Continuing our top ten feature that drops every Tuesday and Thursday we thought we would look at every day life through our top ten slice of life anime. Slice of life are fantastic escapes, they have the ability to help you escape your reality into another, due to slice of life revolving around normal mundane parts of every life they truly repeatable.
There can be a variety of different scenarios, from school or college life to the working life in variety of job types from office workers to pop idols, a mix of real life or fantasy worlds, they can be dramas, comedies or romances, slice of life comes in many forms. Time to get started;
10) The Helpful Fox Senko-San
Sometimes the cure to a hard day’s work is the tender love and care of somebody, Salaryman Nakano has no one like this in his life. The stress of world is wearing him down and a dark cloud hangs above his head, When suddenly a magical fox girl, Senko-san appears in his home, she is eager to help him heal his stress and exhaustion. Whether she’s cooking, cleaning, or finding other ways to care for Nakano, she’s there to take away his stress!
I think at times, we have all wished that there was some sort of god/spirit being that was there to look out for us in our times of need (Now more so then ever) this series brings that life with both humour and sweet feel good moments. The main character is likely to be very reminiscent of how we all feel at times when it just feels like we’re carry the weight of world on his shoulders, whether it be work, or personal lives, or family issues. It’s story that has more than just one layer to it, there is very sweet overall story arc that carries you all the way to the end of the series.
Based on Manga written by Rimukoro
Studio: Doga Kobo
Released: 2019
9) My room mate is cat
Mikazuki is a leading mystery author, he also a reclusive who lives in total isolation and had no ideas about changing this, let alone getting a room mate. After coming across a stray cat which gives him an idea for his next novel, he decides to bring the cat in and off the streets, into his home. This cat does so much more than just inspire his next novel and as of the cat, this human will show him a whole new world too.
This series should touch of anyone that has ever owned a cat, or any pet really, but I do warn that you will have your emotions tested in what is a really sweet series. One of the best thing about this series is the way each episode is put together, we see the point of view of both the human and the cat, each episode shows the events of the day, first from of the humans point of view. The the second part of the show will play out the exact same events but this time from the cats perspective. This such a sweet show and must for all animal lovers.
Based on Manga written by Minatsuki
Studio: Zero-G
Released: 2019
8) The Devil is a Part Timer
In a world completely different to our own, the Devil is looking conquer it, however thwarted by a hero, the Devil must flee through a portal, where he finds himself in modern day Tokyo. With no real skills for a world such as this, he is forced to take a job flipping burgers to survive. To ensure this new world is not conquered by the Devil, the Hero follows him through the portal arriving much later, seeing the Devil is no threat and no way home she to has to join the work force of this new world, as lowly telemarketer.
This series was unfortunately short lived ending with 12 episodes, but the show still amassed a cult following, a reverse iskei, if you like where supernatural characters are brought forth into our mundane non fantastical world. If you have ever had the unfortunate experience to work in the fast food industry you will likely find this show to be very relatable, of course when we worked in the industry we did not have the power of Satan. With great blend of comedy in action this another fun but short series, if you do enjoy series you can always read the Manga where the story continued.
Based on a Light Novel series written by Satoshi Wagahara
Studio: White Fox
Released: 2013
7) Rent-a-Girlfirend
When Kazuya Kinoshita is dumped by his first college girlfirend he is heartbroken, feeling down about himself he finds an ad for a rent-a-girlfriend service and decides to rent himself a girlfriend. His date goes well and believes she had felt it more than service but when he reads other reviews he realises it was just her job, renting one more time to complain about being led on the pair accidently run in to his grandmother. With his grandmother now believing he has steady girlfriend he must continue to rent her to keep up the charade, when they start to have feelings for one another is where the trouble really begins.
You do have to look past the fact that this is ridiculous male fantasy, of man being able to get a rent-a-girlfirend to develop feelings for her, there are some genuine sweet moments and situational comedy that comes from the plot which is genuinely funny. The lead protagonist is very relatable to many shy and geeky men and men that may not have always had the best luck with women but he does come off as nice person who just lacks confidence. The main female supporting character helps to bring the main protagonist out of his shell allowing him to grow in confidence, the other supporting female characters really just help to add plenty of awkward situations that allow for some great comedy.
Based on Manga written by Reiji Miyajima
Studio: TMS Entertainment
Released: 2020
6) How heavy are the Dumbbells you lift
If there is one thing about Hibiki Sakura, it’s that she loves to eat, worried about all the food she consumes is beginning to affect her, she looks to join her local gym. However there are two problems all the intimidating body builders, as well as her classmate’s strange muscle obsession. After after meeting a handsome personal trainer, Hibiki decides to hell with it and joins the gym in her quest to eat what she wants whilst trying to stay slim.
I sure many of you reading this might think, that this show is nothing but fan service, and I can honestly assure you that it is much more than that. The narrator of the show is freaking hilarious I watched the english dub version, and Ian Sinclair’s voice is just so perfect, he will honestly have you in stitches with some of his comments throughout the show. The show is not all comedy though, all though there is plenty of it, there are some serious tones, and all of the exercises that you see are all real, so there is plenty of take away from each episode that you can add to your own life, you may even be inspired by it.
Based on Manga Written by Yabako Sandrovich
Studio: Doga Kobo
Released: 2019
5) New Game
Straight out of High School Aoba Suzukaze, manages to get a job, working in the character design team of the company that produces her favourite Video Games. Adjusting to the real world straight out of high school is a struggle, luckily her quirky co-workers do their best to help her out.
My fiancée and I really enjoyed watching this series, as fan of video games it was interesting to see every thing that goes into creating them, and the trials and tribulations that go along with it. The all female cast is also refreshing to see, and the all the girls have there own distinct personalties each as the endearing as the last, the way they interact with each other comes off so natural, as if this could be any office environment, that many of us have worked in.
Based on Manga Written by Shōtarō Tokunō
Studio: Doga Kobo
Released: 2016
4) Anime Gataris
Minoa Asagaya is a total novice when it comes to anime, despite this she’s recruited into her high school’s anime club during her freshman year. It does not take her long to become another obsessed fan, and she and her friends constantly engage in rapid-fire banter about the latest shows. However the student council would like nothing more than to shut down the club, on top of that, the world they know is about to come to an end, but there’s still always time to watch and chat about anime.
If you’re a fan of Anime you should love this show, it is literally about you, there are so many easter egg references to all the shows you love, this is great representation of ideal anime community, with a mix of characters and personalities, each a representatives of genre of anime. The series starts off being steeped in realism with each episode growing more and more ridiculous as story moves forward cumulating in absolute crazy final couple of episodes. This is just a really fun series, with lots of comedy, with only 12 episodes all brought together with a satisfying finale.
Original video animation by W-Toon Studio
Studio: Wao World
Released: 2017
3) Miss Kobiyashi Dragon Maid
Miss Kobayashi lives a normal mundane life, until one drunken night she befriends a dragon named Tohru, after a drunken conversation the Dragon ends up moving in with her much to Miss Kobiyahshi’s surprise. However Tohru explains she is there to help Miss Kobiyashi as her live in Maid, making the living situation quite unique, however every day human tasks can be quite some trouble for a dragon.
Another completely crazy premiss mixing reality and fantasy with hilarious consequences, I love the cynical lead female protagonist and I would I guess most of us can either relate too, or know someone exactly like her. Watching the Dragons try to interact with and live by Human rules is always comical to watch, unfortunately another short series with only 12 episode run but you will thoroughly enjoy each and every episode.
Based on Manga Written by Coolkyousinnjya
Studio: Kyoto Animation
Released: 2017
2) Hinamatsuri
Yoshifumi Nitta is low level member of the Yakuza, but his whole life changes when an odd young girl falls on his head, when he discovers that girls posses telekinetic powers, he decides to take her in. He figures she could help him out, and now the two of them must try to work together, without this newly formed partnership blowing up in their faces.
This series will make you feel about every emotion possible you be laughing one minute and wanting to cry the next, its not just the range of emotions, the series should appeal the every type of anime fan. There are a mix of styles during the series, with action, comedy, science fiction and much more. On top of this the series is really sweet, as main theme of this series is about a father and Daughter, and how not all families have to be conventional.
Based on Manga Written by Masao Ōtake
Studio: Feel
Released: 2017
1) Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions
During Yūta Togashi’s junior year of high school, he suffered from Chunibyo a term given to those who are a little immature and hang onto childhood fantasies. Yūta imagined himself to possess supernatural powers and would call himself the "Dark Flame Master", this alienated him from his other classmates. Finding his past embarrassing, Yūta attempts to start off in a new high school where he does not know anyone, free from his old delusions. This proves more difficult than he though, when he meets Rikka Takanashi a girl who also still suffers from Chunibyo, when she learns of Yūta's past she becomes interested in him.
This is my personal favourite due to how much I related to both the main protagonists of the show, because they reminded me of my own childhood. I remember being immature, there were certainly times I did not want to give up the world of make believe, even though everyone else seemed to be doing so. I also remember how I felt when I had moved on, even though I did not want to give it up, comics and anime helped me to hold on to this feeling, but even then I remember trying to hide my love of these things in the fear of not looking cool. Aside from my personal reasons of why I relate to this show, it is a really fun series, and if you do not feel anything when it comes to the relationship that builds between the two main protagonists, then I would have question whether you’re actually a robot.
Based on Manga Written by Torako
Studio: Kyoto Animation
Released: 2012
So there you have it our top ten Slice of Life, if you can’t tell, we do prefer my Slice of Life anime to be on the more fantastical and on the comedic side, I like the shows that don’t take themselves to seriously. There are however many straight laced slice of life shows that are really awesome, my personal preference for comedy is likely because I am also a big sitcom fan. As always we would recommend checking out as many anime as you can, there's is no better time to do so, we have no where to go and accessing anime has never been easier. Most of these series are available in original dub with English subtitles on Crunchyroll, some of these shows are available in English dub on Funimation, but there are some great series on Netflix.
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