A Keiichi Arawi manga + a Kyoto Animation adaptation is a formula that unsurprisingly stays winning in 2025 with City The Animation, more than a decade after Nichijou was adapted to the animated medium. This series presents an out of the ordinary, by our standards, city, with a vast array of characters, all living their ordinary, by their standards, lives. The city of City and its wacky inhabitants make for one of the best comedy and slice of life anime I have ever watched.

City The Animation is an incredibly well polished package. The art direction makes for an eye-pleasing show with bold lines, mostly solid coloring, and the unique Arawi character designs. The animation, too, shines and flexes on the viewer during segments like the 4th City Race or the tower episode. City is adorable and full of small details that make it a lively and believable place, one with a real community where each citizen has their own life and stories to tell. Just by watching the beautiful opening animation, one can tell that there is something special about City The Animation.

The series perfectly captures the irreverence and unseriousness present in everyday life. Despite the humorous and over-the-top nature of the scenarios shown in it, plenty originate from ordinary experiences, such as wanting more money, being young and in love, or saying farewell to a close friend moving abroad. The mix of randomness, characteristic to Arawi's gag manga, and relatability make for great comedy and gleeful moments, and I couldn't stop smiling and laughing most episodes. Even when I wasn't laughing, I was impressed by the ingenuity of each scene. It's all very silly, and I absolutely love it for it. The gags are much like those in Nichijou, with certain characters having traits that are played for laughs. Despite this, they don't feel constrained to that one joke every time they're on-screen.

Along with the playful humor, it's the characters' relationships that make City The Animation endearing. They are a big part of why the series feels special to me. I particularly liked the flashback scenes showing how Niikura met Nagumo in school, or how Matsuri and Ecchan became best friends, as it adds depth to their relationships and makes the rest of their interactions more interesting to watch. Getting to know the multitude of friend groups in City and their antics make the place seem real and vibrant with community. The friendships in the story cover distinct age demographics, too, and they are reflective of how one can always have a good time at every stage of life with the appropriate attitude and the right people around you.

The slice of life genre is one of my favorite genres in anime, and City The Animation perfectly captures its essence that make me love it so much. While the lack of conflict and big stakes may be off-putting to some, I find its resemblance with real life captivating. As strange and unusual some of the scenarios in the story may be, they all still revolves around ordinary life. The series shows love for those moments of laughter with friends, teasing each other, goofing around, enjoying each other's company, or going out on small adventures, and I absolutely adore it. The characters were having fun, and so did I. It warms my heart to watch shows like City The Animation, because they're a celebration of life, the minute, and the ordinary, and that is a beautiful thing.