comments below!

Kelly Knox has been an anime fan for over 20 years. She’s a Seattle-area pop culture writer, and you can always find her on Twitter.

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