Shonen anime are known for their hackneyed tropes and action-packed sequences. They usually feature a brave protagonist with a big dream. Many of them fight with everything they have for that goal, sacrificing a lot in the process. However, some shonen anime simply reflect the daily lives of their characters.

Slice-of-life shonen anime are stories about (mostly) ordinary people living their lives. Many are romantic, but others are simply stories of ordinary or slightly extraordinary people trying to get through the day. That doesn’t make them boring at all. These anime are some of the funniest and most heartwarming shows that fans should put on their watchlist.

10 Tsuredure Children is a hilarious drinking binge

Crunchyroll

Tsuredure Children is a romantic anthology series about the difficulties of high school love stories. The anime follows several couples who already know or already know each other. As the couples struggle in their relationships, typical anime shenanigans ensue. Many of the problems are hilariously awkward or comically endearing. However, there are also genuine moments of sweetness.

Tsuredure Children is the perfect shonen slice-of-life anime for anyone looking for a dose of romantic comedy. The story explores different types of relationships and each episode is around twelve minutes long. This anime is a short binge with plenty of laughs waiting for any viewer willing to give it a try.

9 Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid traverses magical and real worlds

Crunchyroll

Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid is a hilarious story about a lonely young woman whose life changes when she meets a dragon named Tohru. Tohru falls in love with her and decides to show her love by moving into Kobayashi’s house and becoming her personal maid. Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid has many funny characters besides Tohru, as several other dragons decide to invade the human world.

Their energy in contrast to Kobayashi’s general depression makes for countless hilarious interactions. Kyoto Animation’s art style is also bright and colorful, making it impossible to have a bad day while watching this entertaining show. This anime may not be for everyone due to some raunchy content. But for those who are the right age, Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid is a great addition to most anime fans’ repertoire.

8 My Dress-Up Darling delves into the world of cosplay

Crunchyroll

My favorite dress is a real-life shonen anime rooted in anime fan culture. Wakana Gojo is a lonely young man who only wants to make beautiful hina dolls like his grandfather. However, he knows that most boys wouldn’t be into such a hobby, so he isolates himself. Until he meets Marin Kitagawa.

Marin notices Gojo’s sewing skills and convinces him to help her sew her cosplay outfits. The two team up to help Marin achieve her cosplay dreams with beautiful outfits and fancy photoshoots. Like any good romantic anime, things get exciting as the two get closer. This anime offers a fun look into the world of cosplay while also dealing with the difficulties of love. It’s an entertaining anime with great characters that has fans eagerly awaiting a second season.

7 Silver Spoon brings the audience closer to life in agriculture

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Silver spoon is based on a manga by the legendary mangaka Hiromu Arakawa. Arakawa grew up on a dairy farm and wrote this story based on her experiences. The anime, Silver spoon focuses on a young man named Yuugo Hachiken. Hachiken attends an agricultural high school despite having little interest in the subject after becoming completely burned out at his private middle school in the city. Now Hachiken spends his days outdoors, helping with chores before sunrise and learning to appreciate the amount of work and emotion that goes into farming.

Silver spoon is a surprisingly emotional anime, but one that also has a lot of heart. The characters seem like they could exist in real life. The story also shows the pleasant and not so pleasant aspects of farming. Hachiken and the audience learn that life is not always about the achievements you can make, but about the care you show to others. Silver spoon is an anime that teaches as much as it entertains and is an underrated gem.

6 Komi Can’t Communicate is a portrait of social anxiety

Netflix

Komi cannot communicate is a cute anime about two teenagers who help each other and fall in love. Hitohito Tadano agrees to help Shoko Komi with her social anxiety and becomes her first boyfriend in high school. Their relationship blossoms from then on as they spend more time together.

This shonen slice-of-life anime is so good because it’s a simple story about friends with a loving romance at the center. The interactions between Tadano and Komi are so wholesome that it’s impossible not to like them. Plus, all of Komi’s new friends seem to represent some kind of anime trope, which only adds to the comedy of the rest of the show.

5 Hyouka is a mysterious slice-of-life anime

Crunchyroll

Hyouka follows a literature club devoted to solving mysteries, led by Houtarou Oreki. Oreki hoped to get through high school by doing the bare minimum, but Eru Chitanda thwarted that dream. Oreki, Chitanda, and the rest of the club members become embroiled in several school mysteries, which Oreki skillfully solves.

However, behind Oreki’s apathetic look lies a young heart in love. By solving puzzles together with Chitanda, Oreki has come to feel that life has a greater meaning. Although he tries to deny it, he can’t help but be intoxicated by the pretty and lively girl. Hyouka is a story that has questions at its core, but whose real highlights are the friendships and crushes that emerge. Hyouka also features stunning animations from Kyoto Animation.

4 is full of hilarious misunderstandings

Crunchyroll

Gamers! is a hilarious anime with plenty of awkward romance. The entire show revolves around an unusual group of friends who all enjoy playing in different ways. But the real attraction is the budding romance between Keita Amano and Karen Tendou. Karen is the most popular girl in school, but she is infatuated with Keita. However, Keita’s confidence is so low that he doesn’t notice. This spurs his other classmates to step in and help them get together.

Gamers! is full of hilarious misunderstandings. Each member of the friend group is involved in some sort of misunderstanding at some point, which only adds to the comedy. Much of the credit for the comedy goes to the voice actors. Each performance is delightfully wacky. This anime is perfect for anyone who loves over-the-top romantic anime-coms with a gaming twist.

3 Spy x Family is the ultimate anime for starting a family

Crunchyroll

Spy x Family has an undertone of espionage and an overtone of familial love. Special Agent Twilight, also known as Loid Forger, rounds up a wife and daughter to pose as a real family and get close to an important political figure. However, as the Forgers live together, they all begin to realize how much their little family means to them.

Yor Briar is a civil servant by day and an assassin by night. She is one of the most dangerous people in the world. And yet she is also one of the kindest mother figures in anime. Loid is the world’s greatest spy, but he also likes to share his experiences with his wife and daughter. And finally, Anya is a little girl with telepathic abilities who feels like she has finally found a place where she belongs. Spy x Family has a ridiculous premise but follows a real portrayal of a family forming. There are hints of a romance between Loid and Yor and Anya is one of the cutest messy kids on screen. This anime is perfect for someone looking for something fun and a little different in the shonen slice-of-life genre.

2 Horimiya is one of the most romantic anime

Crunchyroll

Horimiya is one of the most romantic anime with a happy ending. The series follows Izumi Miyamura and Kyoko Hori who fall in love. Unlike other romantic anime Horimiya shows the relationship between Miyamura and Hori from the first crush to the marriage proposal, without stopping at confessions. Hori and Miyamura have a relatable teenage romance full of insecurities and strong emotions.

Horimiya is one of the best shonen slice-of-life anime because it’s impossible not to get drawn into the story. Watching this anime makes the audience want to fall in love even deeper themselves. Even though they are young, Hori and Miyamura love each other so much that it goes beyond the screen. This anime about love and high school life is perfect for fans who love a lot of romance.

1 Freeze: Beyond Journey’s End is about being present

Crunchyroll

Freeze: Beyond Journey’s End is a unique anime. Although it is set in a fantasy setting with monster battles and magic spells, the series focuses more on the characters and their journeys than their conquests. Battles do exist in the series. They are only there to support the development of the characters.

Freeze really highlights the infinite passage of time and how precious the present is. Even beings who live for thousands of years are encouraged to take the time to be with their comrades. The show also revolves heavily around regret and how old memories can simultaneously hurt and comfort. Freeze: Beyond Journey’s End is a great anime that gives the audience room to think while also appreciating the beautiful, illustrated animation style.