Mystery, psychology, mecha, and genres have such a very tense frame. Sometimes, on the contrary, we just need some anime to relax with. Slice-of-life anime, much like the name suggests, gives the viewers a taste of life.
Although a typical slice-of-life anime explores high school lives, it need not always be the case. The slice-of-life genre tends to present us with stories about different people in different pinches of life, trying to teach us something or simply give us something to think about.
The best slice-of-life anime gives us a reason to see the brighter side of life, all the while illustrating the bad times.
Many people often begin their journey of becoming anime fans through slice-of-life anime. While the shounen genre often comes off as too strong, the slice-of-life genre slowly gives its audience to see the beauty of anime in its raw form.
Especially when these anime are followed by jaw-dropping visual effects and concept arts, it is tough to part with them. Slice-of-life anime is bliss in the anime industry.
Out of the ten favorite anime that a person likes, I bet there’s at least that one slice-of-life anime that melted their hearts. This is exactly what slice-of-life anime do– they steal hearts before a viewer even knows.
Best Slice-of-life Anime
People are always looking for good slice-of-life anime to binge on, and that’s exactly what we are serving today. Here are the top ten slice-of-life anime that every anime fan should watch. The anime mentioned can be streamed online on Netflix, Crunchyroll, Funimation, HiDive, or any other legal website.
Anohana
Anohana is every bit of what one would expect from a slice-of-life anime. The anime is a finely written work that reflects on loss, regrets, and change. Anohana has its entertaining moments of fun, but it is the sentimental parts that truly won me over.
The anime rests on flashbacks of a bunch of childhood friends who have grown apart. Its dialogue delivery is heavy and definitely something that makes a huge impact on the storytelling.
As the anime ends, it leaves its viewers in a deep train of thoughts and overwhelming emotions.
The plot of Anohana is pretty simple and straightforward. There isn’t much groundbreaking about it, either. Adding on to the anime’s beauty are the official soundtracks played on a piano or guitar.
Anohana
Clannad
Clannad is a fine piece of work from the studio of Kyoto Animation. The animation of Clannad is one of the first things that had my eyes glued to it till the last episode. It simply depicts the amount of hard work, love, and care Japanese animators put into the anime.
The characters of Clannad might come off as cliches at times, but that need not be a bad thing because the overall plot is built uniquely. With its almost life-like animation and brilliantly paced plot, Clannad is no less than the best slice-of-life anime in the industry.
Despite the years since its release, very rare anime series can relay the same emotion with such fluency. This anime shall not be missed if relaxation is all you are seeking for.
Clannad.
K-On
Another great anime from Kyoto Animation, K-On is also one of the best slice-of-life anime. However, the anime is quite different from Clannad in many ways. K-On’s art style and the main character’s design are something that no viewer can get over anytime soon.
That anime leans a lot towards the CGDCT genre but chaotically and romantically. Its cute outlook and hilarious details make it very memorable. K-On is just plain silly, and I mean it with complete positivity.
Sometimes this is the kind of silly thing we need in our lives to brighten our moods. Since the anime is about music, it has a good musical composition as well.
This is a type of anime that makes its viewers happy with cute characters and silly humor. If you have been ignoring this anime, I recommend you stop whatever you’re doing and watch it.
K-On.
Horimiya
One of the best releases of the year was Horimiya. Horimiya received many great reviews from its audience. The anime is initially a rom-com that focuses on its characters’ development. Horimiya has many things to like.
The idea of portraying youth and how different youngsters grow up through its characters was depicted with clarity. While some people might find everlasting love in high school, it does not mean every relationship has to work out, no matter how sincere one’s feelings are.
Horimiya is an anime I would recommend to growing teens because the anime does a fine job of explaining how teens should overcome their inner conflicts and grow into responsible and respectful adults.
Horimiya’s comedy may not make you roll on the floor laughing, but it sure will give you a really hard grin with how relatable it can be.
Horimiya
5 Centimetres Per Second
Rather than a series, 5 Centimetres Per Second is a short anime movie. Facing the realities of life is one of the basic concepts of this anime. The anime also won the 2007 Asia Pacific Screen Award for the Best Animated Feature Film category.
It is the work of renowned movie director Makoto Shinkai (Your Name, Weathering With You). 5 Centimetres Per Second is no ordinary story. Rather it is a sad story of an unachievable love.
Despite all the efforts, and all the promises, some bonds break, and the only thing it leaves behind are the memories that haunt them forever. This is a beautiful movie.
Its visuals are absolutely stunning and give a pleasing effect to the story as well. From an emotional angle and visual standpoint, this is easily one of the best slice-of-life anime.
5 Centimetres Per Second.
Violet Evergarden
Based on the light novel of the same name, Violet Evergarden is a very successful anime. The anime is primarily popular for its beautiful characters and graceful visuals.
It is created with so much patience and so much diligence that every scene seems to be telling a story of its own. The anime’s setting is a fantasy and a beautiful one at that. It gives you so many things to love that its flaws are almost negligible.
Violet Evergarden, in its patiently flowing pace, also gives its viewers a lot of drama to witness. The anime has a certain ring of peace and serenity around it that makes watching it a blissful experience. A truly aesthetic anime, Violet Evergarden is a masterpiece among slice-of-life anime.
Violet Evergarden.
Grand Blue
The scenes of Grand Blue give it a very furnished look. They are aesthetic and a complete treat to the eye. But all the aesthetic vibe is toned down with the chaotic humor. Grand Blue does not have a fixed plot.
It is rather a journey of friends who embrace their love for the sea. But that’s not all. It is also a journey of these friends constantly falling into trouble and getting drunk.
I do not know what typical Japanese college life looks like, but Grand Blue gives quite an exaggerated look at it, and it’s very entertaining to the fans of the show.
The character design is mostly a beauty until things go south. Grand Blue is an outstanding anime that gives a good taste of slice-of-life by keeping things spiced up.
Grand Blue
Usagi Drop
Usagi Drop’s prime focus is on delivering the message about how difficult raising a child is to their audience. It is a mature anime with the motive of relaying something to its viewers. Now Usagi Drop is not an anime that people would usually watch.
So what makes it worth watching and being one of the best slice-of-life anime? The anime is so wholesome that I would be lying if I said it didn’t steal my heart after the first fifteen minutes. It truly gives us a tangy yet sweet taste of a slice of life.
The relations between the two main characters and how it has been executed with so much innocence make staying till the end worth it. Usagi Drop is an anime I would recommend to non-anime watchers alike for the sake of the sweetness it holds.
Usagi Drop.
Josee, the Tiger, and the Fish
Released last December, Josee, the Tiger, and the Fish is a unique anime film. The film opens up the world we know but from the eyes of a differently-abled woman who has never seen the world.
Josee, the Tiger, and the Fish give the regular and boring world a magical outlook. Everything is shiny, and everything is hopeful. The movie has many folds of drama and angst, involving primarily the main characters.
Although the anime does not give good developments to its side characters, it makes up for it by giving its two main characters a surprisingly great amount of development.
The anime does not have much humor, but it is built on cute moments and a moving story instead. Josee, the Tiger, and the Fish have a great visual animation as well, which pleases its viewers to the full extent.
Josee the Tiger and the Fish.
Natsume Yuujinchou
This slice-of-life anime has a supernatural touch to it. It centers around spirits (or youkai, as they call it). Every episode deals with a new youkai, each of which leaves a good message for the audience. It has quite a magical aura to it.
The story is interesting, even if there is no long-term build-up. Natsume Yuujinchou is very thought-provoking as well. Through the thirteen episodes, the anime takes its viewers on an emotional ride.
It takes beautiful sceneries and animation to fill its audience with these emotions. Natsume Yuujinchou is an anime no one should miss for its wonderful execution that goes beyond expectations.
Natsume Yuujinchou.
Memes of the Day
After-School Encounter
Lovely x Cation The Animation
Honorable Mention
Summer Time Rendering
Hell’s Harem
Spy Classroom
Spy Classroom
I love it when anime series get creative and innovative. While some may land into disasters while trying something new, some end up having stunning results too. Perhaps this is why the drive for sci-fi anime just never stop increasing. Science fiction anime have trended since a long time.
From Cowboy Bebop to Neon Genesis Evangelion, the 20th century had some of the best sci-fi anime ever known to anime fans. When it’s about anime, one can let their imagination free and achieve impossible plots and execute them with perfection. The demand for sci-fi anime have since grown.
A lot of science fiction anime lovers seek a variation, a unique, distinguished feature in the plot. Over time, many favourable sci-fi anime have been created wanting to fulfill such fans’ demands.
Are sci-fi anime really that fun? Absolutely! Experiencing the future through anime is one of the best feelings. One can go looking for hardcore fights, big robots, or scary aliens from another world in science fiction anime.
Imagination is limitless, and the plot is bound by the roots of science only. Being one of the science fiction fanatics, I have realized that it is not about how accurate things are that makes science fiction successful. Rather, it is about how believable the anime can be.
Best Sci-fi Anime
People often go around the internet looking for good sci-fi anime to watch. Here are my top ten best sci-fi anime that I feel everyone should watch. These anime can be found on any legal anime streaming platform, including Netflix, Crunchyroll, Funimation, or HiDive.
Plastic memories
Plastic Memories is a romantic science fiction anime. It is more about the growing interaction between the two main characters rather than about science. However, the anime has a brilliantly created futuristic atmosphere that definitely wins it one of the spots in my list of best sci-fi anime of the 21st century. The anime is set amidst artificial intelligence and advanced technology.
Along with being quite over the top, the anime is surprisingly cute and wholesome. This anime is also very moving and has made many of its viewers shed many tears. Plastic Memories has a good plot, but it binds with me on a very emotional level. However, the sci-fi content might not be up to the mark for some viewers. So is this anime worth watching? Definitely.
Plastic Memories
Eight-Six
From 2021, Eighty-Six is perhaps the most successful sci-fi anime. No one among those who experienced the anime’s journey would say they hated the show. The main sci-fi factor of Eighty-Six is its dystopian and mecha concepts. The anime’s weapon designs are beautiful, and I would be lying if I say I wasn’t immediately smitten by the designs.
Other than the amazing sci-fi setting, the anime also addresses important issues that still lurk in the present society, like racism and sexism. Eighty-Six is a very unique piece of work. Its characters are very interesting and likable, all the while being quite strong. It has an emotional and strategic balance that makes it one of the best sci-fi anime that must not be missed.
Eighty-Six.
Code Geass
The word ‘masterpiece’ often loses its value when it is stamped for everything. However, a masterpiece is also the only word that can completely describe Code Geass in a single word. From character development to character interaction and character design to concept designs,
Code Geass easily dominates much-existing anime. The anime is built with so much precision that there is barely any space for loopholes in the plot. Code Geass’ prime genre can be described as psychological or political.
However, for its outstanding mecha background, its sci-fi nature just cannot be overlooked. If your idea of a good sci-fi anime is a big mechanic body armor, Code Geass is what you are looking for.
Code Geass.
Gantz
Gantz has a very mature theme. Gore, profanity, nudity, and sexual scenes: Gantz has it all. Although this might put some fans off from continuing the show, I believe this is what makes it realistic. The anime is a big mess, but it is definitely amazing. Out of all the things that Gantz does, the one thing that it is not is generic.
It is quite unique and has different (read that realistic) consequences. The anime is set in a game where the characters thrive and fight to survive. It has robots, aliens, and many other thrilling elements of science fiction. Gantz is easily one of the best sci-fi anime for me, especially because of its believable plot.
Gantz.
Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song
A very exciting show, Fluorite Eye’s Song, has managed to catch the interest of several people. The show easily switches between dark and depressing shades to cover your senses with the realism and let you know that the situation is not something you can laugh at.
I think the show has a perfect flow, thanks to the well-written script. What keeps it from getting boring is that it keeps the audience on their toes, has a storyline that paces fast, and is packed with thrilling events. The visuals are stunning too.
The creative artists have done an amazing job in making beautiful images which keep the show aesthetically pleasing. I mean, notice the close-up shots of Vivy’s face, how the details to every contour have been given specific attention!
You can see the hard work that was put in this magnanimous creation. There is a consistency in the way the anime has been built up, and that’s what keeps me hooked.
With the top-notch quality of artists and how they have been portrayed in the show, it’s no surprise that it can take your breath away. The evidence is stronger in the intensity of action scenes that are bound to leave you in chills.
Vivy Fluorite Eye’s Song.
Dr. Stone
In all honesty, Dr. Stone is one of those shows that you can thoroughly enjoy only if you are okay with letting go of the logic behind their made-up science stuff. Of course, there’s a lot portrayed in the anime about science that is factually correct.
But, there is an exaggeration attached to the understanding of this science and how the characters utilize it. One of the most important characters based on this is Senkuu, a supercomputer whose exterior is built of the skin of a human.
Senkuu looks like any normal guy but with the most brilliant mind to ever exist in the world. Dr. Stone is all about Senkuu, who manages to gather a team of science enthusiasts, each member hosting different goals and personalities.
Initially, Senkuu does not have friendly relations with his team members, but as the anime develops, there is much more character growth, and they all work together to achieve Senkuu’s ultimate goal- to build a science kingdom.
Dr. Stone.
Akudama Drive
If you like over-the-top action science thrillers, Akudama Drive has all the excitement in store for you. The base of the story is all about the inequities that exist in modern society. In most cases, it’s difficult to come up with a unique cyberpunk setting.
But, Akudana Drive achieves it by providing a unique and refreshing interpretation of the niche. It makes subtle (and not-so-subtle at times) fun at the flaws in our corrupt governments and police system. The story develops in the Kansai state, which is militarized and completely controlled by a police force that is politically motivated.
Moreover, in the totalitarian state, the moves of every citizen are constantly on the watch. If a citizen resists, they die. Any hint of protest, and the police won’t wait to arrest. Instead, it will straight up slaughter.
The class differences are shown obviously, and there are events of beheading enjoyed by bloodthirsty citizens. It’s a nightmare, and that’s why it’s interesting to watch.
Akudama Drive.
Dennou Coil
What strikes me beautifully about Dennou Coil is how the plot and the characters come together. The interactions that the characters have show the development the anime presents in each personality.
Some not-so-prominent characters play vital roles in the show. They may not be leading, but their presence in the background makes it quite wholesome.
The intricacy with which the plot is woven is commendable. Even small details from an episode can turn into huge turning points in the latter part of the series. Thus, the unpredictability of moments is very realistic and thrilling.
At the beginning of the show, there is a sure establishment of the characters, and how their world works, and then the story begins to arch towards fillers, bringing certain things to the center. And slowly, the show takes in everything that is shown before to turn it into a darker theme that becomes quite surprising for the audience. The final few episodes are very dark and presented really well. There is this hint of trauma and depression that gave me goosebumps in the end.
Dennou Coil.
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex – Solid State Society
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex TV anime series has garnered major attention from anime lovers and all for the right reasons. The thriller is completely original and yet, at the same time, a homage to Masamune Shirow’s original Ghost in the Shell manga and feature film. The anime show has not removed the important pieces of the original material.
It has respected the creation of those bits. What it does is adds its own flair in an amazing manner. It also focuses on several important issues like Japan’s low birth rates, due to which there is high percentage of the elderly, sinister topics like child abuse, and contemporary issues that address race and nationality. These are some of the most concerning issues in Japan which have been neglected in the mainstream films.
Even other anime don’t dare to touch these subjects. The astonishment that comes when you watch Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex TV anime series is what’s pleasurable at the same time.
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex – Solid State Society.
Made in Abyss
Made in Abyss almost sounds like a show with naive, childlike romance plots, a story that can fit into the adventurous dreams of children. But it actually is way darker. Riko and Reg, the two main characters, are constantly struggling, stumbling over one obstacle after another.
There’s no sign of a happy ending for these two. Just an endless hopelessness. Unlike many anime shows pretending to be gore and mature with a sadistic villain and self-serving themes, Made in Abyss does the job with more authenticity.
There are graphic scenes, too violent and disturbing for the light-hearted. The story is about surviving on adventures and to live even beyond death.
Made in Abyss.
Memes of the Day
Seika Jogakuin Kounin Sao Ojisan
Honorable Mentions
Tsuma ga, Tanin no Mesu ni naru made
Sokuhame! Onee-chans by Mikemono Yu
