[Sweet & Funny Anime Winter 2018] Like Gabriel DropOut? Watch This!

2:00 PM March 30, 2018

Anime Recommendations [Article Category]
Comedy Anime, Slice of Life Anime, Supernatural Anime, School Anime [Genres]
Gabriel DropOut, Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san (Teasing Master Takagi-san), Gabriel DropOutMiira no Kaikata (How to Keep a Mummy), [Anime Title]

Mark Sammut

Miira-no-Kaikata-crunchyroll-225x350 [Sweet & Funny Anime Winter 2018] Like Gabriel DropOut? Watch This!

Balancing school and a social life can be rather challenging, especially when the students are not quite human. Gabriel DropOut follows the adventures of a group of angelic and demonic teenagers who are tasked with carrying out their studies on Earth. Doga Kobo's shounen series subverts stereotypes associated with Heaven and Hell while delivering some hilarious school-based comedy hijinks. With a heavy focus on the relationships between the colorful characters, Gabriel DropOut examines how someone's upbringing might impact the way they interact with the world, especially when they are forced to go out of their comfort zone. Bringing together a fantastic cast made up of polar opposites, this 2017 anime is sweet and funny.

Our two featured anime in this article are Miira no Kaikata and Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san. Both ongoing series are set in or around a school and follow a group of friends who, on paper, should hate each other. While their premise might not be all that similar to Gabriel DropOut, these anime are perfect for fans of Doga Kobo's comedy and we plan on backing up that claim. Time to have a good laugh and an occasional cry with three anime that put the fun back in education.

About Gabriel DropOut

Episodes: 12
Aired: Jan 9, 2017 – Mar 27, 2017

Based on Ukami's manga of the same name, Gabriel DropOut follows the day-to-day life of Gabriel White Tenma, an angel who graduated at the top of her class. As a final assignment prior to earning her full wings, Tenma is dropped on Earth and joins a normal human school. In a matter of months, Gabriel transforms from a beacon of righteousness to a hikikomori addicted to video games. Despite the efforts of Vignette, Gabriel's responsible best friend who happens to be a demon, the angel is determined to live a life devoted to Earth's pleasures. Along the way, Gabriel meets Satanichia McDowell Kurumizawa, a harmless demon who dreams of taking over the Underworld, and the terrifying angel Raphiel Ainsworth Siraha. As these unlikely friends try to make it through high school in one piece, fans are treated to a hilarious fish-out-of-water storyline boasting an unpredictably humorous central cast.

Liked Gabriel DropOut? Then watch Miira no Kaikata (How to keep a mummy)

Episodes: 12
Aired: Jan 12, 2018 – Ongoing

On the surface, Sora Kashiwagi seems like your typical high school student. The cheerful teenager is great at sports and spends most of his free time hanging out with the aloof Tazuki Kamiya. Due to Sora's father working as an adventurer; occasionally, Sora receives a mythical creature to babysit. While they tend to be rather violent, this time around, Sora's father sends a cute mummy named Mii-kun, who is quickly accepted into the family by the teenager. Eventually, a couple of Sora's classmates pick up their own supernatural pets, prompting the friends to band together to try and properly raise these creatures. Unsurprisingly, things do not always go as planned. Miira no Kaikata is a relaxing and wholesome comedy that packs tons of adorable moments alongside over-the-top slapstick.

Three Major Similarities Gabriel DropOut and Miira no Kaikata

1. The Mundane And Supernatural Go Hand-In-Hand

Similarly to Gabriel DropOut, Miira no Kaikata mixes supernatural and fantastical elements with the mundane. Both anime are largely grounded in our reality, as the character spend their time attending class and performing chores at home. While half of the cast consists of mythical creatures, including a Dragon and an Oni, they are treated more as pets or children than outright supernatural entities. Gabriel DropOut might follow the adventures of angels and demons, but the focus is squarely on their seemingly normal everyday lives rather than anything otherworldly. Miira no Kaikata is exactly the same way.

2. Opposites Attract

Gabriel DropOut's main appeal is watching how these four teenagers possessing wildly different personalities develop as friends. When it comes to character development, Miira no Kaikata is second to none, as the anime has done a fantastic job of furthering the central relationships. From the peppy Asa Motegi to the apologetic Daichi Tachiaki, each teenager brings their own personality and backstory to the table. At first, Daichi and Tazuki struggle to see eye to eye, but they quickly find a common ground and form a friendship. Each human character is paired with a mythical creature, as they learn to overcome their own insecurities to help raise the helpless child. Gabriel DropOut forces angels and demons to get along, while Miira no Kaikata drops impressionable supernatural babies into the laps of teenagers and tells them to work it out.

3. Endearing

With the exception of Satanichia, who occasionally falls victim to Raphiel's wicked sense of humor, Gabriel DropOut rarely depends on mean-spirited or adult comedy. Doga Kobo's anime is sweet, wholesome, and can be enjoyed by the whole family. Miira no Kaikata is one of the more endearing slice-of-life series of recent years, with each character being presented as a three-dimensional character. The simplistic storylines prioritize teaching life lessons to the children or teenagers, and the anime avoids introducing characters who exist merely to be used as punchlines or running gags. As the majority of the humor comes as a result of Sora's struggles to raise Mii-kun, the anime's pacing feels very natural and brisk. Like Gabriel DropOut, the banter among the main cast is always the central focus of an episode.

Liked Gabriel DropOut? Then watch Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san (Karakai Jozu no Takagi-san)

Episodes: 12
Aired: Jan 8, 2018 – Ongoing

There is nothing quite as innocent as young love. Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san's premise is relatively straightforward - "if you blush, you lose." The middle schoolers Takagi and Nishikata sit next to each other in class and constantly walk home together, but their interactions largely consist of competitions to see who can force the other to blush. As the ultimate troll, Takagi knows exactly how to push Nishikata's buttons, while the young boy tries desperately to get his revenge but nearly always ends up on the losing end. Shin-Ei Animation's episodic comedy hints at a potential romance between the central students, but that is always on the backburner, as the anime opts for embracing the whimsical side of adolescence.

Three Major Similarities Gabriel DropOut and Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san

1. A Step Above The Rest

Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san is an absolutely gorgeous anime. The art style helps the characters came to life, even when all they are doing is walking down a street. In terms of animation, Gabriel DropOut loved to include a couple of jaw-dropping moments of magic that add an angelic glow to the characters, especially Tenma. While Takagi and Nishikata are normal humans, their adorable designs lend an air of wonder and mystique to their interactions. In each episode, there are usually a couple of brief moments were Nishikata sees Takagi in a mesmerizing light, as the girl starts to give off a warm glow causing the boy to blush. When it comes to slice-of-life anime, Gabriel DropOut and Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san take enough risks to stand out from the crowd.

2. Cut From The Same Cloth

Tenma is a huge troll. Gabriel DropOut literally starts with the heroine threatening to destroy the world due to an accidental panty shot. She constantly plays tricks on Satanichia and manipulates Vignette to get out of having to do any real work. This angel does exactly what she pleases and cares not for anyone's approval. While Tenma might be quite mischievous, she has nothing on Takagi. The middle schooler is constantly playing tricks on Nishikata, who repeatedly falls for her mind games and challenges. In general, Tenma tends to be rather overt with her pranks, but Takagi prefers to take a more subtle approach. She uses her intelligence and charm to trick Nishikata into overthinking the situation, causing himself to blush. While both girls might like to poke fun at other people, their goal is never to humiliate the other person.

3. Episodic Storytelling

As Gabriel DropOut and Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san are both slice-of-life series, they take a more formulaic approach to their content. The plot does not reset at the end of an episode, as both anime reference events that previously occurred, but the shows dedicate most of their time to establishing the cast's daily routine. Considering Tenma's main goal is to avoid disturbing her hikikomori lifestyle, it makes sense that the individual episodes would follow the same formula and avoid being overly dramatic. Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san cares not for plot progression, with each episode consisting of a few sketches dedicated to Takagi and Nishikata's ongoing rivalry. While there are hints of a potential romance, that is something which might happen in the distant future. The only thing on the mind of the central characters is to find a way to make the other person blush. Admittedly, this static pacing might frustrate some viewers, but it makes for quite a relaxing sit.

Final Thoughts

Gabriel DropOut, Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san, and Miira no Kaikata offer a perfect way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon. Boasting great animation for the genre and lovable characters, these anime might flirt with the supernatural but they always prioritize their slice-of-life elements above anything else. Bringing together teenagers from different walks of life, Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san and Miira no Kaikata show that friendship comes in all shapes and sizes. We hope you enjoyed reading this article and please let us know if you’ve seen either one of these series. Don’t forget to check Honey’s Anime for more articles offering great recommendations.

Writer

Author: Mark Sammut

Born and raised on a small island in the Mediterranean, my life goal is to experience as many different ways of life as possible. Since time and money are in short supply, anime and film provide the best opportunity to experience far away cultures and worlds. When I'm not watching the latest episode of Gintama, or wondering what series to watch next, you can find me in the corner of the closest coffee shop; writing away on my aging laptop.

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