Arata Kaizaki is now 27 years old and by the definition of life, a true loser. Failing to find a stable job, Arata begins to question if he will ever go anywhere in his now adult life. Then fate throws Arata a curveball by introducing to him a man named Ryou Yoake who works for the ReLife Research Institute. Ryou tells Arata that he can give him a great job and give him a future worth living if he participates in an experiment. Arata will be given a pill that returns him to that of a 17-year-old and has him re-enter high school to see if he can do anything different with his teen life. Watch as Arata enters into a new chapter of his life by reliving his last moments of high school in the world of ReLIFE!

What would most do if they could go back and relive their earlier days of school? It’s a question that can be quite depressing—as we can’t sadly de-age ourselves—but if you watch ReLIFE you’ll realize maybe it is better that we don’t dwell on our past too much. ReLIFE does a great job of motivating us otaku as we come to grips with our existence as a whole and realize that we can always change our future. We don’t need a magical de-aging pill to get a good job and/or enjoy our youth…we can do that right now but the only thing stopping us is ourselves.

Food Wars! follows a young Souma Yukihira who wishes to one day be like his father, a great chef and cook amazing dishes for those who walk into his place. Given his father’s famous talents as a chef, Souma finds an opportunity to excel in his ambitions and goes to a prestigious culinary school known for producing the world’s best and most talented chefs. However, from day one Souma soon realizes the challenge of becoming number one won’t be easy. At this culinary school, lie those with similar dreams and wishes and they will not back down to anyone…friend or foe!

One of the scariest things in life is believing you won’t make it. Even before many try, they find themselves stopping themselves due to that fear alone! Food Wars! is a reminder that while some dreams are quite difficult to obtain, you need to first try for them before you say you failed! Every episode of Food Wars! motivates us to push ourselves beyond our comfort zones and shoot for the stars!

The first day of the sophomore year couldn’t get any worse for young Naho Takamiya. Not only did she wake up late but a letter arrives for her that changes her world in one fell swoop. The letter claims it was sent from a decade in the future. Naho’s future self warns her of an incident that will set in motion a series of depressing events for her and her friends. It all lies with the newest transfer student and Naho’s interactions with him henceforth…

Orange is quite supernatural and it can come off as unrealistic but it contains a very important message that is quite realistic. Orange aims to remind people that interactions with others can really alter the course of your destiny in ways you wouldn’t even realize. The story in Orange serves as a means to motivate us otaku to be better people, think before we act, and remember that everyone has a story to tell. Sometimes we need to rise to the challenge and listen to others as one simple discussion can save a life.

In his class, Hachiman Hikigaya is anything but liked. Thanks to his stoic and downright scary look, Hachiman is considered someone you don’t want to get close to. It doesn’t help that Hachiman does talk sometimes and the comments from his mouth are quite depressing. Hachiman’s attitude causes his life to change when he writes an essay that causes his teacher to push him to join a rather strange club. Alongside the equally stoic and odd Yukino Yukinoshita, Hachiman must go around the school doing something he really isn’t built for…helping others with their problems!

Friendship is a powerful motivator in our books here at Honey’s Anime. With the power of friendship, one can find themselves climbing out of a dark hole in life and surviving the tough challenges we find in life. That’s why we truly believe My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU should be a lesson for all those who consider themselves loners. Make some friends by joining a club like Hachiman! You’d be amazed to discover that even if you feel awkward or strange there are others like you waiting to share with you their heart and friendship!

The planet is about to face extinction thanks to a powerful otherworldly being called Koro-sensei and the only hope for the entire planet lies in a class of misfits. Kunugigaoka Middle School’s Class 3-E are infamous for having the worst students with the lowest grades. Koro-sensei comes to class 3-E and gives them the ultimatum. If the class can kill Koro-sensei—which is no easy feat thanks to his insane abilities—then he will spare the Earth. Class 3-E now must not only try to kill their alien-like teacher but also survives his studying as he’s taken it upon himself to be their new teacher!

School…can be rough for most of us anime fans. Dealing with studies and classroom drama can really interfere with our anime watching! Nevertheless, let class 3-E be your muse when you feel your best just isn’t good enough. Despite their weaknesses in academics, Class 3-E prevails as they begin to believe in themselves and take their testing that much more seriously! Yes, school can be rough indeed but just like in life, sometimes we need to look at our favorite anime like Assassination Classroom and realize we can prevail even when the odds are not in our favor.

Mari Tamaki wants to show the world that when it comes to your aspirations it doesn’t matter your age, gender, and the scope of said desires. Despite her young age and the fear of taking that first step towards the unknown, Mari has decided that during her second year of high school she would chase a dream bigger than herself. This goal leads Mari to join a young girl named Shirase Kobuchizawa who is on a mission of her own, to find her parents lost during a mission in Antarctica. These two girls will find themselves heading towards a dream larger than the trio of young ladies.

Many of us in our youth make the biggest mistake of our lives. We let our dreams stay just that, dreams. Take it from the girls of A Place Further Than The Universe, no dream is too large to achieve. If you want to do something, just go out there and make it happen! Yeah, as the girls discover quickly, chasing big dreams costs a bit of hard work and can be disheartening at times. Yet, watching these ladies makes us otaku equally want to do things we didn’t think were feasible!

By day, Kouhei Inuzuka is a teacher but after work, he takes on an even more important job, a single father. After losing his wife, Kouhei now finds himself thrust with the responsibility to raise his little ball of energy Tsumugi by himself. Thankfully, Kouhei will find friends and even one of his students—Kotori Iida—wanting to help him raise his precious daughter. The story of a young dad with his little girl is waiting to be told in the world of Sweetness and Lightning!

We have no doubt that some of you readers are parents yourselves and despite your love for anime and all things from the land of the rising sun, you also love your gift of a child. Sweetness and Lightning is a good motivational anime for parents—or soon-to-be parents—as it reminds you of the reward and challenges of parenthood. Sure, it won’t be an easy mission to raise a child—especially if you have to struggle as Kouhei does—but the reward is a smile from your little one reminding you it will be worth it in the long run!

Despite great strides at his young age as a pianist, Kousei Arima has found himself unable to hear the sounds of music as he did long ago. Possibly due to losing his mom, Kousei is now struggling to regain his piano playing abilities. It was during this time Kousei would meet a rather strange girl named Kaori Miyazono who is about to play her violin for a rather large crowd. Knowing of Kousei, Kaori wishes for him to team up with her and make beautiful music together. Can Kousei overcome his trauma and regain the former musician waiting to be unleashed?

Your Lie in April is easily one of the more tear-inducing anime on our list of the Top 10 Motivational Anime but it has a very deep narrative that can apply to almost anyone who watches it. We won’t spoil the main concept behind Your Lie in April—in case you readers haven’t seen it yet—but it motivated us and will motivate you to not allow yourself to be weighed down by the past. Our journey in life isn’t always going to be happy and filled with rainbows but our challenges in the past and present are what make us stronger for the future. Seize your life with your hands, readers! Be like Kousei and find your tune even if the struggle is quite monumental!

Yuuri Katsuki found himself defeated when he didn’t win at the Grand Pix Finale. When he escaped home, Yuuri ended up leaving behind his skating ambitions, gaining weight and started losing the motivation that drove him to be a professional athlete. His drive returns when the legendary ice skater Victor Nikiforov appears in his small town and in his parent’s hot springs! Victor pushes Yuuri to retrain for ice skating and decides to even mentor the young skater to propel himself to heights further than ever before! Yuuri’s road to the top begins again but with a new fire in his heart, he will find love on the ice in a way he never did before!

Yuri!!! on Ice is one of those anime that just makes you want to get up, train, and become a talented superstar even if it seems like quite the accomplishment! We doubt we are the only ones who feel like this as Yuri!!! on Ice has become a global anime phenomenon. Even a legendary ice skater used the opening theme song from Yuri!!! on Ice as their performance music for their routine! Yuri!!! on Ice should propel those who watch it to aim for their dreams even if they require a lot of physical training to obtain them!

Sometimes talent can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, you find yourself rising in stardom quickly but on the other hand, you end up finding everything you do not good enough. Seishuu Handa ended up seeing this reality first hand after his calligraphy made waves in the world. Due to his attitude, Handa ends up getting into an altercation with a famous person and is punished by his father. Sent to Goto Islands, Hanada is tasked with reflecting on his actions to find himself once more and maybe find a means to get back into calligraphy like he did before. Unfortunately for Handa, Goto Islands is very far removed from his way of living and now he must endure the hellish heat, random islanders constantly bothering him and a young girl who just wishes to tease Handa every opportunity she gets. Can Handa survive this relaxing island!?

As writers here at Honey’s Anime, Barakamon is very relatable. Aside from how we feel though, Barakamon can relate to not only just writers but those with high expectations forced on them from either work, family, and/or even friends! It can be hard to really find your groove when a lot is expected of you but let Barakamon motivate you to find your inner peace and let your creative juices flow! Seriously though, Barakamon is a hilarious anime that we absolutely adore and continue praying that a second season will drop soon!

This peppy magical girl romp is all about following your dreams and becoming the best version of yourself. Our protagonist Haruko has made it her mission in life to become a princess—not necessarily a literal one, but the kind of girl who is strong, kind, and beautiful at heart—so that she can one day reunite with the only person who believed in her dream many years ago and show him all that she’s accomplished. Haruko diligently works to help people, such as when she studied the violin so that she could save a brainwashed girl by jogging her memory of the violin duet that she and her brother used to play together as children. If Haruko and her team can become princesses, then you can become anything you want!

When you need some good old sports anime motivation in your life, Run with the Wind has you covered. The Kansei University track and field team is made up of a ragtag bunch of misfits led by Haiji, a talented runner who dreams of taking the team to the Hakone Ekiden relay race and reclaiming his glory after an injury in high school almost ended his career. Each character comes from a difficult background and has a lot to prove on the track, but by working together and slowly becoming a true team, they all manage to tackle their struggles and accomplish something that they can be proud of. No matter where you are in life, Run with the Wind shows that if you have friends and a goal to work toward, you can get through anything.

In a future where AI music rules the record industry, shy guitarist Tuesday and long-suffering keyboard player Carole don’t seem like they stand a chance at reaching anyone with their songs. But after they bond over an impromptu jam session on a bridge, the two decide to enter a worldwide music competition and show the complacent public what real music really sounds like. Their story, as well as the glimpses of other characters’ lives that we see throughout the competition, feel like a more wholesome version of the manufactured character arcs from real world talent shows like American Idol or the Eurovision Song Contest. If you’ve ever wanted to pursue a creative dream, Carole & Tuesday encourages you to make it come true with your own two hands!

Tanjiro Kamado has the exact kind of drive to get stronger and determination to succeed that you’d expect from a shounen hero, but he does it all to protect his family. After an infamous demon kills his whole household with the exception of his younger sister Nezuko (who was turned into a demon instead), Tanjiro sets out on a quest to restore Nezuko’s humanity and protect the other dear friends he meets along the way. The bond between these siblings is so powerful that they’re even able to bring a terrifying spider demon to his knees—someone they should’ve had no hope of even scratching. It really inspires you to look out for your own family!

Shigeo (better known as Mob, due to his generic looks and shy personality) is possibly the strongest psychic in the world, but keeps his powers and feelings bottled up because he’s afraid that he could hurt someone. Even so, he strives to improve himself through means that he can control, such as joining the Body Improvement Club and helping his mentor Reigen solve supernatural mysteries. Mob grows into such a confident young man over the course of the series that we feel like proud parents who have cheered him on throughout his countless struggles. If Mob can find his place in the world, then so can you!

Working out is one of the hardest things to find motivation for, especially if you’re a bit of a couch potato like many anime fans tend to be. Luckily, we have How Heavy are the Dumbbells You Lift to whip us into shape with the power of cute anime girls! Hibiki, Akemi, and the other girls of Silverman Gym learn new exercises (which are actually accurate and very well explained), get up to entertaining antics, and constantly make fourth-wall-breaking jokes that reference other anime. It’s a simple show that panders to typical anime fans for the express purpose of inspiring them to go to the gym, but we’ll be darned if doesn’t work!

Even though he’s a world-class figure skater, Yuuri’s belief in himself had plummeted through the floorboards ever since he suffered a devastating loss at the Grand Prix Final one year ago. But then, his idol Victor floated into his life and pulled him out of his dark depression by becoming his coach with the goal of winning the next Grand Prix Final. As they train, travel, and go to competitions together, Yuuri and Victor realize that their mutual admiration has transformed into love before their very eyes.

This was one of the first mainstream anime to feature a homosexual relationship between its main characters, and certainly the first to be so open and supportive of a healthy, loving bond between two men. Yuri on Ice was and continues to be a vitally important show for LGBT youth, as well as anyone who needs that extra bit of motivation to get out of a dark place in their life. We’re so happy that it exists!

Science is awesome! That’s the main driving force behind Dr. Stone, a shounen anime that eschews hype battles in favor of speedrunning the history of human progress with a combination of Stone Age materials and good old ingenuity. Mangaka Inagaki and artist Boichi have both committed countless hours of research to ensure that each invention Senku and his team create is as realistic as possible, drawing up elaborate road maps that explain how they can make antibiotics, cell phones, and more in a world devoid of modern conveniences. We genuinely believe that this show will encourage many of its young readers to enter STEM fields in the future—what crazy new inventions will they dream up with Dr. Stone as their inspiration?

If you could go back to high school, what would you do differently? Recently unemployed 27-year-old Kaizaki Arata enters an experimental trial to change his appearance to that of a 17-year-old and go back to high school for one year. He thinks it’ll be a breeze since he has more life experience, but he instantly flunks his tests and struggles with the new policies that have cropped up in schools in the intervening years. Humbled, he devotes himself to learning from the experience and getting to know his classmates on a deeper level. What follows is a story of conquering regrets and pursuing meaningful relationships that really inspires you to take life by the horns and be who you want to be. Even if you hate how your life has transpired so far, today is the day for you to change that!

There’s just something amazing about watching passionate, creative people practice their craft, and Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken taps into that same feeling by focusing on three high school girls who create anime together. Asakusa is the socially awkward artist who envisions elaborate fantasy worlds based on small observations in her daily life, Mizusaki is a famous model whose passion for animating human movement affects every aspect of her being, and Kanamori is the no-nonsense producer whose love of organization and cold hard cash keeps the other two on track to finish their projects. The sheer amount of love and creativity on display, both from the girls and the studio that created the show, is enough to inspire anyone to try a new craft!

Yukio "Koyuki" Tanaka was a 14-year-old lethargic student who got pushed around a lot. With no goals for the future, Koyuki wasn’t sure where he was going to end up until he crossed paths with a high schooler named Ryuusuke "Ray" Minami and his dog Beck. Ray introduces him to the guitar and soon enough Koyuki is filled with new purpose, jumping on to Ray’s new band with hopes of making it big.

From the popular studio, Madhouse, Beck is a slice of life and drama anime that seeks to take audiences through the mundane circumstance of its protagonist into a world thought unavailable to many of us. If you have ever wanted to take up and instrument or join a band but were never able to make that first step, this anime can provide a booster to motivate you to do so.

Tatsuhiro Satou is what you would call a Hikikomori, or a shut-in and a NEET (Not pursuing education, employment, or training). A recluse who cuts himself off from society and people. Tatsuhiro is kept in his cramped apartment by the conspiracy theories that run through his brain. A college drop-out with terrible social skills, things look bleak for Tatsuhiro until the unexpected arrival of Misaki Nakahara, a young woman who seeks to turn Tatsuhiro’s life around and bring him back into society. Can he do it?

Studio Gonzo brings you an anime which make-up consists of comedic, romantic, psychological, and dramatic elements. The inclusion on this list comes from the realism of its protagonists struggles with the expectations put upon him and his failure to meet these standards. This anime does not sugar coat the main challenges of the story yet provides levity and a supporting cast that all sort of stumble together to help him grow as a person. This anime is good for those who feel like they are stuck and need a little push to move forward.

The story follows two boys, Simon and Kamina, who remain trapped to live out their days, like all humans, in an underground colony. With no hope of reaching the sky that is out of their sights, they are forced to dig deeper and deeper to escape the frequent rumbling earthquakes and the beasts that live on the surface. Yet one day, they come across a strange machine they called “Lagann” and together, they fend off the attack of a beastman on their home and are left to explore the world above and survive greater threats.

Studio Gainax brings colourful mecha and adventure anime with unique animation and fantastic battles. This is a story of surviving while stumbling upon one’s true potential. It is perfect motivational anime for fans of mecha or those looking for a bit more sci-fi in their anime diet.

Rei Kiriyama is a shogi prodigy. One of a very few who started right out of middle school. However, beneath the disciplined exterior is a spiral of trauma and anxiety from his past, his adoptive family, and the pressure to succeed at so young an age while living on his own in an empty Tokyo apartment. When such pressures become too much, he is supported by mentors at the Shogi Hall and a trio of neighbourly sisters: Akari, Hinata, and Momo Kawamoto, as well as their grandfather. Through his matches and relationships, Rei will seek to grow as a person, beyond his past, and the pressures of the present.

March Comes in Like a Lion can be described as a beautiful artistic representation of what it means to live while struggling with one’s own mental health and the extreme expectations we put on ourselves, yet it also showcases the great difference in how we are impacted by those who support us and those who scorn us as we seek to achieve greater things. This anime is for anyone who is or has struggled with their own self-worth and needs a reminder of the beauty in the world and people that surround them.

We follow Tetsuya Kuroko and the Seirin High Basketball team as they work towards becoming the best basketball team in Japan. However, to get there, they will need to work together to defeat each of Kuroko’s former middle school teammates dubbed “The Generation of Miracles” where you served as a shadow sixth man. If they ever hope to achieve their goal they will need to work as a team to overcome every obstacle be it inside the court or outside of it.

Production I.G. brings an exhilarating slice of life, sports, anime that sees the value of teamwork even in the face of ever increasing challenges. Kuroko’s Basketball is very much a story of friendship. Whether it is action packed in-game moments or the comedic out of court back and fourths between teammates, Kuroko’s Basketball is an all around motivational tale for anyone in sports who has big goals and needs a spark to achieve them.

Mari Tamaki has grown up always dreaming big but constantly held back by her fear of the goals she wishes to pursue. Now at the middle of high school, she doesn’t want to be a bystander in her life as her youth and spirit slip away, yet she does not know how to overcome her fear. Everything changes when she meets Shirase Kobuchizawa, the daughter of a missing Antarctic explorer who works tirelessly to join an exhibition and look for her mother in Antarctica. Inspired by Shirase’s determination, Mari seeks to join her, but how do the two expect to get to the other side of the world by themselves?

Kyoto Animation brings a light hearted and bubbly slice of life anime that takes girls in ordinary circumstance and thrusts them into an extraordinary world. This anime is for anyone who wants to follow others on a journey and simply be inspired by the realm of possibility in their own lives to achieve something as splendid.

Souma Yukihira loves a couple of things: family, friends, and cooking. Raised by his father to work as a chef in the family diner, Souma aspires to be as great a chef as his father and take over the family business. One day, his father closes down shop and sets off to cook for restaurants around the world. While his father is away, Souma is sent to learn at Tootsuki Culinary Academy an incredibly competitive school where only the strong willed and rising culinary talent can survive. There, Souma will compete in shokugeki (food wars) and aim to take the top spot in the whole academy.

J.C. Staff brings an exciting and comedic slice of life, cooking anime that is ideal for anyone who has ever wanted to delve into the world of cooking or seek to bear witness to delicious anime food the likes of which no one has ever seen. Food Wars! gives everyone a taste of what it means to compete on a higher level doing what you love.

In middle school, Shouyou Hinata, inspired by a volleyball game, revitalized his school’s team. Shouyou’s struggle to keep the team together while overcoming his short stature, was apparent during their first, and only, match in a tournament against Tobio Kageyama, “The King of the Court” and his teammates. Promising to himself to overcome his own short stature, he hopes to one day face off and defeat Tobio in a match. Unexpectedly, Shouyou will not have that chance as they end up on the same team at Karasuno High School. Can Shouyou and Tobio work together to achieve their goals?

From the same studio as Kuroko’s Basketball comes a more relatable anime for those who have ever felt less worthy of something because of parts of you that you cannot change. Haikyuu!! shows the physical limitations of its protagonist at the forefront and how he deals with it. Haikyuu!! exhibits challenges not just outside the team but within the team chemistry itself as is evident in its premise. Haikyuu!! is in the top three on this list for showing the intricacies of team building and overcoming one’s perceived limitations to prove yourself to those who doubt you.

When Moritaka Mashiro was a young boy, he aspired to be a mangaka (manga creator) like his uncle, the author of a popular gag manga series. However, when his uncle died from overwork, Moritaka, discouraged by his family, closed off the dream for good. Until one day Moritaka met a classmate, Akito Takagi, a writer interested in becoming a mangaka. Akito sought the artistic talents of Moritaka to work together to become serialized professional mangaka. A spark now reignited, Moritaka will work with Akito to achieve their goal and to keep a precious promise to a girl.

From the same creators as Death Note comes an anime that is nothing like Death Note. Bakuman is a slice of life, drama, comedy, and romance anime that effectively illustrates the perseverance, diligence, and wisdom that is needed to achieve one’s ultimate dream and how the work needed affects those around you. If you have a goal, this anime is for you. It might have made it to the top spot if it wasn’t for the next one on this list.

One Piece follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy, a rubber man, and his crew called “The Straw Hat Pirates”. Together they sail the grand line, fighting monsters, pirates, and marines, in search of a great treasure called One Piece hidden by the legendary Pirate King Gol D. Roger. Through this journey, Luffy aims to achieve his goal of becoming the new King of the Pirates.

It should come as no surprise to find One Piece in the top spot. For almost 20 years, it has stood as a tale of adventure towards achieving our dreams and going beyond even our own expectations. One Piece shows that even if we may all have different goals, we can rely on each other to help us achieve our full potential. One Piece is for all of those who wish to find encouragement to discover one’s dream and seek more joy in the journey to achieve it.