Top 10 Funny Anime [Updated Best Recommendations]

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We love explosive mecha fights and mind-bending animation as much as the next site, but nothing heals the soul like a hearty chuckle! Comedy may be among the most popular genres in any medium, but humor is subjective and does not always translate well from one culture to the next. As the old saying goes: dying is easy, comedy is hard!

A parody anime that forgets to be funny can be an excruciatingly dull sit, arguably more so than a terrible action or dramatic series; however, the best shows sit among the industry's greatest and most timeless creations! The upcoming ten anime are hilarious, unique, and worth seeking out for anyone yearning to forget about their day for 20 minutes!


10. Space☆Dandy (Space Dandy)

  • Episodes: 13
  • Aired: January 2014 – March 2014

"He's a Dandy in space," remarks the narrator during Bones' introduction for its irreverent sci-fi comedy about a bounty hunter who seeks to capture unregistered aliens. While Space Dandy ranks at the bottom of this list, this anime can be just as funny as any other show, but quite a few episodes prioritize the sci-fi elements over the humor. When Space Dandy tries to be funny, the jokes frequently hit the mark!

Directed by Shinichiro Watanabe, who previously worked on Cowboy Bebop, Space Dandy centers around the Aloha Oe's mischievous crew and their many misadventures. Even though there are recurring themes and characters, Space Dandy takes a rather lucid approach to continuity. In other words, anything can happen within the confines of a singular event.

Space Dandy's animation is fantastic, easily among Watanabe's greatest achievements. Tackling subjects like alternate dimensions and time-travel, the individual stories take some rather peculiar turns, but the eponymous Dandy remains relatively consistent. Comedy is not always the main dish, but Space Dandy never fails to deliver a scrumptious plate!


9. Mitsuboshi Colors

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: January 2018 – March 2018

Kids will be kids! Broadcast in 2018, Silver Link.'s slice of life comedy went slightly unnoticed due to not being available on streaming sites like Crunchyroll or Amazon Prime. Lasting for an enjoyable 12 episodes, Mitsuboshi Colors celebrates the childlike vigor and zest for life that comes with pre-adolescence.

So, who are these so-called "Colors?" Kotoha, Sacchan, and Yui Akamatsu are the best of friends and the self-appointed protectors of their city. Even if nobody asked them to maintain the neighborhood's peace, and some might prefer if they stayed out of trouble, the Colors refuse to take "no" for an answer!

If anime has taught us anything, it would be that three is the perfect number for comedic hijinks. Each member of the "Colors" exhibits a unique personality trait that juxtapositions effortlessly against their peers, while the supporting cast largely consists of adults who try to humor the girls. Wholesome and an easy watch, Mitsuboshi Colors is an ideal anime for a leisurely Sunday afternoon!


8. Blend S (BLEND-S)

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: October 2017 – December 2017

With a premise that is eerily similar to Working!!, A-1 Pictures' Blend S takes place in a maid café called the Stile. Rather than just focusing on one particular trope, Stile's waitresses cover a wide spectrum of anime conventions. While the café's owner, Dino, managed to find the perfect tsundere and younger sister, the Italian entrepreneur's search for a sadist has proven unfruitful.

Dino's pleas to the heavens are finally answered when Maika Sakuranomiya steps into his life. A high school girl who wants to travel the world, Maika has struggled to land a part-time job due to an unfortunate Achilles heel: her smile is absolutely terrifying! Unsurprisingly, this is a deal breaker for most establishments in the customer service business, but Maika was born to be a sadist at Dino's maid café!

Blend S' humor revolves around the difference between the girls' real and fake personas. For example, Mafuyu Hoshikawa plays the part of the younger sister, but she is actually a mature 20-year-old college student with somewhat of a mean streak.


7. Gin no Saji (Silver Spoon)

  • Episodes: 11
  • Aired: July 2013 – September 2013

Sure, they might not have bills to pay, but teenagers are under heaps of stress! For one, these glorified children are repeatedly informed that their current decisions will shape the rest of their lives! Seriously, that is an insane amount of pressure to place on the shoulders of a 16-year-old! Unfortunately, Yuugo Hachiken has yet to plan out his remaining sixty years on Earth, so he yearns to shake the weight of expectations brought upon by his father.

Deciding to get away from the city and his parents, Hachiken enrolls in Ooezo Agricultural High School, a boarding school meant to prepare students for a life on a farm. Naively, the protagonist assumes that such an environment would present little in the way of a challenge for a capable student. Sadly for him, this could not be further from reality!

Gin no Saji is a heartwarming and realistic coming-of-age story about a boy despairingly seeking to experience some personal insight. With its fish out of water narrative, Hachiken's struggles are amusing to watch, although A-1 Pictures' anime does not hesitate to tackle some of the harsher truths faced by teenagers and the agricultural business in general.


6. Working!!! (Wagnaria!!)

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

Even the shortest of experiences can leave a profound impression. Childhood may shape our personalities, but people never truly stop growing. In some ways, working at a restaurant or a fast-food joint is a rite of passage, although most youngsters presumably did not enroll due to an insatiable fetish for cuteness! At worst, it would be nothing more than a secondary motivation.

Lasting for three seasons and a spin-off, Working!! is among A-1 Pictures' crowning comedic accomplishments. If this list's previous two entries failed to make it clear, the studio knows a thing or two about crafting engaging slice of life series with a humorous edge. Working!! takes place in the family restaurant of Wagnaria and centers around the turbulent relationships connecting the crew members.

Working!! devotes a substantial amount of time to developing its cast. And while drama never fully overrides the anime's lighthearted tone, the characters are different people by the end of the series. Also, Aoi Yamada is comfortably the best and funniest girl to ever work in a fictional family restaurant!



5. Sket Dance (SKET Dance)

  • Episodes: 77
  • Aired: April 2011 – September 2012

If a stranger requires assistance, someone's natural response should be to answer that call. Alas, that is rarely the case, so people are left with little option but to bottle things up. Alternatively, if they happen to attend Kaimei High School, there is always the SKET Brigade! Sharing many similarities with Gintama, SKET Dance follows a good-intentioned school club that, occasionally, gets in a little over its head.

The main cast consists of three specific students: Yuusuke "Bossun" Fujisaki, Kazuyoshi "Switch" Usui, and Hime "Onihime" Onizuka. SKET Dance's central trio serves as the anime's beating heart and soul, as nearly every episode revolves around their hijinks. The supporting cast is by no means atrocious, but the series rarely diverts its attention away from the titular club. Luckily, we could not ask for a more likable set of protagonists!

As the leader of the group, Bossun starts off as a parody of a typical shounen hero but quickly develops into a lot more than just a punchline. As the poster girl, Onihime's main talent is an innate ability to swing a hockey stick and destroy anyone foolish enough to stand in her way. Last but surely not least, Switch is an intelligent otaku who speaks only via his computer. Delivering a dozen jokes per minute, SKET Dance makes high school seem fun!


4. Hinamatsuri (Hina Festival)

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: April 2018 – June 2018

At a magic show, the last thing anyone wants is for the magician's trick to be revealed. Why ruin the moment with logic or science? Even if there is an explanation, sometimes, ignorance is a welcome change of pace! Hinamatsuri's premise is rather strange, but the anime wisely moves on without wasting too much time on pointless exposition. Afterall, we are here to giggle!

Hailing from another world, Hina is a psychic who unexpectedly appears in the apartment of a yakuza member named Yoshifumi Nitta. Why did she pick Nitta's place? Well, it seemed as good of a choice as any. Due to her power to destroy walls with a mere thought, the gangster decides it might be best to not anger Hina, so he adopts the psychic as his own daughter. Nitta's peace and quiet proves short-lived, as Hina is not the only powerful girl who has made the jump to Earth.

Regardless of the name, Hina is not the anime's sole star. Segments are largely split between three different teenage girls, and each character follows an overarching storyline that develops throughout the course of the season. Due to Hina's dry sense of humor, the eponymous protagonist's sections tend to be good for a laugh, while Hitomi Mishima's journey from class representative to an unwitting bartender is amazing to behold. And Anzu's story is perfect for those moments when someone just needs to shed a tear.


3. Hoozuki no Reitetsu (Hozuki's Coolheadedness)

  • Episodes: 13
  • Aired: January 2014 – April 2014

Oh, so you think your job is stressful? Well, try running hell for a day! Frankly, it is soul-crushing work that we would not wish upon our worst enemies. Unfortunately, someone has to do it, and Hoozuki seems like the right demon for the job!

Hoozuki no Reitetsu's selling point is its setting, as the anime goes to painstaking detail in presenting a mythologically accurate account of East Asian Hell. While viewers are taken on several graphics tours through the various torture-filled levels that define this particular underworld, Hozuki's Coolheadedness avoids depending on shock-value to elicit a laugh.

With his name on the tin, Hoozuki ranks among comedy's top-tier of protagonists. Sadistic but oddly fair, Lord Enma's chief deputy transformed Hell into a well-oiled bureaucratic machine, one that has become the envy of every other underworld! Besides sitting among anime's funniest series, Hoozuki no Reitetsu is a must-watch for anyone interested in Asian mythology. Wit Studio's trip through the afterlife is packed with lovable characters and makes the most of its unique setting.


2. Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou (Daily Lives of High School Boys)

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: January 2012 – March 2012

Spiritually similar to Nichijou, Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou attempts to capture the trivial humor that defines ordinary life. Sunrise's anime has moments of outlandish mayhem, but these scenes are nothing more than the wishful fantasies of high school students. In a move that is easy to promise but hard to pull-off, Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou's cast genuinely speak like teenagers!

Spending their winter at Sanada North High School and their summers doing nothing; Hidenori Tabata, Yoshitake Tanaka, and Tadakuni are the closest of friends. While the latter unwillingly embraces the straight-man role, the former two get into more than enough trouble to cover for the entire group. Despite the title suggesting the focus will be on this trio, Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou is more of an ensemble comedy than anything else.

Split into a number of sketches, the anime's pacing is second to none. Even if not every storyline is likely to impress, Sunrise knows when it is time to try something new. Stuffed with references to popular anime tropes and series, Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou is a love letter to the industry, adolescence, and comedy!


1. Saiki Kusuo no Ψ-nan (TV) (The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.)

  • Episodes: 120
  • Aired: July 2016 – December 2016

An anime that only improves with each passing episode! Kusuo Saiki is an overwhelmingly powerful psychic capable of destroying the world with nothing more than a sneeze, but the dude just wants to lead an ordinary life. Despite possessing all the power in the world, Kusuo is helpless when up against his hilariously inept classmates!

With most sketches lasting around five minutes, each episode is split into a number of short segments. Saiki Kusuo no Ψ-nan's cast is expansive and remarkably endearing, but Kusuo is always the central focus. The entire premise revolves around the protagonist's desperate attempts to hide his secret and avoid coming into unnecessary contact with the bone-headed Riki Nendou or the delusional Shun Kaidou.

Carrying so much of the anime's weight, Kusou needed to be a close-to-perfect protagonist. Thankfully, the psychic's dry wit and stone-faced delivery juxtaposition flawlessly with the rest of the cast's varying levels of insanity. Funny and impossible to hate, Saiki Kusuo no Ψ-nan is a comedic masterpiece!


Final Thoughts

Humour is hard to define. One person's comedic gold is another's unintentional tragedy, so it can be challenging to find examples that are universally recognized as being funny. Whether dealing with a slice of life or shounen series, anime hardly lacks for slapstick or hijinks, but these recommended series turned comedy into an art form.

What is your favorite funny anime? Please let us know in the comment section below.

SKET-DANCE-Wallpaper-690x500 Top 10 Funny Anime [Updated Best 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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Original Article Below

Anime provides an endless stream of hilarious moments to delight viewers. In fact, a good chunk of funny elements in anime, from over-the-top facial expressions to deadpan remarks to boob groping, have acted as constant bait for the uninitiated into the anime world. There is no doubt that some funny moments have been overplayed to the point of becoming cliché. In most anime, there will always be at least one scene where a character trips and falls into either a woman’s pillowy bosom or her sacred undergarments. Surprisingly, or perhaps not, even the slightest change up to this pace can produce enormous results. The shock of tripping under a girl’s skirt to find that she’s not wearing panties for example can be quite a shocker. As juvenile as they can be, few things will brighten your day as an anime that’s filled with these hilarious moments. With that said, let’s start reviewing the top funny anime that will leave you in stitches.

10. School Rumble

  • Episodes: 52
  • Aired: Oct. 2004 – Sep. 2006

Love confessions are tough. This happens to be doubly so for Tenma Tsukamoto and Kenji Harima, who both, either through their own foolishness or shyness, are unable to convey their feelings to their respective crushes. It’s this premise that drives the insane events of School Rumble as we watch a host of classmates, and their rival classes at some points, cause havoc, intermingle, and struggle to admit their deepest feelings for each other.

Though each character generally has his/her moment in the limelight, Tenma and Harima definitely carry the show. From just the simple way Tenma’s hair twitches and bobs like an excited puppy to her hostility towards a weight scale, you’ll immediately fall in love with this airhead. Now, even though Harima has his own host of insane moments, such as becoming a prophet-like figure with a herd of zoo animals following him around, his absolute best moments are with the hot-blooded Eri. These two have such beautiful and yet volatile chemistry that at one point Eri shaves Harima’s facial hair. To top it off, while trying to apologize she ends up shaving his head. Hilariously good times.


9. Prison School

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: Jul. 2015 – Sep. 2015

Prison School tells the story of five boys who become the first males allowed to enter the all-girls boarding school Hachimitsu Private Academy. The boys are excited and the girls are concerned. Thus begins one of the most brutal and funny ecchi shows out there as these five boys are caught peeping and sentenced by the Underground School Council to a special form of detention.

You may very well find this show glorious in its extreme take on perversion and no holds bar approach to the more base instincts of the sexes. That or you will be immediately disturbed and question how you have found yourself aligned with such people under the name of anime. There’s whipping, man-to-man shower scenes, urination, and panty shots galore.

Either way, what it does best is embellish fanservice to the point of absurdity. Who knew the body could be viewed in so many angles and who knew a body could be contorted in that way? However, that really is just the cherry on top of this sundae. The truth behind Prison School’s glory is the constant pissing contest (both literal and figurative) between the two sexes as they consistently try to outmaneuver one another. In reality, the show is just an extreme version of those ridiculous adolescent relationships where the only thing that mattered was if “you won” the break up.


8. Great Teacher Onizuka (GTO)

  • Episodes: 43
  • Aired: Jun. 1999 – Sep. 2000

Great Teacher Onizuka revolves around the fresh teaching career of the reformed gang leader Onizuka. He thinks that becoming the best teacher will revise his image as well as provide countless opportunities to meet pretty girls. It’s pretty clear that the girls are a bigger priority in his mind. However, to become the greatest teacher, he has to deal with a zero tolerance faculty and a class of the worst delinquents you can imagine.

This comedy is a classic. Though it often borders on a drama it never ceases to make you laugh, or at the very least smirk, a few times each episode. Onizuka and his wild fantasies and facial expressions are enough to keep the laughs coming, but it’s his class that drives home the funny bits. Every single prank they pull, from snakes in boxes to framing Onizuka for lewd and inappropriate behavior, is unbelievably thought out and maniacal. They are a class from hell, and it’s an absolute wonder to watch Onizuka turn the situation around, whether it be with help from his gang or simple dumb luck. What more do you expect from an anime that starts with a man sitting beside stairs in order to look up skirts?


7. Osomatsu-san

  • Episodes: 25
  • Aired: Oct. 2015 – Mar. 2016

Twins alone are enough to cause chaos. What happens then when there’s a sextuplet running around your town? Osomatsu-san explores the insane hurdles that the Matsuno sextuplets must conquer to complete rather ordinary and mundane tasks. You might think finding a job is tough as is, but for these siblings, it’s downright madness, self-imposed madness that is. Jumping into the fray of the already eccentric ensemble, and not making life any easier, are the sextuplet’s neighbors, whom include the crazy inventor Dekapan, the fish market idol Totok, and many more.

Osomatsu-san’s humor primarily lies in its banality. For some, it might be more cringe-worthy than funny, but for others it will be the best way to liven up your daily routine. Jokes range from enemas to masturbation, and the amount of times someone tries to take a #2 on a table is shocking. Pushing this show forward are two primary things. First off, the entire cast is absolutely insane, in particular Iyami, whose antics will leave you clutching your gut. Secondly, the pacing of the show is compressed without missing a single beat. There’s never a wasted moment, because there is always something in the scene touching on the absurd and hilarious. A great example, is the number of times that you’ll spot Juushimatsu chilling in the back, mentally checked out with his tongue dangling and his eyes spinning.


6. Sakamoto desu ga? (Haven’t you heard? I’m Sakamoto)

  • Episodes: 13
  • Aired: Apr. 2016 - TBD

You must have heard of Sakamoto, right? He’s the coolest guy in school. Sure he’s only a freshman, but every guy wants to be him and every girl wants to be with him. Well, if you don’t know, then now is the time to get acquainted with the protagonist of Sakomoto desu ga?

Though perhaps infuriatingly so, to both supporting characters as well as some viewers, Sakomoto is perfection in human form. Apparently, this is the one truth the show is based on and thus its acclaim depends heavily on the staff’s ability to create unbelievable circumstances to test Sakomoto as well as figuring out what is the coolest way to handle said situation. Thus, we find ourselves glued to the screen, watching Sakamoto (you can’t say his name enough) as he duels hornets with a pen, rides a hurricane with his umbrella to save a bird, and poses like a model into your heart. He can do just about anything, and episode by episode you’ll find yourself appreciating his charisma and physical prowess more and more. Adding fuel to the fire is the episodic and endless question: Will he ever be defeated?


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

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: Jul. 2014 – Sep. 2014

Unrequited love is fuel for both dramatic romances as well as hysterical comedies. Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun just happens to use this premise to drive the latter into a realm of pure comedy gold. Following Chiyo Sakura as she tries confess her feeling for her crush, Umetarou Nozaki, takes viewers down a crazy road, consistently shifting gears as Chiyo becomes entangled with numerous other people.

The unrelenting personalities that make up this series is definitely one of its strongest points. The core cast follows seven individuals, four guys and three girls, who are so undeniably quirky it’s hard to find a dull moment in the show. Furthermore, each of the characters play off of each other extremely well, that if the show was solely based off the relationship of any two of the characters, it still would have been a hit.

Vaulting this show even higher is its awareness of the inherent clichés in shougo and its willingness to play off such moments. One such moment is when Nozaki, our dense protagonist, is notified that one of his characters appears to be floating. In his mind, the answer is to add a box beneath the character in every panel. Already, that’s a pretty ridiculous solution. However, further warping the idiocy of the situation is that when told that doesn’t make sense, Nozaki begins planning a backstory as to why such a character carries a box with him at all times. Genius or BAKA?


4. Gintama

  • Episodes: 201
  • Aired: Apr. 2006 – Mar. 2010

If you have not watched Gintama, then five words of advice: Watch it. Watch it now. Gintama follows the ridiculous adventures of Gintoki Sakata, an errand boy, and his two employees Shimura and Kagura. Together, these three troll each other, their enemies, and the audience in a world that that runs off oddities.

Gintama willingly plays pranks at every single interval, no matter the situation. Even in life-threatening situations Gintoki will find the time to pick his nose and Kagura will have time to fill her stomach. Arguing against the despicable habits of those two is the third member of the trio, Shimura. This regular banter sets up a good core for constant repartee and inside jokes. However, Gintama truly shines in its willingness to deconstruct its narrative and break the fourth wall. References galore and an unwillingness to take itself seriously, Gintama is one of the longest running comedies out there and one easy to fall in love with.


3. Nichijou

  • Episodes: 26
  • Aired: Apr. 2011 – Sep. 2011

Primarily focused on the daily adventures of three extremely close friends, Nichijou flips the idea of a normal routine on its head. Even the most ordinary moments in life are turned into sweet gold thanks to the wildly imaginative minds at Kyoto Animation. Witty comebacks and impossible circumstances define this show from finish to end, and never once does a joke fall flat.

Between Mio, Yuuko, and Mia there are enough character traits and history to run seasons worth of material. Whether it be a simple greeting or a friendly game, these three will entertain. Almost with certainty, Mia’s pokerface or Yuuko’s jaw drop will cause you to smirk. Intermingle that crazy crew with the genius Shinonome, her caretaker Nano, and the talking cat Sakamoto; and there is no end to the possibilities. Literally, anything and everything is possible in this world, from cataclysmic scream after being bitter to the school’s principal suplexing a deer.


2. Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo!

  • Episodes: 10
  • Aired: Jan. 2016 – Mar. 2016

You’ve died at a particularly young age and in a very specific and embarrassing manner. Konosuba takes that initial event and gloriously offers you the chance of redeeming your life in an alternate universe that lines up with your wildest dreams. You even get to bring one object of your choosing with you! How cool is that? Well, young Kazuma decides to drag the rather spoiled and higher than thou goddess, Aqua, with him into this new world. Thus begins his wild RPG-like adventure in a brand new world.

Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo!, or Konosuba, is one of the most ridiculous fantasy anime to date. You would think taking a goddess with you on your journey would prove incredibly helpful. Not in this world. Aqua proves herself to be shameless in her hopelessness, and, only adding to her subpar quest duties, are two more essentially useless party members. There’s the trigger-happy explosion sorceress Megumin and the masochistic knight Darkness. Despite his party holding three of the most advanced classes, Kazuma keeps finding himself monetarily poor and in dire situations.

The main cast is definitely a source of never ending entertainment. However, some of the best moments are when an outsider gets overwhelmed by the team’s incomprehensible banter. Dullahan stood no chance against Aqua’s flood, which destroyed half the city, and Kazuma’s steal ability.


1. Barakamon

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: Jul. 2014 – Sep. 2014

For many artists, a retreat to the countryside is a chance to revitalize their inspiration and view things from a new perspective. Though he’s technically being forced out of his beloved Tokyo, Seishuu Handa definitely thought the rural area of the Goto Islands would offer some artistic insight. That doesn’t turn out to be the case. As with most small communities, everyone knows everyone, so of course the newcomer is going to be a topic of interest. Thus, Barakamon takes us down the crazy collisions between the temperamental Handa and his boisterous new neighbors.

Barakamon has just about everything you could hope for in a comedy. There’s an endless supply of fresh frustrations for our protagonist, extremely eccentric but lovable supporting characters, and a joy in making the most of simplicity. Truly holding the comedic heart of the show together, though, is Naru and her gang of schoolmates, who terrorize just about everything and anything they come across. However, this aspect isn’t an over-the-top presentation of the evils of children in order to elicit fear from the audience as well as laughs at Handa’s expense. Though those outcomes are unavoidable, Barakamon simply plaints an accurate and fair portrait of kids. They like silly things like poop, they’re extremely energetic, and highly curious as to what constitutes adult life.

In the end, what makes Barakamon so special is its honesty to the portrayal of its characters and circumstances. Rather than exploit situations that will never happen in real life, it can bring up memories of summer time or vacations at just about any stage in your life. This connection allows each funny moment to truly hit its mark.


Funny bits are essential pieces to almost every anime. Even in a hardboiled drama a moment of lightheartedness is always welcomed by the audience. Most of us are coming to anime in the first place to escape the drudgery of reality, so kudos to these shows for providing such an escape and making us laugh the whole while. Were there any shows I missed that had you in stitches again and again?

SKET-DANCE-Wallpaper-690x500 Top 10 Funny Anime [Updated Best Recommendations]

Writer

Author: Yoko Dev

Hello, my anime peers. I’m from the states, but have taken an indefinite leave to travel while freelancing. Outside of a deep admiration for anime that started long ago, I love to read, write, and play video games. The main issue of traveling so far has been not having a console.

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Original Article Below

How many times have you had to pause a show from laughing for fear that you’ll miss the next joke or punch line? Everyone has their favorite show that makes them laugh. You may snort, you may chuckle, or maybe you flat out laugh until you cry almost peeing yourself. Maybe you usually don’t laugh but when you see one show, suddenly you’re cracking up. Funny anime are here to entertain us and make us enjoy the show beyond the plot because the funny parts are what remain in our minds forever.

Usually mixed in with comedy anime, funny anime are just that. Not necessarily just comedy itself, but drama or action as well.

I scoured the internet high and low and went through my own personal collection of anime that make me laugh to bring you this list. I hope you enjoy it!

10. Fooly Cooly (FLCL)

  • Episodes: 6
  • Aired: Apr 2000 – Mar 2001

Fooly Cooly has to be on this list for one reason; it’s freaking hilarious! I have been left in tears multiple times from the strange relationship that Haruko and Naota have.
The funniest part of this show for me is when Ms. Haruko comes to live with Naota and the manga strip scenes where the father becomes super ripped and grandpa explains just how exactly one does the Fooly Cooly.

The strange part about Fooly Cooly is you either get it or you don’t. This show is a total explosion of randomness and my advice is to just enjoy it and not think too hard.

Life is boring and mundane for Naota Nandaba until one day. As he goes to buy a drink, a strange woman on a Vespa bike comes by and beats Naota in the head with a guitar. After screaming, "come back to life!” and kissing him, she screams that he’s useless and runs away. Later that night, he goes home for dinner only to find out she’s moved in?!?!? Sheer insanity and jokes are what follows. Another great part of this show, is the parodies of multiple anime and shows at the time! Don’t forget the cool fight scenes too!


9. Golden Boy

  • Episodes: 6
  • Aired: Oct 1995 – Jun 1996

Another Oldie yet Goldie! Hahaha Get it? No? Just me? Oh… Golden Boy is a show that just leaves you laughing nonstop with plenty of WTF moments to boot! This show is a bit more geared towards adults so beware that there are some adult scenes in it. If you can get past that, you’re ready to go!

Kintaro Oe is 25 and has finished all of his college courses. However, he suddenly dropped out of college to work part time jobs. Moving from job to job he meets women and in a hilariously perverted way, moves from woman to woman too. He’s earnest and hardworking as he just wants to make a difference. He has a heart of gold as well, even though his perverted personality seems to show otherwise. His reactions, though a lot of the time, are priceless.


8. Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu ( Baka and Test - Summon the Beasts)

  • Episodes: 13
  • Aired: Jan 2010 – Apr 2010

The title made me snort and snicker slightly when I first heard about this anime. Literally, it translates to “idiots, tests, and summoned beasts.” This show is oddly a rom-com which is not something that you’d expect on a comedy list. Normally rom-coms tend to feel the same, as they have to follow a set pattern. And while Baka Test does fit a certain mold, it’s nothing like the stereotypical show!

Hilarious, this show does a great job of having a colorful cast to make it funny. The protagonist who’s clearly oblivious to everything and hysterically stupid, the genius who can’t keep his cool around his crush, a pervert who gets nosebleeds constantly, a psycho stalker chick, and the list of funny characters goes on and on!

The story though follows students at an academy where based on their entrance exam scores, they are regulated into classes A through F. A class students are rewarded with luxurious classrooms and perks whereas class F has broken furniture. Minami bombed her entrance exams because of a cold so she’s forced into class F. Tired of the way they are treated, the very funny group of students decide to wage war against other classes to rise to class A and abolish the unfair system. So, the conduct a summoner war to raise the ranks to A. Check it out!


7. Sakigake!! Cromartie Koukou (Cromartie High School)

  • Episodes: 26
  • Aired: Oct 2003 – Mar 2004

One word: Hilarious. One scene: The pencil scene. Cromartie high school is a great “WAT” anime. You just spend time laughing. The first time I saw this, it became an instant favorite. Also, don’t forget the giant robot student?!? Cause that’s totally normal… yea…

Cromartie follows a tough crowd supposedly, of high school delinquents at a school notorious for being a rough school. However, to call them delinquents is a bit of a stretch. While they are tough, they are… let’s just say that they have hysterically funny special needs. The main character, Kamiyama is supposedly a genuinely good guy who declares himself the “boss of the class,” because he’s a good guy, and then the show decides to take sharp turn after sharp turn.

He’s supposedly a comedian and while he’s the “toughest” guy cause he’s the boss, his penname is “Honey boy…” Yea… Then you also have Hayashida who is super street smart… but basic math is his downfall. A sack of bricks could outsmart him. I couldn’t make this post without the mention of the giant robot, Mechazawa. No one really takes note that he’s a robot other than the main characters. However, Mechazawa is oblivious. At one point he gets into a motorcycle accident and merges with it to become a super awesome motorcycle robot person?

Just check it out. You’ll die laughing!


6. Detroit Metal City

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: Aug 2008 – Oct 2008

Good ole DMC. What’s not to find funny about this show? DMC or Detroit Metal City follows three socially inept people who are just trying to make money. Negishi is a hippie who sings in the street dreaming of being a pop star. He gets a reality check and realizes that singing in the street about nonsense won’t pay his bills. So, he forms DMC and creates his alter ego Krauser.

Krauser is the lead singer and guitarist in DMO who is a terrorist demon from hell, who rapes his parents and murdered them, and has a giant death penis. He is supported by Camus, the drummer, who’s actually just an otaku with an obsession with porn and curry (what?). Jagi the bassist, who dreams of being an actual rock star, but somehow is stuck in DMC. I can’t make this stuff up. No joke.

The show follows Negishi who is trying to break out of DMC, while trying to date someone, and hide his alter ego from her. The best scene in this series that made me cry from laughing so hard is the “kiss scene.” Check it out!


5. Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: Aug 2003 – Oct 2003

Kaname goes back to class with freak of nature and somehow super soldier Sousuke. Life is going to return to normal right? NOPE. Lots of “Nope” everywhere. Teletha decides that now it's a good time to take a vacation and join Kaname in school… So now Sousuke’s work is doubled. How to remedy this? Oh! With giant teddy bear suits that shoot guns, kick butt, take out terrorists and can’t say anything beyond “fumoffu.”

Yes, you heard me correctly, they can’t say anything other than “fumoffu.” Someone messes up the os of the robotic suits which means that instead of being able to talk normally, they can only say, “Fu, Mo, Ffu, or Ru.” Poor Kaname has to translate what Sousuke says while in the suit which leads to some really funny dialogue that you know is definitely a mistake, but hilarious to hear nonetheless.


4. Nichijou (My Ordinary Life)

  • Episodes: 26
  • Aired: Apr 2011 – Sept 2011

The deer. The principal. Mostly the deer and the principal together fighting is a perfect mix of complete wtf and hilarity. I was wheezing I was laughing so hard when it first happened. Nichijou is the show for those who aren’t one to watch slice of life, and it’s love by those who do.

Nichijou is a complete wtf show from start to finish. True to it’s roots, it is about students in a school who have everyday struggles. For example, forgetting to study for a test or making it to school/class on time. However, what’s great about nichijou is how surreal things become quickly. The irony though isn’t lost on the title. Nichijou (日常) means everyday in reference to everyday life. That’s what this show is about, however, the principal and the deer wrestling isn’t something that normally happens at a school.

There’s a boy who with his butler, rides a goat to school. There’s also a girl who assaults a police officer, and successfully wins, to protect her Yaoi script from being read. The list goes on and on! The show is hysterical so please check it out!


3. Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou (Daily Lives of High School Boys)

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: Jan 2012 - Mar 2012

If you were saying to yourself, “Hey Nagareboshi, I really like Danshi koukousei no Nichijou. Why haven’t I seen it yet?” I have great news for you because here it is!

Dansei koukousei no nichijou presents itself as a story revolving around three boys who go to an all-boys high school and their everyday lives. If that really meant anything. The three boys are trying to be funny and liven up their everyday lives. It usually ends with hysterical antics and their even funnier results. The one other majoy aspect that keeps the comedy fresh and moving is the fact that the show is in an almost skit format.

This keeps jokes, themes, and even the characters from falling flat. This is what oddly makes Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou so funny! The lack of girls in the boys lives and the show in general for the most part cut out the moe factor that is very common in most slice of life shows. That being said, the jokes are sometimes reversed on the boys in a funny manner. Don’t take my word for it though, check it out yourself!!


2. Gintama

  • Episodes: 201
  • Aired: Apr 2006 – Mar 2010

Yesssssssssssssssssss! It’s here! Gintama everyone! I will do my best to keep it short and sweet. This is a show I can go on and on about forever. Now for those of you who don’t know, Gintama is one of the longest comedy anime. It should be noted that Gintama is a show that tends to have a few arcs that run throughout the series, but it’s never anything too major or too heavy. Hilarity is what keeps it moving forward.

Gintama follows Gintoki, Shinpachi and Kagura as they live in a futuristic world ruled by aliens. Aliens came to earth one day, and basically with their superior technology, humans are sold out by the shogunate. Swords are now banned. So now Gintoki runs a store where they’ll take any job in order to pay for three things: Rent, Strawberry milk, and the weekly copy of Shonen Jump.

This creates hilarious situations for them as they take on jobs and attempt to make money. Some of the funniest parts are the references to Gundam, Ghibli, and fights to get other Shonen Jump copies. This series is one that can really be enjoyed by someone who’s got a well rounded base in anime. Check out this clip of funny moments made to make you laugh! At the very least, you’ll chuckle.


1. GTO (Great Teacher Onizuka)

  • Episodes: 43
  • Aired: June 1999 – Sept 2000

Here’s the funniest show alive! It’s GTO or Great Teacher Onizuka! It starts as a humble manga, then gets a drama, then the anime, then three other drama spin offs, GTO has to be one of the most successful, funny shows around!

When people think of school in Japan, a few things come to mind. The boys are well behaved and good at sports, the girls are mild mannered and love talking with their friends, and school is a generally peaceful place with little to no incident. Sorry to break it to you, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. GTO is about Eikichi Onizuka who is a 22 year old ex-gang member, a pervert who likes young girls, and he is a virgin! Somehow he scrapes together his life to get a teaching degree.

However, he wants to turn over a new leaf. No more being that creepy 20 year old dude, and instead he has morals to teach everyone. Sounds deep… but not really. He starts teaching at a school full of delinquents and the first student actually comes to his house crying saying that she can’t bear to be home. Fighting all of his hilarious urges and better judgement, he takes her in. She gets semi-nude acting as if she’s going to thank him with her body, when BAM!

The door flies open and the students from his class rush in taking pictures of him over his almost nude student. They plan to blackmail him and the girl was even in on it too for a cut of the profit! He hilariously, from that day forth, sets out to fight against the students out to take him down through funnier and funnier methods. The best part of the show for sure though is how much the vice principal hates Eikichi, and the poor fate that befalls him and his beautiful Cresta 2500… Check it out though! At 43 episodes it’s the oddly numbered, perfect amount to draw you in!


(Wipes forehead) Man this was hard to do! It’s a great reward though, to bring you these funny shows that I love endlessly! If I had to tell you where to start, definitely with GTO! Then definitely check out Nichijou. If you want a longer show though, check out Gintama for sure!

As for some honorable mentions, check out Lucky Channel, the follow up show to Lucky Star. Or D-Frag, as my main complaint with that show is that it ended! Tell me what you think! Would you change the order at all? Fire off in the comments below and let me know!

SKET-DANCE-Wallpaper-690x500 Top 10 Funny Anime [Updated Best 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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