The vast world of anime contains many different types of stories, all divided into multiple genres. One genre that is usually closest to reality is slice of life, but what exactly is it? This feel-good category usually hits close to home for many anime fans, considering how it focuses on everyday life (or, to put it simply, reality). Despite having such ordinary plot settings, there’s just something about a slice of life series that makes fans enjoy them on a unique level.
What’s so special about slice of life? Watching something close to real life might sound somewhat uninteresting for others, but with good storytelling and a diverse set of characters, these titles can easily affect someone on an emotional level. As such, many fans turn to slice of life if they need something comforting and heartwarming. Let’s break down anime’s most feel-good genre.
Slice of life's title is pretty self-explanatory -- the genre brings bits and pieces of humans’ regular lives to the table. These shows' settings are normally something most viewers experience in their lives -- being in school, working in an office, or simply leading an ordinary life. A slice of life anime doesn’t necessarily have a plot that covers intense conflicts or discusses morality. The story isn’t as “deep” or psychological compared to anime in other genres. That said, many slice of life anime cover more than one genre -- sometimes romance, comedy or the supernatural.
A slice of life anime tends to focus on the narratives of the characters or their situations, highlighting these relationships rather than the overall story setting. Viewers are then drawn to the cast on a personal and emotional level, seeing how closely relatable they can get. Slice of life puts a twist on the feeling of familiarity through its character interactions. In a way, getting invested in them and their lives creates a unique connection between the viewers and characters since the genre is more grounded in reality than others.
With that, slice of life lets its viewers appreciate the ordinary -- many avid fans of this genre know that something like a “grocery shopping arc” or a “beach trip arc” is actually more fun than it sounds, despite being used over and over in various series. The typical situations presented in slice of life are so general -- yet in anime, it puts fans in such a feel-good atmosphere.
Shows like Nichijou, Laid-Back Camp and K-On! approach the everyday by putting it in a positive light, letting viewers appreciate the little things in life. For others, these shows might even re-kindle some wonderful childhood memories. Even though they have ordinary settings, something as simple as hanging out with friends or growing up has never looked so good. It’s through the portrayal of such simple situations alongside the very human characters that make slice of life so heartwarming.
Meanwhile, many slice of life anime cross over with other genres, sometimes reducing the “ordinary” aspect to a certain extent. Shows such as Mob Psycho 100 and The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. are considered slice of life, but the supernatural also plays a big role in both of these stories. On the other hand, Toradora! and Fruits Basket are slice of life series with significant romance elements. Nevertheless, the narratives continue to highlight the characters and their situations, keeping the story fun, touching and comforting.
Eventually, slice of life shows might just sound like a broken record since many use the same plot setting. Yet somehow, it works because of the diverse characters who portray all the complexities of being simply human. For fans who have yet to explore other genres further, slice of life is the way to go for those looking for something light and cheerful. For many people, reality tends to be a generally terrible experience -- but slice of life will surely turn them around and show prove life isn’t as bad as it may seem.
