Slice-of-life is an incredibly diverse genre that’s perfect for anime fans, regardless of what kind of mood they’re in. While there are many series that are light-hearted and comedic, there’s also plenty of drama or even horror-filled slice-of-life anime.
With hundreds of anime out there for fans to consume, some fall through the cracks. Even anime with great stories and tons of good reviews can get almost no attention because they aren’t mainstream enough. For fans looking for some hidden gems in the slice-of-life genre, these are the best of the best.
10 Mushishi Is A Complex Tail About Folklore
Mushishi is a mostly episodic series that follows Ginko, who studies the various strange happenings caused by the creatures known as Mushi. These beings aren’t simply demons or ghosts, but beings that exist without a goal or purpose.
This series does an amazing job at portraying all types of folklore in a simple and beautiful way. Nothing overly exciting happens, but even this quiet seinen series manages to be interesting all the way through.
9 Wolf Children Is A Werewolf Movie That’s Not Just About Werewolves
Wolf Children is a story that manages to be dramatic, comedic, and lighthearted all at once. It follows Hana, who’s left to raise her children on her own after the sudden death of her lover. Raising kids by herself would be hard enough, but her kids happen to be werewolves.
This often leaves Hana wondering if she should be raising her children as wolves or people. The story is handled amazingly and the animation is top notch. It’s no wonder people tend to assume that Wolf Children is a Ghibli film.
8 Josee, The Tiger And The Fish Is A Sweet Tale About Adventure
Josee, the Tiger and the Fish is a sweet anime about relationships and fulfilling one’s dreams. It follows Tsuneo, a university student who is working several jobs so he can earn some money to make his dream come true. During a random encounter, he meets Kumiko, who prefers to be called Josee.
The characters’ relationship with each other and their growth over the film is incredibly well handled. On top of that, the animation and the music is stellar, making this film an amazing experience overall.
7 Barakamon Is A Comedic Gem
Barakamon follows an aspiring calligrapher who ends up becoming exiled to a rural island after he attacks a critic for giving his artwork an unfavorable review. Removed from his cushy Tokyo lifestyle, Handa is forced to reflect on his art and figure out what inspires him.
With several colorful characters and a great setting, this series manages to make the daily life of a calligrapher fun and interesting. Not to mention, the comedy is spot on, and the character development is even better.
6 My Roommate Is A Cat Is Relatable For Humans And Cat Lovers
My Roommate is A Cat is an incredibly relatable series for both anime fans and cat owners. The artist Subaru is struggling to come up with his next story when he stumbles across a stray cat on his way home.
After bringing the cat, who he names Haru, home both of them learn what it means to trust and care for one another. This series has a lot of great character development, but it also handles loneliness and loss in an incredibly relatable way.
5 Ah! My Goddess Is A Timeless Classic
Ah! My Goddess is a cute little series that follows the daily life of a college engineering student. However, there is a twist. He’s been granted a wish by the goddess helpline. Belldandy is a first-class goddess who travels to Earth to grant wishes to humans.
After accidentally summoning Belldandy, Keiichi asks for Belldandy to stay with him forever. While the premise of the series is a little strange, this anime is incredibly fun and lighthearted. Belldandy and Keiichi have great chemistry, and the series is full of characters who fans can fall in love with.
4 Sweetness & Lightning Shows The Love Of Family And Food
Sweetness & Lightning is a simple story about a single father trying to raise his daughter with some unlikely help. After the death of his wife, Kohei is forced to raise his daughter, Tsumugi, all on his own. Making healthy lunches and balancing his work schedule is quite a challenge for him all on his own. That is until he comes across a restaurant owned by the family of his student.
Kohei and his student, Kotori, learn how to cook together, and at the same time, Kohei learns to be a better father. The anime is great at portraying the relationships between characters, especially the one between Kohei and Tsumugi. They don’t always see eye to eye, but they love each other, and that realistic relationship makes this anime a great watch.
3 Flying Witch Is A Break Away From Stress
Flying Witch is a show that’s great after a stressful day. The series may have magic and witches, but it’s not an action series. It focuses on the relationships between characters and how they navigate through a world full of magic. In this series, when a witch turns 15, they leave their home to study witchcraft.
Makoto chooses to move in with her cousins Chinatsu and Kei, and as she learns more about being a witch, she teaches them about being a witch as well. Flying Witch manages to be both relaxing and entertaining. With almost no drama at all, it seems like this series would be boring, but the characters keep fans coming back for more.
2 Kotaro Lives Alone Is Weird Fun
While it may seem strange for a four-year-old to live alone, it’s completely normal for Kotaro, who moves into an apartment next to Shin, a failing manga artist. Even though he’s only a small child, Kotaro is able to support himself.
In a strange twist, he is even more put together than his eccentric neighbors. The character designs and the story are a bit strange, but the characters are well written and relatable. It’s an incredibly funny series, and the connection between Kotaro and his neighbors is what fans love the most.
1 Natsume’s Book Of Friends Is A Story With Tons Of Depth
15-year-old Takashi constantly finds himself hounded by yokai. One day, he stumbles across his grandmother’s book, called the Book of Friends, and learns that the yokai who have been chasing him were captured by his grandmother before she died.
This series focuses on the bonds between humans and yokai, and the story of each spirit has a deep message attached to it. This series can be somewhat sad, but it’s also incredibly fulfilling.