Life’s a messy, beautiful chaos, and that’s what slice-of-life anime nails. We’re not here for world-saving antics; we’re here for the everyday heroes dealing with life’s curveballs. So, if you’re up for a binge that hits different, here are the best SOL anime on Netflix that’ll make you wish you could live in their worlds. Well, maybe not Saiki’s—he doesn’t want you there. He has enough on his plate.
1. Violet Evergarden
1 season | 13 episodes
Watch on Netflix
This is a slice-of-life masterpiece. Violet, a war vet with mechanical hands, is writing letters and trying to learn what feelings are, and dang, it’ll teach you a thing or two about your own cold, dead heart. You’ll cry. A lot. And you’ll thank me for it.
SEE ALSO: Violet Evergarden & 19 More Heart-Wrenching Anime That’ll Leave You in Tears
2. Kotaro Lives Alone
1 season | 10 episodes
Watch on Netflix
A 4-year-old lives by himself like it’s no big deal. It’s funny ’cause it’s absurd, but then it hits you right in the feels because Kotaro is more put-together than any adult I know. And his neighborhood fam is the chaotic support system we all wish we had. 10/10.
3. The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.
3 seasons | 120 episodes
Watch on Netflix
Saiki just wants to live a normal life, but with psychic powers, that’s a tall order. This is a relentless barrage of gags, making you laugh till you choke. It’s like, “Life sucks, people are weird, and I can hear all your stupid thoughts.” Anime comedy gold.
4. When Marnie Was There
Film | 1h 42min
Watch on Netflix
Netflix has a stash of Ghibli hits, but this one’s fresh off my watchlist. Anna, kind of a loner, meets Marnie, sparking an unusual but deep friendship. A ghost story, yes, but it’s really about self-discovery and healing. It’s Ghibli, so of course, you’ll cry, but you’ll love it.
5. Spy x Family
2 seasons | 37 episodes
Watch on Netflix
Forgers are the most badass fake family on the block—a spy dad, an assassin mom, and a telepathic daughter. Between trying to prevent wars and getting to school on time, it’s a hilarious take on family life with a side of ridiculous undercover antics.
6. Ouran High School Host Club
1 season | 26 episodes
Watch on Netflix
Want to see rich, dumb kids get trolled by a commoner? Here’s your chance. Haruhi’s surrounded by these bougie boys who have no idea how the real world works, and it’s glorious. A satire on the elite, a rom-com, and a lesson in gender norms all rolled into one.
SEE ALSO: Ouran & 19 More Anime That Define Shoujo
7. Blue Period
1 season | 12 episodes
Watch on Netflix
Art school drama, but make it painfully relatable. Watching Yatora chase his dream hits close to home for anyone who’s ever dared to want something more. An unfiltered look at the pursuit of passion with a side of legit interesting art insights.
8. Little Witch Academia
1 season | 25 episodes
Watch on Netflix
It’s Hogwarts without the dark lord breathing down your neck—just magic school shenanigans and one sucky witch. Akko’s as magical as a brick, but bless her, she tries. Watching her stumble her way through education is peak comedy and oddly motivating.
SEE ALSO: LWA & More Witchy Anime That Are Seriously Spellbinding
9. Komi Can’t Communicate
2 seasons | 24 episodes
Watch on Netflix
Social anxiety is a b**ch, and Komi’s living that truth. But with a goal to make 100 friends, the girl’s basically on a mission impossible. It’s painfully awkward and hilariously sweet, and you’ll root for her like a scary soccer mom. Also, Tadano? The best wingman ever.
10. Teasing Master Takagi-san
3 seasons | 36 episodes
Watch on Netflix
Childhood crushes are brutal, and Takagi knows how to exploit them like a pro. She’s got Nishikata wrapped around her finger, and watching him squirm is the best kind of entertainment. Nostalgic, adorable, and slightly evil—just how we like it.
11. Flavors of Youth
1 season | 3 episodes
Watch on Netflix
Three tales, one message: growing up is a mixed bag of sweet and bitter. A bowl of noodles ties a guy to his past, a model misses her simple life, and two siblings drift apart but remember their roots. It’ll make you want to call your grandma or revisit your old haunts.
12. Kimi no Todoke
2 seasons | 38 episodes
Watch on Netflix
Sawako’s the girl you never noticed in high school, and watching her try to make friends and figure out her own love story feels like rooting for the underdog in every 90s teen movie. So cheesy but sweet, it makes you want to reach out to the Sawakos of the world.
13. Toradora!
1 season | 25 episodes
Watch on Netflix
Tiny, fierce Taiga, and clueless Ryuji are the chaotic duo you can’t help but love. It’s a mess of teenage hormones and misunderstandings that somehow turns into the most endearing anime love story. And the Christmas episode? I’m not crying, you are.
14. Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop
Film | 1h 27min
Watch on Netflix
Cherry writes haikus but can’t talk to girls; Smile’s self-conscious and always on her phone. They bump into each other, and bam, it’s a summer love story where mixtapes do the talking. Colorful and sunny teenage romance.
15. Delicious in Dungeon
1 season | 13 episodes
Watch on Netflix
D&D, but make it about cooking. Watching a band of adventurers eat their way through monsters is the kind of high fantasy anime content I didn’t know I needed. It’s bizarre, hilarious, and surprisingly makes you think about sustainable eating practices.
SEE ALSO: Ranking the Weirdest Anime I’ve Ever Seen from Worst to Best
16. Aggretsuko
5 seasona | 51 episodes
Watch on Netflix
Retsuko is a red panda stuck in a job she hates, dealing with idiots, and screaming death metal at karaoke to vent. Big mood. It’s absolutely hilarious, kind of therapeutic, and might inspire you to find your own unique way of screaming into the void.
17. Carole & Tuesday
1 season | 24 episodes
Watch on Netflix
A musical journey on Mars that’s so good, it’ll make you forget about Earth’s problems for a bit. Carole and Tuesday are chasing their dreams in a world that’s lost its mind, and dang, they make it look good. And the music slaps—like, seriously, playlist-worthy.
18. The Daily Life of the Immortal King
4 seasons | 43 episodes
Watch on Netflix
Wang Ling is so overpowered, it’s hilarious. Just imagine trying to live a chill high school life when you’re basically a god. A slapstick comedy anime (or donghua, for the purists) that spoofs the whole “hidden power” trope with a protagonist who just wants a damn break.
19. Rilakkuma and Kaoru
2 seasons | 21 episodes
Watch on Netflix
Life’s tough when you’re an adult, but it gets better if you have plushie bears and a pet chick as roommates. Kaoru’s day-to-day is SOL in the most literal sense—no crazy drama, just cozy, Iyashikei vibes, life lessons, and the cutest stop-motion animation.
20. Forest of Piano
2 seasons | 24 episodes
Watch on Netflix
Kai’s from the wrong side of the tracks but plays like a maestro. Shuhei is the son of a pro, with all the pressure that comes with it. They clash, they grow, and they play the hell out of some Chopin. It’s fierce, it’s about more than just music—it’s their whole lives.
That’s the rundown, slice-of-life style! Agree? Disagree? Drop a comment, share the love, and check back for more anime recs.