Slice-of-life is a popular anime genre that fits nearly every demographic. Besides the typical slice-of-life that takes place in the real world, there are also fantasy, action, and adventure series that have slice-of-life elements.
That said, not every slice-of-life anime is created equal and some are judged way more harshly than they should be. Even the most popular slice-of-life series will get tons of unnecessary hate. It's not a bad thing to critique a series, especially if it has problematic elements, but a story shouldn't be judged by its flaws alone.
10 The Ancient Magus' Bride's Issues Shouldn't Take Away From Its Story
For some fans who've seen The Ancient Magus' Bride, there are aspects of the story that are a little problematic. Chise is a teenage girl who's purchased by a demon-like creature to be his future wife. Not only is there an age gap between the two characters, but there's also a power dynamic that doesn't sit well with fans.
That being said, this anime does a good job at giving Chise the power to set boundaries. The Ancient Magus' Bride even addresses the power dynamic between them, which is something most anime like this don't do. The series may have its issues, but it also has a good story and well-thought-out characters.
9 Beastars Isn't Just A Show About Animals
When Beastars first aired a lot of fans were turned off by its anthropomorphized characters. Even now, some anime fans refuse to watch it even though many have expressed how amazing the story is. The fact that the characters are human and animal hybrids are just a small part of its story.
At the heart of Beastars, is a story about prejudice and self-discovery. Not to mention, the series uses carnivores and herbivores to discuss problems with an unequal society. The animal characters are a story telling method that shouldn't be used as a critique.
8 Aharen-san Wa Hakarenai Is A Charming Series
Aharen-san wa Hakarenai is a new comedy slice-of-life anime that has received a surprising amount of heat from anime fans. Most of the criticism stems from the fact that the comedy is pretty lackluster, but also because of Aharen's character design. Compared to everyone else, she appears rather childlike, which makes the budding relationship between her and Raidou a little odd.
However, this series is about two children forming an innocent relationship. When it comes to the show's comedy, it may not be the funniest anime series, but it's charming in its own way. Aharen's growing confidence and her friendship with Raidou are what make this series fun to watch.
7 Blue Period Shows What It Means To Be An Artist
Blue Period delves into what it takes to make it in the art world. The characters are well-defined and express their personalities through their art. This is especially true for the main character Yatora who spends the majority of the series trying to define his style.
However, not every anime fan fell in love with Blue Period and some even found it devoid of personality. Blue Period may be a simple series, but that doesn't mean the characters aren't well-developed. Each of them is incredibly motivated to grow and their love of art comes across really well. Despite Blue Period's downsides, it's a great series with a lot of heart.
6 Air Is Short But Sweet
Air is a series from the early 2000s that follows a boy named Yukito as he attempts to find the girl in the sky. This short series is based on a visual novel, which is why it has somewhat of a harem feel to it. The anime can feel rushed at times, which takes away from the story, but the way it handles Misuzu's story completely makes up for that.
Her story is a unique tear-jerker that does an excellent job of expressing Misuzu's loneliness, but it also shows how someone's suffering can affect the people around them. Air may have been a less confusing series if it had more episodes to play with, but considering how short it is, it does an amazing job at portraying a heartfelt story.
5 Fruits Basket Is A Charming Classic
Newer anime fans who have seen the 2019 version of Fruits Basket may not realize that the series is actually a remake of an anime that came out in 2001. The art style is very different from the remake and to many fans of the original manga, it is a subpar adaption of the story.
The original Fruit Basket series leaves out a lot of story elements and characters from the manga, but those differences don't make the series bad. It certainly isn't a perfect adaptation, but the characters still have the same charm as the original manga, which is the most important aspect of the story.
4 Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid Is A Great Series With A Few Problems
Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid may be a series about dragons, but it certainly isn't the action-adventure some would expect it to be. It's a cute and relaxing series that relies on the character's relationships with each other to make a good story instead of drama or action.
However, many anime fans have an issue with the cute character designs and disproportionate bodies. While these are legitimate criticism it doesn't mean the story itself is underwhelming. Every anime series has its issues and for Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid, its issue is poor character design.
3 Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day Is About The Characters Not The Story
Anohana is a sleeper hit anime that doesn't get the attention it deserves, especially compared to other slice-of-life anime. It's a story about friendship and overcoming grief that features several flawed characters. While Anohana does an excellent job of developing the characters and conveying their feelings, the story tends to drag for some anime fans.
It's not until the final three episodes that the plot really picks up, which isn't necessarily a terrible thing. The point of the series is establishing the characters' friendship and working through their grief, which is something this series excels at.
2 Kotaro Lives Alone's Weird Designs Don't Take Away From The Plot
As the name suggests, Kotaro Lives Alone is a series about a small boy who lives in an apartment by himself. While this may seem unusual, Kotaro isn't completely alone and he's formed somewhat of a dysfunctional family with his neighbors.
Kotaro Lives Alone is an excellent comedy slice-of-life, but for some anime fans, the character designs are a dealbreaker. Kotaro's cat-like eyes are a bit strange, but it's certainly not enough of a reason to skip such an amazing and heartfelt series.
1 Snow White With The Red Hair Isn't A Mary Sue
Snow White With The Red Hair is another amazing series that doesn't get enough attention in the anime community. Unlike most romance anime, this series doesn't take its entire run to get the main couple in a relationship, which is a refreshing change.
However, some fans find Shirayuki to be a bit of a dull character and even a Mary Sue at times. The idea that she's a perfect character completely ignores her strength and flaws, especially since she actually works really hard for the things she's good at.