6 Anime Like Saiki Kusuo no Ψ-nan (The Disastrous Life of Saiki K) [Recommendations]

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Once in a blue moon, we as anime fans are treated to a true gem in the world of anime. We are given shows like Attack on Titan, Sailor Moon Crystal, Sakamoto Desu Ga, Re: Zero Kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu and more. This summer, anime seems to be… a bit… lacking when it comes to comedy. Unless you are watching Saiki Kusuo no Psi Nan that is! From start to finish, each episode, or mini-episode if you are watching the short five minute ones, is a great comedy voiced by the ever talented Hiroshi Kamiya.

Saiki is just a normal everyday boy… except for the fact that he has pink hair… and antennas coming out of his head… and psychic powers… and those powers allowed all within the universe to have hair of multiple colors just so his could seem normal. Saiki is an esper/psychic. His powers include mind reading, teleportation, and telekinesis. He is trying to live a normal daily life but his powers and brain always prevent him from being able to enjoy it. His parents are the only ones who know about his powers… and unfortunately, tend to lean on him a bit too much. Welcome to the disastrous life of Saiki Kusuo. Let’s take a look as six shows that you are sure to love if you watch Saiki Kusuo~!


Similar Anime to Saiki Kusuo no Ψ-nan / Similar Anime to The Disastrous Life of Saiki K

1. Mob Psycho 100

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: July 2016 – September 2016

Nicknamed “Mob”, Shigeo Kageyama is a second-year middle school student with super psychic powers. He can make things move with his mind, bend spoons and exorcise spirits! So what can’t he do? Read between the lines. Mob is at that awkward age where he is still finding out what he likes and wants to do. He knows, though, that there is one thing he wants to do; he wants to confess his feelings to his friend from his childhood Tsubomi. You know, Tsubomi? The girl from the first episode who is not busted beyond all reason and has her face replaced with a vegetable? Yeah, that Tsubomi.

The only other thing to complete everything is the fact that Mob is used by his “tutor” a phony, useless fraud of a psychic named Reigen. When things get too hot, which seems to be all the time for Reigen, he calls Mob in to take out the spirits. One thing, though, push Mob too far, and he’s likely to explode. When his emotions hit 100% he will do just that… Explode!

Right off the bat, there are very blatant similarities about these two series. Both have protagonists that are psychics. This allows them to have all sorts of unique encounters and acquaintances. While Mob cannot read people’s thoughts, Saiki can. This show is very much about slapstick comedy. While Saiki is avoiding situations, Mob is helplessly thrown into them leaving you in stitches. The good thing and the fun thing about both of these series as well is the viewer is able to see into the thought process of both of these characters as well. Albeit it does seem like there can be a central plot lacking, both are quick to pull you back in.

Do we even really need to say the last one? Both are overpowered beyond your wildest dreams. Even if they do not consciously think about it. When you watch Saiki, load up Mob Psycho 100 afterward to keep the laughs and good times rolling.

Mob Psycho 100 Trailer


2. Sakamoto Desu Ga? (Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto)

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: April 2016 – July 2016

Smooth, perfect, pristine, cool, no wait, cooler, no we had something better for this… Ah right! The COOLEST high schooler has transferred into high school! His name is Sakamoto. Perfect and flawless, he effortlessly does everything with grace. From taking a part-time job to help his friend, counseling a mother with love issues, assisting the class when their project is sabotaged, Sakamoto is able to do everything and be cool while doing it! Full of gags, Sakamoto is here to lend a hand and look effortless while doing it.

Where to start with these two shows… Both Saiki and Sakamoto both are visibly unbothered by almost everything and able to handle anything thrown at them. While we can see and hear Saiki’s inner dialogue, Sakamoto is always expressing what could possibly his hesitations with his expressed “Goodness gracious” (Yare yare in Japanese). Saiki and Sakamoto both do not speak too much which allows for some hilarious scenes or inner dialogues. Both set in schools, they both have a girl pursuing them hotly. Aina-chan is after Sakamoto with a fervent passion, much like Kokomi is with Saiki. Both fail constantly in their endeavors much to the delight of the readers. One final thing to note is much like Saiki appears to his peers, Sakamoto is flawless.

Sakamoto Desu Ga? Trailer


3. Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo! (KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!)

  • Episodes: 10
  • Aired: January 2016 – March 2016

Kazuma Satou is a bit of a shut-in NEET. He even has it confirmed when the goddess of reincarnation, Aqua, calls him that. He’s just died a hilarious death of a fear/adrenaline induced heart attack. Aqua gives Kazuma two options, go to heaven, or be reborn in a fantasy world with a bonus of his choice that will lead him to success defeating the Demon King. He asks if he can have anything and dismissively she tells him “Yea sure whatever. Just hurry it up.” He points at her and says, “Okay then I choose you.” Revenge is sweet!

A goddess on his side means that he will be ruling from on high within no time. Till he reaches the new world and finds out that not only is Aqua an idiot and useless, he has two new party members. One is a mage that can only use one type of magic once a day and then she collapses, and a knight who has terrible accuracy and has some questionable interests in BDSM! What is going on? Watch to find out!

Normally people would be surprised to find that Saiki Kusuo no Psi Nan and Konosuba are related. However, they are. The main thing that comes from is breaking the fourth wall. Saiki and Kazuma both seem to address the audience repeatedly bringing about some of the greatest moments between both series. Some of the best moments are their internal dialogues.

Of course, it’s loaded with other comedic aspects. People close to the protagonists are idiots as well. Aqua is about as dense as a sack of bricks much like Saiki’s parents who abuse his powers to help resolve issues or make one look better than the other. Kazuma starts out useless in the game, but he becomes gradually more useful much like with how Saiki reveals in flashbacks that he was not always able to control his powers. Regardless, Konosuba is a show that you do not want to miss.

Konosuba Trailer



Any Anime Like The Disastrous Life of Saiki K / Any Anime Like Saiki Kusuo no Ψ-nan?

4. Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: July 2007 – September 2007

Dense yet optimistic Kafuka Fuura is walking home one day when she sees the cherry trees in full blossom. Enjoying their beauty, she suddenly realizes that a man has a noose around his neck and is getting ready to commit suicide. Running to save him, it turns out to be her homeroom teacher and her polar opposite, Nozomu Itoshiki. Why is he doing this? Because Japanese society has put him in despair and the only answer is suicide! From strange discussions about Japanese society to encouraging his students to commit lovers suicide via pills and a Best of Enya soundtrack, Nozomu is quite the unique character.

Join him and his classroom as they learn about society and encounter unique characters like Kiri Komori, the girl with mysterious injuries, Chiri Kitsu, the girl obsessed with conformity, Kaere Kimura, a returnee from abroad who is dealing with DID and the fact that she wants to sue everyone for looking at her inappropriately, Ai Kaga, a girl who is constantly apologizing for irrelevant issues, and Harumi Fujiyoshi, whose name, if you take out the “i” reveals her nature as, you guessed it, a Fujoshi!

Where to start with the similarities between these series are the voices actually. Saiki and Nozomu’s Seiyuu are the same. Kamiya Hiroshi voices both of the protagonists in these comedies. His voice really lends to the overall comedic aspects. Ridiculousness, much like what is also perpetuated in Sakamoto Desu Ga? is also very prevalent between these two series either making you flat out laugh or snicker.


5. Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun (Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun)

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: July 2014 – September 2014

Chiyo Sakura has a crush on her classmate Umetarou Nozaki. She finally gets up the nerves to confess and bursts out “I’m a fan!” Umetarou signs a placard and hands it to her. He leaves and she’s confused… what just happened? The signature is from someone named Sakiko Yumeno… that name rings a bell! It’s Chiyo’s favorite manga artist! Confused out of her mind, she finds out that Umetarou, while dense, does not see her as a girl or anyone for that matter. He lives and breathes for his work. Somehow Chiyo ends up becoming an assistant! Now she has to find a way to not only work with him but also find a way into his heart! Chiyo has her work cut out for her.

Of all things, on the exterior, both Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun and Saiki Kusuo have a seemingly unaware protagonist, while at the same time being aware of everything going on around them that directly affects them. This lends even further to comedy. About half of these series, too, take place in schools and both Umetarou and Saiki avoid connecting with girls on an emotional level. Umetarou does not because he is dense and focused on work, while Saiki does not because Kokomi is legit a stalker and needs to have several seats. That being said, take a look below and get ready to laugh!

Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun Trailer English


6. Arakawa Under the Bridge

  • Episodes: 13
  • Aired: April 2010 – June 2010

Kou Ichinomiya is doing good for himself. He is the son of an upper crust businessman and he lives his life so that he will never ever owe anyone anything. Until one day when he accidentally falls from Arakawa Bridge. He is saved thankfully… but… this leaves him indebted to the girl who saved him! He promises her anything. Nino, the girl who saved him who literally runs around in a tracksuit all day long has but one wish, to fall in love. Whoops! Kou now has to live under the bridge with her as her boyfriend.

Kou begins to meet the other locals and that is where things get hilariously odd… Hoshi is named Hoshi because of the star on his head. A failed musician, he is the love rival to Kou. Billy is a bird-headed yakuza member. Sadist Maria provides dairy and produce to the village while being verbally eviscerating. Sister is a “nun” who has mysterious scars and is a former mercenary. Finally, you also have Stella, the only cute little girl who can turn Sister into a killing machine again. What? They all live together under the Arakawa Bridge.

Welcome to another anime where the main character is also voiced by Hiroshi Kamiya. Coincidentally, Kamiya is now married to the creator of this series and they met on the set of this anime! Much like Saiki, Arakawa relies on those humorous characters around the main character and what he thinks of them. Both of these anime are also parodies. Saiki is a little more underhanded with the OP protagonist who has no use for his powers but most of the characters in Arakawa are parodies of characters from other manga!

Arakawa Under the Bridge Official English Sub Trailer


Final Thoughts

There you have it! Here are six anime that we find to be very similar to Saiki Kusuo no Psi Nan. The best part is that they are not all the same type of show but rather varied in their experiences. There is something similar and yet slightly different yet enjoyable about every single show listed here! Let us know if there are any shows you would recommend. Till next time!

Saiki-Kusuo-no-PSi-Nan-DVD-Image-300x424 6 Anime Like Saiki Kusuo no Ψ-nan (The Disastrous Life of Saiki K) [Recommendations]

Editor/Translator

Author: Nagareboshi

American by birth; international by choice. I am trying to bring attention to one of my favorite causes; me. I translate by day and write by night. Aspiring polyglot. My dream would be to be the personal translator for Amuro Namie. Other than that, my hobbies include languages, weightlifting, sleeping, karaoke, GOOD coffee and music. When I’m not doing any of the above, I am most likely laughing hysterically at Willam Belli videos or EV farming. I ain’t gunna Rupologize for it neither. Waifu are Shirai Kuroko & Euaerin.

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