Peeping Life TV is a series that you may not see from any list on this website (or frankly, any other). This CG series features skits following various iconic Tatsunoko and Tezuka characters as they live out their daily lives. There isn’t a story or really anything that ties them together beyond the character premises detailed in their original material. But what makes Peeping Life special is how it is one of the rare opportunities to see real conversational Japanese comedy in anime.

Yes, it may not be the sort of comedy you’re used to seeing, but it can be hilarious to see these classic characters getting on with menial tasks such as fixing a bicycle or planning a trip with arguments breaking out between them. It’s a tonne of fun and it’s definitely something different from the rest of the picks on this list. And having the OP performed by BRADIO doesn’t hurt either.

Saekano is a series that incorporates so many styles of comedy that it truly stood out from the competition within this year. By utilising a lot of physical comedy, personality and even some meta-comedy, Saekano is a constant barrage of subtle humour used to fuel a dramatic plot. Following Tomoya Aki on his journey to create a visual novel, he must work through his relationships with various other members of the cast to get them to help him out. Whilst these often bring up dramatical moments, they’re always done so with a joke to lighten the mood or placed in a silly situation from the start.

And then there’s Megumi Kato, the titular ‘boring girlfriend’ and the star of Aki’s visual novel. She is the ultimate straight man to all of the jokes involved and plays out as a normal person trapped within the eccentricities of an anime world. It even goes so far that the camera doesn’t recognise her presence, constantly showing her off-frame or in the background out of focus. She’s the character that made the show what it is and it wouldn’t have been nearly as funny without her.

Whilst the genius comedy director Masahiko Ohta may not have delivered on the same level as last year’s Sabagebu but Himouto! Umaru-chan is a great shot at it regardless. Following Taihei and his younger sister Umaru, we watch through their antics as Umaru lazes about, playing games and watching anime (To be honest, a bit like me). But what seems like a dull idea ends up expanding as conflict arises between Umaru and Taihei and new characters are introduced.

There’s a charming silliness about it as Umaru switches between normal and “Umaru” form, donning her iconic hamster hoodie with a huge comical grin. It’s simple things like this that embrace the entire series in a big bundle of fun with Umaru echoing our deepest sentiments of “Actually, I’d rather be playing video games right now”. If you’re looking for something to relax and laugh along to, Himouto! Umaru-chan may just be it!

If you’ve forgotten about Etotama, you’re officially a bad person. The CG company Shirogumi Inc. teams up with Encourage Films to produce a non stop comedy extravaganza about the 12 zodiacs. Combining action segments in stunning 3D CGI with hilarious comedic moments surrounding Takeru as the zodiacs suddenly end up living with him. Having each character with their own personal antics and wacky personalities only furthers the show’s ridiculous eccentricity as it propels off into insanity.

However, it’s not that the series doesn’t take itself at times but it’s always juxtapositioned with something so ridiculous that you can’t help laughing out loud. We can also thank Etotama for one of the best recap episodes you’ll ever see with Shaa-tan blatantly explaining that she needs to show us past episodes so that the animators get a break. Etotama just has no limits and it’s tremendous fun.

Attack on Titan: Junior High is the best thing that has ever happened to the franchise and I still regard it as the perfect parody (Well, maybe except the awful live action films). Attack on Titan is a dramatic series. Okay, sorry that was an understatement. Attack on Titan is so ridiculously dramatic that it makes Godzilla look like K-ON! And there’s nothing funnier than these serious moments being twisted into schoolyard fun with the entire cast being junior high school students trying to stop those bully titans!

It’s a series written by someone who clearly loves making fun of the original blockbuster and its Hollywood-esque moments, replacing them with a series of parodies, downplaying each of the character’s efforts. Eren is a serious kid out for revenge against the titans for stealing his packed lunch, Mikasa is the strong silent type with a very obvious crush on Eren and Armin is so pathetic that he needs to wear a futon around to avoid catching a cold. Attack on Titan: Junior High is an all out attack on the original series and we’re here ready to laugh at the bloody slaughter from start to finish.

Do you remember Osomatsu-kun? Unless you’re 50 years old, you probably don’t. It’s one of those classic series that predates most of the other shows you think of when you say “classic”. Produced in 1966, Osomatsu-kun was probably one of the least likely shows to receive a reboot until Studio Pierrot teamed up with Gintama director, Yoichi Fujita to create a parody series of epic proportion. Opening up with parodies of Love Live, YowaPeda, Haikyuu and everything else under the sun, Osomatsu returns with one clear message: We Have No Limits.

Unfortunately, the Japanese government was there to remind them that they do have limits as the show did get in trouble for violation of copyright laws with the first episode being pulled from the Blurays and streaming sites. However, Osomatsu-san is not phased by this at all, as parody of other anime is merely one of its talents as it goes on to present a brilliant story about 60s anime characters trying to be relevant in a modern age. It’s insanely meta and for those looking for something unconventional, this is for you.

Monster Musume is one of those shows that you should really keep a secret from your parents. It’s hard enough having to explain the magazines under your bed, but you might have a harder time explaining that horse in a bra. However, moving away from those unpleasant mental images, Monster Musume does comedy just as well as it does ecchi with each of the situations Kurusu gets into with the group of monster girls who are living with him as part of their exchange program.

What other series will suddenly break out into an impromptu Godzilla reference? With a world that incorporates monster girls along with humans, there’s so much opportunity for jokes and character dynamics that MonMusu takes advantage of without any hesitation. Whilst a large amount of ecchi series implement their comedy as being the fanservice itself, Monster Musume treats the two genres as separate, giving the premise the opportunity to give its all.

Shhh, don’t tell anyone but actually, I am… well, maybe this isn’t the time. Jitsu wa Watashi wa was a huge surprise for the Summer season. With the key visual being wholly unappealing and the premise sounding lacklustre at best, it’s expected to have low expectations. That is until you watch the show itself and you watch the school comedy that we loved back in the mid 2000s come back to life with a flourish.

Cooking brownies to save the world, helping an alien escape from the school, training a vampire to travel from shade to shade, it’s absolutely brilliant! Just writing these storylines from various episodes throughout the series is filling me with giddy joy. With an enthralling cast of fabled creatures coming to life within the romantic comedy genre, it calls back to some of the best of the decade and hopefully we see more like it in the future.

When Yuru Yuri was taken away from Doga Kobo and director Masahiko Ohta, fans like myself were hesitant over whether the series would be able to capture the charm of past renditions in the same way. But it only took the first couple episodes of the new season to reassure us that this was going to be the same wild ride as we have learned to expect. Kyouko, Yui, Chinatsu and… the other one are back in the Amusement Club as we spectate their day to day lives.

All of the same jokes are there, but by expanding onto the main cast’s siblings and other minor characters, newer dynamics come into play and it keeps itself from becoming stale in its third season. Yuru Yuri excels beyond the previous picks in this list purely due to its ability to deliver the same level of humour regardless of whether it’s within a grounded story or one of its far more ridiculous escapades.

And the best (of course), is Non Non Biyori Repeat, the second season of the ultimate slice of life series following a bunch of kids in the countryside soaking in the wonders of life without Twitter. Playing out much like Yuru Yuri in regards to how it’s a combination of slice of life and comedy, Non Non Biyori takes advantage of its use of atmosphere far more in order to execute its own unique style of lighter comedy.

There really isn’t much like it and there’s few shows that can make us laugh at scenarios and jokes this simple. With a combination of slapstick humour and character specific jokes, it never seems to get old as it explores day-to-day life with a perspective far from our jaded adult minds. Everything about Non Non Biyori is excellent and Non Non Biyori Repeat expanded on this by filling in the gaps, giving backstory to some of the older characters and most importantly, delivering moments that we can be regarded as memorable for years into the future. It is without a doubt the best comedy anime of 2015.