The Slice Of Life genre anime show a slice of everyday life in Japan, they are usually calm and light-hearted. In this article, we will share a list of the best Slice of Life anime.
Generally, Westerners are not big fans of the Slice of Life genre, but many watch without even knowing that such anime falls into this genre. The main anime on this list are recommended for everyone. I'm sure they will like it.
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Table of Content
The Meaning of Slice of Life
Fatia da vida can be translated as slice of life. This phrase describes the use of mundane realism that represents everyday experiences in art and entertainment. It may seem just everyday, but it goes beyond that.
The term refers to a storytelling technique that presents an arbitrary sample in the character's life, which often lacks a coherent plot, conflict, or ending strategy, often ending in the open.
In anime and manga, it is often a teenage melodrama that shows a lot of emphasis on scenery, seasonality and procedures. Narratives often include groups excluded from society.
The anime shows a generally school environment, also featuring cafés, restaurants along with interpersonal relationships, family, romance and can even lead to fantasy and science fiction.
It is difficult to understand which anime fall into the Slice of Life genre, since practically every anime shows a piece of everyday life and lives with short dramatic and comic scenes throughout the work. Still, the viewer will know when an anime is just a slice of Life.
Slice of Life anime with other genres
Some deceive themselves and think that Slice of Life anime are just calm anime without any real emotion. In fact, the term Slice of Life can easily be used by some in shounen, shoujo, seinen, and school genre anime.
There are still those who cling to the root of the word Slice of Life and consider only the calm and light everyday moments. There are anime that can be considered as Slice of Life that are quite popular such as:
- Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu;
- Violet Evergarden;
- Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai
- Clannad;
- Toradora!;
- Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!
- Sakura-sou no Pet na Kanojo;
- Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru
- Hyouka;
- Kyoukai no Kanata;
- Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun
- K-On!
- ReLIFE
- I Don't Have Many Friends
- Kobayashi-san Chi no Maid Dragon
- Kokoro Connect
- Kimi ni Todoke
- Nichijou
- Pray no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai
- Mahoutsukai no yome
- Daily Lives of High School Boys
- Great Teacher Onizuka
- Lucky☆Star
- The reason I'm not popular is that no matter how I think about it, it’s your fault!
- Mob Psycho 100
- Ao Haru Ride
- Kotonoha no Niwa
- Barakamon
- Sakamoto Desu ga?
- Mushishi
- Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii
- Working!!
- 3-gatsu no Lion
- Saiki Kusuo no Ψ-nan
- Blend S
- Dagashi Kashi
- Chihayafuru
- Hinamatsuri
- Bokura wa Minna Kawai-sou
- Amagami SS
- Isshuukan Friends
- Gin no Saji
- Bakuman
- Shirobaku
- Barakamon
- Hanasaku Iroha;
- Usagi Drop;
- Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun
- Tanaka-kun is Always Listless;
- Non Non Biyori;
- Hanasaku Iroha;
- Natsume's Book of Friends;
The best Slice of Life Anime
Some were mentioned in the previous subtitle, but for some, they are not considered slice of life. I will start mentioning my favorites; I don't want to make a list of the 10 best, because that is somewhat of a personal opinion.
ReLIFE - My favorite novel
ReLife has a beautiful romance, but its story takes the high school anime genre to a different level with quite an interesting story. In it, a young man in his 30s ends up taking a pill to rejuvenate and study in high school.
An adult with no future who lives at home, unemployed and dissatisfied with life, one day receives an invitation to join this project called ReLife. The anime shows the daily life of an adult among young people at school.
Unfortunately, he cannot reveal to anyone that he is an adult. Soon he falls in love with a student, but unfortunately nothing can happen, as this test should last for only one year, after which all memories will be erased. and now?
Gin no Saji - Farm Anime
Yugo Hachiken dreams of a life apart from his family, so he enrolls in a farming school in Hokkaido. Raised as a city boy, he is forced to discover the inconvenient truth about farming life.
This anime was created by the famous author of FullMetal Alchemist, has a beautiful soundtrack, and the ending by my favorite band Goose House. It is an anime with a fun, cheerful atmosphere and full of comedy, recommended for everyone.
Bakuman - Anime about Mangakas
Bakuman is a famous anime from the same creator of Death Note, it tells the story of 2 friends who want to enter the world of manga, one as a scriptwriter and another as a designer. They discover that this world is not easy.
The main objective of the protagonist is to make his manga become an anime, as a promise to marry the girl he loves. The anime has 3 seasons of 25 episodes, it manages to hold despite its everyday theme.
Clannad - The saddest anime
It's hard to describe this comedy, slice of life, and romance anime with just a synopsis. It simply shows the relationship of a normal and unhappy boy with a fragile and cheerful girl. A very sad anime and emotional.
The anime fits perfectly into the slice of life genre because it portrays the lives of the protagonists for a long time, from school until after they graduate. The anime also shows the relationship with family and life outside of school.
Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu - Smoked Anime
Kyon, is a typical high school student, who refuses to believe in supernatural things. However, upon meeting Haruhi Suzumiya, he quickly discovers aliens, time travelers, people with powers among other things.
When Haruhi laments the lack of intriguing clubs at school, Kyon inspires Haruhi to form her own club. As a result, the SOS Brigade is formed, a club specializing in all things supernatural, where Kyon is forced to participate in it.
The franchise based on Light Novels also has a Spin-Off version focused on another character that is even more everyday. This other anime that I also recommend is called Nagato Yuki-chan no Shoushitsu.
Sakura Sou no Pet na Kanojo
Sorata Kanda, a sophomore, is forced to move into Suimei High School's Sakura Hall, a dormitory with eccentric and misfit residents who turn his life upside down. The anime explores the relationship of the residents in this dormitory.
We have characters full of energy, intelligent antisocials, a girl who doesn't understand the concept of shame, and other characters who connect through their skills, talents, hard work, romance and friendship.
Pray no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai
This anime is an example of love and hate, one of my favorites, but at the same time it causes a heartache. The anime depicts the daily life of a normal guy who gets involved with his 妹 Otaku and her friends.
The anime has two seasons and some controversial OVAs. The anime has a very unusual development with romance, a lot of comedy and a very fun view of the Otakus in Japan and how they are seen by society.
Hinamatsuri - My favorite comedy
This slice of life anime shows a powerful member of the Yakuza who adopts a girl with powers who appears out of nowhere in his house inside a capsule. The girl is very sly, spoiled and lazy and is called Hina.
As the story unfolds, various funny situations occur, including the arrival of new girls with powers. Without a doubt, it's one of my favorite comedy anime, which represents very well the daily life in Japan, even that of the moradores de rua.
Violet Evergarden - a beautiful animation
Violet Evergarden is one of the Slice of Life anime with the best animation ever produced. The scenery, characters, environment, sounds and colors are beautiful to fill your eyes with tears. The anime also has an exciting story.
Violet Evergarden tells the story of a girl who was used as a weapon of war, but then without knowing what to do with her life, ends up becoming a letter writer, getting to know a little of the world and some exciting situations that letters provide.
Kokoro Connect
This anime tells the story of a group of students who face bizarre situations that involve switching bodies with their classmates, some turning into babies and other strange situations that test the bond of friendship between them.
A very fun and exciting anime that doesn't hide behind clichés and a generic script like the vast majority. A kind of slice of life that grips from beginning to end through its exciting and curious story.
Slice of Life Honorable Mentions
Unfortunately I can't name all the popular slice of life anime, because I haven't watched many. In the previous list I only mentioned the ones I watched and liked. According to other rankings I found on the internet, the most popular ones not listed are:
- Mushishi;
- Barakamon;
- Natsume's Book of Friends;
- Usagi Drop;
- Toradora;
- Hanasaku Iroha;
- Non Non Biyori;
- Tanaka-kun is Always Listless;
- Himouto!
- Umaru-chan;
- Nichijou;
