Anime To Watch When On Bed Rest

As I write, I am in fact curled up in bed, in loads of pain, and unable to walk unaided. But modern technology is fantastic. Not only can I type one-handed on my phone, but I can also marathon anime! With cold and flu season upon us, I suspect many of you will also find yourselves tucked up in bed with various types of medication circulating through you. You may also be looking for a distraction, and what better distraction than an anime marathon?

I have personal lists specifically designed for this situation that I send out to friends and family. And now I am going to share them with all of you! These series all follow a basic set of rules:

1. They are easily available on the two main anime streaming services: Crunchyroll and Netflix. Streaming is better than Blu-ray when sick because you don’t have to get up to change discs.
2. They’re available with good-quality English dubs. This is so you don’t have to concentrate on reading whilst recovering. You can even watch without your eyes fully functioning!
3. They’re not plot-heavy and have enough filler that you can drift in and out of sleep whilst watching. But they’re also engaging enough that you’re not gonna be bored out of your mind watching them.
4. They’re actually something I watch whilst sick!

So let’s begin with a classic…

Studio Ghibli Films

Vibes: Soft, comforting, food porn, love and hope, beautiful animation, dreamy soundtracks

You really can’t go wrong here.* Ghibli has become synonymous with gentle comfort and hope. Taking time to heal is a big feature in these films, so it’s a perfect time to feel connected to these characters and their journeys. Ghibli films are beautifully animated, and the soundtracks make for the perfect sleep soundscape. They’re usually light on plot with meandering narratives you don’t need to fully concentrate on. Many are aimed at children, and so they’re specifically designed to be simple to understand—but that doesn’t mean they’re not still excellent films! Ponyo slaps.

My personal favourites for sick-watching are: Kiki’s Delivery Service, Porco Rosso, My Neighbour Totoro, and The Cat Returns.

Directors: Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, Goro Miyazaki, Hiromasa Yonebayashi, Yoshifumi Kondo, Hiroyuki Morita, Tomomi Mochizuki

English Cast Who Have Also Been in Batman Films: Anne Hathaway, Christian Bale, Robert Patterson, Mark Hamill, Michael Keaton, Will Arnett, Liam Neeson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Films On Netflix (UK) / HBO MAX (US): Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Castle in the Sky, My Neighbour Totoro, Grave of the Fireflies, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Only Yesterday, Porco Rosso, Pom Poko, Whisper of the Heart, Princess Mononoko, My Neighbours the Yamadas, Spirited Away, The Cat Returns, Howl’s Moving Castle, Ocean Waves, Tales from Earthsea, Ponyo, Arriety, From Up on Poppy Hill, The Wind Rises, The Tale of Princess Kaguya, When Marnie Was There, Earwig and the Witch, The Boy and the Heron

*I do not support the decision to watch Grave of the Fireflies whilst sick. Unless you figure you’re already gushing fluids, so who will notice a few tears?

Natsume’s Book of Friends

Vibes: Cozy, relaxing, shojo, found family, kooky hijinks, fun characters, adorable drunken uncle kitty cats

Orphan Takashi Natsume has very few memories of his parents. He’s spent most of his life being passed between different family members who all end up rejecting him. Why? Because Natsume inherited the gift to see yokai, a gift nobody in his family has had since his grandmother, Reiko Natsume. Constantly blaming misfortune on things nobody else can see has left him with an unearned reputation as a troublemaker. Life gets better, though, when the kindly Fujiwaras take him in and raise him as their own. Finally able to settle, he discovers that this is the hometown of his grandmother! She gained a reputation of fighting Yokai and claiming their names inside her book of friends, tying them to her for life. Natsume now takes on the task of giving these names back to any yokai who asks. Along the way, he meets an all powerful yokai disguised as a fat cat, a whole host of kooky yokai friends, human mentors who share his gift, and most importantly: Other teenage friends who believe him when he says he can see spirits.

This series is one of the longest-running shojo anime, with seven series in total and more on the way. It first aired in 2008 and went over a decade without an English dub. But in 2022, Crunchyroll started to dub it at last! And it didn’t take long until they were fully caught up with the Japanese and simuldubbing the series.

Natsume’s Book of Friends is a perfect sick watch. It’s sweet, comforting, and has a gentle soundtrack. There’s plenty of emotional heft to each episode, but you’re left with a sense of love for humanity at the end. There’s very little ongoing plot for the series, with each episode focussing on a different yokai whose name needs to be returned. Whilst there are some ongoing plot threads, like the Matoba Clan of exorcists trying to recruit Natsume to their numbers, and the mystery of who Reiko married, it’s mostly a series of standalone episodes that make it perfect for falling asleep to.

• Original Creator: Yuki Midorikawa
• Directors: Takahiro Ōmori, Kotomi Deai, Hideki Itō, Sadayuki Murai
• Studio: Shuka
• Main English Cast: Adam Gibbs, Christopher Wehkamp, Alexis Tipton
• Dub Director: Jad Saxton
• Engineers: William Dewell, Katie Saltkill, Sawyer Pfledderer, Ian Emerson, Rickey Watkins, Noah Whitehead
• Script Adaptation: Jessica Sluys, Natalie Van Sistine

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure

Vibes: Peak shonen, fujobait, action/adventure, camp

Follow the strange ongoings within the Joestar clan as each generation must fight to save the world. With enemies including vampires, mafia bosses, serial killers and the Florida prison system, there’s really something for everyone here! The characters’ magical avatars known as “stands” all take inspiration from western musicians, so you can add to your musical knowledge along the way, too.

The series is an iconic piece of anime history for a reason. It’s a creative mess of surrealism and pop culture that leaves you laughing every episode. One of the most fun aspects of watching it is seeing where all the memes come from! Such a long-running series is quite daunting for newbies, though. Trust me, I know. But the advantage of being sick is that you have plenty of time on your hands! I first watched during COVID, and then again after I’d fractured my spine and was unable to move. The surreal nature of the series meant that it was probably best experienced on prescription painkillers.

Whilst Jojo’s does have a plot, it doesn’t feel that important compared to the overall vibe of the show. I watched Diamond is Unbreakable whilst drifting in and out of sleep, and I don’t think I actually missed anything important.

Stardust Crusaders (Part 3) is considered to be the best of the series. However, I wasn’t a fan of all the macho-ism. I recommend starting with Diamond is Unbreakable (Part 4), which has all the characters folks know and love with an additional heap of camp. Stone Ocean (Part 6) is probably my personal favourite, but it may be a little plot heavy to watch whilst sick.

• Original Creator: Hirohiko Araki
• Directors: Naokatsu Tsuda, Yasuhiro Kimura, Hideya Takahashi, Toshiyuki Kato, Kenichi Suzuki
• Studio: David Production
• Main English Cast: Johnny Yong Bosch, Patrick Seitz, Ben Diskin, Richard Epcar, Matt Mercer, Billy Kametz, Phillip Reich, Kira Buckland
• Dub Directors: Kevin McMullan, Patrick Seitz, Tony Oliver, Bill Millsap, Courtney Sanford
• Script Adaptors: Edward Murray, Michael McConnohie, Patrick Seitz, Tony Oliver, Jalek K. Cassell, Jessie James Grelle, Mathew Hunter, Jalen K. Cassell, Khoi Dao, Nico Danilovich, Rachel Robinson, Ryan Raydarke, Tyson Rinehart

Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle

Vibes: Comedy, hijinks, fail villains, found family, anything for a good night’s sleep, reverse Stockholm syndrome, brutal sheet ghost murders

Princess Syallis was living a peaceful life filled with silk pillows and handmaids to sing her to sleep when suddenly the Demon King decided to kidnap her. Being trapped forever in his dungeon isn’t her biggest concern, though—that’s getting a good night’s sleep! Her mission to achieve the perfect slumber leads her to slaughtering innocent ghost shrouds, stealing mystical potions from all powerful beings, and making friends with her teddy bear guards so she can use them as pillows. Her innate charm quickly endears her to the head demons, who start to see her nightly escapes as just part of daily life. The castle will never be the same again.

At just 12 episodes, Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle is the shortest series on this list. But I couldn’t resist including this laugh-out-loud comedy. Devoid of any unnecessary sexualisation or inappropriate romances, you can easily turn your brain off and enjoy every second of this.

The dub team also did a fantastic job. The script is witty, engaging, filled with jokes from start to finish. The cast is all excellent and have such a broad range when it comes to depicting characters. You’re bound to spot one of your favourite dub actors amidst this broad cast of demons.

• Original Creator: Kagiji Kumanomata
• Director: Mitsue Yamasaki
• Studio: Dōga Kōbō
• Main English Cast: Kira Buckland, Alejandro Saab, J. Michael Tatum, Elizabeth Maxwell
• Dub Director: Amber Lee Collins
• Engineers: Alyssa Dumas, Natalie Van Sistine
• Script Adaption: Leah Clark, Y. Chang

Snow White with the Red Hair

Vibes: Fairytale romance, family is what you make it, independent women, perfect princes, loyal soldiers, OT3, botany lessons through the backdoor

Shirayuki was known throughout the land of Tanbarun as a genius herbalist. However, it was her gorgeous red hair that drew the attention of Prince Raj. When she receives a letter demanding she becomes his concubine, she cuts off her hair and runs away to the neighbouring kingdom, Clariness. There, she meets the charming Prince Zen Wisteria, who encourages her to apply to become an official herbalist for the castle. Along her journey to learn all there is about her craft, she meets a colourful range of characters, from the loyal bodyguards Kiki and Mitsuhide, the former assassin Obi, to her young genius mentor Ryu.

This is one of the most beloved shojo anime for a reason. It also has a sweeping soundtrack that catches you up in all your emotions. The romance between Shirayuki and Zen travels at a reasonable pace, with the plot not being wholly centered on it, but rather the relationships and goals of the group as a whole. Obi/Shirayuki/Zen are also the greatest, most bisexual-affirming OT3 of our times. I don’t care if it’s not officially canon, their love is real and true and cannot be denied. Fight me.

Snow White with the Red Hair is a sweet watch which will continuously reaffirm that your job as a sick person is to focus on getting better. Forcing yourself to work when you are sick will only make you sicker, and make your friends and family worry all the more for you.

• Original Creator: Sorata Akizuki
• Directors: Masahiro Andō
• Studio: BONES
• Main English Cast: Brina Palencia, Jessie James Grelle, Austin Tindle
• Dub Director: Chris George
• Engineers: Brandon Peters, Gino Palencia, William Dewell, David Franco, Neal Malley
• Script Adaptation: Emily Neeves, Jamie Marchi, Rachel Robinson

Banished From the Heroes’ Party, I Decided to Live a Quiet Life in the Countryside

Vibes: Slice of life but make it fantasy, big titty romance, brothers and sisters, yuri undertones, it takes a village

Gideon “Red” Ragnason was once part of The Hero Ruti’s party. As Ruti’s older brother, he was blessed with all the skills he’d need to help her become the S-Rank she is today. But his particular gift means he can never progress past D-Rank. So, after a fight where he was more hindrance than help, he’s ordered to leave. Red journeys back to the small village of Zoltan and hopes to enjoy a quiet retirement. When his old teammate and crush Rit shows up again, things seem like they can only get better.

This series is just an easy, gentle watch. Nothing really happens, and the plot is mostly just mixing potions and rescuing kids from wells. Red and Rit’s love story is sped-run during the anime, which doesn’t make for a great romance. However, it does mean you don’t have to worry about any painful will-they-won’t-theys. You can just slip into watching two adults in love, living and working together. The action picks up again when Ruti, and her devotee Tisse, return but the focus remains on the emotional relationships between the characters. The series is all about how having a simple, peaceful life, filled with joy is a valuable goal. Moral of the story: You don’t need to be famous to be happy.

• Original Creator: Zappon
• Directors: Makoto Hoshino, Satoshi Takafuji
• Studio: Wolfsbane
• Main English Cast: Aaron Campbell, Dani Chambers, Tia Ballard
• Dub Director: Christopher Wehkamp
• Engineer: Xavier Earl
• Script Adaption: Eliza Harris, Jessica Cavanagh, Macy Anne Johnson

Cells at Work

Vibes: Saturday morning cartoon, educational, fun characters, surreal scenarios, the power of friendship

Ever wonder what your cells get up to every day? Well, wonder no more, as Cells At Work shines a spotlight on all the hard work your body does every day! From red blood cells running around to make sure the other cells get all the oxygen they need to white blood cells taking care of any villainess viruses try to take over to platelets repairing any rips or tears in the skin, every day is a big adventure inside the body!

The first in the now famous Cells at Work series, this story is very much aimed at school-age children to teach them important biology lessons. The simple, overly optimistic storytelling makes this the perfect sick watch. You can even see how your body is fighting to get you healthier! Or, if you’ve got an autoimmune disease like me, heckle the white blood cells for messing up and not doing their jobs. It’s surprisingly cathartic to give those dick heads inside you a face.

There’s also Cells at Work: Code Black, which is excellent, but it is much, much darker. Instead of being inside the happy healthy body of a child, it’s in the slowly decaying dystopian hell of a middle-aged man with erectile dysfunction. If you have a dark sense of humour, I would recommend it for sick watching. But if you’re looking for stories with a happily ever after where everyone is alive and well, stick with the original.

In a rare moment for modern anime, the opening was also dubbed! So you can enjoy the late, great Billy Kametz singing his heart out as a white blood cell.

• Original Creator: Akane Shimizu
• Directors: Hirofumi Ogura
• Studio: David Production
• Main English Cast: Cherami Leigh, Billy Kametz, Robbie Daymond, Xanthe Huynh
• Dub Director: Christian La Monte
• Script Adaption: Kris Knigge

Fruits Basket (2019)

Vibes: Peak shojo, peak romance, peak everything, cat boys, cow boys, horse girls, true love conquers all, healing from trauma, ending the cycle of abuse, the power of friendship, queer overtones

After the death of her mother, Tohru Honda finds herself living inside a tent in the middle of a forest. When a mountain collapse results in her tent being buried, she moves in with the mysterious Sohma Clan. It’s awkward enough at first to be living with the prince of her high school, Yuki Sohma, and his cousins Shigure and Kyo… but then she discovers that the Sohmas are under a curse! When hugged by someone of a different gender, they transform into animals! It turns out that they are possessed by the spirits of the Chinese Zodiac. But there’s more to this curse than meets the eye as Tohru begins to realise that living within an inescapable cycle is not the comfort it appears to be.

Fruits Basket is by far my favourite graphic novel ever written. And yes, dudebros, I have read Watchman. Whilst I still think the manga is better, the 2019 remake went a long way to heal the hurt that came with the 2002 adaption. The new anime captures the manga’s deep emotional beats, and the dub cast and dub script are truly perfect. It feels like they’ve ripped the pages from the manga and brought them to life.

In terms of why I recommend this series for sick watching, the early episodes have a focus on the importance of taking rest. There’s fun hijinks as well as profound wisdom. The series has an overall focus on allowing others to help you, healing from trauma, and breaking the cycle of abuse. I also think many of us millennials had something awakened within us when Kyo made Tohru Congee when she was sick and sat and quietly listened to all her worries. Maybe if you fall asleep to it, you will dream of such a thing happening to you too?

• Original Creator: Natsuki Takaya
• Director: Yoshihide Ibata
• Studio: TMS Entertainment
• Main English Cast: Laura Bailey, Jerry Jewel, Eric Vale, John Burgmeir, Colleen Clinkenbeard
• Dub Director: Caitlin Glass
• Engineers: Austin Sisk, Benjamin Tehrani, Dominique French, Jose Sandoval, Mark De La Fuente, Olivia Harris, Peter Hawkinson, Rickey Watkins, Sam Lathrop, Shay Brown, William Dewell
• Script Adaptation: Bonny Clickenbeard, Jeramey Kraatz

Pokémon

Vibes: Nostalgia, saturday morning cartoons, fun adventures, found family, cute creatures, deep and profound messages that take you by surprise but leave you crying

Follow along as a team of young trainers go on a journey to discover brand-new Pokémon and brand-new adventures! Along the way, they’ll discover more friends, more towns, and even more about themselves. See them unravel mysteries along the way, as they join together with their foes to protect the world from devastation.

Pokémon is such a nostalgia hit for me. It was my first anime, and my first video game, and my longest running obsession. I have plushies dating back to 1998, meaning that they’re probably older than some of you reading this. There’s a deep emotional connection that many people my age feel towards Pokémon. It’s why I sobbed throughout Ash and Pikachu’s final battle in Journeys. With 28 series to choose from, there’s really something for everyone. And that’s not even including the amazing shorts on their official YouTube channel, and Pokémon Concierge, which is explicitly aimed at burnt out adults.

Naturally, I have my favourite series, and each serves a different purpose. If you’re looking for a pure old-school content to remind you of the days you had a parent who would bring you soup and tuck you in, then I suggest Indigo League. If you’re looking for something a little different, and a little more modern, try out Sun and Moon. If you want to see plot points from yore tied up in a nice big bow, Journeys is the one for you. And if you’re completely new to Pokémon, or want something that has an actual ongoing plot that remains relevant throughout, then absolutely check out Horizons. It was genuinely one of my favourite anime from last year!

• Original Creators: Satoshi Tajiri, Ken Sugimori
• Main Directors: Kunihiko Yuyama, Norihiko Sudo, Tesuo Yajima, Daiki Tomiyasu, Saori Den
• Studio: OLM
• Main English Cast: Veronica Taylor, Sarah Natochenny, James Carter Cathcart, Rachel Lillis, Maddie Blaustein, Michelle Knotz, Alejandra Reyneso, Anjali Kunapaneni, Faye Mata, Crispin Freeman
• Voice of Pikachu: Ikue Ōtani
• Main Dub Directors: Anthony Salerno, Armen Mazlumain, Tom Wayland, Lisa Ortiz, Felecia Angelle, Erica Mendez
• Main Script Adapters: James Carter Cathcart, Michael Haigney, Jimmy Zoppi, Rachel Robinson, Hilary Thomas

Your Personal Favourite!

At the end of the day, this is your time to do whatever you want to do. Watch your favourite series, even if it’s not the sort of thing that most would find relaxing. You also have a lot of time on your hands, so getting a start on your watch list would work, too!

When I was in hospital recovering from major surgery, I watched Demon Slayer on repeat and began to watch Jujutsu Kaisen. I loved Demon Slayer, but I didn’t like Jujutsu Kaisen. But I didn’t feel like I’d wasted my time on the series, because what else was I going to watch? My hospital roommates getting their ops taken?

This is your time. You do whatever you want xXx

Final Thoughts

If you’re sick, then obviously anime isn’t going to magically heal you. Trust me, if it did, I would know. For actual medically-approved advice, I recommend checking out the UK National Health Service website. Whilst the emergency contact details and specific medical advice is all specific to the UK, it still has a lot of really great general health advice; be it flu, food poisoning, or a sprained ankle. You should also look into getting vaccinated against flu and COVID. See if you’re eligible under your national healthcare scheme, or if your health insurance provider will cover it. Prevention is better than a cure, after all!

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