KodoTsura

In early '90s Sapporo, a pair of elementary school kids spend their days obsessing over a Dragon Quest knockoff called 'Monster Quest' and hunting for rare stickers inside chocolate snacks. That's basically the whole show, and honestly, that's the appeal. Kodomo datte Tsurai yo — or KodoTsura — is this short ONA series from Kate Arrow studio that just drops you into the everyday life of Watabe and Nokishita, two friends whose biggest problems are the kind you actually remember having: saving up allowance money, arguing over game strategies, and dealing with the low-key drama of being a kid when adults keep making things complicated. The title translates to something like "Being a Kid Is Tough Too," which pretty much sets the tone. What makes it stick is how specific it is. This isn't generic childhood nostalgia — it's rooted in Heisei-era kid culture with affectionate parodies of the games and snacks that defined the period. The animation blends traditional character art with CGI backgrounds in a way that gives it a slightly unique look, like a picture book come to life. If you liked the quiet, everyday warmth of something like Norasco or Toko-chan Chokkin, this hits a similar note. It's wholesome without being saccharine, and short enough that it never overstays its welcome. The kind of thing you watch on a lazy afternoon when you want something gentle that reminds you the small stuff mattered more than you thought.