Slice of life is an art that describes the reality and sensibility of life through the entertainment genre. Slice of life anime depicts the realistic and natural essence of life in the animation realm in the anime world. In other words, it can be termed as a narrative way to describe the several events and emotions of life through the hardship and robust nature of the main protagonist in slice-of-life anime.
The anime world has tried its level best to put forward a realistic representation of life through its story and characters. Therefore, Japanese manga can be considered mainstream Slice of life anime. This is because it has consistently shown and helped the audience experience reality.
Most anime shows and movies have been adapted from the manga series to gain more popularity and affection. This kind of anime show involves the expression of human beings to face reality under certain possible conditions.
The Slice Of Life Genre
This genre has several dramatic and comedy environments to contrast the harsh reality and difficulties. Sometimes a romantic turn can also be expected from this kind of genre which can be termed a possible way to raise interest. However, unconventional expressions and emotions are pretty evident and acceptable in these anime dramas. The dialogue and the scenes are composed in such a way that the onlookers can relate to them quickly.
If anyone looks upon the Slice of life, anime shows, or movies, you can conclude without any hesitation that it has been adapted from any manga series. The makers of any of the series have put up with ideas and concepts of the manga or visual novel to establish the base of the television drama.
In these types of dramas, the main protagonist appears to be a hard-working person who accepts the tough life with a silent voice, or maybe some high school students who try to protect her town, and so on. Along with this, Slice of life anime dramas also show authentic Japanese culture and rituals, which is the actual game to fall in love with the culture.
50. YuruYuri: Happy Go Lucky
- Director: Hiroyuki Hata
- Writers: Hiroyuki Hata, Makoto Fukami
- Stars: Emiri Katō, Suzuko Mimori, Aki Toyosaki, Saki Fujita
- IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
- MyAnimeList: 7.5/10
- Platform: Crunchyroll, Tubi (Season 1 & 2), VRV
Cute girls doing cute things is a well-known slice of life subgenre, and these anime typically provide exactly what they promise. At first glance, YuruYuri appears to be a stereotypical illustration of this kind of tale; it brings together four ladies with archetypal characters and doesn’t accomplish anything with them. For the most part of the anime’s first season, at least, that is the situation.
After that, YuruYuri immediately and significantly improves. When more supporting characters are introduced, all of whom appear to have a crush on one another, the show becomes increasingly bizarre. It is consistently funny as well.
49. March Comes In Like A Lion
- Director: Akiyuki Shinbo, Kenjirou Okada
- Writers: Yukito Kizawa
- Stars: Kengo Kawanishi, Yumi Uchiyama, Ai Kayano, Kana Hanazawa, Misaki Kuno
- IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
- MyAnimeList: 8.4/10
- Platform: Crunchyroll, Funimation, VRV
A terrific series with beautiful animation, believable, likable characters, and sharp dialogue, March Comes In Like a Lion. March Comes In Like a Lion might not be what everyone is looking for in a slice-of-life anime, but while being unquestionably worth recommending based solely on its quality and the first season’s extensive focus on shogi.
Although the second season is especially good, it is also emotionally taxing. March Comes In Like a Lion occasionally reads more like a drama with slice-of-life components than the opposite.
48. Komi Can’t Communicate
- Director: Ayumu Watanabe, Kazuki Kawagoe
- Writers: Deko Akao
- Stars: Aoi Koga, Gakuto Kajiwara, Rie Murakawa, Rina Hidaka
- IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
- MyAnimeList: 8/10
- Platform: Netflix
The second season of Komi Can’t Communicate, which began airing in the Spring of 2022, cemented the program’s place as one of the best slice-of-life anime of the contemporary period. Shoko Komi has been alone for the majority of her life due to severe social anxiety, and people have mistaken her solitude for aloofness and snobbishness. As Komi befriends the unpopular Hitohito Tadano, she begins her quest to gain a hundred friends as part of her effort to alter things at her high school.
Although an upbeat program, Komi Can’t Speak presents a fairly realistic portrayal of anxiety, especially in its first few episodes. The friendship between Komi and Tadano opens the door for the introduction of other eccentric characters, and their bond is endearing.
47. My Dress-Up Darling
- Director: Keisuke Shinohara
- Writers: Yoriko Tomita
- Stars: Atsumi Tanezak, Hina Suguta, Shōya Ishige, Hina Yōmiya
- IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
- MyAnimeList: 8.3/10
- Platform: Crunchyroll, Funimation, VRV
My Dress-Up Darling is a strong contender for one of Winter 2022’s best anime. It is goodness rendered in animation. My Dress-Up Darling, which centers on the relationship between Marin Kitagawa and Wakana Gojou, has cosplay, upbeat energy, and subtle romantic overtones that come from a dynamic that feels sincere.
This series is top-notch, beautifully drawn, and utterly endearing. Its emphasis on cosplay sets it apart from other slice-of-life anime with romantic elements. The first season of the show features a significant amount of growth in the core couple’s relationship.
46. Wagnaria!!
- Director: Yoshimasa Hiraike
- Writers: Yoshimasa Hiraike
- Stars: Kenichi Suzumura, Mai Kadowaki, Mai Nakahara, Junko Minagawa
- IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
- MyAnimeList: 7.6/10
- Platform: NA
Most people have, at some point in their lives, worked in the service sector, typically in a restaurant. Few, though, have experienced such a bizarre group of coworkers entangling them in progressively sillier activities. What percentage of kitchens have a floor chief who swings a katana?
Wagnaria!! is immensely gratifying to watch since it includes tremendously amusing parts intercut with a setting that almost everyone can relate to. Anyone will smile when they hear this.
45. Maison Ikkoku
- Director: Kazuo Yamazaki, Takashi Annō, Naoyuki Yoshinaga
- Writers: Tokio Tsuchiya, Kazunori Itō Hideo Takayashiki
- Stars: Ellen Kennedy, Janyse Jaud, Shigeru Chiba, Ron Halder
- IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
- MyAnimeList: 8.2/10
- Platform: NA
This iconic animation from the 1970s served as an inspiration for other slice-of-life programs that followed. The anime series Maison Ikkoku is set in a boarding home, and it follows Yuusaku Godai as he falls madly in love with Kyoko Otonashi, the establishment’s new manager.
As their romance develops into something truly meaningful, the boarding house’s oddball residents provide many amusing moments.
44. Horimiya
- Director: Masashi Ishihama
- Writers: Takao Yoshioka
- Stars: Asami Seto, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Yumiko Kobayashi
- IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
- MyAnimeList: 8.1/10
- Platform: Crunchyroll, Funimation, Hulu, VRV
The premiere of the all-time most-watched romance comedy was Horimiya. Fans fell in love with its endearing and approachable characters, making it one of the most well-liked anime of the Winter 2021 season.
It’s frank and contains unexpectedly hot moments for a slice of life show. This program is often devoid of the contrived drama found in other romances, which makes it unexpectedly enjoyable to watch.
43. Daily Lives Of Highschool Boys
- Director: Shinji Takamatsu
- Writers: Shinji Takamatsu
- Stars: Miyu Irino, Kenichi Suzumura, Tomokazu Sugita, Yūki Ono
- IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
- MyAnimeList: 8.2/10
- Platform: Crunchyroll, Funimation, Tubi, VRV
It’s obvious that this anime is a slice-of-life series because the word “everyday lives” is in the title. This show consists primarily on the tales that its three central characters, Hidenori, Yoshitake, and Tadakuni, have created.
The situations might be whatever high school boys could imagine, such as an epic RPG battle. It’s a ton of crazy fun and illustrates what life is like for people who occasionally let go.
42. Clannad
- Director: Osamu Dezaki
- Writers: Jun Maeda
- Stars: Yûichi Nakamura, David Matranga, Luci Christian, Mai Nakahara
- IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
- MyAnimeList: 8/10
- Platform: HIDIVE
Clannad, and especially its follow-up, Clannad: After Story, are essential works of the slice-of-life genre. They are both based on a 2004 graphic novel and are known to occasionally cause tears to fall in torrents. The main character of the anime is Tomoya Okazaki, a high school student with a penchant for getting close to ladies who may be struggling.
The major characters are ably introduced in the first season of this passable slice-of-life drama. Tomoya and Nagisa are followed in Clannad: After Story as they transition into adulthood. Clannad goes further than other slice-of-life anime, which normally focus on a certain stage of life, such as childhood or adolescence. It demonstrates how the characters develop, through change, fall in love, and endure loss.
41. Nichijou – My Ordinary Life
- Director: Tatsuya Ishihara
- Writers: Jukki Hanada
- Stars: Mariko Honda, Mai Aizawa, Misuzu Togashi, Shizuka Furuya
- IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
- MyAnimeList: 8.5/10
- Platform: Crunchyroll, Funimation
This anime is undoubtedly among the funniest programs ever produced. Really, characters from the program can be recognized by individuals who haven’t even watched it, thanks to various online memes.
The series centers on the daily activities of three best friends from high school. There are undoubtedly classic moments, but this show’s extravagant style is a big part of what makes it so charming.
40. Tanaka-Kun is Always Listless
- Director: Shin’ya Kawatsura
- Writers: Akemi Omode
- Stars: Yoshimasa Hosoya as Ohta, Kensho Ono as Tanaka, Kotori Koiwai as Shiraishi, Yūichi Iguchi as Katou, Natsumi Takamori as Miyano, Kazuyuki Okitsu as Shimura, Ayaka Suwa as Echizen, Nao Tōyama as Saya, Aoi Yuki as Rino, Yoshimasa Hosoya as Ohta
- IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
- MyAnimeList: 7.9/10
- Platform: Crunchyroll
Tanaka-kun Is Always Listless is about Tanaka, a high school boy who can sleep anytime and anywhere.
The above-mentioned slice-of-life anime dramas like Lucky Star, Eiga K-on, and Fruits Basket depict daily life’s practicality. However, some other series have also put forward the emotions of the difficulties of being a single mother or an orphan in daily life. Slice of Life anime has always helped the audience taste bitter but the truth of life.
39. New Game!
- Director: Yoshiyuki Fujiwara
- Writers: Fumihiko Shimo
- Stars: Ayumi Takeo as Yun Iijima, Megumi Yamaguchi as Hifumi Takimoto, Yūki Takada as Aoba Suzukaze, Megumi Toda as Hajime Shinoda, Madoka Asahina as Nene Sakura, Chitose Morinaga as Umiko Ahagon, Carli Mosier as Shizuku Hazuki, Colleen Clinkenbeard as Moon Ranger
- IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
- MyAnimeList: 7.6/10
- Platform: Crunchyroll
This slice-of-life anime depicts how Aoba Suzukaze fell in love with her co-worker. After school completion, Aoba Suzukaze attended a video game company for a job. Gets a job as a video game character designer. However, she turned her professional relationship into a personal one when she fell for her co-worker. This happened during the creation question of the second season of the video game.
38. Shirobako
- Director: Tsutomu Mizushima
- Writers: Michiko Yokote
- Stars: Juri Kimura as Aoi Miyamori, Haruka Yoshimura as Ema Yasuhara, Haruka Chisuga as Shizuka Sakaki, Asami Takano as Misa Toudou, Alyssa Marek as Aoi Miyamori, Ai Kayano as Rinko Ogasawara, Ikumi Hayama as Andou Tsubaki, Mai Nakahara as Yuka Okitsu
- IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
- Platform: Netflix
This series is about how a group of friends went to Tokyo and got a job in the animation industry.
37. Hanasaku Iroha: Blossoms for Tomorrow
- Director: Masahiro Andō
- Writers: Mari Okada
- Stars: Kanae Itō as Ohana Matsumae, Chiaki Omigawa as Minko Tsurugi, Junichi Suwabe as Tarō Jirōmaru, Haruka Tomatsu as Yuina Wakura, Yuki Kaji as Kōichi Tanemura, Takako Honda as Satsuki Matsumae, Kenji Hamada as Enishi Shijima
- IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
- MyAnimeList: 7.9/10
- Platform: Crunchyroll
This slice-of-life anime drama is about Matsumae Ohana, a 16-year-old student. However, due to some unavoidable circumstances, she and her mother had to shift to Tokyo. As a result, they had to live with Matsume’s estranged maternal grandmother named, Shijima Sui.
36. Daily Lives of High School Boys
- Director: Shinji Takamatsu and Ai Yoshimura
- Writers: Shinji Takamatsu
- Stars: Tomokazu Sugita as Hidenori, Kenichi Suzumura as Yoshitake, Miyu Irino as Tadakuni, Junko Minagawa, Risa Hayamizu, Ami Koshimizu, Yukana Habara, Chiwa Saitō as Ikushima, Daisuke Namikawa as Motoharu, Chiwa Saitō as Ikushima
- IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
- MyAnimeList: 8.2/10
- Platform: Netflix
This anime show is based on the daily life events of three school friends named Tadakuni, Hidenori Tabata, and Yoshitake. However, the story depicts their various interactions and dealing with different students who belong to different age groups.
35. Barakamon
- Director: Masaki Tachibana
- Writers: Pierre Sugiura
- Stars: Suzuko Hara as Naru Kotoishi, Nozomi Furuki as Miwa Yamamura, Daisuke Ono as Seishu Handa, Rumi Ōkubo as Tamako Arai, Kōki Uchiyama, Megumi Han as Akihiko Arai, Hiroshi Ito as Kousaku Kotoishi, Fumihiko Tachiki as Vice Principal, Seiya Kimura as Kentaro Ohama
- IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
- MyAnimeList: 8.4/10
- Platform: Funimation and Crunchyroll
This anime adaptation is based on the lifestyle of calligraphy named Seishu Handa. The entire drama was about his interaction with the village people when he shifted to the remote Goto Islands off the western coast of Kyushu.
34. The Pet Girl of Sakurasou
- Director: Atsuko Ishizuka
- Writers: Mari Okada
- Stars: Mari Nakatsu as Nanami Aoyama, Ai Kayano as Mashiro Shinna, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka as Sorata Kanda, Natsumi Takamori as Misaki Kamiigusa, Takahiro Sakurai as Jin Mitaka, Megumi Toyoguchi as Chihiro Sengoku, Yui Horie as Ryuunosuke Akasaka, Yui Ogura as Yuuko Kanda
- IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
- MyAnimeList: 8.1/10
- Platform: Netflix
Sorata Kanda moves into Sakura Dormitory after being kicked out from his residing place to keep a stray cat. However, he was forced to be a famous artist’s caretaker named Mashiro Shiina without any reason.
33. ReLIFE
- Director: Satoru Kosaka
- Writers: Michiko Yokote and Kazuho Hyōdō
- Stars: Alexis Tipton as Rena Kariu, Blake Shepard as Kazuomi Oga, Jeannie Tirado as Chizuru Hishiro, Josh Grelle as Ryo Yoake, Kristen McGuire as An Onoya, Micah Solusod as Arata Kaizaki
- IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
- Platform: Crunchyroll
This slice-of-life anime has a scientific background. Arata Kaizaki, the main protagonist, was offered to resume his life as a 10 years younger high school student. However, his problems and difficulties in life pushed him to take this offering to a research center named “ReLIFE.” He took some medicine to look young and accompany high school along with all these.
32. Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku
- Director: Yoshimasa Hiraike
- Writers: Yoshimasa Hiraike
- Stars: Arisa Date as Narumi Momose, Kento Ito as Hirotaka Nifuji, Miyuki Sawashiro as Hanako Koyanagi, Tomokazu Sugita as Taro Kabakura
- IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
- MyAnimeList: 8/10
- Platform: Amazon Prime Video
This series is about Momose Narumi, a 26-year-old who admires a yaoi fangirl geek. To set her irreplaceable image of a beautiful and perfect lady, yaoi fangirl ge had changed her job. However, she got into trouble when she met her middle school friend, who knew all her secrets named Nifuji Hirotaka.
31. Tamako Market
- Director: Naoko Yamada
- Writers: Reiko Yoshida
- Stars: Aya Suzaki as Tamako Kitashirakawa, Juri Nagatsuma as Kanna Makino, Takumi Yamazaki as Dera Mochimazzwi, Yūki Kaneko as Midori Tokiwa, Yuri Yamaoka as Choi Mochimazzwi, Yurie Yamashita as Shiori Asagiri, Junko Iwao as Sayuri Yumoto
- IMDb Rating: 7/10
- MyAnimeList: 7.4/10
- Platform: Crunchyroll
The story of the anime drama is about a girl and a talking bird. Tamako Kitashirakawa, the series’s main protagonist, owns the Tama-ya mochi shop in the Usagiyama Shopping District. However, one day she got the opportunity to have a conversation with a strange raking bird digging through for a spouse for his country’s prince.
30. Natsume’s Book of Friends
- Director: Takahiro Omori and Kotomi Deai
- Writers: Kenichi Kanemaki and Sadayuki Murai
- Stars: Kazuhiko Inoue as Madara, Akira Ishida as Shuuichi Natori, Miyuki Sawashiro as Jun Sasada, Hiroshi Kamiya as Takashi Natsume, Miki Itō as Touko Fujiwara, Sanae Kobayashi as Reiko Natsume
- IMDb Rating: 5.4/10
- MyAnimeList: 8.3/10
- Platform: Netflix and Crunchyroll
Natsume Takashi, a 15-year-old orphan boy, is the prominent identity of this slice-of-a-life anime show. He can see supernatural creatures or spirits known as “youkai.” However, he received his power from his grandmother, who is no more. Along with the power, he also received the “Book of Friends,” which has pacts.
29. Silver Spoon
- Director: Tomohiko Itō and Kotomi Deai
- Writers: Taku Kishimoto
- Stars: Ryōhei Kimura as Yuugo Hachiken, Toru Sakurai as Ichiro Komaba, Marie Miyake as Aki Mikage, Kengo Takanashi, Nobuyuki Kobushi, Ayahi Takagaki as Tamako Inada, Nobunaga Shimazaki as Shinnosuke Aikawa
- IMDb Rating: 8/10
- MyAnimeList: 8.1/10
- Platform: Netflix and Crunchyroll
This slice of Life drama interprets how Yugo Hachiken enrolled on Yezo to be apart from his strict father.
28. Sakura Trick
- Director: Kenichi Ishikura
- Writers: Kenichi Ishikura
- Stars: Yūka Aisaka as Kotone Noda, Megumi Toda as Iizuka Yuzu, Saki Fujita as Mitsuki Sonoda, Hiromi Igarashi as Shizuku Minami, Haruka Tomatsu as Haruka Takayama, Momo Asakura as Otokawa Sumi
- IMDb Rating: 6.6/10
- MyAnimeList: 7/10
- Platform: Crunchyroll
Before attaching, in this drama, two best friends, Haruka Takayama and Yuu Sonoda, kiss in secret to not feel like estranged childhood friends.
27. I Can’t Understand What My Husband Is Saying
- Director: Shinpei Nagai
- Writers: Shinpei Nagai
- Stars: Mayotama as Sayaka Horino, Kaoru Tsunashi as Yukari Tamura, Hajime Tsunashi as Kenichi Suzumura, Rino Juse as Rie Kugimiya, Youta Tsunashi as Sayaka Horino, Nozomu Juse as Toshiyuki Sakai
- IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
- MyAnimeList: 7.3/10
- Platform: Crunchyroll
This slice of life anime is about a lady passionate about her job and own life named Kaoru. She leads her life with her introverted husband. As the story proceeds, it shows the contrast and settlement between them.
26. Mitsuboshi Colors
- Director: Tomoyuki Kawamura
- Writers: Shōgo Yasukawa
- Stars: Yûki Takada, Marika Kôno, Natsumi Hioka, Monica Rial, Luci Christian.
- IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
- MyAnimeList: 7.4/10
- Platform: Amazon Prime Video
This anime tells about three middle school girls who formed an organization named “Colors” to stabilize the peace and happiness in the town.
25. Genshiken
- Director: Takashi Ikehata
- Writers: Michiko Yokote
- Stars: Takanori Ōyama as Kanji Sasahara, Ayako Kawasumi as Kanako Ohno, Satsuki Yukino as Saki Kasukabe, Nobuyuki Hiyama as Harunobu Madarame, Mitsuki Saiga as Makoto Kosaka
- IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
- MyAnimeList: 7.6/10
- Platform: Crunchyroll
This drama has been adapted from the manga series and depicts the lifestyle of the members of a college club.
24. Poco’s Udon World
- Director: Seiki Takuno
- Writers: Natsuko Takahashi
- Stars: Shiho Kokido as Poco, Yuichi Nakamura as Sōta Tawara, Mai Nakahara as Rinko Oishi, Yūko Minaguchi as Mai Manabe, Hiroshi Naka, Akiko Kimura
- IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
- MyAnimeList: 8/10
- Platform: Crunchyroll
When Souta returns to his hometown after his father passed away he says a weird child with two ears and a tail is reclining in his family-owned shop.
23. Azumanga Daioh
- Director: Hiroshi Nishikiori
- Writers: Ichirō Ōkouchi
- Stars: Tomoko Kaneda as Chiyo Mihama, Akiko Hiramatsu as Yukari Tanizaki, Yuu Asakawa as Sakaki, Yuki Matsuoka as Ayumu Kasuga, Houko Kuwashima as Kagura, Chieko Higuchi as Tomo Takino
- IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
- MyAnimeList: 8/10
- Platform: Hulu
This slice of life demonstrates the relation and several spectacles of six high school girls and two of their teachers.
22. This Art Club Has a Problem!
- Director: Kei Oikawa
- Writers: Naruhisa Arakawa
- Stars: Ari Ozawa as Mizuki Usami, Kentaro Tone as President, Chiaki Shimogama as Sayaka Honda, Yūsuke Kobayashi as Subaru Uchimaki, Sumire Uesaka as Colette, Nana Mizuki as Yumeko Tachibana
- IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
- MyAnimeList: 7.2/10
- Platform: Crunchyroll
This drama is about a talented and enthusiastic member of an artistic club named Mizuki. However, she tries to organise art activities with her lazy and two-faced group members.
21. Restaurant to Another World
- Director: Masato Jinbo
- Writers: Masato Jinbo
- Stars: Sumire Uesaka, Jun’ichi Suwabe
- IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
- MyAnimeList: 7.4/10
- Platform: Crunchyroll
This anime show represents a different type of connection of people around the world. The drama has been established by a Nekoya, a Western-style restaurant that pertains with another realm once a week. However, this restaurant helps interact with people from all classes, from warriors to beasts and dragons.
20. My Ordinary Life
- Director: Tatsuya Ishihara
- Writers: Jukki Hanada
- Stars: Yuko Minaguchi, Mami Kosuge, Kota Yamaguchi, Kaori Sadohara, Yumi Higuchi, Yoko Tamaoki, Takahiro Hikami, Ai Hirosaka, Ryota Yoshizaki, Motoko Kobayashi, Hirokazu Hiramatsu, Kazutomi Yamamoto, Chika Horikawa, Minoru Shiraishi, Shizuka Furuya, Hiromi Konno, Misuzu Togashi
- IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
- MyAnimeList: 8.5/10
- Platform: Netflix
This slice of life anime series is based on the daily life events of high school girls Mio Naganohara, Yuuko Aioi, and Mai Minakami. However, the childhood memories of these cute girls overlap and get tangled with Hakase Shinonome, her robot caretaker Nano, and their talking cat Sakamoto’s story.
19. Aria the Animation
- Director: Kazuyoshi Fuseki and Junichi Sato
- Writers: Junichi Sato
- Stars: Erino Hazuki, Chiwa Saitô, Ryô Hirohashi, Chinami Nishimura
- IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
- MyAnimeList: 7.7/10
- Platform: Crunchyroll
The entire string of this drama is set in the 24th-century background, which introduces to the audience how Aqua trains a young woman named Akari Mizunashi to be an apprentice gondolier.
18. Hinamatsuri
- Director: Kei Oikawa
- Writers: Keiichirō Ōchi
- Stars: Yoshiki Nakajima, Takako Tanaka, Kaede Hondo, Yôko Hikasa, Kengo Kawanishi, Kenji Nojima
- IMDb Rating: 8/10
- MyAnimeList: 8.2/10
- Platform: Netflix
This slice of life anime show portrays how Hina, a strange young woman, changed Nitta’s life with incredible stuff.
17. Laid-Back Camp
- Director: Yoshiaki Kyōgoku
- Writers: Jin Tanaka
- Stars: Yumiri Hanamori as Nadeshiko Kagamihara, Nao Tōyama as Rin Shima, Sayuri Hara as Chiaki Oogaki, Aki Toyosaki as Aoi Inuyama, Rie Takahashi as Ena Saito
- IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
- Platform: Crunchyroll
This great anime adaptation shows how Nadeshiko Kagamihara took shelter at a camp of Rin Shima when he was leading up to Mount Fuji.
16. Time of Eve
- Director: Yasuhiro Yoshiura
- Writers: Yasuhiro Yoshiura
- Stars: Miyuki Sawashiro as Chie, Stephanie Sheh as Nagi, Jun Fukuyama as Rikuo Sakisaka, Kenji Nojima as Masakazu Masaki, Rie Tanaka as Sammy, Miki Itō as Rina
- IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
- MyAnimeList: 8/10
- Platform: Crunchyroll
This slice of life anime depicts how an electronic gadget becomes a social problem. People using androids suddenly noticed a problem in their androids which was overseeing them to a strange cafe.
15. YuruYuri: Happy Go Lily
- Director: Masahiko Ohta
- Writers: Takashi Aoshima
- Stars: Rumi Okubo, Shiori Mikami, Minami Tsuda, Aki Toyosaki, Saki Fujita, Emiri Kato, Yuka Otsubo, Momo Kuraguchi
- IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
- MyAnimeList: 7.5/10
- Platform: Crunchyroll
The wholesome story of this anime is about four cute girls who spend their leisure time drinking tea and sneaking about everyone.
14. My Little Monster
- Director: Hiro Kaburaki
- Writers: Noboru Takagi
- Stars: Tatsuhisa Suzuki as Haru Yoshida, Haruka Tomatsu as Shizuku Mizutani, Atsumi Tanezaki as Asako Natsume, Tomoyuki Higuchi as Mitsuyoshi Misawa, Takuma Terashima as Kenji Yamaguchi, Yuichi Nakamura as Yoshida Yuuzan
- IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
- MyAnimeList: 7.5/10
- Platform: Netflix
My Little Monster is such a slice of life series that has shown how some unexpected cute things between two opposite people turn into a love story. This love story begins with a startling bond between Shizuku and Haru and their efforts to proceed with their relationship like humans.
13. Gabriel DropOut
- Director: Masahiko Ohta
- Writers: Takashi Aoshima
- Stars: Miyu Tomita as Gabriel, Kana Hanazawa as Raphiel, Saori Ōnishi as Vignette, Mai Fuchigami as Machiko, Miyuki Sawashiro as Zelel White Tenma, Inori Minase as Tapris Sugarbell Chisaki
- IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
- MyAnimeList: 7.5/10
- Platform: Crunchyroll
This slice of life anime drama shows how an angel gets addicted to online gaming.
12. Interviews with Monster Girls
- Director: Ryō Andō
- Writers: Takao Yoshioka
- Stars: Minami Shinoda as Kyouko Machi, Kaede Hondo as Hikari Takanashi, Shiina Natsukawa as Yuki Kusakabe, Junichi Suwabe
- IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
- MyAnimeList: 7.6/10
- Platform: Crunchyroll
The main characters of this slice of life anime drama are demi-humans, who are known as “demis”. In the whole drama, the identities try to set their image into the human society.
11. Fruits Basket
- Director: Akitaro Daichi
- Writers: Higuchi Tachibana
- Stars: Jerry Jewell as Kyo Soma, Manaka Iwami as Tohru Honda, Nobunaga Shimazaki as Yuki Sohma, Gakuto Kajiwara, Makoto Furukawa, Megumi Han
- IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
- Platform: Netflix
The drama Fruits Basket revolves around an orphan girl named Tohru Honda. However, her life changes when she meets Yuki, Kyo, and Shigure Sohma. From them, she learned how family members are possessed by the Chinese zodiac animals and transformed into animals when they are weak or stressed.
10. Grand Blue
- Director: Shinji Takamatsu
- Writers: Shinji Takamatsu and Kenji Inoue
- Stars: Yūma Uchida as Iori Kitahara, Ryōhei Kimura as Kohei Imamura, Chika Anzai as Chisa Kotegawa, Hiroki Yasumoto as Shinji Tokita, Katsuyuki Konishi as Ryujiro Kotobuki
- IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
- MyAnimeList: 8.4/10
- Platform: Amazon Prime Videos
Iori Kitahara, a college student, is the main character of this slice of life anime drama. The story proceeds with a lot of antagonistic decisions, but it ends when Lori joins the college’s diving club.
9. Space Brothers
- Director: Ayumu Watanabe
- Writers: Makoto Uezu and Yoichi Kato
- Stars: Masayuki Kato as Kenichi, Yūko Sanpei as Hibito Nanba, Masako Ikeda as Sharon Kaneko, Takanori Hoshino as Reiji Nitta, Hiroaki Hirata as Mutta Nanba, Shintarō Asanuma as Yamato Mizoguchi
- IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
- MyAnimeList: 8.5/10
- Platform: Crunchyroll and Hulu
Space Brothers is a sci-fi slice of life anime drama that illustrates the dream of two brothers to become astronauts. However, after many series of events in life, the younger brother was only able to achieve his dream.
8. Wolf Children
- Director: Mamoru Hosoda
- Writers: Mamoru Hosoda
- Stars: Colleen Clinkenbeard as Hana, Lara Woodhull, Micah Solusod, Haru Kuroki as Yuki, Aoi Miyazaki as Hana, Takao Osawa as Wolf Man, Yukito Nishii as Ame
- IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
- MyAnimeList: 8.6/10
- Platform: Netflix
This slice of life movie is about Hana and her struggle to raise her children after her husband’s death. The film shows Hana’s courage to handle the difficulties she used to face in her daily life with a silent voice.
7. Little Witch Academia
- Director: Yoh Yoshinari
- Writers: Michiru Shimada
- Stars: Michiyo Murase as Sushy, Megumi Han as Akko, Madoka Asahina as Avery, Rie Murakawa as Constanze, Noriko Hidaka as Professor Ursula, Arisa Shida as Amanda, Fumiko Orikasa as Lotte
- IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
- MyAnimeList: 7.8/10
- Platform: Netflix
The realistic presentation by the makers of this slice of life anime show has a huge fan following. The anime’s story revolves around a young girl Akko Kagari who Shiny Chariot, a magician, has inspired. To be like Shiny Chariot, she took admission to the Luna Nova Academy for witches. However, her new friends and upbeat personality helped her get out of her disastrous life.
6. Eiga K-On!
- Director: Naoko Yamada
- Writers: Reiko Yoshida
- Stars: Christine Marie Cabanos as Azusa Nakano, Aki Toyosaki as Yui Hirasawa, Satomi Satō as Ritsu Tainaka, Yōko Hikasa as Mio Akiyama, Amanda Céline Miller as Nobuyo Nakajima, Minako Kotobuki as Tsumugi Kotobuki, Ayana Taketatsu as Azusa Nakano
- IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
- MyAnimeList: 8.3/10
- Platform: Peacock
Eiga K-On! is such a slice-of-life anime drama that depicts the unity of the four main characters of the light music club from the high school student group. They all move together to London to compose their farewell song. However, Kyoto animation has worked in the animation department of the drama.
5. Flying Witch
- Director: Katsushi Sakurabi
- Writers: Deko Akao
- Stars: Adam Gibbs as Kei Kuramoto, Juliet Simmons as Chinatsu Kuramoto, Stephanie Wittels as Makoto Kowata, Alexandra Bedford, Chaney Moore, Chelsea McCurdy, Christina Kelly, Joanne Bonasso, Kira Vincent-Davis, Kyle Jones, Tiffany Grant
- IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
- MyAnimeList: 7.5/10
- Platform: Crunchyroll
The main character of this drama, the flying witch, is Makoto, a young witch who wants to learn tricks. So to live with her relatives, she shifted to Hirosaki, Aomori. However, her training ends with knowing some unwanted customs of peculiarities of witchcraft.
4. Bunny Drop (usagi drop)
- Director: Kanta Kamei
- Writers: Taku Kishimoto
- Stars: Ayu Matsuura as Rin Kaga, Noa Sakai as Koki Nitani, Hiroshi Tsuchida as Daikichi Kawachi, Sayaka Ohara as Yukari Nitani, Mayu Iino as Sayaka, Maaya Sakamoto as Masako Yoshii, Atsuko Mine as Sachiko Kawachi
- IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
- MyAnimeList: 8.4/10
- Platform: Netflix, Amazon Prime Videos, Crunchyroll
Usagi Drop is a slice-of-life anime drama that proceeds with an emotional journey of a 30-year-old Daikichi Kawachi, who gets some astonishing relations when he returns home for his grandfather’s funeral. However, he was not prepared for his grandfather’s other six-year-old daughter named Rin Kaga an unknown mother treated by relatives as a castoff.
3. My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU
- Director: Ai Yoshimura
- Writers: Shōtarō Suga
- Stars: Adam Gibbs as Hachiman Hikigaya, Catherine Marie Thomas as Yui Yuigahama, Melissa Molano as Yukino Yukinoshita
- IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
- MyAnimeList: 8/10
- Platform: Amazon Prime Videos, Crunchyroll, Hulu
The central manga artist who has come out as the main character of this slice of life anime tale is Hikigaya Hachiman. She is an antisocial person who does not like to get involved with her surroundings. However, her everyday life changed when her teacher forced her to join a “Volunteer Service Club.”
2. Lucky Star
- Director: Yutaka Yamamoto and Yasuhiro Takemoto
- Writers: Touko Machida
- Stars: Aya Hirano as Konata Izumi, Kaori Fukuhara as Tsukasa Hiragi, Sam Riegel as Minoru Shiraishi, Aya Endo as Miyuki Takara, Michelle Ruff as Tsukasa Hiiragi, Hiromi Konno as Akira Kogami, Lex Lang, Stephanie Sheh as Akira Kogami
- IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
- MyAnimeList: 7.7/10
- Platform: Netflix, Funimation, Crunchyroll
Lucky Star is a perfect example of a slice of life anime series as it follows the lifestyle of some high school girls with perfect animation essence by Kyoto animation. This anime series shows the funny moments and events of the everyday lives of four girls named Konata Izumi, Tsukasa, Kagami, and Miyuki Takara, who are from the same school.
1. Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid
- Director: Yasuhiro Takemoto
- Writers: Yuka Yamada
- Stars: Kobayashi as Mutsumi Tamura as Kobayashi, Kuwahara as Tohru, Maria Naganawa Kanna Kamui, Yūki Takada as Elma, Minami Takahashi as Lucoa, Daisuke Ono as Fafnir, Tomomi Mineuchi as Ilulu
- IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
- MyAnimeList: 8/10
- Platform: Netflix, Amazon Prime Videos
The first episode of this slice of life anime show, Miss Kobayashi’s dragon maid, is all about a kindhearted girl named Kyobashi who got her employment as a maid dragon which turned up as a hectic schedule of her ordinary life. This anime adaptation depicts this young girl’s journey and her life events.
Anime series like Dragon Ball and others are typically fantasy-based and do not relate to the real world. These shows have helped the fans explore Japanese culture and community very closely. However, it helps to get from the spirit world and face genuine life troubles and circumstances. Hopefully, the anime mentioned above will help the spectators come out of the fantasy world and visualize reality to explore life and belongings. Setting a lifestyle in a fundamental nature to grow solely is the main motive of the slice of life anime dramas.
Is A Slice Of Life And Romance The Same?
Slice of life has different kinds of divisions like romance and comedy, but no one can specifically define it as a romantic tale. As this kind of anime drama focuses more on narrative characters and their situation, it’s better not to consider a slice of life drama as a romantic one.