Thinking about checking out some slice of life anime? You have come to the right place! Who wouldn't be intrigued by the idea of taking a teenage witch, a shape-shifting spirit, or a dangerous group of zombies and putting them in an everyday context? In slice of life anime, the usual meets the unusual in ways that are tantalizing, entertaining, and unique. If you are new to the genre and want a list of the best slice of life anime, read on!
Comparison Table
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What Is Slice of Life Anime?
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Slice of life anime is a genre that offers viewers a chance to relate to ordinary characters as they live out the minor struggles and triumphs of daily existence, sometimes with a twist. Despite the lack of fantasy scenarios and elaborate plots, the best slice of life anime is humorous, quirky, and contemplative.
Our Top 10 Best Slice of Life Anime Shows:
Kokoro Connect
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About
The series focuses on 5 students who, like normal people, must face everyday challenges at school, with friends, and in the dating sphere. Enter a twist! These characters are given the ability to switch bodies, a premise that offers endless philosophically interesting complications, unexpected situations, and funny moments for our viewing pleasure.
The Takeaway
If a strange experiment, a dash of romance, friendship dynamics, and some thought-provoking scenarios intrigue you, Kokoro Connect might be your new favorite show. The show asks, what would life be like if you could truly experience it from another person's perspective?
Where to Watch
Sakura Quest
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About
The main character, Yoshino Koharu, is a driven young woman who moves to Tokyo looking for a career. She struggles to find her dream job, but her frustrations seemingly end when she is offered a position at a travel company. Surprise! She learns, after accepting the job, that it involves becoming the queen of a mundane rural village which is not exactly the life she imagined for herself!
The Takeaway
In a moment in our culture when many young people are traveling for pleasure and relocating themselves in pursuit of great success, Sakura Quest is a highly relatable series with a strong female outlook. The village, Manoyama, is based on an actual place in Japan. This series has 5 strong female characters and is a good choice for viewers who want to avoid the hyper-sexualization of many anime women. It poses questions about the expectations we have for the future, and how we react when life takes an unexpected turn.
Where to Watch
Toradora
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About
Can romance result from rivalry? In this series, Ryuuji and Taiga are great nemeses in their school. Constantly harassing each other, they each do everything they can to make the others' life miserable. However, one thing draws them together and gives them a common goal: both are in love with the others' best friend! Gradually, antagonism turns into cooperation and even something more.
The Takeaway
This show makes our “best slice of life anime” list because it explores the dynamics of young relationships and the complexity of love and affection.
Where to Watch
Mushi-Shi
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About
What do you do when you live in an ordinary world with an extraordinary ability? How do you behave when you have special insights that others lack, and how can you use your gifts in a positive way? Ginko, who has the ability to communicate with nature spirits (mushi) is in exactly this position. A sometimes withdrawn, always contemplative character, he uses his unusual talent to act as a liaison between the human world and the spiritual one, seeking out tensions and navigating solutions when he can.
The Takeaway
This is a show about special power and it's appropriate use. It will be interesting for people who enjoy philosophical contemplation and moral dilemmas.
Where to Watch
Kino no Tabi
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About
Kino, the main character, is a 15-year-old girl who seeks refuge from her psychological distress by traveling. With the help of Hermes, her motorcycle, and her handguns, Cannon and Woodsman, she sets out to explore the world, never staying in a place for more than 3 days. Along the way, she encounters many cultures and people with viewpoints and mentalities that are different from hers.
The Takeaway
This is a series about the life of the wanderer, the adventurer, and the searcher who asks questions and upon receiving answers, moves on towards new discoveries. Kino's self-imposed restlessness combines with an open mind and fearless outlook that helps her overcome adversaries and discover gems of human nature that are inaccessible for people who do not venture past their own backyard.
Where to Watch
Flying Witch
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About
This series follows the life of Makoto Kowata, a young apprentice witch who goes to seek professional training in Aomori, the witchcraft capital city. There, she and her black cat, Chito, must find a balance between school, life, and her magical training. This is a lot to mix up in the cauldron and creates endlessly interesting conflicts of interest for our viewing delight.
The Takeaway
Magic meets coming of age, and Sabrina the Teenage Which meets Harry Potter in this series. This show makes our “best slice of life anime” list because it is lighthearted, fun to watch, and whimsical.
Where to Watch
Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai
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About
The main character, Kodaka, faces challenges at his school because his classmates see his blond hair and think he looks strange. Rather than let their negativity bring him down, he befriends Yozora, a girl with an imaginary friend. Together, they start an inclusive society called The Neighbors' Club for other unusual people.
The Takeaway
Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai is a show for those of us who sometimes feel out of place or awkward. A show about both self-acceptance and the benefits of accepting others, Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai is well worth watching.
Where to Watch
Poco's Udon World
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About
In this series, Souta Tawara returns to his hometown to find a big (little) surprise. Although his parents are not around, he is able to embrace the comfort of revisiting his family's restaurant and other familiar places. One day, he sees a young boy and offers him food. Suddenly, the boy sprouts a tail, and Souta realizes that this is the famed shape-shifting tanuki that has been said to dwell in the village. Souta names him Poko, and the two build an unusual friendship.
The Takeaway
If you are looking for a heartwarming dose of nostalgia, Poco's Udon World is a good choice. Watching this show, viewers experience the pleasure of treasured memories and the notion that life continues in cycles and cherished things are never lost forever.
Where to Watch
Orange
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About
This show takes on heavy themes: suicide, mental instability, deep sadness, and guilt. In it, Kakeru Naruse must live like a normal teenager despite one big psychological struggle: he feels responsible for his mother's death. He is haunted by the fact that on the day she killed herself, he said something out of place.
The Takeaway
Orange is not on our list of the best slice of life anime for its lightheartedness. Serious and relevant, Orange tackles difficult issues in a meaningful way.
Where to Watch
Gakkougurashi
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About
This show, whose title translates to “School Live” explores the tension of living in a society of lies, dangers, and false appearances. Yuki Takeya is a student who works to promote the School Living Club at Megurigaoka High School. Unbeknownst to her, the school is actually a fortress in which all the students must wait out a zombie apocalypse happening in the outside world.
The Takeaway
Heavy on the horror, despite its cute anime characters, this show is not for squeamish viewers. While this series offers us a touch of the supernatural, it is also relatable. Who doesn't sometimes feel the need to build barricades against the atrocities of modern society?
Where to Watch
Time to Grab a Slice
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The best slice of life anime is deeply entertaining and effective viewing material. It offers viewers a break from more typical anime, which is usually dominated by action scenes, convoluted plots, and other-worldly settings. Sometimes funny, sometimes achingly serious, the slice of life genre is a good one to explore if you are looking for well-written shows with unusual premises.
Conclusion: Different Shows for Different Moods
If you are looking for something light-hearted and relaxing, Flying Which or Poco Udon's World are both good choices. If you feel that something more serious might interest you, we recommend Orange or Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai. Looking to watch what happens when the plot gets weird? Maybe Gakkougurashi or Kokoro Connect are the shows to see. If character development and a person's individual journey are your things, check out Kino no Tabi, Mushi-shi or Sakura Quest.
We Hope You Enjoy Slice of Life Anime
Who knows, maybe a slice isn't enough for you, and this will become your new favorite genre! Fortunately, these shows offer enough quality viewing material to keep you watching for a while. Enjoy!
Featured Image Source: Pixabay.com
