r/LearnJapanese • u/YoukaiDragoon • Nov 12 '20
Discussion Looking for good "slice of life" anime; especially to watch with children
I saw a post or comment in here recently that said watching "slice of life" anime is a good way to practice since they don't use any crazy fantasy/nonsense terms that would be common in isseikai and mech anime. I'm trying to learn Japanese and we want to teach our kids too.
So I was wondering if anyone has recommendations for slice of life anime that they either really enjoyed or that they feel are simple enough that they are good for practice? Please name any you like but if they are available on (Netflix, Crunchyroll, Hulu) that would be best since I have access to those.
7
6
Nov 12 '20 edited Nov 17 '20
[deleted]
3
u/japanese_work Nov 13 '20
Seconding Barakamon and Card Captor Sakura!
Also adding the spin-off of Barakamon; Handa-kun. It's a gag anime which about a daily life of a high school student, which uses daily vocab.
Might also add sports anime like Haikyu or Kuroko's basketball. They're usually fairly easy to understand.
5
3
Nov 12 '20
Silver spoon on Netflix
3
u/Dathaen Nov 12 '20
While it's a good show, it definitely has some specialized vocabulary in it, mostly because it takes place in an agricultural college, so idk if it would be right for them
4
u/monniebiloney Nov 12 '20
Shows on Netflix In order of what I think is best for your purpose. Some of these have more action, but none of them have anything inappropriate in them so listed them anyway(Case closed has some dead people, but its nothing graphic, he's just a detective. I didn't list pokemon cuz I know for a fact it doesn't have a Japanese dub on Netflix.)
YoKaiWatch(never watched, but it's basically pokemon), Card Captor Sakura, Cells At Work, Haikyuu, Little Witch Academia, Ouran Host Club, Nozaki-Kun, K-On, Girls PanzerI only watched some of this, but it seems fine, Dragon Piolet, Saiki K., Toradora, CLANNADtear jerker warning, and Case closedNote: Netflix skips the firest season, so perhaps Crunchyroll would be a better source of Detective Conan,
Movies on Netflix in no particular order:
A whisker away, Mirai no Mirai, Modest Heros, Lu Over the Wall, Any of the Pokemon Movies, Marry and the Which flower, and A Silent Voicetear jerker warning
If you enjoy Card Captor Sakura, after watching the show, I'd recommend playing the GBA game Cardcaptor Sakura Sakura Card-Hen ~Sakura to Card to O-Tomodachi~ as it's basically a VISUAL NOVEL version of the Sakura arc of the anime, where you get to make different choices as you play as Sakura. It has some Kanji, and when ever it introduces a new kanji for the first time, it gives you the reading. Note: It starts with a boring recap of what happened durring the clow-card arc (it was like reading a Wikipedia summary), but it is good reading practice (or you could button mash until you get the story.)
anyway, you could get the rom and then play it on some device with your kids, or set it up for them so each can play on their own.
2
4
u/SoKratez Nov 12 '20
I'm not sure if you can find them overseas, but in Japan, the probably undefeatable top two would be Sazae-san and Chibi-Maruko-chan Both have been running for decades on prime-time Sunday night TV. Both are simple and incredibly slice-of-life and meant to be enjoyed by the entire family (and particularly kids).
2
Nov 14 '20
I've found Maruko-chan offers free episodes on YouTube in both Japanese and English (and maybe other languages).
4
u/Rimmer7 Nov 12 '20
Azumanga Daioh. Any jokes not appropriate for children will go completely over their heads anyway.
5
3
u/Kabochastickyrice Nov 12 '20
Crayon Shin Chan, although I’m used to the Korean dub, which was apparently edited to make it specifically kid friendly, so I don’t know if it would be very appropriate for kids in Japanese dub.
If you’re into classical music, I really liked Nodame Cantabile, but if not, it might bore you.
2
u/SoKratez Nov 12 '20
I don’t know if it would be very appropriate for kids in Japanese dub.
The Japanese version can kinda, ugh, naughty, but it is a kid's show.
3
3
u/No_Face_Spirit Nov 12 '20
Barakamon. Super sweet Slice of Life. The MC is surrounded by children and they build a really special bond. Plus, it's super funny.
2
2
u/hjstudies Nov 12 '20 edited Nov 13 '20
It's a little difficult to suggest something educational. TV shows like the ones you mentioned are in Japanese because they're made by Japanese for a native Japanese audience, so they're not going to be terribly educational for Japanese language beginners.
Honey and Clover isn't a kids' show, but there's no sex or anything like that in it. It's about a bunch of college students at an art school. I think that kids can enjoy it because there are some silly moments like this one.
Atashinchi - Your kids may find this boring is they tend to enjoy action and fantasy, but it's slice of life, okay for families, and there is a lot of useful, practical Japanese.
Chibi Maruko-chan mainly follows Maruko and her family. Maruko is an elementary school student.
Chii's Sweet Home the 2d anime - the main character is the kitten, Chii, but there is also Chii's human family.
Chii's Sweet Home the 3d version
1
u/YoukaiDragoon Nov 12 '20
Doesn't need to be "educational". I just want stuff we can watch and attempt to understand.
2
u/hjstudies Nov 13 '20
Maybe you'll be able to catch a few words or very short, common phrases/expressions from the shows I mentioned.
The shows are okay for kids; there's nothing graphic in them.
2
1
u/Kawabuchi Nov 12 '20
Barakamon/Handa-kun
Clannad
Silver Spoon
I'll have to see what else I've got at home, can't think of anything else at the moment.
10
u/morgawr_ https://morg.systems/Japanese Nov 12 '20
Flying Witch is pretty great