Anime and manga are known for reaching across a wide variety of genres, and that variety is the reason why it is so popular today. Almost every subject, hobby, and profession under the sun have been covered by anime and manga, and anyone looking for something that appeals to them personally can find one pretty quickly.
Slice-of-life anime is a big part of the anime spectrum, and many popular anime series are slice-of-life stories about everyday people living mundane, regular lives. It might seem boring, but many anime fans enjoy watching characters simply enjoying life without any worries or concerns. Here are the best slice-of-life anime that turned 10 years old in 2022.
8 Joshiraku
Rakugo is a traditional Japanese art that involves a solo performer telling comedic stories with very few props. Joshiraku follows five female rakugo performers as they converse about various aspects of life.
The concept of Joshiraku might seem odd or even boring to fans of more exciting anime series, but slice-of-life fans may enjoy seeing these odd personalities converse with each other about whatever happens to be on their mind at the time.
7 Acchi Kocchi
Tsumiki Miniwa is a small, cat-like high school girl who is hopelessly crushing on her friend Io Otonashi, a serious and kind-hearted boy who is nevertheless oblivious to her affection. Surrounding them are their friends and classmates who coyly poke fun at their in-the-middle relationship as the two struggle with being honest with their feelings.
Acchi Kocchi is your standard high school comedy series, with many of the events occurring in the series being largely inconsequential. However, while the characters can be ridiculous, there are also quite a few heartwarming moments between all of the goofy shenanigans.
6 Tari Tari
Konatsu Miyamoto loves singing, but can't do so at her school's choir club. Fed up with the situation, Konatsu quits in order to create her own choir club. Making a choir club is harder than expected, and she'll have to find four more members before the club can be established.
Tari Tari is a slice-of-life series centered around music and performance. While not every moment in this series is light-hearted and fluffy, it is a very cozy watch that any anime fan should enjoy.
5 Natsuiro Kiseki
Natsumi and Saki were the closest of friends until Saki suddenly quits the tennis club and declares that she is transferring schools. Their other friends Yuka and Rinko try to get them to make up and take them to a special rock that grants wishes to friends who wish for the same thing. When they all wish on the stone, the four find out that the rock's magic actually works.
Natsuiro Kiseki is a heartwarming coming-of-age series with a hint of fantasy. The series can be somber at times, but it is a wholesome experience that will warm the hearts of any who love slice-of-life anime.
4 Tsuritama
Yuki Sanada is a young high school boy with no friends, due to his constant relocation due to his grandmother's job and his own social awkwardness. At his new home at Enoshima, Yuki suddenly comes into contact with Haru, a strange boy who immediately claims to be an alien from another world.
Tsuritama is a slice-of-life comedy series with elements of science fiction. While the series is filled with all kinds of goofy interactions between the main characters, there is also a wholesome aspect to it as these characters become friends.
3 Polar Bear Cafe
The Polar Bear Cafe is a café where both humans and animals can relax after a hard day at work. The café is owned by Polar Bear, a serious-minded fellow, while his friends Panda and Penguin frequently visit to hang out. Their days are filled with silly conversations and daily hassles.
Polar Bear Cafe would be pretty standard for a slice of anime were it not for the fact that half of the characters are talking animals. The series is lighthearted, humorous, and conflict-free, making it an easy watch when winding down after a stressful day of work.
2 Hyouka
Hotaro Oreki is a high school boy who believes in living a low-energy life, but his way of life is disrupted when he is tasked by his sister to join the Classic Literature Club to keep it from disbanding. There, he meets the inquisitive Eru Chitanda, whose curiosity draws him out of his lackluster life.
Hyouka is an interesting mix of slice of life and mystery, two genres that don't necessarily get put together very often. The result is a very unique series that is laid-back and soothing while also being intriguing and suspenseful. Those not interested in the usual slice-of-life offerings should definitely check this series out.
1 Space Brothers
Brothers Mutta and Hibito Nanba see a UFO as children, a moment that inspires them to become astronauts and head to the moon. Nineteen years later, Hibito has managed to achieve this dream, while Mutta finds himself in a very different place. Spurred on by his brother's achievements, Mutta decides to aim for being an astronaut once more and achieve his childhood dream.
Space Brothers is a slice-of-life series about becoming an astronaut and going to space. The series is incredibly heartwarming, and Mutta's efforts to achieve the dream he had as a child are incredibly inspiring. Space Brothers is easily the best slice-of-life anime to come out of 2012.