1. Barakamon
Synopsis: Calligrapher Seishuu Handa punches a judge of an art exposition who calls his work mediocre. His father then “exiles” him from Tokyo to a remote village, and hilarious antics ensue.
In a new environment, Handa works on his calligraphy and does some growing up with the help of eccentric and loveable locals of the island, including the loveable village rascal Naru. As the anime progresses, Handa learns to be less uptight and works to find his unique voice as a calligrapher.
Genre: Slice-of-life
Seasons: 1 (Complete)
What’s so great about it: This is an uplifting show where the portrayal of all the characters is very tender and sincere despite it being a comedy where a lot of the jokes come at the expense of the characters. Moreover, at its core, the show is about creativity – finding the right balance between technical skills and personal voice.
2. Non Non Biyori
Synopsis: Non Non Biyori follows four children through their day-to-day lives in rural Japan. All the characters vary in age and are in different grades. Since they live in the “sticks”, there are only five students in the school. The sole school teacher teaches them all in the same classroom. The students then go through numerous light-hearted adventures both inside and outside the school.
Genre: Slice-of-life, Comedy
Seasons: Three Seasons and a Movie (Completed)
What’s so great about it: This show shows the world through the world of children, invoking nostalgia in the viewers not only for the memories of the past but also about how they viewed the world when they were younger. The characters live in a very small village with just two shops. But in this small world, the characters are able to find so much excitement, joy, beauty, and wonder that there is never a dull moment.
3. Flying Witch
Synopsis: The anime follows a witch-in-training Makoto, who moves in with her relatives as a part of her training. We then follow Makoto through her daily life as she balances her life as a high-school student and an apprentice witch.
Genre: Slice of life
Seasons: One (Completed)
What’s so great about it: The world of this anime treats magic as a completely normal thing. By doing so, the anime juxtapositions the mundane day-to-day life events with the fantastic ones and show the viewers how magical and amazing the mundane things that we take for granted are.
4. Yuru Camp ∆
Synopsis: Yuru Camp follows two friends Rin and Nadeshiko who are both into camping – the former more interested in camping by herself, especially in the winter while the latter joins the school’s Outdoor Activities Club as she falls in love with camping.
Genre: Slice-of-life, Comedy
Seasons: Two Seasons, Two Specials and One Upcoming Movie (On-going)
What’s so great about it: This was a show by an unknown animation house that became popular to everyone’s surprise. The appeal of the show lies in what it tries to uphold and romanticize – relaxation or the art of doing nothing. Even while camping, they don’t opt for extreme remoteness or hard work, instead, it shows the contentment and happiness the girls’ experience. This show is more popular in Japan compared to outside of the country and has even increased the number of campers in the country. In a country with such work-driven culture like Japan, this anime is the antithesis of contemporary urban life in Japan.
5. Hinamatsuri
Synopsis: Yakuza member Nitta is chillaxing in his apartment where a pod housing a psychic teenage girl, Hina, appears out of thin air. The show then follows the two of them living together and Hina adjusting to her life on Earth. There is another excellent subplot involving another psychic girl Anzu who’s life on Earth takes a different turn than that of Hina.
Genre: Sci-fi, Slice-of-life
Seasons: One (On-going)
What’s so great about it: This is a very funny show and you can never predict what will happen next. Along with the top-notch humour, the show has a heart that makes all the characters so likeable and warm. All the characters in the show, including the side characters, are shown to be morally complex instead and none of the characters are ever villianized.
