While action may be a spectacle and drama can be intriguing, sometimes the best anime are laid-back slice-of-life series. Slice-of-life is an absolutely pivotal genre in anime, as it can show the small intricacies of day-to-day life that be affirming. Sometimes, after a difficult day, nothing beats unwinding with a great slice-of-life anime.

While slice-of-life is its own genre, it is certainly a diverse one. Slice-of-life anime can be about school life, city life, rural life, and can even have a slightly mystical twist. More than just simple though, all these series can almost be healing as their more peaceful nature shines through. The best laid-back slice-of-life anime are peaceful enough to make fans forget the world and their problems for a little while, and sometimes, that's exactly what's needed.

20 Silver Spoon

Based on the manga of the same name by Fullmetal Alchemist creator Hiromu Arakawa, Silver Spoon is a slice-of-life anime about a young man named Yuugo Hachiken who moves from the city to a rural town after failing his high school entrance exams. Far from the action and intrigue of Fullmetal Alchemist, Arakawa pulled on her own background growing up on a farm for Silver Spoon. What this series does share with Fullmetal Alchemist is Arakwa's keen eye for character as the series' cast is endlessly entertaining.

19 Natsume's Book of Friends

Natsume's Book of Friends is about the titular Natsume, a young man who can talk to spirits called yokai. After the death of his grandmother, Natsume is given an incredibly valuable book containing the names of more than a hundred Yokai who were previously in the service of Natsume's grandmother. Natsume makes it his mission to nullify the contracts of each spirit in the book so that they can move on to the afterlife. While Natsume's Book of Friends does feature more than a few evil yokai that require a bit more effort to confront, the series is quite calming with its focus on nature and healing. As strange as it sounds, an anime about ghosts and spirits can still be one of the best laid-back slice-of-life-anime.

18 Komi Can't Communicate

Komi Can't Communicate focuses on a girl named Komi who becomes popular in high school due to her seemingly stoic beauty. Despite the attention she gets though, Komi's apparent stoicism is actually due to difficulties in communicating with others. Together with an average-appearing boy named Hitohito Tadano, Komi makes it her goal to break out of the shell of anxiety and make 100 friends. Though the series does deal with Komi's anxiety and inability to communicate, the series is overall quite positive and affirming as viewers watch Komi grow more and more comfortable around others.

17 Nichijou - My Ordinary Life

More on the silly end of slice-of-life, Nichijou is a hilarious series where the stakes are small and the jokes are big. This slice-of-life classic follows a group of girls as they navigate life in a small town. What makes Nichijou so remarkable is how well it uses animation to tell its jokes. Instead of just relying on funny dialogue or situations, the series truly gets the most out of being an anime by including plenty of visual gags that are an absolute riot. When looking for slice-of-life comedies, anime fans really can't go wrong with Nichijou.

16 Do It Yourself!!

A new show for the fall 2022 lineup, Do It Yourself!! is set in near-future Japan, and follows Serufu Yua, a clumsy teenager who decides to join the DIY club at her new school after meeting the club's president, Rei. Do It Yourself!! has a distinct and striking visual style and an ensemble cast of memorable characters. The show highlights the budding relationships the club members form, as well as Serufu's dynamic with her childhood best friend and neighbor, Miku. Do It Yourself!! manages to combine coziness and humor in every episode, helped along by the antics of Serufu's pets.

15 Kiyo In Kyoto: From The Maiko House

The protagonists of Kiyo in Kyoto are childhood best friends Kiyo and Sumire, who moved to Kyoto prior to the show's start in order to become maiko, or trainee geisha. Things didn't go quite to plan for the pair though, as while Sumire prospered in training, Kiyo struggled, and was eventually dismissed. All was not lost for Kiyo though, as she quickly proved herself in another way, becoming the maiko house's new cook. Kiyo in Kyoto sees the two friends flourish in their own roles, and provides insight into both the maiko lifestyle and Japanese cooking.

14 Deaimon: Recipe For Happiness

Deaimon sees the main character Nagomu Irino return home to his family's traditional sweet shop after years away, only to find that in his absence a young girl, Itsuka, has been taken in by his family and is expected to inherit the shop in his stead. What follows is a competition, with both Nagomu and Itsuka trying to prove that they are capable of running the store, and the pair develop a charming sibling-like bond along the way. Deaimon shows the skill that goes into making wagashi, traditional Japanese confectioneries and shows how making new and unlikely connections can help people to evolve.

13 Wakakozake

In spite of its short runtime, with episodes only lasting for two minutes each, Wakakozake manages to perfectly capture the feeling of enjoying comfort food. Wakakozake follows protagonist Wakako Murasaki, a woman in her mid-twenties with a full-on job, who chooses to unwind after work by visiting local restaurants and other food establishments. Once there, she chooses whatever catches her eye, and pairs her pick with an alcoholic drink. Simple and lighthearted, Wakakozake is a great dose of relaxation that can be easily enjoyed even by those with very little free time.

12 Super Cub

When Super Cub begins, its protagonist Koguma is very lonely. She has no family, no friends, no real hobbies, and lives a quiet and isolated life. This all changes when Koguma buys herself a motorbike, which leads her to meet two other girls at her school who also ride. Super Cub is a quiet anime that shows what a big impact a beloved hobby can have on a person's life, and Koguma's gradual progression over the course of the series is heartwarming to watch unfold. The series also details the care that goes into maintaining a motorbike and pays attention to the little things.

11 A Place Further than the Universe

Produced by Studio Madhouse in 2018, A Place Further than the Universe is a slice-of-life series with an interesting hook. The series follows a group of four high school girls who join an expedition to Antarctica. Despite the harsh climate the main four girls find themselves in, A Place Further than the Universe is a relentlessly positive series that wears its heart on its sleeve. There's just something so genuine and comfortable about the relationship between Mari, Shirase, Hinata, and Yuzuki that makes this series an instant classic slice-of-life anime.

10 Flying Witch

Flying Witch is an iyashikei anime that follows Makoto, a young witch who, at the start of the story, moves to live with her relatives in the Aomori prefecture as part of her training. The series follows her new life there in a way that's both comedic and heartwarming. A perfect choice for fans of Kiki's Delivery Service, Flying Witch showcases the small quirks of Makoto's witchcraft and how it evolves as she spends time with her family and friends. Focusing on life's small pleasures among the beautiful scenery, every Flying Witch episode is full of comfort.

9 Restaurant To Another World

One of the best food-related anime to be released in recent years, Restaurant To Another World is set in a restaurant that, once a week, secretly opens its doors to a magical realm, serving up great food to mythical creatures like elves and mermaids. Whilst this series does make use of many fantasy and isekai genre traditions, its ultimate focus is on the personal stories of the restaurant's staff and customers, rather than their heroic exploits. With its mouthwatering dishes and sense of escapism, Restaurant To Another World is a fantastic blend of genres.

8 Diary Of Our Days At The Breakwater

Following a trend in slice-of-life anime that focuses on characters discovering a new hobby, Diary Of Our Days At The Breakwater sees protagonist Hina moving back to her old hometown, where she both reconnects with a childhood friend and joins her school's fishing club. Each episode has Hina and her fellow club members either going fishing or gathering supplies to do so, and whilst such a concept could sound boring, the series' focus on Hina's friendships and developing affinity for her club as she overcomes her fears makes for a laid back, sweet watch.

7 Sweetness And Lightning

Featuring one of the best dads in anime, Sweetness and Lightning may not initially seem like a relaxing series, particularly when its set-up reveals that protagonist Kōhei is looking after his young daughter, Tsumugi, after the death of his wife, but the story's focus on the pair's wholesome bond outweighs its heavier moments. Following Kōhei's decision to learn how to cook nourishing meals for his daughter, and with the assistance of high schooler and fantastic cook, Kotori, Sweetness and Lightning is a gentle anime that thrives on showing the benefits of a great home-cooked meal.

6 Laid-Back Camp

Laid-Back Camp (also known as Yuru Camp) is a series that follows a group of friends on their camping adventures, led by newbie, Nadeshiko, and longtime solo-camper, Rin. Nadeshiko's outgoing nature works as a great contrast to Rin's introverted personality, and the two learn a lot from one another on each trip they take. Characterized by its cozy atmosphere, beautiful scenery, and dedication to quiet moments of perfection, whether found in the food the campers make or the hot springs they visit, Laid-Back Camp is an iyashikei anime that perfectly showcases the benefits of the outdoors.

5 K-On!

One of the best anime about music, K-On! centers around a group of girls that join their school's light music club to stop it from disbanding, and then form a band and develop their musical style. A well-known series with plenty to satisfy both comedy and musical anime fans, K-On!'s friendship dynamics are also very memorable. Though some plot points carry over multiple episodes, as a slice-of-life this anime, it is also notable for having great seasonal episodes, perfect to watch for both the summer and winter months.

4 Aria

Aria is a fantastical slice-of-life anime series set in the city of Neo-Venezia, a futuristic place on the planet Aqua. It follows new arrival, Akari, as she strives to become a tour guide and gondolier (a gondola operator), learning about her dream career and the history of her new home. Though Aria is significantly longer in terms of episodes than many slice-of-life series, its unhurried pace keeps the watching experience laid back. Its unique setting makes every episode interesting, whilst the accompanying soundtrack acts as a perfect addition to the show's feel.

3 Let's Make A Mug Too

An anime featuring an obscure but fun club, Let's Make a Mug Too focuses on Himeno, who moves with her father to the city where her mother was from. Having lost her mother when she was young, Himeno is surprised to learn that she was an incredibly talented pottery maker, and so she joins her school's pottery club. With fantastic characters and a particular concentration on Mino ware pottery, Let's Make a Mug Too is a fabulous story about reconnection that also teaches the audience in a gentle way, and will have viewers longing to join a pottery class.

2 Barakamon

Barakamon follows a young professional calligrapher, Seishu Handa, who is sent by his father to live on a small island after having an angry outburst at someone who criticized his calligraphy style. Whilst there, Seishu meets a whole host of delightful villagers and continues to develop his skills as a calligrapher. One of the villagers that Seishu meets is a young girl named Naru, whose energetic and inquisitive personality is a direct contrast to Seishu's own. Barakamon showcases Seishu's evolving connection to both his craft and the new people he meets, with both comedy and lightness.

1 Non Non Biyori

Perhaps one of the most well-known slice-of-life series, Non Non Biyori takes place in a small countryside village and follows the daily life of a new resident, Hotaru, alongside her new friends, where the total student population is just five. Another iyashikei story, Non Non Biyori follows Hotaru and friends as they navigate life in such a rural area, where many of the nearest shops are miles away, and shows how they fill their time surrounded by nature.

While anime is famous for its over-the-top action, some of the best anime series of all time are peaceful stories that look more at a person's day-to-day life. Slice-of-life has always been a part of anime for good reason, as it can be a relaxing way to unwind after a stressful day. Far from boring though, even the most laid-back slice-of-life anime feature great characters and compelling stories. The best laid-back slice-of-life anime are the perfect shows to watch during tough times.