There is something incredible about watching small, seemingly mundane moments from everyday life portrayed on the screen. With the recent trend of romanticizing one's life dominating social media discussions, slice-of-life anime's popularity is coming back. The best slice-of-life anime series and movies teach meaningful lessons to the audience.

Unlike sci-fi or action series, slice-of-life anime feel much more down-to-earth and relatable since the characters deal with the same things as the audience. Slice-of-life anime invites viewers to live in the present, enjoy simple pleasures, and form meaningful connections with other people. Slice-of-life anime is often blended with comedy, romance, and, occasionally, magic.

Updated on February 26th, 2024 by Chelsea Steele: Slice-of-life anime are among some of the most calming and poignant stories. They teach valuable lessons that pertain to real life, even if the show is full of magic. Though they are not flashy, what they lack in action they make up for in emotional maturity and beautiful animation. There is something to be said about the way slice-of-life anime make fans feel, and that is most of their charm. We've updated this list to meet CBR's current publication standards, adding even more info on some of anime's greatest slice-of-life titles.

25 Classroom Of The Elite Follows The Everyday Life Of A Unique Class Of Students

Classroom Of The Elite Rating Scores

Classroom of the Elite is a mysterious anime that follows the lives of students living in a specialized high school. The Advanced Nurturing High School makes for a unique school life, as everything students could ever want is offered on campus. The way the school gives out class points as currency is also interesting and serves as the main crux of the story.

Much like other anime, Classroom of the Elite characters shine in this high-stakes environment. The enigmatic Kiyotaka Ayanokoji is particularly entertaining, as there is always an air of mystery surrounding him. Classroom of the Elite throws a lot of seemingly impossible challenges before Class D, but Ayanokoji is always there, ready to counter.

24 Usagi Drop Is A Wholesome Story Of A Father-Daughter Duo

Usagi Drop Rating Scores

Usagi Drop is a touching story about two lonely people becoming a family. Daikichi Kawachi and Rin Kaga’s transition from strangers to having a father-daughter relationship is heartwarming. Daikichi’s struggles to become a good parent for Rin are especially moving.

Although Usagi Drop gets a bad rap for its manga’s ending, the anime chooses to exclude the controversial time skip to opt for a more wholesome conclusion. On its own, the Usagi Drop anime is a great slice-of-life story with a strong message about familial duty and parental love.

23 Masamune-Kun's Revenge Follows A Boy Out For Revenge Against His First Love

Masamune-Kun's Revenge Rating Scores

Masamune-kun’s Revenge is a hilarious anime about one boy’s vendetta against a girl who rejected him. Masamune Makabe’s fiendish plan to get Aki Adagaki to fall for him leads to many laugh-out-loud moments. Makabe and Adagaki’s dynamic only adds to the absurdity as their hate for each other ebbs.

Yet, the funniest part of Masamune-kun’s Revenge is Makabe, himself. His emotions turn on a dime, making for hilarious outbursts, and his inner monologue is full of sarcastic quips. Although some of the humor is outdated today, it is still an entertaining “will-they, won’t they” story that will have audiences hooked until the end.

22 The Devil Is A Part-Timer! Sees The Demon King Himself Banished To Earth

The Devil Is A Part-Timer! Rating Scores

The Devil is a Part-Timer is a quirky slice-of-life reverse isekai. When Satan is banished to Earth, he then resolves to live his life as normally as possible and gets a part-time job at the local MgRonalds. Seeing the ultimate leader of evil working a part-time job is surprisingly entertaining as the newly dubbed Sadao Maou does his best to be a great employee.

This anime is a hilarious tale about the mundanity of life on Earth — juxtaposed with the dark fantasy setting of Sadao and Emilia’s original world. The fact that Sadao is a competent employee makes this show even funnier considering what his life used to be like.

21 My Dress-Up Darling Centers Around An Unlikely Pair Of Friends Who Bond Over Their Passions

My Dress-Up Darling Rating Scores

My Dress-Up Darling was a hit in early 2022 due to its lovable main characters, Marin Kitagawa and Wakana Gojo. The dichotomy between Marin’s effervescent personality and Gojo’s reserved countenance makes My Dress-Up Darling a delight to watch. It is especially fun when Marin tries to get Gojo to update his traditional Japanese attire.

Additionally, the smooth, gorgeous animation highlights all of Marin’s intricate cosplays. The detail in each garment not only demonstrates Gojo’s skills but emphasizes the time and effort many real-world cosplayers put into their looks. Marin and Gojo’s blossoming relationship and the anime’s overall aesthetic make this one of the best slice-of-life anime.

20 Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku Is A Workplace Romance Between Two Awkward Otakus

Wotakoi Rating Scores

Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku is set in a workplace with an older cast, so it is perfect for fans who are tired of a high school setting. It is a romance anime at heart, but its comedic elements are where it hits home.

Narumi struggles to keep her obsession with games a secret, but Hirotaka doesn't judge her for her hobbies. He does not even understand why she keeps it a secret. The most prominent theme in this anime is juggling a work-life balance, so it is something to which many viewers can relate.

19 Ouran High School Host Club Follows The Antics Of An Eccentric Group Of Boys & Their Newest Club Member

Ouran High School Host Club Rating Scores

Ouran High School Host Club is one of the more outlandish slice-of-life anime, but it’s all the more beloved for it. The Host Club comprises unique, vivacious characters. Plus, Haruhi Fujioka shines as the mild-mannered protagonist who teaches the group that opulence is not always the way to a woman’s heart.

Ouran High School Host Club is considered one of the best Reverse-Harem anime not only for its characters but also for its many fourth-wall breaks. The show – especially its first season – is very aware of the Shojo tropes it portrays and takes every opportunity to hilariously exploit them. This anime is an easily lovable story that captures fans with its zany premise and the promise of romance.

18 Silver Spoon Centers Around The Joys Of Farmlife & The Countryside

Silver Spoon Rating Scores

Silver Spoon follows Yuugo Hachiken as he attends an agricultural high school in the country. Farm life proves to be a lot more difficult than he anticipated, but Hachiken is more than up to the task, giving this story its message about the importance and joys of hard work.

Hachiken does his best and ends up making great friends who teach him about the tough realities of farm life. The show does not hold its punches and is very blunt about what really happens in the livestock and agriculture industries. Silver Spoon is a matter-of-fact look into the agricultural community that also has a great story attached to it.

17 My Love Story!! Is One Of The Sweetest Romances Of All Time

My Love Story!! Rating Scores

Takeo Gouda has a heart made for love. Yet, love always seems to evade him. Thankfully, he finally discovers it when he meets Rinko Yamato. Their delightfully shy courtship and their love for each other is so genuine that audiences feel it palpably.

Their budding romance is a touching reminder of the power of young love as they fall more for each other in each episode. My Love Story!! is a different take on typical romance tropes, making this a must-watch for romance fans looking for something different.

16 Horimiya Tells A Classic "Opposites Attract" Story

Horimiya Rating Scores

Horimiya depicts what happens after the confession. Unlike other romance anime that only show the build-up and tension growing between two characters, Horimiya gets all the "will-they-won't-they" dynamics out of the way early on.

Miyamura and Hori seem like opposites to everyone else, but they keep each other's true selves a secret from the rest of the world. Above all else, they behave like an actual couple. Plus, Horimiya fleshes out the relationships between the side characters. For example, Ishikawa gets rejected by Hori but eventually starts dating Yuki.

15 Azumanga Daioh! Is An Iconic Slice-Of-Life Comedy From The 2000s

Azumanga Daioh! Rating Scores

Azumanga Daioh!, based on the comic strip-style manga of the same name, finds charm and beauty in the ordinary life of high schoolers. The main characters are a handful of eccentric girls who get part-time jobs, adopt pets, annoy each other on field trips, and more.

There is little drama and few real stakes, but that does not stop Azumanga Daioh! from serving as an accessible, timeless gateway anime series for anyone who is looking to get into Japanese animation. It also has a quirky and hilarious opening credits song.

14 Kimi Ni Todoke Tells The Wholesome Story Of Two High School Students

Kimi Ni Todoke Rating Scores

Sawako Kuronuma is a plain girl who is often teased about her looks. Fortunately, she finds a kindred spirit in Shouta Kazehaya, the most popular boy in class. Though they start slow, Sawako and Kazehaya's relationship seems to develop naturally - unlike a lot of slice-of-life romance anime.

Kimi ni Todoke is an adorable show that highlights young love and friendships in high school. Sawako is a completely endearing character, and Kazehaya’s attempts to get closer to her are humorous and sweet. Fans of romance anime and light-hearted shows will love Kimi ni Todoke.

13 Your Lie In April Is An Emotional Story Of Love & Music

Your Lie In April Rating Scores

Your Lie In April is a dramatic series notorious for pulling on the viewers' heartstrings, especially toward the end. Kosei Arima, the protagonist, is a musical prodigy who can no longer hear or appreciate his own music.

Kosei's troubled relationship with his mother soured his piano skills until he meets an upbeat girl named Kaori. Kaori helps Kosei fall back in love with music and makes it an important part of his life again. Though Kosei's personal journey is inspiring, Your Lie In April's sad ending reminds viewers never to take what they have for granted.

12 A Silent Voice Is An Emotional Story Of Forgiveness

A Silent Voice Rating Scores

A Silent Voice, based on the short manga series of the same name, packs a punch with its brilliant blend of drama and comedy. A Silent Voice is chock-full of meaningful lessons about forgiveness and redemption. It does a great job of delivering those themes in a profound way that draws the audience in deeper into the world of the film.

Shoya Ishida was a cruel bully in elementary school. Shoko, his deaf classmate, became the target of his harassment. However, now that they are teens, Shoya and Shoko reconcile and come to find more than friendship after forgiveness. This movie is a tragic look at the effects of bullying, but thankfully that is a happy ending.

11 Fruits Basket Is As Emotional As It Is Romantic

Fruits Basket Rating Scores

Fruits Basket is a tragic tale surrounding the transforming Sohma family. Each Zodiac member’s backstory is more heartrending than the last. Yet it is underscored by Tohru Honda’s kindness and the many budding romances throughout. This combination makes Fruits Basket one of the best sad romance anime.

Though there are many relationships highlighted in this show, the best one is between Tohru Honda and Kyo Sohma. They both help each other realize their own value and build one another up to regain confidence in themselves. This slice-of-life romance anime is so great because it uses the characters’ relationships to emphasize the importance of self-worth.

10 Clannad Follows Tomoya Okazaki As He Finds Meaning In His Life

Clannad Rating Scores

Clannad originally started as a visual novel and was later adapted into manga, audio dramas, anime series, and even a film. The show revolves around Tomoya Okazaki who frequently misses school and lacks any sense of purpose in life.

However, it all begins to change when Okazaki meets Nagisa and decides to help her and her four friends revive the school’s drama club. Soon enough, Okazaki is filled with renewed purpose and motivation. While the first season received decent reviews, the second season garnered critical acclaim, and to this day, it's considered one of anime's saddest stories.

9 Whisper Of The Heart Is A Heartwarming Tale Of Young Lovers

Whisper Of The Heart Rating Scores

Whisper Of The Heart focuses on the love story between bookworm Shizuku and Seiji, a violin-maker who also attends the same school. Filled with heartwarming and funny moments, there is also a story within a story.

Dreaming of being a writer one day, Shizuku writes a fantasy story featuring herself, a cat statuette called the “Baron,” and a cat she followed on the train. While the love story is nicely resolved at the end of the film, the cat story gets a sequel of sorts in the spin-off, The Cat Returns.

8 Blue Period Centers Around A Young Artist's Creative Journey

Blue Period Rating Scores

Blue Period follows Yatora, a teenage delinquent who has no idea what he wants to do after high school until he stumbles into the art club. He immediately falls in love with another classmate's painting and tries to create art that would evoke the same emotions from whoever looked at it. Yatora's initial drive, as well as the amazing art in this show, make it worth watching.

Even when Yatora becomes disillusioned in his work, the show perfectly encapsulates what many artists have felt at some point in their lives. Blue Period isn't necessarily for everybody, but it is a must-watch for creative people.

7 The Way Of The Househusband Follows The Everyday Adventures Of An Ex-Yakuza

The Way Of The Househusband Rating Scores

The Way Of The Househusband stars Tatsu, a former yakuza member with a fearsome reputation as the "Immortal Dragon." Tatsu leaves the life of crime behind to become a loyal househusband for his successful wife, Miku, who is a famous designer.

Despite Tatsu's best efforts, he cannot seem to distance himself from the yakuza fully. Sometimes he blends yakuza lingo into everyday activities like cooking. Other times, old yakuza enemies come out of the woodwork, and Tatsu manages to convert them to the life of the househusband.

6 Toradora! Is One Of The Best Enemies-To-Lovers Stories

Toradora! Rating Scores

Toradora! is a brilliant slice-of-life anime series with well-written and fully fleshed-out characters for romance lovers. The series focuses on Ryuuji and Taiga, who seem to have diametrically opposite personalities. Ryuuji is laid-back, while Taiga is called the "palm-top tiger" because of her hot-headed personality and confrontational disposition.

They both agree to help each other with their crushes, but their attempts backfire. They are placed in awkward romantic situations. Toradora! is a hilarious but emotional roller-coaster ride. The characters drive the story in this short, but sweet, chaotic romantic comedy.