As the year trickles down, sometimes it’s nice to have a couple of laid back anime to enjoy. I’ll be covering some nice shows that will give you a better perspective into genres that shy away from action and more into daily life, or “slice of life”, as they call it.

Kimi Ni Todoke

This is a very popular pick by most people, and rightfully so. It has a nice balance of comedy, character interactions, and pleasant atmosphere. There’s nothing that will make you regret any of the character’s action, and will have you rooting for the characters as they progress through the show. It’s a nice take on daily school life and the connections that are formed through friendship. The real charm of the show is how subtle the characters can be, but that does not take away from the core plot at all. Each character is unique and brings something to the story.

Say “I Love You” : Sukitte Ii na yo

I love this series to no end, manga and anime adaptation included. While the manga has more of a “raw” feeling to it, the anime does a good job keeping true to what the manga was portraying. For me, this series covers many aspects that anyone can relate to, and each character represents that little quirk we may have experienced. It covers a lot of what people may feel on the daily basis, and it explores how the characters go about it. While they didn’t cover my favorite arc, they did do the manga justice, which is all I can ask for.

Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun : My Little Monster

The art for this series is what really got me hooked, and the characters were an excellent bonus that comes along with it. While the plot of the series is a bit on the generic side, and may even frustrate you, there is enough to keep you entertained and prevent you from deterring away from it. It’ll take a bit of love to enjoy, but it’s actually really refreshing watch. Not to mention the comedy and character interactions have some of my favorite scenes in anime to date.

Natsume Yuujinchou : Natsume’s Book of Friends

Trust me when I say you’re going to invest a lot of time into this one. It’s long, but great. While it has many seasons for you to enjoy, each one brings out beautiful aspects about life and growing up. Most of this show has left me itching for more as the main character goes about “growing up” and coming to terms with himself. You grow with the character as he continues to discover more about his abilities and how it can affect others as well. In the truest sense, this show will give you a different perspective of storytelling than you’re probably used to.

Yojouhan Shinwa Takikei: Tatami Galaxy

This show is a bit on the artistic side. It’ll take some getting used to, as it is a style you may not be familiar with if you’re new to anime. Beyond that though are the adventures of a college student trying to figure out what to do with his life. You follow the adventures of the main character as he tries to figure what exactly he’s trying to figure out, while trying to enjoy life and the friends he makes. This show is unique, both in execution and style, and it may seem a bit strange at first, but after an episode or two you’ll start enjoying it. Everything about the show is open and not afraid to get in your face about the details, and such raw shows are hard to come by these days.