If you are a big fan of Japanese anime, your interest may cover various major genres from action, adventure and science fiction to comedy, mecha and so on. Then, how do you think about slice of life?
Anime that portrays everyday in Japanese ordinary towns have been on the air for a long time, for example, Sazae-san (from 1969) and Chibi Maruko-chan (from 1990). The genre of slice of life has lately become more popular in Japan and overseas while it is still unfamiliar to many people. There are no intense battles, supernatural powers, global crisis or other powerful scenes in the slice of life anime series. Instead, you can enjoy attractive credible characters, interesting conversations between them, beautifully-drown scenery and cultures in the places in which they are set.
For all anime fans and beginners, here are 17 best slice of life anime series of all time that you can feel as if you existed in the anime world.
1. K-On!
K-On! (けいおん!) is one of the best slice of life anime series, which were adapted from the manga series written by Kakifly. It consists of two seasons: the first 14 episodes in 2009 and the second 27 episodes in 2010, which were created by the prestigious Kyoto Animation. They were followed by an anime movie released in 2011. A new part K-On! Shuffle also started serialization on Manga Time Kirara in 2018.
K-On! concentrates on a high school girl Yui Hirasawa, who decides to join a band club on the verge of collapse and start playing the guitar. She forms the high school club band named Hokago Tea Time with three more girls Mio, Ritsu and Tsumugi, and a skilled guitarist kohai Azusa joins it one year later. The slice of life anime depicts casual and ordinary days of the high schoolers and their peaceful and humorous conversations.
Aired: 2009-2010
Episodes: 41
Studio: Kyoto Animation
▽Check K-On! on Amazon right now!▽
2. Laid-Back Camp
For every anime fans across the world, Laid-Back Camp (ゆるキャン△), which is known as Yuru Camp in Japanese, is recommended to watch first of all. It started its first season including 12 episodes in 2018, which has been looked on as the best slice-of-life anime series in the recent past by lots of anime lovers since then. There are also 12-episode spin-off season in 2020 and 13-episode second season in 2021. The first anime movie has been announced to come in 2022.
The camp-themed anime is set in the real-life place in Japan: Yamanashi Prefecture located near Mt. Fuji. A high school girl Rin Shima, who loves camping solo, meets a transfer student Nadeshiko Kagamihara. The solitary camper gets closer to the outgoing girl and other students who are interested in camping. There are humorous conversations between them, chill-out nature scenery and mouthwatering cooking scenes in Laid-Back Camp.
Aired: Since 2018
Episodes: 25
Studio: C-Station
The recent surge in anime popularity can be attributed to the presence of slice-of-life anime. These series rarely featu[…]
3. Nichijou
Nichijou (日常) is a popular comedy and slice-of-life anime series as its title describes everyday or daily life in Japanese. It is also famous for its original manga series serialized on Monthly Shonen Ace between 2006 and 2015. Fans were surprised and pleased at the unexpected new volume released by the author Keiichi Arawi in the end of 2022. There are 26 episodes in the Nichijou anime series that was broadcast in 2011.
Each episode connects to some extent, but Nichijou is basically composed of several chunks of episodes that stand on their own. It is set in an ordinary Japanese town while incorporating some crazy surreal comedy. The characters are very unique and stick in your head. The three main high school girls who joke around all the time, as well as the robot Nano and the little genius inventor Hakase, are adorable and charming. You will be laughing all the time, but at the same time your heart will be warm and fuzzy.
Aired: 2011
Episodes: 26
Studio: Kyoto Animation
▽Check Nichijou on Amazon right now!▽
Along with the increasing popularity of anime, the presence of slice-of-life anime is also growing stronger. Nichijou is[…]
4. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
As one of the most famous slice of life anime series, you shouldn’t miss The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (涼宮ハルヒの憂鬱), which the first title of Haruhi Susumiya Series. It was initially published as a light novel written by Nagaru Tanigawa in 2003 and its anime adaptation was produced by Kyoto Animation in 2006. There are 14 episodes in the first season aired in 2006 and another 14 episodes in the second season in 2009.
The setting of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is inspired by a real-life location Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, which is a home town of the author Nagaru Tanigawa. The slice-of-life anime series follows an active and self-centered high school girl Haruhi Suzumiya. To get away from boring days, she establishes a school club group called SOS Brigade, forcing a main character and narrator Kyon and other three characters Yuki Nagato, Mikuru Asahina and Itsuki Koizumi to join it. Unlike other normal slice-of-life anime series, the characters in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya are presented as a kind of aliens except Kyon.
Aired: 2006-2009
Episodes: 28
Studio: Kyoto Animation
▽Check The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya on Amazon right now!▽
Haruhi Suzumiya Series is well known in various respects: As a representative Sekai-kei (a kind of genre in anime and li[…]
5. Toradora!
For both classic and modern anime fans, Toradora! (とらドラ!) is a masterpiece of slice-of-life anime series. Between 2008 and 2009, 25 episodes were broadcast that were adapted from the popular light novel series written by Yuyuko Takemiya and illustrated by Yasu in 2006-2009. The anime series were produced by a famous anime director Tatsuyuki Nagai and a scriptwriter Mari Okada, who made the Anohana series and other top-rated anime movies later.
In the beginning, Toradora! centers on a 16-year-old high schooler Ryuji Takasu, who meets a heroine Taiga Aisaka. She goes to the same high school as him, living alone for some family problems. The slice-of-life, also categorizes as romance and comedy, depicts the changing relationship between them and their friends Minori Kushieda and Yusaku Kitamura.
Aired: 2008-2009
Episodes: 25
Studio: J.C.Staff
▽Check Toradora! on Amazon right now!▽
6. Teasing Master Takagi-san
Recent anime fanciers have enjoyed Teasing Master Takagi-san (からかい上手の高木さん), a well-known slice of life anime series especially in Japan. Adapted from the original manga series written by Soichiro Yamamoto from 2013 to 2023, its first season containing 12 episodes aired in 2018 and the second season in 2019. For the high popularity, it continues into the third season and the first anime film Teasing Master Takagi-san: The Movie in 2022.
Teasing Master Takagi-san stands out as an icon of modern school-themed slice-of-life anime. Set in a commonplace Japanese town, it places emphasis on two main characters: a middle school boy Nishikata and his classmate girl Takagi-san. She always finds joy in teasing him in various ways and he reacts shyly and a little angrily to her tricks. Besides their charming school lives, the story develops into the romance or something like that.
Aired: 2018-2022
Episodes: 36
Studio: Shin-Ei Animation
▽Check Teasing Master Takagi-san on Amazon right now!▽
What do you think the most popular anime genre these days is? Many anime geeks are specifically enjoying slice-of-life a[…]
7. My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU
My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU(やはり俺の青春ラブコメはまちがっている。), which is also known as My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected, is a finest modern romance and slice-of-life anime series. The original light novel series written by Wataru Watari and illustrated by Ponkan8 was published from 2011 to 2019, and they were adapted into three seasons of the anime series. The total 38 episodes hit the air between 2013 and 2020.
My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU tells the story of a pessimistic high school student Hachiman Hikigaya, who is forced to join a school service club by his teacher. He avoids making friends positively but his life changes at the point of the encounter with two heroines Yukino Yukinoshita and Yui Yuigahama. As members of the service club, they tackle a variety of personal problems hold by other students and themselves together. The story is looked on as not only slice of like but also romance and drama.
Aired: 2013-2020
Episodes: 38
Studio: Brain’s Base (Season 1)/Feel (Season 2 and 3)
▽Check My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU on Amazon right now!▽
8. Non Non Biyori
Non Non Biyori (のんのんびより) is a purely slice-of-life anime series including comedy essences. It was first serialized as a manga on Monthly Comic Alive from 2009 to 2021. There are three seasons of anime adaptions including 12 episodes per season aired in 2013, 2015 and 2021 and an anime movie released as Non Non Biyori Vacation in 2018.
Non Non Biyori is set in a fictional but typical Japanese countryside and centers on the only five students in a unified elementary and junior high school including the first-grade elementary schooler Renge and the fifth-grade student Hotaru. It depicts everyday of the serene country surrounded by rich nature and the peaceful characters.
Aired: 2013-2021
Episodes: 36
Studio: Silver Link
▽Check Non Non Biyori on Amazon right now!▽
9. Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid
Mixed with comedy, romance and fantasy, a high-quality slice-of-life anime series was completed by Kyoto Animation in 2017, whose title is Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid (小林さんちのメイドラゴン). It is based on the original manga written by Coolkyousinnjya since 2013, and the first season of its anime adaptation was released with 13 episodes in 2017. In 2021, the much-anticipated next season aired with 12 episodes featuring new characters.
In addition to heartwarming daily stories, the slice of life series presents powerful battle scenes and a serious parents-child relationship. Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid is set in a typical modern town in Tokyo, concentrates on a 26 years old woman Kobayashi, who saves a female dragon named Tohru and accepts her as a maid into the house. Tohru and other dragons that can change their appearances into human beings have friendly relationships with people. On the other hand, the people who changes their lives influenced by the dragons are also focused on in the slice-of-life anime.
Aired: 2017-2021
Episodes: 25
Studio: Kyoto Animation
▽Check Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid on Amazon right now!▽
10. Bocchi the Rock!
Bocchi the Rock! (ぼっち・ざ・ろっく！) is a recent slice-of-life masterpiece with the theme of a high school club bands, which made as much of an impact as another band-themed renowned anime K-on series did. Based on Aki Hamaji’s manga series serialized on Manga Time Kirara Max since 2017, the anime series aired with 12 episodes in 2022. Many anime fans look on it as the best anime series in the year.
Extremely uncomfortable interacting with others, a high school student Hitori Goto stays in her room and uploads her skilled guitar performances on the Internet except for going to school. Suddenly, Hitori is invited by Nijika Ijichi to perform live with an impromptu band. Since then, he gradually grows as a member of Kessoku Band, which is formed by the drummer Nijika, the bassist Ryo Yamada and the guitar-vocal Ikuyo Kita. The story centers around Hitori and depicts interesting episodes of her with her friends and the gap between her personality and her abilities that she sometimes shows. What makes Bocchi the Rock! different from K-On! is that students from different schools come together to play in a band, with a live music club as their main base of daily life instead of school.
Aired: 2022
Episodes: 12
Studio: CloverWorks
A new standard in school band anime was born in 2022 though the K-On! series had dominated the position until then. Bocc[…]
11 Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
As one of the most famous moving drama anime series, Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day (あの日見た花の名前を僕達はまだ知らない。) should be picked up by authentic anime fans. It has made so many people cry since it first aired with 11 episodes in 2011. It is also known as a representative television series broadcasted in the programming block of Noitamina, which had lots of unique anime such as Psycho-Pass and Banana Fish. In 2013, its anime movie summarized the television series with some new episodes.
Anohana focuses on a reclusive high school freshman Jintan. One day, Menma, his childhood friend who died in an accident when she was an elementary school student, appears in front of the main character in a grown-up form. In addition, this anime introduces three more high school students and a world wanderer who were close to them when they were little as central characters. Although Anaru, Yukiatsu and Tsuruko lead normal high school lives, they have been living with great troubles since the girl’s death. The distance between the five of them begins to move once again as they try to figure out why she appears as a ghost and cannot go to heaven. This masterpiece depicts everyday life that anyone can relate to, as well as the wounds of a great past.
Aired: 2011
Episodes: 11
Studio: A-1 Pictures
▽Check Anohana on Amazon right now!▽
12. Onimai: I’m Now Your Sister!
Lots of anime fans have been glued to a recent slice-of-life anime series Onimai: I’m Now Your Sister! (お兄ちゃんはおしまい!) since it was released in January, 2023. It is based on Nekotofu’s manga series published on Monthly Comic Rex since 2019. Studio Bind, which made a notable Isekai fantasy series Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, is in charge of the production of the Onimai anime series. That is why the quality is so high.
Onimai includes fantasy in a sense but is unmistakably a slice-of-life anime. The setting is excellent and each episode is interesting. Mahiro, a NEET who enjoys eroge (erotic games), is drugged by his younger sister, Mihari, and transformed into a girl of junior high school age. Mahiro is perplexed, but he learns about the “normal” things about women that he did not know as a man. Although his mind is mainly as a man, it is also interesting that he is in a girl’s body and is at the mercy of his sister. The surrounding characters, including the younger sister and her friends, are also a colorful part of this anime.
Aired: 2023
Episodes: 12
Studio: Studio Bind
Recently, anime fans have been interested in traditional tastes such as cool action and epic fantasy adventure, as well […]
13. Kakushigoto
Kakushigoto (かくしごと), which may be less known to foreign people, is a good one-season anime series, airing in 2020. Based on Koji Kumeta’s same titled manga that was serialized on Monthly Shonen Magazine from 2015 to 2020, it was made by Ajia-do Animation Works. The title has a double meaning: “secret” and “work of drawing”. It is also interesting that the manga artist wrote the story partly drawing on his own experience.
The main character of the story is Kakushi, a manga artist who draws slightly vulgar manga. And his only daughter, Hime, a fourth grader. Kakushi’s doting daughter is his top priority in everything. Such a father hides from his daughter that his job is a manga artist. This is for fear that his daughter will hate him because of the themes he deals with in his manga. And there is an even bigger secret in the story. Enjoy this heartwarming animation wrapped in love and laughter.
Aired: 2020
Episodes: 12
Studio: Ajia-do Animation Works
▽Check Kakushigoto on Amazon right now!▽
14. Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles
Some modern anime series have specific and particular themes, and Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles (ラーメン大好き小泉さん) deals with Ramen, one of the most popular Japanese dishes, as its topic. The slice-of-life anime mixed with comedy consists of 12 episodes made by Studio Gokumi and AXsiZ. They are adapted from Naru Narumi’s manga serialized on Manga Life Storia since 2013.
The story begins when a quiet and mysterious girl Ms. Koizumi transfers to a high school in the metropolitan area around Tokyo. Despite her demure appearance, she is actually a ramen freak. After school, instead of hanging out with her friends, she goes on a ramen restaurant tour. Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles introduces restaurants that really exist in the vicinity of Tokyo, which can be used as a ramen guide for your trip to Japan. This is a charm of an everyday life anime.
Aired: 2018
Episodes: 12
Studio: Studio Gokumi/AXsiZ
15. Super Cub
Super Cub (スーパーカブ) is a seemingly unassuming but nice anime to watch in the recent times, broadcasted with 12 episodes in 2021. The title is named after the Honda Super Cub, which the main character becomes obsessed with. Super Cub started as a light novel series written by Tone Koken on a novel publsihing website Kakuyomu in 2016, and nine volumes were published between 2017 and 2022. It was adapted into the anime series by Studio Kai, which is known for its first anime series Uma Musume Pretty Derby 2nd Season. Its manga adaptation began in 2017, too.
There is an anime trend featuring protagonists who are devoted to their hobbies, and Super Cub is about a girl who happens to meet a Honda Super Cub and is fascinated by it. The story is about a high school girl Koguma living in Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture. She meets a Honda Super Cub 50 and grows up through her relationship with it. For some reason, the main character lives alone without parents or friends, much less hobbies. However, as she becomes obsessed with her Super Cub, she makes friends with whom she can talk about the things she loves, and Koguma’s life changes.
Aired: 2021
Episodes: 12
Studio: Studio Kai
▽Check Super Cub on Amazon right now!▽
16. Lucky Star
Lucky Star (らき☆すた) is one of the outstanding slice-of-life comedy pioneers, airing on TV in 2007. Containing 24 episodes, it is adapted from Kagami Yoshimizu’s manga series published since 2003. It is also known as one of the masterpieces of Kyoto Animation in its earliest stage. The anime series was followed by a 42-min OVA titled Lucky Star: Original na Visual to Animation in 2008. It has become much more popular among anime fans to visit real-life locations that inspire their favorite anime, which is known as Anime Tourism or Anime Pilgrimage. Lucky Star is regarded as the first anime that sparked the boom.
The setting is modeled after Kasukabe City, Saitama Prefecture. It is an everyday comedy in which Konata Izumi, a petite, otaku high school girl who loves anime and video games, jokes around freely. She is surrounded by her friend and laid-back personality Tsukasa Hiiragi, her twin sister Kagami Hiiragi, and Miyuki Takara, who is good-looking and knowledgeable but also has a natural tendency to be an easygoing goofball. Lucky Star depicts their relaxed, normal life, including the people around them.
Aired: 2007
Episodes: 24
Studio: Kyoto Animation
17. Interviews with Monster Girls
Interviews with Monster Girls (亜人ちゃんは語りたい) is a popular manga and anime series categorized as slice of life and comedy mixed with fantasy. The manga series began on Young Magazine the 3rd in 2014 and came to the end on Monthly Young Magazine in December, 2022. It was made into the first anime adaptation by A-1 Pictures in 2017, followed by an additional OVA episode The Demi-chans’ Summer Break.
Interviews with Monster Girls is a school comedy about interactions with “demi-human” students who have different characteristics from normal humans. Demi-humans, once persecuted as monsters, now live in the same society as humans. The first-year students include Hikari Kotoyu, a talkative and bossy vampire, Kyoko Machi, a shy dullahan whose head is separated from her torso, and Yuki Kusakabe, a snow woman who is sensitive to heat, as well as a succubus teacher Sakie Sato. The story proceeds from the perspective of Tetsuo Takahashi, a biology teacher who studies these demi-humans.
Aired: 2017
Episodes: 12
Studio: A-1 Pictures
If you are interested in some finest manga recommendations of slice of life, you can’t miss the list below.
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