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Anime Without Fantasy or Sci/Fi (aka Slice of Life)Follow

#1 Feb 25 2009 at 4:44 PM Rating: Good
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?
#2 Feb 25 2009 at 5:31 PM Rating: Good
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Beck - Kid and his friends wanting to be rock stars, basically.

Monster - Man risks his career to save a dying boy. Hilarity Ensues! Actually, the Man very soon wonders if he made the correct decision.

20th Century Boys, and it's sequal 21st Century Boys - By the author of Monster, and about twice as good. A man living a normal life suddenly witness events happen that are playing out exactly like the villian in his childhood "Save the World" book that he and his friends drew up in a secret club. Who is behind these evils?
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#3 Feb 25 2009 at 6:11 PM Rating: Decent
I dont know if it counts as "slice of life" entierly but i know Zetsuboro Sensei was pretty good :P

i'm not sure how old they are though i know theres 2 different series though

o and Toradora that ones pretty slice of life like to
#4 Feb 25 2009 at 8:58 PM Rating: Decent
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Paranoia Agent
Kure-nai (with an ever so slight and minor scifi element)
Kimi ga Nozomu Eien

All have some mentionable merit and are relatively modern.

School Rumble
Ouran High School Host Club
Welcome to the NHK
Black Lagoon
Bamboo Blade
Noir

Are also modern and popular, though some may question their worth.
#5 Feb 26 2009 at 5:05 AM Rating: Good
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Might I suggest "Hyakko" if you're interested in Slice of Life? It's only up to episode 13, but it's not so bad. I usually end up watching it after over-the-top animes like One Piece to relax.

(Upon further review, apparently 13 episodes was the entire series. Goes to show how quickly I watch this stuff. Smiley: laugh)

Edited, Feb 26th 2009 8:08am by lolgaxe
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#6 Feb 26 2009 at 6:24 AM Rating: Good
I'd actually chalk up Noir to having some fantasy elements in it. All that bit about the "Trees" and whatnot.

Sayonara Zetsuba Sensei is relatively new. It's come out within the last two years.
#7 Feb 26 2009 at 9:07 AM Rating: Good
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Yakitate Japan is all about making bread. Yes, they have some crazy breads and over-reactions, but it's not over-the-top sci-fi/fantasy (except maybe the "Solar Hands" thing, but they make fun of it being like DBZ).

Also there's Genshiken. It's a manga/anime about anime lovers.
#8 Feb 26 2009 at 9:29 AM Rating: Good
Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei and its second season (Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei) are good slice of lifers. Welcome to the NHK is also good, and it has a parody of FFXI in a few of its episodes. You could also try the Key quartet, Air, Kanon, Clannad, and Clannad: After Story. Air and Kanon were adapted by KyoAni from their eroge counterparts (nothing ero in the anime) and Clannad is a galge. Air is rather depressing and has a few fantasy elements about it but nothing to take away from the main plot.
#9 Feb 26 2009 at 3:17 PM Rating: Decent
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catwho the Pest wrote:
I'd actually chalk up Noir to having some fantasy elements in it. All that bit about the "Trees" and whatnot.

Honestly all I remember about Noir is that that kept flashing back t the same seen every single episode. The rest of the plot was too absurd and boring for me to pay attention.
#10 Feb 26 2009 at 3:44 PM Rating: Excellent
Noir spoilers:

The girls were some sort of mythical descendants of assassins from the Inquisition. Or something. They didn't go into much by way of details, only saying that they cloistered Chloe and Kirika while they were young. Mirelle's family disobeyed the summons and they were assassinated (the scene you're thinking of) by Soldats as punishment, leaving Mirelle to be raised by a cousin's family instead. By then, Soldats decided to let Mirelle grow up with minimal interference, but as a result she wasn't quite as skilled as the other two.


Also, lesbians with guns. Also.

Watch Noir dammit.
#11 Feb 26 2009 at 4:23 PM Rating: Decent
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I did watch Noir, and I also don't see how you spoiler contradicts anything I said.^^
#12 Feb 26 2009 at 6:30 PM Rating: Excellent
Heheh yeah, the "watch it" was for everyone else.
#13 Feb 26 2009 at 6:52 PM Rating: Decent
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I found Noir's art style very surprising. At first I thought it was an exceptionally well animated series for something produced in the late 80s or early nineties. Then I read that it aired in 2001 and realized it was some awakward retro attempt. I found the whole series very visually nauseating.
#14 Feb 27 2009 at 1:08 AM Rating: Decent
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Friggin A cat, what DOESNT have some of either aspects in it? lol

Grave of the Fireflies?
Ruroni Kenshin

Umm....
Maison Ikkoku
Fruits Basket?
Fist of the North Star
Battle Athletes maybe...
Love Hina
Azumanga Daioh
Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu
Najica Blitz Tactics


wow, every other title i think of has either SciFi or Fantasy to some extent or another. Sorry that's not much to go on.
:3

Most of those, and the following, are pure guesses without having personally seen the series (got curious and decided to do some quick research):
Initial D
Saiunkoku
GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka
Burn Up
Comic Party ?



Edited, Feb 27th 2009 4:24am by RavenwindX

Edited, Feb 27th 2009 4:24am by RavenwindX
#15 Feb 27 2009 at 6:37 AM Rating: Good
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catwho the Pest wrote:
Noir spoilers:

The girls were some sort of mythical descendants of assassins from the Inquisition. Or something. They didn't go into much by way of details, only saying that they cloistered Chloe and Kirika while they were young. Mirelle's family disobeyed the summons and they were assassinated (the scene you're thinking of) by Soldats as punishment, leaving Mirelle to be raised by a cousin's family instead. By then, Soldats decided to let Mirelle grow up with minimal interference, but as a result she wasn't quite as skilled as the other two.


Also, lesbians with guns. Also.

Watch Noir dammit.


I think I bought the entire Noir series.

It was by far the worst purchase I ever made. I personally did NOT like the series. It was good enough for me to want to finish it, but it left me feeling incredibly disappointed overall. There was something wrong with it in my mind.... not sure if this was right, but I think it was a lack of blood. I know, sounds silly, right? But I felt like I was watching a rated PG movie or something; people were dying left and right, and all that ever happened is they clutched a part of their body and fell down.

I ended up selling it at a yard sale a few years back. The animation wasn't that good, the storyline had potential and then just sorta tapered off without explanations, and as said above, the silly lack of violence.

Just not my cup of tea; if you can find it for free go and watch, but I would advise NOT buying it.
#16 Feb 27 2009 at 6:17 PM Rating: Decent
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I don't think not having sci-fi/fantasy elements in the plot makes it a slice of life anime. Something like Kamichu! is slice of life, and it's about a schoolgirl who is a god. Aria definitely is, and that takes place on 24th century Mars that's been terraformed to be an ocean covered planet, though everything looks like present day Venice, other than Woody's flying bike and the sentient cats. Some can even argue Ah! My Goddess is slice of life too.

Here's a couple more you can look at:
REC
Hidamari Sketch
#17 Feb 27 2009 at 8:04 PM Rating: Decent
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pxcasey wrote:
I don't think not having sci-fi/fantasy elements in the plot makes it a slice of life anime.

You're right, but I think Catwho was mainly wanting to examine anime without fantasy or scifi influences, and was using slice of life as a prominent example of genres typically devoid of those settings.
#18 Feb 28 2009 at 12:54 AM Rating: Good
Beck, His & Her Circumstances (Hare Kano), GTO.
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#19 Feb 28 2009 at 1:09 PM Rating: Good
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I My Me! Strawberry Eggs!

A man tries to get a teaching job because he is hurting for money and a job. He is well qualified (education, and certificates). Unfortunately the only place hiring is a private school that will only hire women. But that doesn't stop him. Time to don the drag, and pass yourself as a female teacher!

Edited, Feb 28th 2009 5:18pm by TirithRR
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#20 Feb 28 2009 at 1:45 PM Rating: Decent
Human project
One pound gospel i think, haven't watched much of it.
Would comic party and Genshiken count? Haven't seen either.
Welcome to the NHK doesn't have fantasy elements.
Boys Be is a romantic comedy
Ujin Brand too, though that one is more hentai-ish.


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