The animes of the Slice Of Life genre show a piece of everyday life in Japan, they are usually calm and light. In this article, we will share a list of the best Slice of Life animes.
Generally, Westerners are not big fans of the Slice of Life genre, but many watch without even knowing that such anime falls into the genre. The main animes on this list are recommended for everyone. I’m sure they will like it.
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The Meaning of Slice of Life
Slice of life can be translated as a slice of life. This phrase describes the use of mundane realism that represents everyday experiences in art and entertainment. It may seem like just the everyday, but it goes beyond that.
The term refers to a storytelling technique that presents an arbitrary sample in the character’s life, which often lacks a coherent plot strategy, conflict, or conclusion, usually ending open-ended.
In animes and mangas, it often deals with a teenage melodrama that places significant emphasis on the setting, seasonality, and procedures. The narratives usually include groups excluded from society.
The animes show a generally school environment, also presenting cafes, restaurants along with interpersonal relationships, family, romance, and can even lead to fantasy and science fiction.
It is difficult to understand which animes fall into the Slice of Life genre, as practically every anime shows a piece of everyday life and lives with short dramatic and comedic scenes throughout the work. Still, the viewer will know when an anime is just a slice of life.
Slice of Life Animes with Other Genres
Some are mistaken and think that Slice of Life animes are just calm animes without any real emotion. In fact, the term Slice of Life can easily be used by some in shounen, shoujo, seinen, and school genre animes.
There are still those who cling to the root of the term Slice of Life and consider only the calm and light everyday ones. There are animes that can be considered as Slice of Life that are quite popular such as:
- Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu;
- Violet Evergarden;
- Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai;
- Clannad;
- Toradora!;
- Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!;
- Sakura-sou no Pet na Kanojo;
- Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru;
- Hyouka;
- Kyoukai no Kanata;
- Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun
- K-On!
- ReLIFE
- Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai
- Kobayashi-san Chi no Maid Dragon
- Kokoro Connect
- Kimi ni Todoke
- Nichijou
- Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai
- Mahoutsukai no Yome
- Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou
- Great Teacher Onizuka
- Lucky☆Star
- Watashi ga Motenai no wa Dou Kangaetemo Omaera ga Warui!
- Mob Psycho 100
- Ao Haru Ride
- Kotonoha no Niwa
- Barakamon
- Sakamoto Desu ga?
- Mushishi
- Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii
- Working!!
- 3-gatsu no Lion
- Saiki Kusuo no Ψ-nan
- Blend S
- Dagashi Kashi
- Chihayafuru
- Hinamatsuri
- Bokura wa Minna Kawai-sou
- Amagami SS
- Isshuukan Friends
- Gin no Saji
- Bakuman
- Shirobaku
- Barakamon
- Hanasaku Iroha;
- Usagi Drop;
- Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun
- Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge;
- Non Non Biyori;
- Hanasaku Iroha;
- Natsume Yuujinchou;
The Best Slice of Life Animes
Some were mentioned in the previous subtitle, but for some, they are not considered slice of life. I will start by mentioning my favorites; I don’t want to make a list of the top 10 because that is somewhat a personal opinion.
ReLIFE – My Favorite Romance
ReLIFE has a beautiful romance, but its story takes the high school anime genre to a different level, with a quite interesting story. In it, a guy in his 30s ends up taking a pill to rejuvenate and study in high school.
An adult without a future who lives at home unemployed and dissatisfied with life receives an invitation one day to join a project called ReLIFE. The anime shows the everyday life of an adult among young people at school.
Unfortunately, he cannot reveal to anyone that he is an adult. Soon he falls in love with a student, but unfortunately, nothing can happen since this test must last only one year; after that, all memories will be erased. And now?
Gin no Saji – Farm Anime
Yugo Hachiken dreams of a life separate from his family, so he enrolls in an agricultural school in Hokkaido. Raised as a city boy, he is forced to discover the inconvenient truth about agricultural life.
This anime was created by the famous author of FullMetal Alchemist, has a beautiful soundtrack, and the ending is by my favorite band Goose House. It is an anime with a fun, cheerful environment full of comedy, recommended for everyone.
Bakuman – Anime about Mangakas
Bakuman is a famous anime from the same creator as Death Note, telling the story of two friends who wish to enter the world of manga, one as a writer and the other as an illustrator. They discover that this world is not easy.
The main goal of the protagonist is to make his manga become an anime, as a promise to marry the girl he loves. The anime has 3 seasons of 25 episodes; it manages to captivate despite its everyday theme.
Clannad – The Saddest Anime
It is difficult to describe this comedy, everyday, and romance anime with just a synopsis. It simply shows the relationship of a normal and unhappy boy with a fragile and cheerful girl. A very sad and emotional anime.
The anime fits perfectly into the slice of life genre because it portrays the protagonists’ lives for a long time, from school until after they graduate. The anime also shows the relationship with family and life outside of school.
Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu – Trippy Anime
Kyon is a typical high school student who refuses to believe in supernatural things. However, upon meeting Haruhi Suzumiya, he quickly discovers aliens, time travelers, people with powers, among other things.
When Haruhi laments the lack of intriguing clubs at school, Kyon inspires Haruhi to form her own club. As a result, the SOS Brigade is formed, a club specialized in everything supernatural, where Kyon is forced to participate.
The franchise based on Light Novels also has a Spin-Off version focused on another character that is even more everyday. This other anime that I also recommend is called Nagato Yuki-chan no Shoushitsu.
Sakura-sou no Pet na Kanojo
Sorata Kanda, in his second year, is forced to move to Sakura Hall at Suimei High School, a dormitory with eccentric and maladjusted residents that turn his life upside down. The anime explores the relationships of the residents in this dormitory.
We have energetic characters, intelligent anti-socials, a girl who doesn’t understand the concept of shame, and other characters who connect through their skills, talents, hard work, romance, and friendship.
Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai
This anime is an example of love and hate, one of my favorites, but at the same time causes a heartache. The anime shows the everyday life of a normal guy who gets involved with his younger sister who is an Otaku and her friends.
The anime has two seasons and some controversial OVAs. The anime has a rather unusual unfolding with romance, a lot of comedy, and a very fun view of Otakus in Japan and how they are seen by society.
Hinamatsuri – My Favorite Comedy
This slice of life anime shows a powerful Yakuza member who adopts a girl with powers that appears out of nowhere in his house inside a capsule. The girl is very naive, spoiled, and lazy, and her name is Hina.
As the story unfolds, various funny situations occur, including the arrival of new girls with powers. Without a doubt, it is one of my favorite comedy animes, which represents everyday life in Japan very well, even that of homeless people.
Violet Evergarden – A Beautiful Animation
Violet Evergarden is one of the Slice of Life animes with the best animation ever produced. The scenery, characters, environment, sounds, and colors are beautiful enough to bring tears to your eyes. The anime also has an emotional story.
Violet Evergarden tells the story of a girl who was used as a weapon of war, but who later, not knowing what to do with her life, ends up becoming a letter writer, getting to know a bit of the world and some exciting situations that the letters provide.
Kokoro Connect
This anime tells the story of a group of students who face bizarre situations involving swapping bodies with classmates, some turning into babies and other strange situations that test the bond of friendship between them.
A very fun and emotional anime that does not hide behind clichés and a generic script like the vast majority. A type of slice of life that captivates from start to finish through its emotional and curious story.
Honorable Mentions of Slice of Life
Unfortunately, it is not possible to mention all the popular slice of life animes because many I have not watched. In the previous list, I only mentioned the ones I have watched and like. According to other rankings I found on the internet, the most popular ones not listed are:
- Mushishi;
- Barakamon;
- Natsume Yuujinchou;
- Usagi Drop;
- Toradora;
- Hanasaku Iroha;
- Non Non Biyori;
- Tanaka-Kun Wa Itsumo Kedaruge;
- Himouto!
- Umaru-chan;
- Nichijou;
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