Many people turn to entertainment for a good chuckle, and comedy anime excels at making the audience shake with laughter. Some of the most universally beloved and critically praised anime series fall under the comedy category. This unique, inventive genre has always been at the forefront of the industry, featuring myriads of easily accessible shows for newer fans and plenty of niche comedies for seasoned audiences.
From slapstick staples like Azumanga Daioh to legendary romcoms like Kaichou wa Maid-sama!, myriads of anime comedies from the past are considered timeless classics to this day. These popular series always get recommended and frequently pop up on favorites lists despite airing more than a decade ago. However, today’s landscape of anime comedies introduced the community to many series that have already joined the ranks of modern classics.
10 Every Fan Is Already Obsessed With Spy X Family’s Blend Of Action & Humor
Despite its recency, Spy x Family has already established itself as a community-wide phenomenon, overtaking most recent titles in terms of popularity with ease. This inventive mashup of action-packed spy thrillers and wholesome slice-of-life family comedies brings situational humor to a new level.
The anime places its lovable cast in a predicament, where every new day is full of surprises and unexpected plot twists. Despite the risks, the Forgers are constantly trying their best to keep their secret identities undercover, and their shared agenda leads to some hilariously absurd situations.
9 Kotaro Lives Alone Blurs The Line Between Tears Of Laughter & Sobs Of Sadness
Blending genres is an anime trademark that makes many people drawn to this form of entertainment. Kotaro Lives Alone is an excellent example of a series that goes from a hilarious comedy to a heartbreaking tragedy in minutes.
The series depicts a bizarre yet wholesome friendship between an unsuccessful mangaka Shin and his four-year-old neighbor Kotaro, a self-sufficient boy forced to grow up too fast due to being neglected. While the show never made it into the mainstream, diehard comedy fans already consider it a classic due to its brilliant blend of situational comedy and heartfelt human drama.
8 Gintama: The Very Final Was The Iconic Series’ Much Anticipated Goodbye
All good things come to an end, and 2021 was the year that marked the conclusion of the series that defined comedy anime for the past two decades. Gintama, a gag comedy series that started way back in 2006 and made an entire generation of viewers laugh and cry with its lovably wacky heroes, went out with a bang, finishing the long-running journey of Yorozuya’s trio in Gintama: The Very Final.
For once, the ending wasn’t a joke, concluding Gintoki’s adventures in the most suitable way for the series – with a joyful ride of over-the-top action, some heartfelt goodbyes, and iconic, unstoppable humor.
7 Komi Can’t Communicate Had Tons Of Support From The Fans Of The Original Manga
Komi Can’t Communicate manga’s impressive fan base was waiting to see their favorite characters come to life for a long time. And the long-awaited anime adaptation of Tomohito Oda’s popular series did not disappoint. The show’s star, Komi, is a picture-perfect image of elegance, blessed with attention-grabbing looks and elegant mannerisms.
Unfortunately for Komi, beneath her jaw-dropping facade hides timidness and anxiety that makes it impossible for the girl to make friends. Backed by the community’s massive support, the wholesome journey of Komi overcoming her social fears became an instant classic of romantic slice-of-life comedies.
6 The Way Of The Househusband’s Juxtapositions Work To Create A Brilliantly Fun Setup
Comedy anime continues to surprise the audience with its inventive, unique premises. At the center of the new Netflix anime series The Way of the Househusband is a feared ex-yakuza boss who shifts gears and abandons the criminal path to become a loving stay-at-home husband.
Unfortunately, old habits don’t die fast, and Tatsu struggles to adapt to the peaceful lifestyle. Despite the relative repetitiveness of the show’s punchlines, The Way of the Househusband’s excellent comedic timing and bizarre premise earned the series the title of a modern comedy classic.
5 Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro Found A Large Devoted Audience Despite Its Controversial Nature
On paper, there’s not a lot of appeal to the plot of Don’t Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro, a comedy slice-of-life about a smug and sadistic school girl bullying her timid upperclassman. Nevertheless, the series was overwhelmingly successful, drawing the audience in with its unconventional dynamic and appealing character design.
Miss Nagatoro’s brand of humor is definitely not for everyone. Some find the series problematic and deem the main heroine overly wicked and cruel to her target. However, the divisive opinions do nothing to decrease the show’s immense popularity.
4 Uramichi-Oniisan Brings Humor Out Of Its Protagonist’s Grim Outlook On Life
Life Lessons with Uramichi-Oniisan plays with the classic comedy premise of subverting the audience’s expectations. Uramichi Omota is supposed to beam with happiness under the spotlight of the cheerful morning children’s show “Together with Mama,” which he hosts as a gymnastics teacher.
However, the joyful facade easily cracks under the pressure of Uramichi’s depressive nihilism. And while nothing can crush an innocent child’s spirit quite like the harsh, bitter realities of adulthood spewing out of Uramichi’s mouth, the audience can’t help but laugh at this absurd juxtaposition.
3 Dr. Stone Remains Humorous Even When Facing The Aftermath Of The Apocalypse
Comedy and shonen are two genres that always go hand in hand. The nonstop action of most shonen series benefits from an occasional cooldown and a few lighthearted laughs. And the shonen phenomenon of the 2020s Dr. Stone makes comedy an intrinsic part of its plot.
In the world where the entire human civilization was turned into stone, the genius protagonist Senkuu and his small team of survivors seldom forget to have fun, even in the dire circumstances of the post-apocalypse. Combined with the show’s intriguing premise and incredible character writing, the comedy is a cherry on top of Dr. Stone’sentertaining genre mix.
2 Masaaki Yuasa Declares His Love For Animation In Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!
The renowned creator behind Tatami Galaxy and Ping Pong The Animation, Masaaki Yuasa is well-known for his unique art style and nuanced, unorthodox approach to storytelling. While humor is present in most of Yuasa’s work, his 2020 series Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! makes comedy one of its primary focuses.
The show is its director’s love letter to the medium of animation, starring a trio of amateur anime creators just as passionate about their craft as Yuasa himself. In the director’s iconic fashion, Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! is a wild ride of boundless creativity, humor, and artistic brilliance.
1 Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War Leads The Modern Scene Of Romance Comedies
No other comedy series saw such an overwhelming success in the last few years as the incredibly inventive and entertaining Kaguya-sama: Love is War. For Miyuki Shirogane and Kaguya Shinomiya, two of the most respected students of the elite Shuchiin Academy, love is truly a battlefield.
Despite their academic successes and intellectual superiority, the pair are as emotionally immature and timid as any other high school student, incapable of communicating their feelings for each other. Kaguya-sama: Love is War turns the classic “will they, won’t they” anime cliché into a brilliant fit of absurd comedy with the love games of two masterminds.
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