Non Magical Suggestions?

[FinnMacCool]

I'm having trouble finding manga/anime that aren't fantastical.

But I did just finish watching Great Teacher Onizuka and I really liked it. I was wondering if anyone could suggest something like this? The reason I liked it was because the characters were great and I love the humor!

Also if anyone can suggest some "slice of life" stories that would be pretty cool too.

Many thanks

[Phantasmagoria]

Minami-ke
Lucky Star
Kanon
Air
Clannad (Still airing)
School Rumble
Midori no Hibi (The gist of this anime is romance, and there's alot of meaningful things to learn from. I don't think this is totally fantasy.. despite having a right-hand girlfriend.)

Are you interested in yuri?

[Deus ex Digital Boy]

Air is VERY fantastical. So is CLANNAD.

Welcome to the NHK is the best down-to-earth choice out there, IMO.

[Phantasmagoria]

CLANNAD is fantastical? Despite the kind of jabs they are using (those insane air-kicks), it's pretty much non-magical.
Air.. I wouldn't say it's fantastical, more like a mix of fantasy and reality.
I emphasize more on what can we learn from the anime.

Oh, H2O looks non-fantastical..

[Kirayami]

LOL!I think he need something less supernatural something more real!I don't see Air or Clannad as real!
I would suggest:
Suzuka(Romance,Slice of Life,Sports)
Final Aproach(Romance,Slice of Life)
Happy Lesson(Slice of Life,and a little Romance)
Happy Lesson Advance(This is the second series)
Happy Lesson Final(This is the third series)
I,My,Me!Strawberry Eggs!(Romance,Slice of Life)This is quite interesting and is kind of fitting your needs!It's about a man that cross dresses as an women to be admitted as an sport teacher at a school!Try it out!
Ai Yori Aoshi(Looooooooooots of Romance,Comedy,Slice of Life)
Ai Yori Aoshi Enishi(Second series)

Well I personally think you would be satisfied with these!If you liked GTO I'm sure you will love the suggestions above!

[FinnMacCool]

Welcome to the NHK is the best down-to-earth choice out there, IMO.

Yeah I loved Welcome to the NHK. I even bought the original novel that went with it too. I should've mentioned that also.

By the way, I have nothing against fantasy at all it's just that I've lately been really into watching/reading stories about regular joes/jills in a Japanese setting.

[Phantasmagoria]

Right.. I can understand Air but, why Clannad?

Peach Girl ( if you don't mind that.. animation. )

[Kirayami]

I have nothing against any of the suggested anime above the are great I've seen them too!
I just thought that he wanted more realistic anime!

[FinnMacCool]

Originally Posted by Kirayami

LOL!I think he need something less supernatural something more real!I don't see Air or Clannad as real!
I would suggest:
Suzuka(Romance,Slice of Life,Sports)
Final Aproach(Romance,Slice of Life)
Happy Lesson(Slice of Life,and a little Romance)
Happy Lesson Advance(This is the second series)
Happy Lesson Final(This is the third series)
I,My,Me!Strawberry Eggs!(Romance,Slice of Life)This is quite interesting and is kind of fitting your needs!It's about a man that cross dresses as an women to be admitted as an sport teacher at a school!Try it out!
Ai Yori Aoshi(Looooooooooots of Romance,Comedy,Slice of Life)
Ai Yori Aoshi Enishi(Second series)

Well I personally think you would be satisfied with these!If you liked GTO I'm sure you will love the suggestions above!

I haven't seen any of these yet. I will definietly check them out. Particularily that one about the cross dressing teacher lol.

Thanks for the help.

((I don't think I'm allowed to double Post so I'll just edit it to respond to yourhead's comment)

Are you interested in yuri?

Not particularily, but then again I don't have anything against it either. I'm really just interested in good stories period.

[Echoes]

Clannad has plenty of supernatural or "magical", if you will, aspects.

Spoiler for Clannad spoilers (anime, not game):

Fuko's a walking spirit that only a select group of people can see, and there's the yet-to-be-elaborated-on girl trapped in another universe/reality.

You could try Minami-ke for an enjoyable slice of life.

[SeijiSensei]

Originally Posted by FinnMacCool

I've lately been really into watching/reading stories about regular joes/jills in a Japanese setting.

Welcome to the NHK! was the first thing to pop into my head when I read the OP as well.

In the regular joes/jills department I'd recommend Hataraki Man, about an overworked 28-yo female editor at a Japanese magazine. Next, I'd suggest REC, about a young wannabe seiyuu who ends up sharing space with a salaryman after her apartment burns down. Bartender is all about regular joes/jills, but the Bartender himself has perhaps a supernatural ability to guess the right spirit to comfort and uplift a weary customer.

Finally, despite its science-fiction setting, Planetes (licensed, see my signature) is about ordinary people engaged in the task of cleaning up space trash. One of the most believable science-fiction shows I've seen.

[FinnMacCool]

Originally Posted by SeijiSensei

Welcome to the NHK! was the first thing to pop into my head when I read the OP as well.

In the regular joes/jills department I'd recommend Hataraki Man, about an overworked 28-yo female editor at a Japanese magazine. Next, I'd suggest REC, about a young wannabe seiyuu who ends up sharing space with a salaryman after her apartment burns down. Bartender is all about regular joes/jills, but the Bartender himself has perhaps a supernatural ability to guess the right spirit to comfort and uplift a weary customer.

Finally, despite its science-fiction setting, Planetes (licensed, see my signature) is about ordinary people engaged in the task of cleaning up space trash. One of the most believable science-fiction shows I've seen.

I think your suggestions definitely come closest to what I was looking for.

I probably should've explained better what exactly I wanted.

But there are so many great suggestions on this thread! I wish I could archive it.

Thank you very much.

[Phantasmagoria]

Originally Posted by Echoes

Clannad has plenty of supernatural or "magical", if you will, aspects.

Spoiler for Clannad spoilers (anime, not game):

Fuko's a walking spirit that only a select group of people can see, and there's the yet-to-be-elaborated-on girl trapped in another universe/reality.

You could try Minami-ke for an enjoyable slice of life.

Damn, all I could remember was plucking weeds.. and took that into account of being slice of life.

Haven't watch Welcome to the NHK! myself, looking good.

[jedinat]

Hachimitsu to Clover
Ichigo Mashimaro
Nodame Cantabile
Lamune
...for some non-magical/fantastic slice-of-life type stuff.

[mrvetle]

I recommend Monster. I haven't seen all of the episodes yet, but i've seen over half. The show is very realistic.

[Lintendo]

I second Planetes. There are no supernatural elements to it whatsoever. Albiet it is science fiction, you won't get mech battles or any other unrealistic portrayals. The laws of physics are not ignored. Heck, I was able to understand centrifugal force thanks to watching episode 5 I also like this anime for its wonderful cast. The main characters are by no means significant and do not have exaggerated personalities. They are very much human.

If you're a fan of GTO, I suggest Gokusen and Salaryman Kintaro. The story line is similar, and as far as I can tell, no mahou-ness

[Telmah]

Having reread your thread, I don't think any of these are precisely what you want, but I'll suggest them anyway.

I'll second Honey and Clover, Lamune, and Lucky Star.

Azumanga Diaoh comes to mind, very funny.

Zettai Shonen and Twin Spica have supernatural elements however both seem pretty realistic and slow paced shows, despite these.

Mizuiro Jidai is a really slice of life, coming to age story.

[Ichihara Asako]

Nobody's mentioned Rescue Wings?

Highly underrated series, set in a 100% realistic modern day world. Focuses on an Airforce rescue helicopter pilot. Very good drama and realistic character development and interaction. One of my favourite slice of life/realistic series.

[blewin]

Slice of life: Welcome to NHK, Genshiken (two seasons), Mushishi, Honey and Clover.