Summer anime are rolling in, and the world has entered vacation mode. Fireworks, big events, family trips—the streets feel like a festival. It’s not that I dislike the bustle, but sometimes the energy leaves me feeling tired. Everyone else seems to be having fun, yet I can’t keep up, and I end up feeling left behind.
This season, however, a few anime have helped lighten that fog. They make me chuckle, fill me with happiness, or give me a gentle push forward. Here are three works that have offered comfort in their own unique ways.
※ The following text contains spoilers for those who have not yet watched these series. Please proceed with caution.
Rediscovering What You Love: Kore Kaite Shine
First up is Kore Kaite Shine, airing on Nippon TV’s “Furaani” block. The ominous title might make you wary, but at its heart it’s a spirited青春 (youth) anime about high school girls pouring their souls into manga creation—funny, moving, and energizing.
The story is set on the lush, nature-rich fictional island of “Izuooshima” (modeled after real-life Izu Oshima). Blue skies, green trees, and sparkling seas fill the screen, instantly relaxing the viewer. Kitani Tatsuya’s opening theme “遺書” (Isho) adds to the soothing effect, with steel pan tones that make you feel like you’ve escaped the city for a short trip.
What hit me hard in episode one was the scene where protagonist Ankai Ai meets the creator of the manga that changed her life, “Robota to Pokota”—the mysterious “Hoshino 0.” She’s shocked to discover it’s actually her strict high school teacher Tejima. Watching her tearfully confess, “I’ve been waiting so long to read your manga,” I couldn’t help crying along.
Ai goes on to found a “Manga Research Club” and pursue her own drawing, but the series isn’t just a straightforward success story. It also honestly portrays adults who have faced setbacks. Tejima once dreamed of being a manga artist but gave up and became a teacher. Because he understands both the joy and the pain of creation, he doesn’t irresponsibly cheer on his students’ dreams—he sometimes gives harsh advice or teaches them reality.
While showing the sparkle of young people chasing dreams, the anime also reaches out to adults who tried their best but didn’t make it. It doesn’t ignore the hardship and cruelty, yet still makes you feel that having something you want to do is wonderful. As adults buried in work and chores, watching Ai and her friends earnestly pursue their goals strangely gives us energy too. With beautiful natural scenery and a gentle push, Kore Kaite Shine leaves you smiling, heart warmed, and ready to say, “I’ll do my best tomorrow.”
A Gentle Companion for Tired Hearts: Super no Ura de Yani Suu Futari
When work goes wrong and nothing seems to go your way, the anime you want at the end of the day is Super no Ura de Yani Suu Futari. Before it aired, the key visual made me expect a dark story about jaded adults. But it turned out to be a very gentle work that seeps into your weary heart.
As the title suggests, the story centers on casual conversations exchanged while smoking behind a supermarket. Most scenes take place in the quiet night, making it perfect for late-night viewing. The protagonist, Sasaki, is a tired middle-aged salaryman who gets yelled at by unreasonable bosses daily, struggles with how to deal with new hires, and often works until midnight. His small daily comfort is seeing the smile of Yamada, a supermarket clerk he visits on his way home.
You might raise an eyebrow at the idea of lining up at the same cashier every day, but Sasaki is surprisingly pure—a harmless old man who just hopes to see her smile again. Yamada, who teases him by pretending to be a coworker named Tayama, isn’t having an easy time either. She works night shifts, keeps a cheerful face for customers, but is shown getting upset over unreasonable complaints, saying “it’s just stupid.”
To that, Sasaki says, “It’s sad, isn’t it? The moment you learn a different side of someone you thought was wonderful, you stop believing in them… even though both sides are that person.” He doesn’t give advice or force cheer—he simply acknowledges, “Good work today.” Many viewers will find solace in that quiet companionship.
This isn’t just a “frustratingly cute” romantic comedy between pure Sasaki and mischievous Yamada. The ordinary words exchanged by two people who work hard but don’t get rewarded naturally sink into your heart. On nights when you feel like you can’t have good dreams, watch Super no Ura de Yani Suu Futari. Afterwards, you’ll likely feel your shoulders relax and think, “Well, I’ll just take it easy.”
Wrapped in Happiness: Seihantai na Kimi to Boku Season 2
After watching Seihantai na Kimi to Boku, I always feel happy. Following its first season in winter 2026, the second season started on July 5 (Sunday). The pop, cute character designs and the fast-paced gags that make you burst out laughing are full of classic rom-com charm, but that alone wouldn’t have hooked me so deeply.
The characters have friends they can talk to freely and experience down-to-earth romance—on the surface, they live the high school life anyone would envy. But the series carefully depicts the flip side of that “dazzling youth.” Each character struggles with their place in class and relationships with others, though objectively these aren’t huge problems. They worry about things like “Is it weird to be bothered by this?” or “Is this even worth talking about?”—the kind of vague unease everyone has felt but couldn’t put into words.
I’m close to Taira, who can’t take things at face value and tends to think cynically. Due to a middle school trauma, he suspects ulterior motives when interacting with people, and even though he wants to laugh along with everyone, he puts on the brakes himself. The protagonist Suzuki, who seems the brightest, actually can’t be true to himself despite his flashy appearance. In season 2, we see him trying too hard in front of his lover Tani’s family and overthinking.
Watching these characters, I find myself thinking, “I know that feeling” many times. That’s why I don’t distance myself from their lives as “too perfect to be real”—instead, I root for them: “Hang in there… I want everyone to be happy!” The series not only warms you with gags and romance but also gently touches on those hard-to-articulate emotional snags. It makes you happy and also reassures you that you’re not alone in your worries.
Even if you’re not into rom-coms, give this one a try. Whether you’re tired of the gap between you and others or feeling down from comparisons, this anime will make you think, “It’s okay to be just as I am.”
(c) Toyoda Minoru / Shogakukan / Ooshima Minami Koukou Manken
(C) Jinushi / SQUARE ENIX・”Yani Suu” Production Committee
(C) Agazawa Koucha / Shueisha・”Seihantai na Kimi to Boku” Production Committee
《Hori Megumi》
