A Series of Slice of Life Anime Recommendations to Inspire Your New Year's Resolutions

Kapanlagi.com - Written by Gerald Rayhankhan Rizky

In the vast world of anime, many series depict the essence of various seasons, celebrations, and cultural events. While many focus on traditional holidays or seasonal changes, there is a charming subset that revolves around the New Year. These anime series delicately infuse themes of renewal, resolutions, and fresh beginnings into their narratives. The appeal of slice of life anime with New Year themes lies in its ability to go beyond mere celebration.

They leverage the profound significance and emotions associated with the turn of the calendar, embracing introspective nature in bidding farewell to the past and welcoming boundless possibilities in the future. Like the real-world anticipation that accompanies the arrival of the New Year, these anime transport viewers into a world where aspirations, reflections, and a refreshing zest for life abound.

1. Sword Art Online

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SWORD ART ONLINE is a Japanese novel series written by Reki Kawahara set in the future. It tells the story of a massively multiplayer online role-playing game based on virtual reality. The story begins when players enter a highly anticipated virtual reality MMORPG called "Sword Art Online." However, they soon discover that they cannot log out of the game.

The game's creator reveals that if they die in the virtual world, they will also die in the real world. In the second season of SWORD ART ONLINE, there is an arc called "Calibur," where the characters embark on a quest around New Year's time, and the celebration becomes part of their in-game adventure.

2. Tamako Market & Tamako Love Story

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TAMAKO MARKET and TAMAKO LOVE STORY center around Tamako Kitashirakawa, a high school girl and the daughter of a mochi shop owner. In this anime, Tamako begins to realize her feelings for her childhood friend, Mochizou Ooji, who has harbored feelings for her for years.

The film explores their personal growth, friendship, and the challenges of expressing their feelings for each other before graduation. The series captures the essence of New Year's celebrations in a small shopping district, featuring traditions such as making mochi and the excitement that surrounds the holiday season.

3. Fruits Basket

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FRUITS BASKET is an anime and manga series centered around Tohru Honda, a high school girl who, after a series of unfortunate events, ends up living in a tent in the forest. She meets the Sohma family and discovers their strange secret: they transform into Chinese zodiac animals when hugged by someone of the opposite sex.

This series is a combination of drama, comedy, and romance, exploring themes of acceptance, healing, and the complexities of family relationships. It includes a New Year's episode where the characters gather for traditional celebrations and rituals at the Sohma family home, exploring the importance of family and rejuvenation time.

4. Weathering With You

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WEATHERING WITH YOU is an anime film directed by Makoto Shinkai. The story follows Hodaka Morishima, a teenage boy who runs away from home and moves to Tokyo. In the city, Hodaka meets Hina Amano, a girl with the ability to control the weather. The film explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the impact of human actions on nature.

5. Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You

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KIMI NI TODOKE is an anime series centered around a high school girl named Sawako Kuronuma, who resembles the horror film character Sadako due to her long black hair and shy demeanor. Despite Sawako having a kind personality, her appearance and shy behavior cause her friends to misunderstand and fear her.

This series explores themes of friendship, self-discovery, and the impact of perception in relationships. It is a heartwarming story about personal growth, self-acceptance, and the transformative power of genuine relationships. In one episode, the characters celebrate New Year together, emphasizing the importance of spending time with loved ones during that time.

(kpl/grl)