An Anime Guide For People Stuck At Home During The Quarantine

With the current state of affairs in the world being as it is, many people are left stuck indoors trying to minimize outside contact as much as possible. This begs the question of what to do when waiting out a worldwide virus. To combat boredom, many people are turning to their screens to pass the time. The only issue is that we are overwhelmed with viewing options. Do I watch a documentary or reality T.V.? No! Watching or listening to the news is real enough. We need an escape from reality!  The answer: Anime. Here are my recommendations for the best anime to watch while self-quarantining.

1. Cells at Work! (はたらく細胞)

While maybe overlooked by many viewers, this show could use some more attention right now. Cells at work, or hataraku saibo, is a slice of life, comedy, action, and educational anime about what your body would look like if all your cells were manifested as working people. The show primarily follows a young, red blood cell girl along with a serious and strong white blood cell. The show blends humor and action seamlessly with facts about our bodies and cells. There is often a villain in the form of a virus, bacteria, or cold cell of some kind that tries to infiltrate the body, and information about what these cells can do to us is displayed through over the top, dramatic anime fashion via fight scenes. This is a perfect choice to combat the worry and anxiety swirling around us now. Sit back, relax, and watch some anime all while learning how our body works to protect itself.

2. Durarara!!

Stuck inside without your friends? Starving without the drama the world has to offer? Tempted to go outside for social interaction? Be patient for a bit longer and check out Durarara!  Durarara will quickly suck you into its world of unique and steadily intertwining characters and relationships. Set in the real-life Tokyo cityscape of Ikebukuro, Durarara follows the lives of the different residents of the town and their seemingly unrelated stories. As the story progresses, everything begins to tie together in such a way that will have you dying to know more and more about these characters. The show itself covers many interesting aspects of people such as identity, human nature, and connections. There will be at least one story out of the myriad presented that will pique your interest. Each character is brought to life with their own personality, goals, and strengths and weaknesses. It makes it easy to imagine the events taking place in Durarara are truly happening in the bustling streets of Ikebukuro. That is, if you are willing to overlook a few fantastical elements such as a mythological Irish monster, an inhumanely strong man, and a legendary evil sword that possesses people.

3. The Promised Neverland

Some of us out there may not want a positive take on world events right now where cute versions of your cells fight to save you, or scenarios where you can experience all your social interactions via anime. For those thrill-seekers who want to experience the full-on terror and dread of being prisoner in your own house, unable to escape, then I recommend none other than The Promised Neverland. Imagine your home. A happy, safe place that you have always known to bring you comfort. Now imagine your home is not really your home, and you being there is not really your choice. Sound familiar?  This anime excels in suspense and twists, so I will not give any more details away. However, if you want a well-written plot balanced with beautiful animation and suspense at every turn, then look no further. This show is sure to give you all the shock you need to fuel your paranoia while being on lockdown.

Each of these recommendations has something to offer. Whether you enjoy learning about the body with Cells at Work, laying low with your new friends from Durarara, or jumping into full panic mode by wondering if you could be in the plot of The Promised Neverland, there is an anime for you during this extended indoor time. No matter how you spend your time indoors, the most important thing right now is to distance ourselves socially. One of the biggest favors we can provide to our neighbors is limiting human contact and staying as protected as possible. Stay safe, and happy anime watching!