You know what’s my favorite genre in anime? Well, it’s an easy guess: slice of life—the purest and most life-affirming genre there is.

If you asked me the same thing 10 years ago, I would’ve said I preferred “edgy, brutal, and deep” shows. Or just the usual shonen titles.

But things change.

I’ve grown up, and so has my taste. Good anime doesn’t always have to include big fights and long arcs. Anime where “literally nothing happens” isn’t devoid of value. It can actually be extremely compelling! You just have to know where to look.

With this in mind, let me show you my picks for the best slice of life anime of all time.

50. Honobono Log

Starting off the list is Honobono Log, a short series that doesn’t look like typical anime. It’s more like the typical cutesy Korean illustrations you find on social media.

So what do I like about this? For one, it’s short and sweet. You can finish all 10 episodes in 20 minutes—that’s how short it is. Yet Honobono Log presents all the tender yet very much ordinary moments of people in love, reminding us that it’s not all about grand romantic gestures.

49. Demi-chan wa Kataritai (Interviews with Monster Girls)

Should all monsters go about eating humans and ravaging cities? In Demi-chan wa Kataritai, we have half-human, half-monster entities interacting with perfectly ordinary humans in school.

It’s an odd world, to say the least. What I love about this anime is its theme of tolerance and acceptance. It teaches us that differences in physical appearance are just that—we all still share the same emotions that make us human. As the MC Tetsuo Takahashi gets to know more about a bratty vampire or an introverted snow woman, you can learn a thing or two about not judging a book by its cover.

48. Isekai Shokudō (Restaurant to Another World)

Are you tired of all the seemingly endless barrage of generic isekai entries? I don’t blame you. Ever since Sword Art Online took the world by storm, studios have been on the lookout for the next big hit.

In contrast to the usual action-packed isekai, Isekai Shokudo is about the joys of eating and discovering gastronomic pleasures. And you know why it works? It’s because the diners of this otherwise typical Japanese restaurant are all from the fantasy world: elves, faeries, dragons, leonine warriors, sorcerers, knights, biped reptiles. It makes you appreciate the meals and snacks you have, no matter how cheap or common they are.

47. Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu ka? (Is the Order a Rabbit?)

Often referred to as GochiUsa, this is the first Cute Girls Doing Cute Things (CGDCT) entry on my list. It doesn’t rewrite the subgenre, but the main characters are effectively endearing.

Plus, GochiUsa isn’t concentrated in school. Five of the young girls are waitresses, so they also have “adventures” in the cafe and around town. Almost everything is normal in their world, except for the small talking rabbit of Chino Kafuu. If anything, GochiUsa would be better off without that one fanservice episode.

46. Kono Bijutsubu ni wa Mondai ga Aru! (This Art Club Has a Problem!)

I didn’t expect to like Konobi as much as I did. When I saw the teaser before its 2016 release, I found the art plain—and it was throughout the series.

But like any good SoL title, Konobi had a cast that meshed well together. You may get tired of Ari getting flustered around Yuusuke, and this is more energetic and comedic than relaxing. But some jokes (like Yuuseke’s preference for 2D waifus) always make me chuckle.

45. Gabriel DropOut

Here’s the thing: I love online RPGs. So when Gabriel DropOut came out and featured an angel who was supposed to help humankind but ends up playing video games, I knew I was in for a good ride.

The fallen angel Gabriel was the hook. But what kept me watching was Satanichia, an adorable demon who’s often put in bad situations. There’s nothing apocalyptic about Gabriel DropOut, but there’s something appealing with seeing cute demons and angels in school, acting like the complete opposite of what they were born to be.

44. Amaama to Inazuma (Sweetness & Lightning)

Amaama to Inazuma isn’t about cute schoolgirls. Instead, it’s about a widowed father wishing to be a good father to his kid—and that’s where a schoolgirl and cooking come into play.

Kouhei doesn’t know how to cook, but he wants his little girl Tsumugi to grow up healthy. This leads him to his student, Kotori Iida, who has a family restaurant. Kotori herself isn’t good at cooking, but she has the resources to help Kouhei. This isn’t a cooking show; it’s a show that uses cooking to depict the importance of home-cooked meals, social bonding, and of being part of a family, even if you aren’t all biologically related.

43. Saint☆Onii-san (Saint☆Young Men)

Can two people of different religions live together in peace? What if those two people were the key figures themselves? In Saint Onii-san, we have no less than Jesus Christ and Gautama Buddha living together in Tokyo, with no apocalyptic event surrounding them. They just go to saunas and check out clothing stores. It’s an odd series, but simply putting two iconic characters in a mundane setting makes it stand out. Definitely check out the nearly 90-minute movie if you have the time.

42. Mangaka-san to Assistant-san to The Animation

Mangaka-san to Assistant-san to is, well, from a manga series. The source material is relatively popular, which is probably due in part to its ecchi element.

The manga artist Yuuki Aito loves drawing panties and is surrounded by women. Yes, this is a harem show. But hear me out: It’s entertaining. And it helps a lot that it’s just 14 minutes long per episode. Mangaka-san to Assistant-san to is average in terms of technical aspects. But like Prison School, it goes all out in its comedic pervertedness, producing some of the most embarrassing anime scenes of all time.

41. Kiniro Mosaic (KINMOZA!)

If you’re a regular on Twitch or just familiar with internet culture, you’ve likely heard people say “ayaya” repeatedly. That meme’s from Kiniro Mosaic’s Karen Kujou, who’s also the source of the “desu” song.

Yet Kiniro Mosaic is more than cutesy memes. It’s an undoubtedly sweet CGDCT series featuring girls who know a thing or two about British and Japanese culture. Don’t let Karen steal the show for you. Characters like Oomiya Shinobu and Inokuma Youko have shining moments as well. Also, if you liked season 1, then you’ll be pleased to know season 2 manages to get even better!

40. Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun (My Little Monster)

I love this show. I wish I could place this higher, but SoL is a difficult genre for me to organize because I have so many favorites. If I could have one anime continue until it has adapted the entire source material, I’d choose this in a heartbeat. I just think the character dynamics here are amazing, and I love the fact that Haru has a chicken named Nagoya. Simply put, Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun is school and dating life done right. Give the soundtrack a listen too—it’s one of the best I’ve heard from anime in the past decade.

39. Azumanga Daioh

There are a few anime series that are regarded as pioneers in their respective genres. The 2002 series Azumanga Daioh is one of the first-ever successful slice-of-life (and CGDCT) anime out there. Perhaps the key factor to its achievements is that Azumanga Daioh had a complete adaptation. In other words, everything in the manga is in the anime, covering everything from freshman year to graduation. Later on in my list, you’ll be seeing more shows that this anime had influenced. Plus, did you know that the waifu meme originated here?

38. Lucky Star

Here’s another classic slice-of-life and CGDCT anime, with one of the most infectious opening themes ever. The song alone is great, but it even has an entire dance sequence otakus couldn’t help but cover. What do I love the most about Lucky Star? Everything is delightful. But Konata Izumi absolutely steals the show every time she’s in a scene, and it helps that she’s also an avid otaku and video gamer like me. The humor here isn’t for everyone, and some may feel that scenes drag out, but Lucky Star will always be one of the early shows that catapulted Kyoto Animation into fame in the industry.

37. Yuru Yuri (YuruYuri: Happy Go Lily)

Continuing the CGDCT streak, we have Yuru Yuri, a three-season title. Arguably known mostly for its talent in creating CGDCT anime, Yuru Yuri also features lesbians, as the title suggests. But don’t think that this focuses on serious or erotic scenes. Instead, Yuru Yuri is still a show where girls hang out in their club room and at school in general. The jokes themselves are funny, but the comedic timing and the delivery all add to the hilarity. If you haven’t noticed, anime forums often have reaction faces of two Yuru Yuri characters: Kyouko Toshinou and Akari Akaza.

36. Udon no Kuni no Kiniro Kemari (Poco’s Udon World)

Sweetness & Lightning and Poco’s Udon World often get compared to each other because they feature a guy who takes care of a child. But here, the kid can transform into a tanuki or the Japanese raccoon dog. If you often get nostalgic or think back to your childhood, give this a try. As much as Poco is a cute tanuki boy, the real value comes from Souta. As he goes back to his hometown, he begins to see his relationship with his father and the townspeople in a whole different light. Poco’s Udon World is a peaceful show that teaches viewers to appreciate what they have and once had.

35. Genshiken

If you think club members fighting over the appeal of Boys’ Love (BL) anime is entertainment, then I’ve got wonderful news: Genshiken is all about teenagers with a great passion for all things otaku, including BL. It feels a bit slow at first, but it feels realistic—new otaku club members being awkward to each other isn’t hard to imagine. Genshiken has a few OVAs and three seasons, and while the characters age and move on with their lives, the same otaku-specific hilarity has always been there.

34. Danna ga Nani wo Itteiru ka Wakaranai Ken (I Can’t Understand What My Husband Is Saying)

This is arguably my all-time favorite short anime. With each episode being just three minutes long, you can watch both 13-episode seasons in one sitting—and yet it manages to be more rewarding than far longer anime. Danna ga Nani wo Itteiru ka Wakaranai Ken centers around the married life of Kaoru and her otaku husband Hajime. The anime is filled with tropes (many of them being from Neon Genesis Evangelion). Aside from its relatability, the anime is a standout for how it shifts from absurd hilarity to moments of introspection when either main character realizes how lucky they are to have found each other.

33. Eve no Jikan (Time of Eve)

You can watch the award-winning Time of Eve in six episodes or just check out the compilation movie. Regardless, this is a distinct SoL anime for many reasons. Two being its strong sci-fi element and futuristic setting. Eve no Jikan is an exploration of the Three Laws of Robotics as stated by Isaac Asimov. Androids are now common, but how should humans treat them? If there’s anything to pick up from this, it’s the stellar writing. The tension and emotion brought out of words and conversations are outstanding.

32. Mitsuboshi Colors

I read the manga way before the adaptation was announced, and I’m happy to say that the anime did it justice. Silver Link has always been excellent with backgrounds—and they didn’t disappoint here. Mitsuboshi Colors is silly, which is expected of a show about three little girls with a secret base. But it’s more childlike and less childish. They just solve little mysteries prepared by the old Daigorou. Nothing really happens, but it’s cute to see how they’re always thinking of the next fun thing to do. One episode even has them pondering about the obliteration of humanity for the wrong reasons.

31. Flying Witch

Warning: Flying Witch is relaxing. Set in the countryside, you follow Makoto Kowata as she travels to Aomori to train in witchcraft. But don’t think that it’s like Harry Potter or Little Witch Academia. Yes, you’ll see a mandrake making noise and you’ll see sorcery now and then. But the surrounding nature makes Flying Witch a comforting watch. It’s like going on a vacation to hang out with your cousins. JC Staff doesn’t always do well in animating their projects, but they did surprisingly well with Flying Witch. The visuals are cool to the eyes, and the characters’ clothes have this brush effect to them.

30. Sakura Trick

Sakura Trick features girls who kiss and aren’t afraid to show affection toward another. Yes, it’s yuri. But it’s also not like most yuri anime. Fanservice is abundant here, but it never feels out of place. The show also isn’t filled with hypersexualized characters and unearned drama. In contrast, Sakura Trick is lighthearted. The girls here don’t behave like adults—they act and speak like the teenagers they are. If you’re not a fan of yuri, you may not like this. On the other hand, this may be the one yuri anime that even non-yuri fans may appreciate because of the amazing cast and solid animation.

29. Kimi to Boku. (You and Me.)

From a group of girls who love fellow girls, we move to a bunch of guys. They don’t fall for each other, but they’re clearly designed for BL enthusiasts—the boys look and behave like the ideal boyfriend. But seriously, this is a great show about childhood friends (and one guy from Germany) spending their high school days together. It’s charming, and you can’t help but wish to see them all grow together in college as well. Once again, JC Staff has blessed SoL fans with a solid, multi-season series.

28. Silver Spoon

Whenever a thread about anime wishlists comes up, someone will always say they want a second season of Silver Spoon—and I totally understand why. It’s such a breath of fresh air from all the typical SoL hits running the same formula. Yes, the MC is a high school student, but the setting isn’t the city—it’s the countryside. And while he still goes to school, he’s forced to learn new ways of living. Here, his supreme knowledge won’t help him in caring for