So many animes right now are very much action-packed that the scenes can feel very intense for some viewers. In these hard-to-handle scenarios, they turn to slice-of-life animes.
Slice-of-life animes contain narratives without the fantastical side, taking place in a familiar and everyday setting, such as a suburban high school, for instance, which focuses on romantic human relationships. Thus, this anime genre favors the kindling of emotional ties with its characters.
If those words about this genre inspired you to get your groove on and watch it, it is highly recommended that you get started with these slice-of-life animes on this list. You’ll never regret it.
‘Barakamon’
First on the list of the best slice-of-life animes of all time is the anime called “Barakamon.” Sure it sounds like “Digimon” or even “Pokémon,” but this anime is altogether a different animal.
Its story follows a calligrapher named Seishu Handa, who moves to the remote Gotō Islands off Kyūshū’s western coast. It also tells about his interactions with the island’s locals. Upon meeting with and understanding the lives of the island’s friendly people, his personality improves.
Like “One Piece,” “Barakamon” also has a live-action TV adaptation. Kinema Citrus and Funimation are in charge of the production of the anime.
‘Non Non Biyori’
With production from Silver Link and Sentai Filmworks, “Non Non Biyori” has a story that takes place in a tiny fictional countryside village called Asahigaoka. Being just a small village, Asahigaoka has a school that consists only of five students, and not just that, but the students are from different levels, elementary or middle school.
Hotaru Ichijo, a fifth grader who hails from Tokyo, transfers to the school and adjusts to the countryside life with her new friends. Together, they engage in activities like harvesting mountain herbs and fishing.
‘Silver Spoon’
Next on this list of must-watch slice-of-life animes is “Silver Spoon.” The term “silver spoon” may bring out a negative connotation for some, but it certainly isn’t negative when speaking about the anime.
Set in the fictional Hokkaido school, Oezo Agricultural High School, this anime depicts the daily life of Yugo Hachiken, a student who comes from Sapporo and enrolls in the school to flee from the high demands of his strict dad. However, he soon learns that life in such an agricultural school like where he is now is also not as easy as he believed. Will he miss his family?
‘Laid-Back Camp’
If you are an adventurer and love camping so much, this anime will spoil you with your passion. “Laid-Back Camp” starts with Rin Shima, a high school girl who, as weird as it may sound, enjoys camping alone. But, one day, she meets Nadeshiko Kagamihara, who encourages and inspires her to join their school’s camping club. Together, the two and their classmates, Aoi Inuyama and Chiaki Ōgaki, travel around Japan, camping together and just enjoying life as it is.
‘Nichijou – My Ordinary Life’
“Nichijou – My Ordinary Life” primarily revolves around the daily antics of a trio of childhood friends – high school girls Mio Naganohara, Mai Minakami, and Yuuko Aioi. Then, they find their life stories intertwining with Hakase Shinonome – a young genius – together with her robot caretaker Nano and their talking cat Sakamoto.
As days pass, the lives of these six and those of the people around them experience everything from the calmness of life to its insanities and absurdities. They find themselves from the simplest things, like walking to school and spending time with friends, to the most absurd, such as getting bitten by a talking crow and watching the principal suplex a deer.
Kyoto Animation, Bandai Entertainment, Vertical, and Madman Entertainment are in charge of the anime’s production and distribution.
‘Azumanga Daioh The Animation’
With production and distribution from J.C.Staff and Starchild Records, “Azumanga Daioh” chronicles the daily life in a Japanese high school with six girls and two of their teachers: Chiyo Mihama, a child prodigy who struggles to fit in with girls five years older; the reserved Sakaki and her obsession with cute animals and prejudice against other kinds of animals; Yomi Mizuhara and her aggravation toward a best friend who annoys her; Osaka Kasuga and her skewed perspective of the world; the sporty Kagura and her one-side athletics rivalry with Sakaki; Tomo Takino, whose energy is rivaled only by her lack of sense; Yukari Tanizaki, their homeroom teacher; and her friend, Minamo Kurosawa, another teacher who teaches physical education.
With other characters like a creepy male teacher and a female classmate with a crush on Sakaki, the anime’s story covers tests that span three years, talking between classes, athletic events, culture festivals, traveling to and from school, vacations at Chiyo’s summer beach home and the fictional Magical Land theme park, and studying at Chiyo’s house. It concludes with the graduation of the characters. If Disney’s “High School Musical” were a Japanese anime, it would be this.
‘Aria’
Set in the 24th century on a terraformed Mars planet – which is, at that time, already named Aqua – “Aria” follows a young woman named Akari Mizunashi as she trains as an apprentice gondolier.
The anime has been well-praised for its calm and light pacing, fantastic art, optimistic worldview, and soundtrack quality, the tenets of an anime to be considered a great slice of life.
Other slice-of-life animes that deserve mention are:
- “Girls’ Last Tour”
- “Clannad”
- “Daily Lives of High School Boys”
- “Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid”
- “Horimiya”
- “Wagnaria!!”
- “Bunny Drop”
As you have read, a slice-of-life anime is not meant to disturb your senses with extreme action scenes and over-the-top storylines. Its lightness and calmness are enough to keep you on the edge of your seat.
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