Best Slice of Life Anime of 2024

While anime is largely popular for its renditions of the extraordinary and the unbelievable through its many genres, it still retains within its near-boundless creative expression, a place for simple, lighthearted, and ordinary moments. These moments make up the slice-of-life genre. Expectedly, the 2024 anime year so far is not lacking in the slice-of-life department, with several shows and projects being released throughout the year's anime seasons.

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While they are not your usual stand-outs where all the action and animation come alive, like the Solo Leveling, these series offer heartfelt and endearing moments that generally sit well with fans and viewers. As such, this piece aims to highlight the best of 2024’s slice-of-life menu. Whether you’re drawn to stories of friendship, personal growth, or the simple beauty of ordinary moments, this year’s lineup promises something for you, and below are the best to pick from for the year.

10 The iDOLM@STER Shiny Colors

MyAnimeList Score: 6.13

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The iDOLM@STER

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TV-14

Drama

Music

Anime

Animation

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Release Date

2011 - 2011-00-00

Network

Tokyo MX

Directors

Takahiro Majima, Masanori Takahashi, Yuki Ito, Takahiro Harada, Noriko Takao, Ryuichi Kimura, Ryoji Masuyama, Akitoshi Yokoyama, Akira Amemiya, Ayumu Kotake, Yuka Shibata, Daisuke Takashima, Kentarou Suzuki

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Seasons

1

Main Genre

Animation

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The manga-adapted slice-of-life series, iDOLM@STER Shiny Colors, follows a connection of ambition and perseverance between the central character, Mano Sakuragi, a more than talented songstress, and her ambitious producer.

Mano’s journey as an idol begins after a fateful encounter with the producer, eventually leading to the creation of a new idol unit: the Illumination STARS. Now, an aspiring idol, Mano is set to follow her dreams alongside her fellow members. However, to do that, they must first win the Winner Idol Nova Grand Prix.

9 Kinokoinu Mushroom Pup

MyAnimeList Score: 6.34

A rather lighthearted but encompassing examination of grief and all that comes with it, Kinokoinu Mushroom Pup is one of the fall season’s last batch of anime for the year but still makes a good argument for being one of the best slice-of-life representations of the year. The story is built around the central character, Hotaru Yuuyami, a writer who has almost been swallowed by grief after the death of his last family member, Hanako, the dog.

After two months of writer’s block and overwhelming grief, Hotaru’s spirit is lifted after the sudden apparition of Kinoko Inu, a mysterious mushroom from Hotaru’s garden that turns into a dog-shaped animal. Before long, Hotaru and Kinoko begin living together. However, it seems that Hotaru may have no place for grief should he want another pet.

8 The Way of Pon

MyAnimeList Score: 6.48

• Production Studio: Studio OLM
• Streaming Platforms: N/A
• Premiere: Winter 2024

Friendship is treated with great care in The Way of Pon series, as it follows the mischievous life of Nashiko Jippensha after she is kicked out for being too loud at home. With nowhere for her and her friends to keep hanging out, Nashiko luckily gets her father’s closed-down mahjong parlor, making it the perfect spot.

While cleaning out the place, Nashiko and her friends encounter a talking bird that claims to be a mahjong spirit, who eventually persuades the girls to a mahjong game. After a series of games, the girls quickly realize they might enjoy the game more than they intended.

7 A Journey Through Another World: Raising Kids While Adventuring

MyAnimeList Score: 6.67

A peculiar tale of inadvertent reincarnation coupled with childcare and magical adventures, A Journey Through Another World: Raising Kids While Adventuring begins with the careless mistake of the god of wind, Silphyleel after it unintentionally kills the 28-year-old Takumi Kayano. Unfortunately for the young man, Silphyleel cannot return him to Earth, but instead reincarnates him into the magical world of Etelldia.

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By  Levana Jane Chester-Londt

With blessings and equipment from the god, Takumi spawns in this new world, in the Forest of Gaia, where he meets five-year-old twins who are somehow still alive despite the forest’s dangers. Deciding to take them in, Takumi allies himself with the twins and together the trio begins their first of many adventures.

6 Dahlia in Bloom: Crafting a Fresh Start with Magical Tools

MyAnimeList Score: 6.80

Dying from overwork does not seem like the worst thing to happen, especially when you are reborn as the daughter of a newly titled baron. Dahlia In Bloom follows the life of a young Japanese woman who suddenly awakens as Dahliya Rossetti after working herself to death in her previous life.

Now the daughter of the newly titled baron, Baron Carlo, Dahlia is inspired to follow in her father’s footsteps as a magic artificer by using the memories of her past life to make practical inventions. Still holding onto her dream as an adult, Dahliya’s life is still on track until Baron Carlo suddenly dies. With no one to rely on after her father’s death and her runaway fiance, Dahliya resolves herself to pursue her dreams regardless.

5 Mr. Villain’s Day Off

MyAnimeList Score: 7.26

• Production Studio: SynergySP, Shin-Ei Animation
• Streaming Platforms: Crunchyroll, Prime Video,
• Premiere: Winter 2024

Villains also have off days at work in this series. Mr. Villain’s Day Off details a story supposedly about planetary conquest and war but is simply one person’s off day at work. The series follows the central character, The General, a being of immense power and a member of the alien organization, seeking to destroy the Earth and humanity along with it.

However, even an extraordinary being like the General is not immune to rest days. With just one day off work, not even the Rangers— a team dedicated solely to fighting against the General, will be able to stand in the way of him buying ice cream and fully enjoying his well-deserved rest day.

4 Tadaima, Okaeri

MyAnimeList Score: 7.76

A curious tale of familial bonds and the hopes for a new start, Tadaima, Okaeri details the lives of the Fujiyoshi Household, from the husband; Masaki Fujiyoshi, the wife; Hiromu, and their toddler son; Hikari, as they move to a new neighborhood hoping to make a fresh start. Having received a lot of backlash on their marriage due to Masaki’s status as an Omega— A secondary gender that allows a person to give birth, rather than an Alpha like his wife Hiromu, the couple finds it hard to adjust to their union.

Fortunately, the family is not so alone in their woes as their son becomes attached to their next-door college neighbor, Yuuki Hirai. Life seems to be going smoothly for the family till a presence from the family’s past threatens to take away the peaceful life they are trying to build.

3 Love Live! Superstar!! Season 3

MyAnimeList Score: 7.79

• Production Studio: Sunrise Studio
• Streaming Platforms: Prime Video, Crunchyroll
• Premiere: Fall 2024

The third season of the Love Live! Superstar!! Series kicks off with the Love Live! Competition drawing to a close, and Kanon Shibuya accepting an offer to study abroad and eventually leaving the school idol group. However, Kanon’s study abroad does not exactly go to plan, due to the request of Wien Margarete’s parents, asking her to remain in Japan for another year for their daughter, Wien.

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While Kanon tries to sort out herself, Wien decides to start an idol group of her own. Wanting to appease Wien’s parents and just not to waste Wien’s determination, Kanon joins Wien’s new group and recruits a former group member’s sister to complete their trio. However, while Kanon’s new group focuses on looking past the controversial Wien, her old group is still struggling from the aftermath of losing their best lead.

2 Laid-Back Camp Season 3

MyAnimeList Score: 8.02

• Production Studio: Studio 8Bit
• Streaming Platforms: Prime Video, Crunchyroll
• Premiere: Spring 2024

Returning with a third season for the Spring 2024 anime season, Laid-Back Camp is another of the year’s much-anticipated returns, and with it, returns the camp-loving protagonist, Rin Shima. The season starts off with the Outdoor Activities Club reveling in their DIY club experiments, a feeling that manages to infect Nadeshiko Kagamihara, making her want to go camping one more.

However, for Rin and Ayano Toki, that is just one of the many plans as the pair invite Nadeshiko to camp with them near the Ooi River. Eagerly accepting their invite, the three girls can not contain their excitement, immediately getting their camping plans underway.

1 Natsume’s Book of Friends Season 7

MyAnimeList Score: 8.67

The most seasoned representative of the slice-of-life genre, Natsume’s Book of Friends returned with a sort of reflective/celebratory overview of the young Natsume, a reflective mix of his past, present, and the unknown future. Now a high school student, Natsume is becoming more accepting of his ability to see youkai as more a blessing than a curse.

Outgrowing wounds from the past while creating great friendships, Natsume finds that all aspects of his life including his duty as the holder of the Book of Friends have started to become interlaced to the point of becoming one with him. Even more interestingly, there is still a lot more to explore in the world around him.

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