Recently, Isekai has become quite a popular anime genre. Some people still prefer to watch fantastical genres to escape their realities temporarily. However, some audiences love this peaceful genre called Slice of Life. Shows in this genre follow stories that trace through everyday occurrences. These stories can be romances, comedies, or dramas.
Rarely do we see elements of fantasy incorporated into this genre to add excitement to the plot. However, for the majority of the time, the slice-of-life series shows the normal lives of people and their daily struggles, such as students stressing about exams while adults stressing about salaries. We’ve picked some of the best slice-of-life movies out there to deliver this calming list.
1. Your Name
This movie was ranked as one of the best slice-of-life anime movies in 2016. The story follows a high school girl living in rural Japan and a high school boy in Tokyo. They miraculously swap places, and the real story kicks in. It beautifully captures these students’ struggles and their difficulty adjusting to each other’s lives.
The twist at the end of the movie makes it even more worthwhile and memorable. The characters are written to be quite relatable, and their story is light-hearted. Your Name is one of those must-watch anime movies.
2. A Silent Voice
A Silent Voice is an anime movie adapted from the short manga series of the same name. The story mixes drama and comedy really well while conveying meaningful messages to the audience and addressing serious topics like bullying.
Shoko is deaf and bullied daily by her classmate, Shoya Ishida, who is the protagonist of the movie. However, as they’re teenagers, both of them reconcile, and the movie traces his redemption. This movie is a tragic look at the effects of bullying, but thankfully, it has a happy ending.
3. I Want To Eat Your Pancreas
I Want to Eat Your Pancreas follows the story of Shiga Haruki and Sakura Yamauchi, who don’t have much time to spend together after meeting by chance. Shiga is rather introverted and calm, while Yamaguchi is the complete opposite of him. Her bright personality and her cheerful buoyancy force him out of his reserved shell.
The bond between these teenagers grows stronger as they spend more time with each other. Feelings start to blossom, and both realize life’s true value. Adapted from Yōru Somino’s light novel, I Want to Eat Your Pancreas is an emotional rollercoaster.
4. 5 Centimeters Per Second
This is another masterpiece from the brilliant mind of Makoto Shinkai. His films are held on quite a high pedestal due to their picture-perfect visuals, well-composed music tracks, and artistically rendered moments. The director is praised for his attention to even small details, which end up providing meaningful moments and life to the movie.
5 Centimeters Per Second is divided into three sections, all of which revolve around a boy named Takaki Tono. The movie focuses on unrequited and unrealized love, laced with a hint of deep-seated melancholy. This film will surely bring viewers to tears.
5. Into The Forest of Fireflies’ Light
This film will leave viewers with depression. Hatorubi no Mori e (Into The Forest of Fireflies’ Light) is an anime romance film created by Yuki Midorikawa and produced by Brain’s Base Animation Studio. The story captures love and the heartbreaking feeling of parting ways with your loved ones.
A young girl lost in the forest finds her way out thanks to a spirit in the form of a young boy. To express her gratitude, the girl promises to come back every summer. Years pass, and the two entities develop feelings for each other. However, there is a twist: if the spirit touches another living being, he will disappear.
