The slice-of-life genre has given us some of the best series in the anime platform. Yes, most of the time slice-of-life anime is pretty tame with no action whatsoever, but that's what makes the slice-of-life genre shine. The whole experience of watching anime characters doing everyday things, like not blasting planets to smithereens, gives an odd sense of satisfaction.
Slice-of-life anime is amazing, and that's unarguable. But the relevance of specific shows differs from a certain audience to another. While some anime might be big hits in the West, they might not be as big in Japan. Here's a countdown to the top five slice-of-life anime in the West, and the top five in Japan.
10 Japan: Natsume Yuujinchou
Meet Takashi Natsume, a 15-year-old teenager with the ability to see youkai and spirits. The ability would've been an awesome one if a whole bunch of these youkai weren't constantly trying to hurt him. Natsume Yuujinchou is an amazing show that is not just famous in Japan, it's also well-received by anime fans in the west.
9 West: Chuunibyou Demo Koi Ga Shitai!
Yuuta Togashi has been living a fairly normal life until he met Rika. Naturally he continued to live a normal life, but with an additional oddball of a friend. The thing about Rika is that she is a Chuunibyou or a victim of the infamous 'eighth-grade syndrome'. Along with the series' run, we get to follow Yuuta and Rika slowly evolving their friendship, from fellow chuunibyous in arms to lovers.
8 Japan: Haruhi Suzumiya
Kyon is your everyday high school student, living your everyday high school life, that is until Haruhi barged into the picture. Together they form a quirky supernatural school club to satisfy Haruhi's supernatural cravings.This anime features one of the biggest plot twists in anime, which of course doesn't make it any less interesting.
7 West: Yahari Ore No Seishun Love Comedy Wa Machigatteiru
Hachiman Hikigaya is sent to the volunteer services club as a punishment for writing a sarcastic essay about modern social relationships, and at this point you already realize that Hachiman has no friends.
The plot centers on the members of the volunteer services club and their back and forth bickering. A lot of teenagers in the west find themselves intellectually stimulated by this anime, which is why it's such a big hit.
6 Japan: Free!
Free! is a sport-oriented anime that follows the story of Haruka Nanase and the Iwatobi high school swimming club that he formed with his two friends. Because the sports genre isn't really one of the most preferred anime genres in the west, this anime didn't get the attention it deserves. If one could bypass the sports genre barrier, then they would have an amazing anime to watch.
5 West: Mob Psycho 100
Shigeo "Mob" Kageyama is an eighth-grader who somehow came to develop psychic powers at a young age. and when I say psychic, I don't mean twisting a spoon kind of psychic, I mean flying, seeing all kinds of ghosts and blasting buildings to dust kind of psychic. Naturally these powers were too much for a grade-schooler, and as a countermeasure Mob seeks the help of Arataka Reigen's, a self-proclaimed pro psychic. Which was a bad decision on Mob’s part considering the fact that Arataka is just a con artist.
Mob Psycho 100 is a wild anime unlike most of its slice of life genre counterparts. The show features multiple fight scenes and a considerable amount of action.
4 Japan: Hyouka
Houtarou Oreki ends up joining his school's classic club after constant pestering from his sister. Little did he know that he would be pulled in a 45-year-old mystery whirlpool concerning the classics club. But being the lazy soul he is, Houtarou begrudgingly joins in the investigation after even more constant pestering.
Hyouka is a mystery-themed show. And like the sports genre, the mystery genre is more well-received in Japan than it is in the west.
3 West: Anohana
Anohana is a slice of life/ supernatural anime. It's an anime with high ratings from both fans and critics. Estranged friends start reconnecting after the ghost of their deceased friend, Menma, shows up to the main protagonist of the story, Jinta.
Anohana is considered to be one of the most emotionally draining anime out there. At one point in the series, you are guaranteed to have a good crying session.
2 Japan: Clannad: After Story
The first season of the series, Clannad, is in the harem genre and is well tame compared to the sequel. Clannad: After Story however, is ironically the bulk of the story that everyone loves.
The story of Clannad is both heartwarming and heart-wrenching. It's an emotional rollercoaster, that even though straining, is a fun ride nonetheless. Clannad is not only famous in Japan, but it's also famous in the west.
1 West: Toradora
Toradora is an anime about two high schoolers with conflicting personalities. A cute Loli that is unexpectedly violent. And a Delinquent-looking yet kind teenager. The plot revolves around these two characters and them connecting with each other, and their families and friends.
The two of them only befriend each other to come in more contact with their own respective crushes, but as the series progresses so does their relationship.