Skip the Countdown: 5 Cozy Slice-of-Life Anime to Warm Your New Year’s Eve
As 2025 winds down, we revisit the heart-tugging comfort watches that carried us through—slice-of-life standouts like Your Name, Weathering With You, and the quietly luminous Natsume’s Book of Friends.
We’re at the finish line of 2025, which is usually when I want something quiet, kind, and a little reflective. Slice-of-life anime is tailor-made for that feeling. Think the gentle ache of Your Name and Weathering With You, or the soft, soothing vibe of Natsume's Book of Friends. These shows echo the everyday stuff — the small wins, the dumb frustrations, and the little moments that end up mattering.
If you’re looking to coast into the new year with something cozy (but not empty), here are five picks that go down easy and leave a mark. Some are laugh-out-loud silly, some will make you stare at the ceiling for a minute — all of them feel honest.
Five to wrap the year with
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A Place Further Than the Universe
People call this one inspirational, and sure, it is — but not because anyone’s fearless. Shirase’s plan to get to Antarctica starts with grief: her mom vanished on an expedition, and the questions never stopped. Three other girls, each dragging their own unresolved stuff, sign on. None of them are fully ready. That’s the point. The show strips the glamour off 'chasing your dreams' and reminds you sometimes the only way through is a messy leap of faith.
Credits and quick stats: Studio: Madhouse. Creator is often listed as 'Yorimoi' in some roundups — that’s actually the Japanese shorthand for the title, not a person. IMDb: 8.1/10. Premiere: Jan 2, 2018.
Where to watch: Crunchyroll, Prime Video.
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Daily Lives of High School Boys
Zero plot, maximum chaos. Tadakuni, Hidenori, and Yoshitake take absolutely nothing and spin it into delirious nonsense, which is exactly how high school felt when a single free period suddenly meant freedom and a dumb conversation spiraled into legend. If this year wrung you out emotionally, this is the guilt-free switch-off.
Credits and quick stats: Creator: Yasunobu Yamauchi. Studio: Sunrise. IMDb: 7.7/10. Premiere: Jan 9, 2012.
Where to watch: Crunchyroll.
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Horimiya
A romance that refuses to waste your time on contrived misunderstandings. Hori and Miyamura actually talk, listen, and grow — wild concept, I know. The charm is in the small stuff: studying together, awkward pauses, the check-ins that look minor but hold the whole thing together. It doesn’t pretend youth is perfect, either. Relationships take effort and honesty; stability and trust aren’t boring — they’re the win.
Credits and quick stats: Creator: Hero. Studio: CloverWorks. IMDb: 8.0/10. Premiere: Jan 10, 2021.
Where to watch: Crunchyroll.
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Your Lie in April
This one has a reputation for wrecking people, and fair — but calling it just sad undersells it. It’s about what happens when you dodge grief for too long. Kousei doesn’t need a muse; he needs to face what he’s buried. Kaori isn’t gentle or tidy — she’s disruptive, which is exactly why she works here. Healing is uneven, late, and frequently uncomfortable. The music isn’t window dressing; it’s how these kids say the things they can't say out loud. If you’ve been carrying loss, burnout, or numbness, this show won’t lie to you about 'closure.'
Credits and quick stats: Creator: Naoshi Arakawa. Studio: A-1 Pictures. IMDb: 8.5/10. Premiere: Oct 10, 2014.
Where to watch: Netflix, Crunchyroll.
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Girls' Last Tour
Post-apocalyptic, but somehow calming. Chito and Yuuri roll through empty cities on a small motor vehicle, scrounging food and stories from the ruins. No grand mission, no secret cure, no final revelation. They keep moving because stopping isn't an option. The show finds meaning in tiny routines and throwaway moments — proof that resilience can be quiet. If this year was rough and full of dead ends, this one meets you where you are.
Credits and quick stats: Creator: Tsukumizu. Studio: White Fox. IMDb: 7.8/10. Premiere: Oct 6, 2017.
Where to watch: Disney+, Prime Video, Netflix.
If you want even more
Also worth a look: Mushi-Shi, March Comes in Like a Lion, Kimi Ni Todoke, Suzume, A Silent Voice, The Yuzuki Family's Four Sons, Komi Can't Communicate, Hyouka, Blue Period, and Violet Evergarden. You can find these across Crunchyroll, Netflix, Prime Video, and Hulu.
What did I miss? Drop your picks in the comments — I’m always looking for more end-of-year comfort food.