I'm wondering how many other successful series there are that are character driven, without any sci-fi or fantasy elements in the plot.
Ones without any overriding narrative that I can think of off the top of my head (sketch format):
Azumanga Daioh
Lucky Star
Ones with a narrative set in present day:
Kodomo no Omocha
Nodame Cantabile
Kareshi Kanojo no Jijuu
Hana Yori Dango
Marmalade Boy
All those damn sports anime/manga
Maison Ikkoku
But aside from Nodame Cantabile, all of these are older series. Hell, some of them were animated in the eighties.
What other ones are out there that are set firmly in modern day (or what counted for modern day when they were made) that actually made it to some modicum of popularity?