Everyone loves to laugh, which is why the comedy genre is so popular. It produces a wide range of comedy types that reach a broad audience, appealing to everyone, whatever their type of humor may be. However, some anime fans may find it challenging to get into comedy anime because of the stark difference in Japanese humor, resulting in many comedies feeling weird, awkward, creepy, or just plain boring.
If fans feel that way, look no further becausethis list delves into the ten best comedy anime. To get in here, the main genre of the anime must be comedy; it has to be funny but also well-written and produce entertaining content, not just dumb, mindless laughs. So, while anime likeOne Punch ManandNarutoare funny, they aren’t primarily a comedy, even if it is a sub-genre. Without further ado,here are the all-time best comedy anime shows.
10’Osomatsu-San' (2015)
Studio: Pierrot
Remaking the classic 1960s children’s animeOsomatsu-Kun,Osomatsu-Sanfollows the rowdy sextuplets all grown up. The original followed the cute and disruptive antics of the siblings in a lighthearted kid’s show, butOsomatsu-Sanbrings fans up to speed with them. Old and jobless, their schemes are no longer cute but straight-up annoying, as they terrorize the towns and do anything in their power not to get a job and enjoy their freedom.
The best part of the anime is that fans don’t need to know the original to enjoy it, although it helps. Thechaotic gags and surreal humor create a bizarre comedyfull of wacky characters, referential jokes, and outlandish scenarios. Each sextuplet has a distinct personality, adding fresh content whenever they are together or with the other outstanding cast members. Over-the-top and excessive,Omatsu-Sanmight not be for everyone, but its crass jokes or chaotic humor is undoubtedly funnier than most other TV offerings.
WATCH ON CRUNCHYROLL
9’Spy x Family' (2022)
Studio: Wit Studio
Take the world’s best spy and create a fake family with a daughter who can read minds, a lethal assassin of a wife, and a dog that can predict the future, and the result is the hit new animeSpy x Family. When the spy agency tasks Agent Twilight with a mission to get information on a specific individual, he must create a fake life with a wife and kid in order to get closer to him. However, unbeknownst to him, he made the most super-powered family ever.
Spy x Familyis the most recent anime here, but its popularity didn’t take long to skyrocket because of itsmix of wholesome humor and epic spy plots. This anime has so many great aspects: one of themost badass female characters, Yor, Loid’s thrilling spy adventures, and the show’s star, Anya, who is adorable and hilarious in anything she does.Spy x Familyuses its unusual situation to createa plethora of comedic moments stemming from the family’s powersas they try to understand each other and become a real family.
Spy x Family
8’Daily Lives of High School Boys' (2012)
Studio: Sunrise
Daily Lives of High School Boysis a slice-of-life comedyanime that fully embraces the phrase “boys will be boys.” It follows the three friends of Tadakuni, Tabata, and Tanaka as they get up to the weirdest scenarios in their mundane school life. However, with them is a massive ensemble of characters who consistently appear throughout, adding comedy everywhere they go.
WhileDaily Lives of High School Boysdoes not have an actual plot, sometimesall an anime needs is a funny castof characters. Like most anime, this one features some Japanese humor that many won’t appreciate, such as many perverted jokes that come across as insensitive. But, if fans can get over that,Daily Lives of High School Boysbeautifullymixes a mundane and relatable life with the bizarre goofiness of anime, creating a hilarious and comforting show.
7’Konosuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World' (2016)
Studio: Studio Deen
Many fans would agree that the Isekai genre is bloated and full of repetitive, low-effort slop. However, there are many exceptions to that claim, includingKonosuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World. After a pathetic and avoidable death, a goddess greets Kazuma as he is about to enter the fantasy world of his dreams. However, he quickly realizes it is a nightmare: the goddess is absolutely useless, and he must somehow defeat the demon king.
WhileKonosubatreads a lot on the Isekai tropes, it does so comedically, using them in its favor tocreate hysterical moments with the inept main cast. The anime isn’t supposed to be taken seriously,with much ofthe comedy stemming from the dubious nature of the protagonist. However,Knosuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful Worldstill provides many impactful and serious moments. Itisn’t just one of the funniest anime but alsoone of the best fantasy animebecause of its comedic use of characters and setting.
6’Grand Blue Dreaming' (2018)
Studio: Zero-G
For some reason, not many anime focus on college life; however,Grand Blue Dreamingis one of the few that does, and it absolutely nails it.An easy binge at only twelve episodes, the anime follows Kitahara’s move to a seaside town where he begins college. The diving club quickly ensnares him as he and his new friends learn the joy of diving while also drinking a lot and living the perfect college life.
Grand Blueis truly an experience of a lifetime aboutnot taking anything for granted and living to the fullest. The anime has an incredible cast of characters, with much of the humor coming from how horrible they are to each other. That doesn’t mean they hate each other, as it features surprisinglywholesome relationships and even some romance. With a new season recently announced, fans should be eager to dive into the hilarious world ofGrand Blue.
Grand Blue Dreaming
Grand Blue Dreaming is currently not available to stream or purchase in the US and Canada.
5’The Disastrous Life of Saiki K' (2016)
Studio: J.C. Staff
Originally adapted from one-shot chapters,The Disastrous Life of Saiki Kis a slice-of-life comedy anime about a psychic in high school. Saiki Kusuo is a naturally born psychic with the power to do whatever he wants. However, all he wants is a normal life, the one thing his powers can’t grant him. The anime follows him and his eccentric classmates as he desperately tries to hide his power while keeping them safe.
Saiki Kmostly doesn’t rely on crass or cheap humor, but creates comedy more in line withThe Simpsons, resulting in a perfect comedy anime.
Like some of the funniest animes,Saiki Kdoesn’t have a plot. However,its incredible writing is still seen through the diverse characters, their wild and quirky personalities, character dynamics, and the weird scenarios they get themselves into. Saiki’s psychic powers work perfectly with each character’s distinct personalities, creating peculiar moments.Saiki Kmostly doesn’t rely on crass or cheap humor, but creates comedy more in line withThe Simpsons, resulting ina perfect comedy anime.
WATCH ON NETFLIX
4’Kaguya-sama: Love is War' (2019)
Studio: A-1 Pictures
When two characters love each other and know it, that is usually the end of most romance anime. However, forKaguya-sama: Love is War, it is only the beginning. This rom-com anime follows Kaguya and Miyuki, two genius high schoolers who are part of the student council. However, each of their pride forbids them from confessing, resulting in a psychological war in which each tries to manipulate the other into confessing their love.
Romance comedies aren’t scarce in anime, but few manage to perfect each detail. Not only doesKaguya-samaachieve it, but it also createsa fascinating psychological animeand one of the most singular comedies ever. Their schemes are both hilarious and adorable, capturing a very specific type of love that most will relate to.Kaguya-sama: Love is Warmasterfully blends the comedy into the romance, creatinga smart and funny anime that will have fans laughing and intrigued.
Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War
3’GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka' (1999)
As the oldest anime here, many aspects might feel outdated, including the creepy motivation of the protagonist, Onizuka, who wants to become a teacher to get a high school wife. Despite this,Great Teacher Onizuka, commonly referred to asGTO, isa surprisingly wholesome comedy. The former delinquent manages to become a homeroom teacher; unfortunately for him, his class is infamous for psychologically torturing their teachers, forcing them to quit. Using unconventional methods, Onizuka teaches these punks in unexpected ways.
GTOis full of charm, wholesomeness, and diabolical humor, with many crude jokes. The anime balances its humor and motivational scenes with its horrible cast of teens and equally horrible teachers. With heavy themes like bullying, suicide, and sexual assault,GTOhandles them tastefully while also knowing when to lighten the mood. It is an impactful anime thatteaches the fans a thing or two about lifewhile also giving them the biggest laughs, creating one of themost underrated 1990s anime.
2’Nichijou' (2011)
Studio: Kyoto Animation
Translating to “Everyday life” in English,Nichijouis a slice-of-life comedy anime about the daily shenanigans these high schoolers get up to with the townsfolk. Following three goofy high school girls, the anime is about whatever they get up to, including fighting German deers and selling dango. The anime also follows a child genius who created a robot that wishes to join high school and make friends with “normal” people.
On the outside,Nichijouis another cutesy anime; however, it is actually an incredibly surreal and chaotic comedy,bordering between absurdity, avant-garde, and wholesomeness. Its humor ranges from dark to silly to dreamlike, utilizing its ethereal music and random side stories to make fans question what they witnessed. Withcountless gags, colorful characters, and a variety of comedy types,Nichijouis a hilarious show for everyone andone of the best anime of the 2010s.
Nichijou - My Ordinary Life
1’Gintama' (2006)
Taking place in an alternate Edo, Japan, where aliens took over the world,Gintamais a sci-fi battle shōnen comedy anime. The story follows Gintoki, a former samurai turned lazy bum who works Odd Jobs with Kagura and Shinpachi. As these three get entangled with space pirates, the police, evil aliens, and terrorists, their hijinks never cease, creating a wacky and serious action-adventure sci-fi comedy.
Some fans might argue thatGintamais more of a battle shōnen than a comedy. While it is definitely a battle shōnen,it has more aspects of a comedy, with significantly more episodes saying it is the primary genre. With an extensive cast,Gintamauses its sci-fi setting to make things and characters as weird as possible. Itschaotic, referential gag humor remains unmatchedamong comedy anime, using humor like no other.Gintamaalso features multiple serious arcs with genuine storytelling, drama, and action, as well as semi-serious arcs thatmasterfully blend action and comedy. Overall,Gintamais the best comedy anime for its perfect use of setting and characters, alongside its profound writing, resulting inone of the greatest sci-fi anime.
