Slice-of-life anime are known for their relatable situations and lovable characters. The slower pacing associated with these shows allows for greater character development and a deeper exploration of emotions. As such, many slice-of-life anime have a romantic aspect to them.
Unlike other anime, the romances depicted in slice-of-life shows are more true to life. They have problems and triumphs that are much the same as real couples. Additionally, because these romantic relationships are grounded in reality, they can easily portray what it means to be a healthy couple. Though not every slice-of-life couple is healthy, there are a few that stand as shining examples of a healthy relationship.
10 Yuugo Hachiken Wants Aki Mikage To Succeed (Silver Spoon)
Silver Spoon is a lesser-known slice-of-life anime about city boy Yuugo Hachiken who attends a farming high school. There, he meets many interesting people who teach him the value and pain of agricultural life. One such person is Aki Mikage, who wants to raise horses instead of taking over her family farm.
Though Hachiken knows little about farm life, he works his hardest to show Mikage - and himself - that he is dependable. When Mikage agonizes over her decisions for the future, Hachiken listens. He even goes with Mikage when she tells her parents that she wants to leave the farm. Hachiken and Mikage respect and admire each other for exactly who they are and want to become.
9 Hanako Koyanagi And Taro Kabakura Help Each Other Branch Out (Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku)
Hanako Koyanagi and Taro Kabakura are coworkers and lovers in Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku. They begin dating in high school and are still together in their adulthood. While both are Otaku, Kabakura is a more casual fan than Koyanagi, who is a well-known cosplayer.
Though Koyanagi and Kabakura do not always see eye to eye, they respect each other's tastes and challenge each other to try new things. Koyanagi strives to get Kabakura into cosplay, while Kabakura sparks Koyanagi's love for anime. They argue a lot, but they understand each other and work towards becoming better people.
8 Kyoko Hori And Izumi Miyamura Accept Each Other (Horimiya)
Horimiya is the story of Kyoko Hori and Izumi Miyamura, two teenagers who discover each other's secret identities. Although Hori and Miyamura are incredibly different, the two cannot help but fall for each other.
Hori and Miyamura are a great couple because they love and accept each other. Where Hori is bold and confident, Miyamura is calm and gentle. They lend each other their best qualities to elevate their relationship above the gossip.
7 Moriko Morioka And Yuuta Sakurai Find Solace Together (Recovery Of An MMO Junkie)
Recovery Of An MMO Junkie is the story of Moriko Morioka who quits her job to play online games. While playing, Moriko meets another player named Lily. Moriko later discovers that Lily is played by the handsome Yuuta Sakurai, and the two begin an awkward but relatable romance.
Sakurai and Moriko try to hide their gaming from others, but they can truly be themselves with each other. Though their relationship is plagued by embarrassment and misunderstandings, they always figure things out in the end. Moriko and Sakurai grow together and begin accepting themselves.
6 Hitohito Tadano Helps Shoko Komi Find Her Voice (Komi Can't Communicate)
Hitohito Tadano is an average high school student in Komi Can't Communicate. His ultimate goal is to make as few waves as possible. That all changes when he meets the stunning Shoko Komi. Komi is too shy to speak but her goal is to make one hundred friends. Taken by Komi, Tadano agrees to help her get over her fear and make one hundred friends.
Tadano and Komi make a great pair because they care about each other. Tadano does everything in his power to help Komi reach her goals. Meanwhile, Komi tries to show her gratitude for Tadano's help. Tadano and Komi are shining examples of what it means to cherish loved ones.
5 Shun Hashimoto And Mio Chibana Give Each Other Time (The Stranger By The Shore)
The Stranger by the Shore is an anime movie from 2020 about Shun Hashimoto, an openly gay novelist who falls for a young man named Mio Chibana. Though they are separated for a few years, Mio returns to the island to reunite and confess his feelings for Shun. Shun is against a relationship at first, but neither man can deny their feelings.
Although Shun's hesitancy seems standoffish, it is born from his fear of Mio being mistreated. Congruently, when Mio discovers Shun's father was in poor health, Mio attempts to give Shun the space he needed to see his father again. Both men have each other's best interests at heart, making them a great example of what it means to be in a healthy, loving relationship.
4 Kotaro Azumi And Akane Mizuno Promise To Love Each Other Forever (Tsuki Ga Kirei)
Kotaro Azumi and Akane Mizuno are two middle schoolers in the anime Tsuki ga Kirei. In their last year of middle school, Akane and Kotaro end up in the same class and begin to fall for one another. They both have strong passions that they want to pursue, and they cheer each other on in their endeavors.
Akane eventually moves away and Kotaro posts an online story about how he will always love her. The sentiment carries them both through their years apart. Akane and Kotaro are a beautiful reminder of the strength of young love and how it can deepen over time. Their loyalty toward each other keeps their relationship strong, even when life doesn't go according to plan.
3 Shizuku Tsukishima And Seiji Amasawa Push Each Other Toward Their Goals (Whisper Of The Heart)
Whisper of the Heart is about the budding romance between Shizuku Tsukishima and Seiji Amasawa. After it's revealed that Seiji Amasawa, a rude boy, is the person who's been checking out the same books as Shizuku, she's disappointed. However, the more they talk, the more they are inspired by each other.
Seiji and Shizuku are a wonderful couple because they encourage each other. The two admire one another so much that it inspires them to excel in their chosen fields. The healthiest couples relish in each other's successes - a sentiment that Whisper of the Heart beautifully displays.
2 Kabae And The Doctor Were Made For Each Other (Aggretsuko)
Aggretsuko is a hilarious workplace anime about a red panda named Retsuko. Though her work in the accounting department is tough, Retsuko uses death metal music as a way to cope with the stress. While Retsuko is the main character, her coworkers often steal the spotlight.
One such colleague is the gossiping hippo, Kabae. In one episode, Kabae recounts how she met her husband when she was suppressing her talkative side. Kabae's husband listened, letting her talk as long as she wanted. Kabae and The Doctor are shown to be loving and compassionate. The two are an excellent depiction of a kind, healthy couple who let each other be themselves.
1 Takeo Gouda And Rinko Yamato Love One Another (My Love Story!!)
My Love Story!! is the hilarious romantic story of Takeo Gouda and Rinko Yamato. Takeo's best friend, Suna, tends to get the most female attention. As such, when Yamato starts showing her affection for Takeo, he initially thinks she likes Suna. However, Suna encourages Takeo and Yamato to confess their feelings to each other.
Takeo always considers Yamato's feelings. Even when they try to hide things from each other, they find a way to solve their issues as a team. Takeo and Yamato know the importance of being upfront with each other, which helps their love grow stronger. They are the healthiest couple in slice-of-life anime.