Happy Anime/Cartoons that are mature-ish. Also a sort of celebration thread for them.

[Gone Rampant]

So against the better judgement of a few friends of mine, I decided to watch Madoka Magica last night in one sitting.

Needless to say, I didn't sleep well, and I need a little help (English: OH GOD THE HORRORS).

My fellow Escapists, I ask of you to find the happiest (Not the funniest, but it helps) anime or cartoons that have gotten you out of slumps.

Since it'd be hypocritical of me to not do this myself, I simply say W.I.T.C.H, a two-season, 52 episode show that is based off an Italian comic that ran from 2001-2012. The second season was led by Greg Weisman, but unfortunately, WINX Club was running at the same time (By the by? Recommend that here and I'll hunt you down). Here's WITCH's theme song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vsh1ye7ib34

So, what're your favorite happy anime/cartoons?

 

[Sandernista]

Baccano!

If Isaac and Miria don't have you smiling within minutes of their introduction you aren't human, my favorite and IMO the most uplifting anime out there.

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

Gravity Falls. Highbrow humor mixed with a few lowblow jokes. Characters are lovable and everything is just so smartly written. It's the few shows that makes me laugh, but I laugh hard and I keep laughing in each episode.

If you are into an episode about video games, which is not an episode based on what other people think of gamer culture but an episode written by gamers, watch Episode 10, Fight Fighters.

 

[Gone Rampant]

You gotta love how even though I asked for lighthearted stuff, both of the first two have Nightmare Fuel sections on TVTropes. Way to pick lighthearted, folks.

Well OK, Gravity Falls did have an impressive opening episode, and Baccano is being done by Funimation, so I'm in for a good ride nonetheless.

 

[Leemaster777]

...really? Really? I have to be the one? *sigh* Okay then:

Spoiler

 

[IllumInaTIma]

How to Train your (Motherfucking) Dragon!
Seriously, that's one of the funniest, most beautiful and yet surprisingly mature animated films out there!
just look at him!
<img src=http://25.media.tumblr.com/1b04815408018ff9300b652e43a71a2d/tumblr_mfynj4fBxP1rivbueo1_400.jpg>

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

Welcome to the NHK.

It's fucking great, I LOVE this anime. Ok...so it's not the happiest anime, but it is a comedy, and it's fantastic.

It's basically about a Japanese college student who developers a crippling anxiety disorder and becomes a "hikikomori," someone who withdraws from society, and spends all his time alone in his apartment, only leaving late at night to buy food.

Ok, so that sounds horribly depressing right? It's not, it's a comedy and it's hilarious and uplifting. Go watch it, go watch it right now!

 

[madwarper]

Can I include some manhwa? Cause I've really be into Girls of the Wilds and Wake Up Deadman.

If not, Silver Spoon has gotten an anime. Haven't seen it, but I've kept up with the manga.

Spoiler

 

[Gone Rampant]

...really? Really? I have to be the one? *sigh* Okay then:

Spoiler

... GET OUT. RIGHT. NOW.

... Nah, I'm shitting ya, I don't mind FiM, just hate a lot of the fanbase after hearing the horror stories of when they abuse people online for not liking FiM.

How to Train your (Motherfucking) Dragon!
Seriously, that's one of the funniest, most beautiful and yet surprisingly mature animated films out there!
just look at him!
<img src=http://25.media.tumblr.com/1b04815408018ff9300b652e43a71a2d/tumblr_mfynj4fBxP1rivbueo1_400.jpg>

I saw it last year- very good, as I was a fan of the books, if I recall correctly. However, I'm more interested in cartoon shows and anime, but movies can be happy too, right?

*Watches Melancholia*

*Sigh*... I really need to learn how to shut my damn mouth.

 

[Tartarga]

Baccano!

If Isaac and Miria don't have you smiling within minutes of their introduction you aren't human, my favorite and IMO the most uplifting anime out there.

I second this, Issac and Miria never fail to put a smile on my face. This scene is particular.

 

[Palademon]

...I really don't understand how people find Madoka so disturbing.

Mature-ish but happy? Probably Tiger and Bunny since it's made to appeal to adults that don't watch anime, and they said they focus on optimism.
I think it's great, but after thought realised that it's not good because it has tons of good qualities, so much as it simply lacks negative ones. It doesn't really add any more adult themes, it just seems to get rid of more childish ones.

 

[Baneat]

Bit of a contradictive request because people tend to associate grim and edgy with maturity. Happy seinen go!

 

[ZehMadScientist]

Yes, that just happened.

Cromartie High School. The entire show consists of exactly this. Great dub cast, even greater comedy.

My sides became astronauts because of this.

 

[TheLastFeeder]

Here you go, A list of comedic anime targeted to 15-44 year old men, that excludes any angst or horror.

http://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl?type.web=1&type.unknown=1&type.tvspecial=1&type.tvseries=1&type.ova=1&type.other=1&type.musicvideo=1&type.movie=1&show=animelist&orderby.rating=0.2&orderby.name=1.1&noalias=1&catid.79=400&catid.252=1&catid.17=400&catid.154=1

Arranged by user rating score.

 

[PoolCleaningRobot]

I feel silly for admitting I watched this but Pani Poni: Dash is nothing but hyperactive happiness so that should make you less depressed

This is a really good idea for a thread after the depressing xbox 1 rumor confirmations

Yes, that just happened.

Captcha: what even

You're reading my mind captcha!

 

[Vuliev]

Great Teacher Onizuka is pretty good for the first 25-30 episodes (after which it became too sappy for my tastes). Ex-biker decides to become a teacher in order to get laid by hot students, ends up being a wonderful role model and teacher for a class of at-risk students.

Shaman King is surprisingly well-written for a Shonen Jump anime, and I would highly recommend it. Definitely make sure you get the Japanese version, since the American one has a lot of the good bits cut out.

 

[likalaruku]

These are my favorite anime comedies. I've picked out which language they are funnier in.

Goldfish Warning. (fansub, watch it on Veoh)
Excel Saga. (dub) <Neo Sci-fi>
Jungle wa Itsumo Hale Nochi Goo. (fansub, aka Hare + Guu)
Photon: The Idiot Adventures. (dub)
Gokudo: Swordsman Extraordinaire. (fansub)
Gokusen. (fansub, Avoid the J-Drama like the plague)
Great Teacher Onizuka. (dub)
Nekojiru Gekijou. (fansub)
Any of the weird-ass shorts by Takashi Taniguchi. (fansub)
Colorful (dub) <school/ecchi spoof>
Special Duty Combat Unit Shinesman. (dub) <sci-fi/spoof>
Juubei-Chan. (Fansub. Avoid season 2 like the plague) <neo fantasy/spoof>
Bokusatsu Tenshi Dokuro-Chan. (Fansub. Avoid season 2 like the plague)
Yugioh Abridged. (fandub)
Dragon Half. (fansub)
Slayers. (Dub if TV series, fansub if OAV or movie)
Sakigake! Kuromati Koukou. (dub)
Azumanga Daioh. (dub)
Magical Play. (dub)
World Series Hetalia/Axis Powers Hetalia. (fansub. Avoid if homophobic)
Gintoki. (fansub) <Alternate Universe Sci-fi>
Orphan Revenge. (dub. Sorcerous Stabber orphan isn't funny, but it's the prequel)

 

[Little Woodsman]

Urusei Yatsura: The Return of Lum

Others that have helped me through hard times
Friendship is Magic
Kiki's Delivery Service
Sailor Moon
Ah! Megamisama!
Azumanga Daioh
and the Manga Yotsuba&!

(I'd have put Outlaw Star and Haibane Renmei on that list but they aren't exactly "happy" which is what the OP asked for.)

 

[Gone Rampant]

Well I like FLCL, its a bit old but its quite fantastically absurd, and rather uplifting for some reason.

Nodame cantabile and Sakamichi no apollon are soap opera-ish and rather light hearted.

I also find Samurai Champloo is really awesome, and very happy in the end.

There's also another very nice rather old series called Kareshi kanojo no Jijo, from gainax. Which is really fantastic.. until episode 15 or so .. and then you can stop watching .

I also personally find Cowboy Bebop very uplifting, but it's .. actually kind of melancholic...
.... a fair few of those now that i think about it.