There is an infinite number of ways to tell the story of people’s daily lives. The slice-of-life anime genre thrives on this truth. Infinity, of course, is a big number. Losing track of the really good slice-of-life series is easy. It gets worse the further back one goes because good series of an era are overshadowed by the most popular series of that same era.
The 2000s, for instance, are best known for slice-of-life anime like Toradora and Clannad. These are good picks, but there are far more series from that time period out there. To keep anyone from forgetting about them, here are some of the best slice-of-life anime of the 2000s.
Kimi ni Todoke (2009)
Kimi ni Todoke is a wholesome anime with a romantic angle attached to it. The series follows the daily life of a Sawako Kuronuma as she tries to make new friends. This is difficult for the poor girl because her classmates misinterpret her social awkwardness as creepiness and steer clear of her. Her goal is to be more outgoing like her male classmate, Kazehaya.Komi Can't Communicate is a good modern counterpart to Kimi ni Todoke. Both stories feature shy, misunderstood girls trying to reach out to the people around them. The big difference is Sawako's classmates fear her rather than worship her. Kimi ni Todoke also leans harder into the romantic side of things.
K-On! (2009)
K-On! is a good Cute Girls Doing Cute Things anime and its musical prowess is well-known, but there's so much more to it than fans think. The main characters do more than simply play music. Time spent with the art form represents the full experience of playing and listening to music in a realistic manner. The series also has a good balance of comedic and serious moments that all serve to connect viewers with the characters. The show has many small moments that seem insignificant, but the value of doing that nothingness with good friends is an important lesson. K-On! truly embodies the personal, emotional experience that all slice-of-life anime strive for.
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (2006)
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya takes the slice-of-life genre and adds a unique twist to it. In the show, the titular character forms a school club with the intent of seeking supernatural phenomena. Ironically, her club members include a time traveler, an alien cyborg, and an esper. Haruhi herself has the power to warp reality to fit her desires, but she remains oblivious to all of the craziness. Even without the bizarre premise, the anime functions well as a slice-of-life series. It has refreshing takes on common tropes while still employing them. Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is a must-see for any anime fan.
Just keep in mind that Melancholy is part of a series. Getting the full story may require additional reading. It can also be confusing at times without the context of the other installments in the series. With that said, Melancholy still works as a stand-alone anime.
Fresh Pretty Cure (2009)
For some reason, this is the only Prety Cure series of the 2000s that MyAnimelist classifies as a slice-of-life anime. That said, most Precure series follow a similar formula. The first half of the episode is cute girls doing cute things. In the second half, the villain shows up with their Monster of the Week. The girls become magical girls, fight the monster hand-to-hand and finish them off with an ultimate attack. The episode caps off by concluding the slice-of-life content from the beginning of the episode. It's like a mix of Power Rangers and Sailor Moon, both of which also incorporate slice-of-life elements. Additionally, it's worth noting that some of the animation work is done by the legendary Naotoshi Shida. Pretty Cure isn't for everyone, which is partially why it isn't as successful stateside as it is in Japan, but it's worth checking out.
