Netflix is already churning out their 2022 fall anime lineup, including new slice-of-life shows like Uncle From Another World and older classics like Ouran High School Host Club.
While many people get into anime through the shonen genre, watching slice-of-life anime is also a great entry point into the genre. Whether they're a new viewer or an experienced lover of the genre, Netflix has plenty of fantastic slice-of-life anime for any viewer. The streaming service has an especially great lineup in August, including some promising new shows that haven't even completed their first season.
The Way of the Househusband
Starring famous voice actor Kenjiro Tsuda, known for his work as Seto Kaiba and Overhaul, The Way of the Househusband covers the middle-age life of a former Yakuza member.
The primary gimmick of The Way of the Househusband is the juxtaposition of the two lives led by the protagonist, Tatsu. His domestic duties as a stay-at-home husband often get in the way of his former Yakuza life, making for pretty funny comedy. The show's animation style is also unique, resembling a colored manga with voice acting more than a traditional anime.
Teasing Master Takagi-San
Teasing Master Takagi-San is a wholesome comedy about middle school duo Takagi and Nishikata. Takagi constantly teases Nishikata, and Nishikata desperately wants to get back at her.
Nishikata doesn't always have bad ideas to get back at Takagi. However, it's funny seeing him constantly flustered by Takagi's actions while she stays perfectly stoic in response to his antics. The show begins mostly full of funny and adorable hijinks, but some meatier aspects of the story do eventually explore the student's unique friendship on a deeper level.
Cells at Work!
One of the more self-explanatory titles in anime history, Cells at Work! follows a red blood cell and white blood cell on their misadventures in the human body.
This strange slice-of-life anime has some action scenes scattered throughout it as well. The white blood cell does battle with germs, making for surprisingly interesting fights. Fans of Osmosis Jones may appreciate Cells at Work! for its similar concept and comedic style, and the red and white blood cells are certainly fun characters to follow.
Ouran High School Host Club
Hit 2000s anime Ouran High School Host Club revolves around Haruhi, a young girl who gets coerced into becoming a host at a rich private school after breaking the titular host club's expensive vase.
Ouran High School Host Club is part of the "reverse harem" sub-genre, where a female lead has more than two potential love interests throughout a good part of the story. However, there is a main couple hinted at throughout the anime: Haruhi and Tamaki, one of the best slice-of-life couples out there.
Kotaro Lives Alone
Kotaro Lives Alone features the titular Kotaro, a young boy who moved into an apartment complex by himself. On his journey, he meets a down-on-his-luck manga artist named Karino, who looks after the boy.
While Kotaro Lives Alone is already one of the best comedy anime of the 2020s, it isn't always the most lighthearted anime out there. Karino is the star of the show, but the dedication of the entire apartment complex to raising the strange kindergartner certainly pulls on the heartstrings. Kotaro Lives Alone is enough for a good laugh or a good cry.
Uncle From Another World
Uncle From Another World is one of the newest shows on Netflix. It follows Takafumi Takaoka, a young man whose uncle has recently woken up from a 17-year coma.
The show's main comedic gimmick is that the uncle had spent his 17-year-long coma in another world: a magical fantasy world. This parody of the "Isekai" genre highlights all the tropes of Isekai anime under the lens of a normal young man living with his bizarre uncle. The show is only a few episodes in, but it's a great watch for any Isekai fans.
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K
Following the increasing genre of slice-of-life anime that involves shonen-like magic powers, Saiki K. is about protagonist Kusuo Saiki: a high school boy with incredible psychic powers.
Unfortunately for Saiki, his psychic powers always seem to get in the way of his ultimate goal: leading a quiet, normal life. The humor in the show comes from both his psychic abilities as well as the ridiculous group of friends he surrounds himself with. An episode is usually made of 3-4 funny vignettes, all revolving around the oddball cast.
Komi Can't Communicate
Komi Can't Communicate features one of the best characters of the spring 2022 anime season: Tadano. The show centers around a girl with social anxiety and Tadano, who dedicates himself to helping her develop more friendships.
Tadano and Komi are just two of a hilarious all-star cast. Since Komi's goal is to make 100 friends, there are both fun bit characters with interesting gimmicks and fully fleshed-out ing friends. Komi Can't Communicate is a great show for anyone who loves character-driven comedy anime and a wholesome slow-burn romance.
Beastars
Beastars follows the daily of Legoshi, a high school wolf with a carnivorous desire that he struggles to keep under control. The world of carnivores and herbivores has one of the most complex social structures in any fantasy world.
Legoshi is one of the best slice-of-life protagonists in anime. He's a complicated character whose identity and instincts are always under scrutiny. The show has other fantastic characters in the gardening rabbit Haru and drama star deer Louis. The characters and world-building in Beastars are all fantastic, and the show is a great watch.
Blue Period
High schooler Yatora Yaguchi began Blue Period as a typical delinquent before viewing the beautiful art of an upperclassman named Mori. Her art inspired him to pick up painting, and the ion only grew from there.
Blue Period isn't the comedic sort of slice-of-life anime that usually defines the genre. The show uses a group of high school and collegiate artists as a powerful look into what finding their ion can do to a young person, both positively and negatively. The show has a fantastic cast of characters as well as a great plot and is arguably one of the best shows on all of Netflix.
