Anime is made up of tons of different genres, giving fans everything from epic mech battles in space to everyday misadventures. Some of the most popular tend to incorporate elements of the latter in their narratives. Slice-of-life anime are easy to watch and can mix in various elements like comedy, drama and romance within their narratives. While typically not the longest anime, these titles never fail to amuse.
Like any genre, slice-of-life has tons of classic series that often get suggested to newcomers. This often causes some great titles to go underappreciated despite being just as good, if not better, than the more popular shows. While they might be somewhat under-the-radar, these slice-of-life anime are just as good as anything you’ll find in the genre.
Updated October 7, 2021 by Adriano Valente: Slice-of-life anime might not be as action-packed as Shounen titles or have the excitement of Isekai anime, but they’re still among the most enjoyed. These anime can take relatively mundane settings and concepts, and craft unique narratives filled with enjoyable characters who can win over the most finicky fan. The genre is so oversaturated with content, that plenty of great shows go overlooked as the years go by. Some titles are forgotten to time, while others never really got the recognition they deserved. Anime fans won’t regret watching these underrated slice-of-life anime.
15 Working!!
What really makes a slice-of-life anime stand out is how its cast plays off of each other. Working!! Boasts a sizable cast of characters, each possessing their own quirks that bring something to the table comedically.
Working!! Follows the daily lives of various people working at a family restaurant. Each cast member has their own unique circumstances which are explored throughout the series. It's a great show for viewers looking for some laughs but offers much more than that through its run.
14 Nichijou
There aren't many anime out there that can compete with Nichijou's brand of comedy. This zany slice-of-life anime boasts a dynamic ensemble cast, but mainly focuses on the misadventures of four schoolgirls, a child prodigy, and a talking cat.
This might as well be one of Kyoto Animation's best works. The art, music, and voice acting all come together in a way that makes Nichijou one of the most unique experiences in anime. The series is filled with memorable comedic moments and performances that will ensure it leaves an impression on all viewers.
13 Kokoro Connect
Kokoro Connect might not be as easygoing as other anime on this list, but it does make the most of its school setting and slice-of-life elements. The series follows a group of students who are suddenly given strange abilities and start experiencing various supernatural phenomena relating to one another.
As the show progresses, the group tries to figure out the cause behind their new powers, while also discovering more about each other's deepest secrets. Kokoro Connect has a stronger focus on drama and romance compared to other slice-of-life titles, which gives fans of the genre some a nice change of pace.
12 Daily Lives of High School Boys
Like Nichijou, Daily Lives of High School Boys features an ensemble cast while focusing on a core group of students to tell its story. The series follows the daily lives of Tadakuni, Hidenori, and Yoshitake alongside their fellow students and family members.
The anime isn't afraid to put its main characters in some awkward situations, and the show is at its best when playing off of their adolescent woes. This is a great show for fans of comedy anime who need something new to binge.
11 Seitokai Yakuindomo
Seitokai Yakuindomo's crude comedic style might not be for everyone, but the show is good at what it does. The series focuses on a formerly all-girls school that is converted to a co-ed institution. With a new student perspective to take account of, the members of the school's student council randomly recruit a male student named Takatoshi Tsuda to serve as vice president.
Tsuda must acclimate himself to his new school environment while juggling the bizarre student council members and their offbeat personalities. At its core, Seitokai Yakuindomo is a pure comedic experience with not much in terms of narrative. Still, it offers viewers tons of great comedic moments to indulge in.
10 Hinamatsuri
Mixing in elements of sci-fi with the typical shenanigans of most slice of life anime settings, Hinamatsuri is a unique series that makes good use of its absurd narrative and characters. The series follows Yoshifumi, a Yakuza who has his life turned upside-down when a young girl from the future drops into his living room.
The girl, Hina, possess extraordinary psychic powers and is adopted by Yoshifumi after she threatens to use her powers to break his furniture. The two have an interesting dynamic that makes for some great comedy, and Hina’s presence always invites some sort of absurdity into the show.
9 School Babysitters
Like most slice of life anime, School Babysitters makes use of a school setting. But it adds in its own unique twist to differentiate itself from the slew of other titles in the genre that do the same. The show focuses on two brothers, high school freshman Ryuichi and preschooler Kotaro, who after the deaths of their parents are adopted by the chairwoman of a reputable school.
This is done under the condition that the two attend the school, with the elder brother helping out with the school’s daycare while juggling his school life. School Babysitters really shines when focusing on Kotaro and the other babies throughout their various misadventures. Seeing how Ryuichi interacts with his brother and the rest of the babies make for some of the show’s most memorable moments.
8 March Comes In like a Lion
There aren’t that many anime out there that focus on shogi, but that’s not what March Comes Like a Lion stand out. The series follows Rei Kiriyama, a young shogi prodigy who moves out of his appositive family’s home to gain some independence and escape the various pressures facing him.
March Comes In Like a Lion focuses on Rei’s relationship with the three Kawamoto sisters, who dealing with past traumas of their own, establish a unique familial bond with him. The show manages to strike a unique balance between aspects of Rei’s life as a shogi player, and the dynamic between him and the three sisters.
7 School-Live!
School-Live! Might seem like your ordinary slice of life anime but there's much more to it than initially meets the eye. The character designs and setting give off a much lighter impression than what actually plays out.
The show focuses on a group of girls living inside their school alongside their teacher. The deceptively innocent veneer quickly shifts into a survival story when the audience learns that the girls are hiding out during a zombie apocalypse. School-Live! Is full of twists and tense moments, and its horror elements make it one of the most unique shows in its genre.
6 Tamako Market
One of the many great anime helmed by the talented Kyoto Animation, Tamako Market is the only show on this list not adapted from a manga or light novel. The series follows the titular Tamako, who one day encounters a talking bird claiming to be on the lookout for a potential bride for his country’s prince.
The bird ends up freeloading in Tamako’s home after engorging himself on mochi and becoming overweight, and Tamako goes through a variety of ordeals in the time after his arrival. The anime ran for 12 episodes followed by a movie that concluded its narrative.