Recommend me a slice-of-life anime

[Keela]

Okay, so summer break is officially in full swing. Since school has prevented me from watching a whole bunch of anime, I am prepared to soak in the stuff like the rotten little media sponge that I am. Problem is, I don't have many ideas of what to watch, since I don't tend to keep up with the medium.

So if you have anything in mind, I am all ears.

For reference:
I am not a fan of what I usually call "anime wackiness". Sorry if that phrase makes you want to reach through your computer screen and slap me in the mouth, but I don't know what else to call that hyper-kinetic tendency that some anime puts forth (Fruits Basket [first few episodes] irritated me too much to continue).
Humorous or not very humorous, either way is good with me.
Character development is the shit. Clannad made me care about its characters (except Nagisa for some reason) (and that little girl with the thing for stars was ANNOYING), and I cried like a TRUE MAN at points (I was shaking with tears when Kyou and Ryou had their moment towards the end).
I also liked Angel Beats. I cried at that one too. DAT FINAL CREDITS SEQUENCE.
I love romance. When done in a way that appeals to me, at least. Straight, gay/lesbian, bisexual, I can go for anything if the characters are compelling. Harem may not be at the top of my list, but hey, if it's good then it's good.
I'm ANOTHER DAMN SPICE AND WOLF FAN. That slow build made me one happy nerd.
Real-world or at least semi-believable fantasy is preferable. Believable, well-developed characters with believable interactions/problems is my type of stuff.


TL;DR version: Slice of life. Characterization. Low octane. Romance.
Just throw names at me, I'll try just about anything.

Sorry if I'm not making too much sense, MetroCon has left me sleep deprived. I would be more than happy to clarify anything, or to converse about this subject.

 

[sextus the crazy]

Don't know what you would consider wacky. Personally, I like Haruhi, Welcome to the NHK, and Kanon.

 

[Savo]

If you like Clannad and Angel Beats, Kanon (2006 version) and Air are guaranteed to please you (I don't know if you have already seen them). Same writer, same composer, and same animation company. I worship all of these series =)

Ef - a tale of memories is another excellent one. Great music, extremely stylish animation, and a story with a lot of romance, drama, and many a sad moment. It's very sincere and mature with little in the way of wackiness or comedy.

Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai (or Ano-Hana if that is too much of a mouthful) is another one that I can think of off the top of my head. It's another slice-of-life drama tinged with sadness, as it deals with what people do to cope with the loss of a friend.

Those are the best ones I can think of right now. Despite being a guy, I am a huge fan of tear-jerker anime dramas ever since watching Angel Beats. No other entertainment medium can make me shed as many manly tears like anime can.

 

[brom0220]

I'd recommend Spice and Wolf, but you've already seen it. And like me you love it. (Any word on Season 3?) So I'll just post this image and say look in the Slice of Life category (second from the right).

Sorry if the text is too small to read, just copy/paste it on your computer and zoom in using picture manager or something. I hope this doesn't cause too much lag. Anyway, this should tide you over for a while.

 

[wintercoat]

Ouran High School Host Club. I don't think it would fall into the 'wacky' category. Can be a bit...weird at times, but definitely not wacky.

 

[shadowstriker86]

cromartie high, school rumble, k-on, 3 of my favorites

 

[Jonluw]

Hyouka is one that's airing now.
Made by the same people who made K-On, Haruhi and Clannad.
Pretty good.

If you haven't seen Azumanga daioh, that's a must.

 

[Floggo]

Sakamichi no Apollon. Why hasn't anyone put this out yet? Also, there's one called Bartender too. I've yet to look at it, but I've heard good things.

 

[Riki Darnell]

Boys Be... is one I really liked a few years ago. It's pretty much real life and nothing crazy or wacky happens, but I think it has likeable characters.

 

[Savo]

Sakamichi no Apollon. Why hasn't anyone put this out yet?

I agree, Apollon is quite the good series. At first. I thought it looked like something I wouldn't enjoy, but I grew to love it.

I considered suggesting it, but didn't know if the OP is looking for ongoing series.

Hyouka is one that's airing now.
Made by the same people who made K-On, Haruhi and Clannad.
Pretty good.

Hyouka is interesting enough. Honestly, I doubt that it would be as interesting as it is without the god-tier production values, but it currently is a very fun show to watch even if its overall direction in the story is still pretty vague.

 

[Yggdraz0r]

Sakamichi no Apollon. Why hasn't anyone put this out yet?

I agree, Apollon is quite the good series. At first. I thought it looked like something I wouldn't enjoy, but I grew to love it.

I considered suggesting it, but didn't know if the OP is looking for ongoing series.

Hyouka is one that's airing now.
Made by the same people who made K-On, Haruhi and Clannad.
Pretty good.

Hyouka is interesting enough. Honestly, I doubt that it would be as interesting as it is without the god-tier production values, but it currently is a very fun show to watch even if its overall direction in the story is still pretty vague.

Chitanda <3. The main reason why I watch that show now .

 

[Bat Vader]

Oh man, I so recommend Durarara!! It is on of the best anime I have ever seen. It does have some supernatural elements to it, but the characters are great and there is humor and a great story.

Durarara is a really great anime. I absolutely love it.

On Topic: I would have to recommend Okami-san and Her Seven Companions and Lucky Star. Great Teacher Onizuka is another good one too.

 

[brom0220]

What did I just read?

Get a fucking job!!!!!!!!

Just so you know, life doesn't take a summer break...

Your parents wallet doesn't get a few months off because you think you deserve a break from real life...

ugghh

Why do people say such inflammatory things like this OP???

I can't tell if you're joking, serious, or trolling. The internet can sometimes be terrible at conveying sarcasm and humor.

If serious, I just wonder how you know this person doesn't have a job, or still lives with his parents. Maybe he's on break from college and is wondering what to do with the time he doesn't spend working.

Whatever, I'm just going to take that last line as a sign you were joking, and head to bed. Your post just piqued my curiosity, and at 4 a.m. I figured I'd check it out to test if my brain recognizes sarcasm this early in the morning.

 

[Thespian]

I'm gonna say Bakuman.

It's written by Ohba and Obata, who did Death Note. It's about two guys who decide to write manga (Wonder where they got the inspiration) in high school and it takes us through the process of them trying to get published.
Meanwhile, one of the main characters tries talking to the girl he has loved for years and he blurts out a marriage proposal due to nerves. He says "If my manga becomes an anime, will you voice the heroine?" (she wanted to be a voice actress) and then "Please marry me if our dreams come true!"

So it's a funny, interesting, often touching anime that teaches you a lot about the manga industry.

 

[Rumpsteak]

Look into Minami-ke and to a lesser extent (imo) it's following series. Spice and wolf is also good but I'm not entirely sure it's what you're looking for.

 

[Cheery Lunatic]

Sakamichi no Apollon. Why hasn't anyone put this out yet?

YOU SIR.
HAVE TASTE.
Thank God, I was starting to wonder if ANYONE on here keeps up with current anime.

Also, Tsuritama, Hyouka, NANA, & Hanasaku Iroha.

I mainly read slice-of-life stuff rather than watch. Hard to find any decent anime in that genre.

 

[Screamarie]

I'm going to reccomend anything by Studio Ghibli because...fuck it's Studio Ghibli, but one in particular (since you said slice of life) is My Neighbors the Yamadas. It's about a Japanese family and...that's it. It's little vignettes of their life, some connected, some not. It's just their everyday life, though there are bits where it gets a little metaphorical or silly. It's rather heartwarming and gentle.

And maybe Summer Wars. I'm not sure...you and I don't seem to have a lot of crossing anime favorits so I'm a bit at a loss as to what to reccomend you otherwise.