Spring is here, and there are some anime that embody springtime to me! While not every one of the shows mentioned takes place in the springtime, the feeling they bring is fresh. The feeling of “springtime” is a hard one to describe. Each of these feel like rolling down the windows on a warm day. Or admiring that the same flowers that bloomed in previous years have returned. Spring is a fleeting season, but we appreciate what it brings us when it comes.

Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day

Anohana does indeed take place in Summer I know! But every time I re-watch it, it happens to be in the spring! The story follows a group of friends trying to help their friend Menma pass to the afterlife. The group is estranged after an incident 5 years prior but works together to fulfill Menma's wish. The past years were tense. The anime has about 11 episodes. This adds to why it’s a perfect “spring” anime. There is so much happening, but in the end, they all grow through the trauma and differences.

Your Lie in April

This show has a spring month in its title. Your Lie in April follows two musicians, a boy named Kōsei Arima and a girl, Kaori Miyazono. Kaori is a free spirit bringing the dejected Kōsei out of his depressive music slump. Sadly, Kaori’s free spirit is due to her poor health. Despite this, the pair makes beautiful music and instills a will to go on in each other. This anime embodies the fleeting feeling of springtime. We admire what is in front of us until it is eventually gone. Though I am not the biggest fan of the anime, I appreciate the feeling I had while watching. I didn’t fully admire what I was watching and was upset with the ending. Similar to how I feel when spring ends. I'll give it a re-watch this spring to see if my feelings change.

Your Name

Your name is my favorite springtime anime movie! From the music to the visuals, everything screams fresh and bright. This story also follows a girl and a boy. The two switch bodies and learn what it’s like to be the other. Not only that, but they discover that Taki lives in the future, three years farther than Mitsuha. When tragedy is expected to hit the town that both of them hold dear, they cross time to save it. The anime is beautiful and has all the notions of springtime. The music of Radwimps plays from my car at max volume when the weather gets warm. And the animation calls me to stop and take it in. 

Apothecary Diaries

A newer anime on this list is The Apothecary Diaries, set in Imperial China during the Tang Dynasty. This show is the definition of stop and smell the roses, unless it's poison of course. A young girl, Maomao, starts working in the Imperial Palace. The palace is beautiful and full of herbs and plants, perfect for an apothecary. It always feels like springtime in the show with the garden parties and constant talk of plants. Not only that there is a slow-burn romance in the show. Everything is new to Maomao, but it's refreshing to see how she blooms like a flower in this new environment! If nature, romance, and mystery are your definition of spring this is perfect!

Naruto

Naruto may not come to mind when you think of springtime, but it’s one I go to when the sun starts to shine. The classic anime is what I’m referring to, not Shippuden. There’s something about the anime that feels nostalgic. Similar to flowers that only bloom this time of year. This is especially true if you’ve watched through to Shippuden. Watching the Konoha 11 as chunin is refreshing. They’re getting their start in the ninja world. They’re forming friendships and fighting enemies. Everything about Naruto classic is new and fresh. Plus I genuinely can’t recall it being winter in Konoha, though I’m sure it’s happened. If you’ve never re-watched Naruto, try this spring I’m sure you’ll see what I mean.

This spring check out something fresh and breezy from this list. There are more anime that have a springtime feeling that are not mentioned. If you know an anime that has that springtime feeling share it below!

For more anime recommendations check out our article for upcoming 2025 anime!