Looking for serious or melancholic slice of life anime?

I recently watched the anime "Journal for Witch" and I was immediately hooked. It has such a slow, quiet vibe I'm really enjoying. Very introspective, I love shows with a lot of internal dialogue.

Can anyone recommend me something similar? Mainly looking for a slice of life set in a modern, realistic setting. I don't mind romance, but would prefer it not to be the focus.

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AutoModerator2026-01-30 22:00

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BiggieCheeseLapDog2026-01-30 22:05

Girls Last Tour if the modern setting being a dystopia is fine.

Tamayura may be up your alley.

RottenPingu12026-01-30 22:09

A second vote for GLT. Very contemplative.

HobnobsTheRed2026-01-30 23:39

> Girls Last Tour if the modern setting being a dystopia is fine.

Similarly, if you are ok with post-apocalyptic settings, Planetarian: Reverie of a Little Planet.

Colt455542026-01-30 22:16

A lot of inner monologuing in Oshi no Ko.

Colt455542026-01-30 22:17

And Classroom of the Elite

patzilla7772026-01-30 22:21

A selection of slower, contemplative shows:

* Yama no Susume
* March Comes in Like a Lion
* Insomniacs After School (definitely a romance, but still has the slow paced contemplative vibes)
* Super Cub

inside4walls2026-01-30 22:23

March Comes in Like a Lion was the first that came to my mind!

mekerpan2026-01-31 01:43

Also Aria and Tamayura, both made by much of the same staff The first is set on a terraformed Mars and the second is set in and around a small city in coastal Hiroshima prefecture

MediumRare_Steak182026-01-30 22:24

Try Clannad and Oregairu

bravetailor2026-01-30 22:26

The Great Passage.

Castawaye2026-01-30 22:38

Other shows that share a similar premise (i.e, a found family aspect, or a family that's been since estranged or made undone) that is also slice of life:

**Slow Loop**: two daughters lose their respective parent and their remaining family remarry, and now they have to wrestle with the awkwardness of forming a new family while still remembering those are gone, told through the mechanism of fishing

**Usagi Drop (anime only)**: kinda the same setup, distant family member adopts now orphaned girl, this one's probably more fluffy and feels good, but goes through a lot of the same ideas and strides of someone now having to learn how to care for someone

**The Yuzuki Family's Four Sons**: follows the family of 4 brothers without parents, their respective lives and personalities as the show weaves in and out of memory of the past, the struggle of the eldest taking care of 3 younger brothers, and just generally the characters themselves navigating relationships, filling in spots of emptiness, very introspective in the directing as well, very well directed show

tarakion2026-01-30 23:26

natsume yuujinchou, march comes in like a lion, mushishi (not modern so much but has a similar vibe)

HobnobsTheRed2026-01-30 23:35

> natsume yuujinchou

Fantastic show

SouekiSennoSTM2026-01-31 00:31

Yes, Usagi Drop is one of the first series I watched which got me into anime and that is by far the closest series I've seen to date to Ikoku Nikki/Journal with Witch, although mainly just in terms of the specific premise and setup. The feel is still a bit different and they're both very much their own stories, of course.

Also:

- Fune wo Amu
- Eve no Jikan (Sci-Fi + Slice of Life, but very grounded, very near future/alternative present, dialogue-driven, and atmospheric)
- Housekishou Richard-shi no Nazo Kantei

Also similar in tone and in a modern-day setting, but with some light fantasy/magical realism elements:

- Zettai Shounen
- Fuujin Monogatari

davidwhaymond2026-01-31 00:34

Liz and the Blue Bird — contemplative character drama with amazing animation and sound design. Same composer as Journal with Witch (Kensuke Ushio).

ReddiTrawler20212026-01-31 00:40

Sing Yesterday for Me. It's about four people trapped by their circumstances (romantic and otherwise), who simply try to get through life as best as they can.

tiny_nova2026-01-31 01:08

With You and the Rain. Super slow. I don't remember it as inner monologue, but she's talking to her dog most of the time, so very similar effect; very introspective.

Twigling2026-01-31 11:19

I too love Journal with Witch, it's beautifully written. I'd also suggest:

Super Cub

Haibane Renmei

Also, not a modern setting, but you might like to try Mushishi. There's two seasons, and season one has recently been officially uploaded to YouTube by the publisher as part of a publicity drive for the new manga reprints. Both subbed and dubbed are available to watch for free, and each video is split up into chapters denoting the episodes:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNcqwhPhO46G--aVXZR6do7Y-ptBZsKTt

Season two is on Crunchyroll.

For a general overview, see the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIZDnQtmFIU