With shows like Dragon Ball or One Piece known far and wide, it’s hard to deny the popularity of anime. Still, even the most action-oriented anime viewer can enjoy a simple story about the day-to-day lives of its characters. The slice of life anime genre can contain hilarious comedic moments, serious drama, and even a bit of romance — it all depends on what viewers are looking for.
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Even if perhaps not as inescapable and popular as some other genres and themes, slice of life stories are eternal, with most seasons producing a few new shows that fit the bill. The anime industry will always have a place for wholesome tales about carefree schoolgirls attending their afternoon clubs or adults finding solitude in nature. Let’s take a look at the best slice of life anime ever.
Updated January 5, 2026 by Mark Sammut: A new year is upon us, and a fresh batch of anime are beginning to air episodes. As it is still way too early to recommend any Winter 2026 anime, we have updated this article with new sections: What is Slice of Life Anime and Best Slice of Life Anime by Mood.
What is Slice of Life Anime?
While most genres are fairly flexible, slice of life is arguably the murkiest, as it could cover an absurdly wide spectrum of shows. Technically, isn’t every story a slice of a character’s life? Why do some comedies qualify, while others don’t? Well, to simplify things slightly, let’s go with this definition of slice of life anime:
Slice of life anime focuses on ordinary, everyday experiences, emphasizing character interactions, atmosphere, and small moments rather than high-stakes plots or constant conflict. The appeal comes from realism, emotional relatability, and finding meaning in the mundane.
Most episodes revolve around the characters’ daily routines, which are usually grounded in reality. Tension and action are never the point and often missing entirely; meanwhile, character growth and relationships are generally prioritized. At their best, slice of life anime are comforting and relatable, telling some of the most human stories in the industry.
Why Slice of Life Anime Feels So Comforting
Like in real life, there is comfort in predictability and familiarity, and slice of life anime delivers both of those elements in spades. For the most part, we know what to expect from this genre as a whole, especially when it comes to tone and stakes. These stories revolve around school days, summer routines, friendships, or hobbies – they present realistic, albeit occasionally idealized, looks into everyday Japanese life. Rather than going for big, emotional outbursts, slice of life anime emphasizes the quieter, softer little moments that are sprinkled throughout ordinary days.
Although fairly realistic compared to some other genres, slice of life anime still caters to wish-fulfillment, albeit not in a power fantasy way. You get to follow characters who are leading lives similar to your own, albeit without most of the responsibility and anxiety.
33
Pseudo Harem
MyAnimeList: 7.83
Along with being perhaps the most adorable romance of 2024, Pseudo Harem is also a pure slice of life that is relentlessly endearing. Rin very clearly has a crush on her senpai, Eiji, but she is not quite ready to directly reveal her interest. Therefore, she uses her acting talent to portray manga trope characters, effectively becoming a one-waifu harem. I mean, that is just cute.
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Although likable, Eiji is very oblivious, and he does not seem to pick up on Rin’s obvious clues. Despite obvious romantic subtext, Pseudo Harem mainly just chronicles Rin and Eiji’s daily interactions. Their relationship has a bit of forward momentum, but their interactions are mostly just cute and funny.
32
Flying Witch
MyAnimeList: 7.50
Anime witches come in many forms, but they do not typically feature in low-key slice of life stories set in the normal world. Flying Witch bucks that trend by delivering a traditional entry in the genre, albeit one with a hint of magic. A witch-in-training, Makoto will be spending some time living with her family in Aomori, a peaceful town surrounded by nature. With the aid of her cousins and aunt, Makoto experiences the slow life as she continues her training as a witch, which largely plays out like a coming-of-age narrative.
Flying Witch does an impressive job of balancing the mundane with the fantastical, creating a universe that is one step removed from reality. The “witch” element takes a backseat for most of the season and is fairly subdued, as the focus is squarely on Makoto’s everyday interactions with the larger community.
31
Farming Life in Another World
MyAnimeList: 7.54
I was hesitant to include Farming Life in Another World, just because isekai tends to be seen as its own thing. However, the theme is actually not a bad pick for slow-life stories, as every season usually includes at least one show that fits that descriptor. This 2023 anime is comfortably among the best slice of life isekai anime of all time, to the point that we can recommend it to people who generally do not enjoy otherworldly adventures. Dying due to poor health, Hiraku is allowed to direct his next life, and he asks to be made into a farmer. He is given a tool that allows him to work endlessly and quickly, and he quickly establishes a homestead in the middle of a pretty dangerous forest.
Farming Life in Another World follows Hiraku as he slowly builds a small village that welcomes people who have nowhere to go, although most of the citizens end up being women (surprise, surprise). While there are some harem elements, the anime is mainly just relaxing, with the characters having a cute rapport as they learn to live together. There are some minor political elements as the village tries to form trade partnerships with its neighbors, but most episodes revolve around their daily routines.
30
The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting
MyAnimeList: 7.74
While rare, occasionally a dark-ish slice of life anime comes out that slightly subverts the genre. School-Live! and Girls’ Last Tour are the most famous examples, but The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting also fits the bill. This show is divided into two halves: Cute babysitting and Yakuza moments. The former is the main focus, but it is punctuated by scenes that showcase why the babysitter has a reputation for being a dangerous member of the underworld.
So, Tooru is charged with taking care of his boss’s daughter, Yaeka, and he takes the responsibility seriously. For the most part, the anime sugarcoats the Yakuza life, presenting the group’s members as borderline idols who are mostly just silly and lighthearted. However, this tone largely disappears when Yaeka is not around, allowing the characters to be more vicious.
Ultimately, slice of life does not have to be solely positive, since the genre’s priority is simply to show the daily lives of its characters.
29
My Roommate is a Cat
MyAnimeList: 7.72
Pet stories are like a slice of life subgenre, and they tend to be amusing and relentlessly fluffy. My Roommate is a Cat delivers exactly what its title advertises: an overload of adorableness. Subaru adopts a cute little cat, Haru, which is the first time he has ever had to take care of another living thing. He is a bit out of his comfort zone, but he is willing to learn and generally has good intentions. He also puts in the effort to learn Haru’s preferences and offer her the best life possible.
My Roommate is a Cat has an interesting structure, as the episodes are split into two halves. The first follows Subaru, while the second is told from Haru’s perspective. This means that we do hear the cat’s thoughts during her segments, a decision that can be somewhat divisive since it could be seen as undermining the anime’s otherwise relatively grounded tone. Still, My Roommate is a Cat is endearing.
28
Welcome Home
MyAnimeList: 7.76
Welcome Home
- Release Date
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2024 – 2024-00-00
- Network
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Tokyo MX
Although hardly new, the boys’ love genre has been on a tear since roughly 2019, and quite a few of its best shows could qualify as slice of life. That said, Sasaki and Miyano, Given, Cherry Magic!, and Twilight Out of Focus are primarily romances and should mainly be watched by people craving those types of stories. In comparison, Welcome Home (aka Tadaima, Okaeri) fits cozily into the slice of life sphere, all the while telling a nuanced tale that explores socially relevant themes like discrimination.
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Due to being part of the Omegaverse, the anime is set in a universe with gender classes (Alphas, Omegas, and Betas). While this aspect influences the story’s core dynamics, it is ultimately not that important. Welcome Home follows Masaki and Hiromu, a married couple who have started a family. They spend their days in (mostly) blissful happiness, enjoying each other’s company while trying to be positive role models for their children. They also interact with their neighbors, some of whom have prejudices they must overcome through experience.
27
School Babysitters
MyAnimeList: 7.90
While rare, a few slice of life anime start with a shot to the heart before settling down into a cozy rhythm for the rest of their run. School Babysitters opens with a backstory that would be considered tragic for a drama, let alone a comfy show about brothers babysitting their siblings at their school. Once that setup is out of the way, the series quickly transforms into a lighthearted and touching tale about familial love and friendship.
Featuring a cast primarily consisting of babies and their older brothers, School Babysitters does an admirable job of differentiating all of its characters, including its many toddlers. Along with providing an overabundance of adorableness, the anime is also consistently funny.
26
My New Boss Is Goofy
MyAnimeList: 7.93
After years of abuse at the hands of his boss, Momose finally quits and joins another company. At his new workplace, he is assigned Shirosaki as a supervisor, and Momose quickly realizes that his new senior is the complete opposite of his former boss. To his delight, he also learns that Shirosaki can be a bit silly at times, even if it is usually unintentional.
My New Boss Is Goofy is just a lovely workplace comedy. Momose is still carrying scars from his previous job, but he is in the ideal location to regain his confidence. All the central characters are endearing and likable, and the show has a cozy tone that complements its easy-going humor. I enjoy slice of life for its healing qualities, and My New Boss Is Goofy is literally about a protagonist who is recovering from past trauma.
25
YuruYuri: Happy Go Lucky
MyAnimeList: 7.56 (Season 1)
A prominent slice of life subgenre is known as “cute girls doing cute things,” and these anime generally deliver exactly what they advertise on the tin. Initially, YuruYuri comes across as a stereotypical example of this type of story; it brings together four girls with archetypal personalities and doesn’t do a lot with them. At least, that is the case for most of the anime’s opening season.
After that point, YuruYuri improves quickly and considerably. The show gets progressively weirder as it introduces more secondary characters, all of whom seem to have a crush on each other. I also found myself consistently laughing along, especially in the sequel seasons.
24
March Comes In Like A Lion
MyAnimeList: 8.37 (Season 1)
March Comes In Like a Lion is a fantastic series with gorgeous animation, realistic and relatable characters, and intelligent writing. While certainly worth recommending based purely on its quality, the show’s depiction of depression and the first season’s extensive focus on shogi means March Comes In Like a Lion might not be what everyone is searching for in a slice of life anime.
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The second season is particularly strong, but it is also emotionally draining. At times, March Comes In Like a Lion is more of a drama with slice of life elements than the other way around. The show still has enough slice of life aspects to qualify as a recommendation, but I would advise against watching this if you are specifically looking for an anxiety-free experience.
