Anime stories are usually known for their thrilling fights and romantic twists, but humor often gets overlooked. Yet, almost every anime manages to sprinkle in some comic relief, even in serious plots.
In anime, humor is like the secret ingredient that adds flavor to the story. Even when the characters are facing intense challenges or dealing with heavy emotions, there’s usually a moment of levity to break the tension.
So, whether you’re into action-packed adventures or heartfelt dramas, chances are you’ll find a good laugh in your favorite anime.
Comedy anime comes in various styles and stories. Some make fun of typical anime clichés, while others mix humor with action. Each comedy anime is unique, and it’s easy to fall for the best ones after just a few episodes.
Spring 2024 comedy anime lineup
The Spring 2024 season is almost here, and it’s bringing a lineup of anime that could become some of the year’s best.
While sequels often steal the spotlight in online discussions, this time, Spring 2024 has more returning favorites than ever before.
Anime like Demon Slayer, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, My Hero Academia, The Misfit of Demon King Academy, Date a Live, Laid-Back Camp, The Irregular at Magic High School, and Black Butler are all gearing up to release new episodes.
When it comes to comedy anime in the Spring 2024 lineup, there are a few notable sequels worth mentioning. The Duke of Death and His Maid is expected to bring some laughs, but the real star of the season is KonoSuba.
This will mark its third season (excluding Megumin’s spin-off), and it’s widely regarded as one of the funniest anime ever.
It’s likely to steal the spotlight from many others. However, Spring 2024 also introduces a couple of newcomers that shouldn’t be overlooked.
The Fable
The Fable isn’t getting much attention, partly because it’s exclusive to Hulu/Disney+. Despite being quite successful in Japan.
It’s manga hasn’t gained much traction internationally, even though its premise could appeal to a wider audience.
The story revolves around Akira Satou, a legendary hired killer known for his deadly skills. When his boss asks him to live a normal life for a year.
Akira, who knows nothing but murder, finds himself facing a daunting challenge. Pretending to be an average guy proves to be harder than any hit he’s ever done.
The manga of The Fable is noteworthy for blending realistic art with a humorous fish-out-of-water storyline. Akira, the main character, is thrust into a completely unfamiliar world, forcing him to adjust to a life he thought he’d left behind.
Despite its comedic tone, The Fable delves into Akira’s character, offering insights into his personality and making for a compelling character study.
A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics
Adapted from a light novel by Yomi Hirasaka, known for works like A Sister’s All You Need and Haganai, A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics promises to be a delightful and comedic ride.
The story revolves around a reverse isekai premise, where a girl from another world ends up living with a detective in Japan.
Expect the anime to blend in fantastical elements while maintaining a relaxed atmosphere typical of the slice of life genre.
Hirasaka’s previous light novels, like Haganai, have been the inspiration behind delightful anime. A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics is expected to offer a similar experience, making it a great choice for fans who enjoyed Hirasaka’s earlier works.
Best Comedy Anime Of Winter 2024
As the Winter 2024 anime season winds down, it’s been a satisfying journey. While there have only been a couple of standout anime, there’s been a plethora of good anime that have added some fun to people’s weeks.
Action and isekai genres have been dominant, offering both quantity and some surprising quality.
Romance enthusiasts have been delighted with two of the season’s top series, along with a few other decent options.
In the Winter 2024 season, there are several comedy anime worth giving a shot. Despite having an unlikable protagonist, Bucchigiri?! manages slapstick humor quite effectively.
Tis Time for Torture, Princess is surprisingly wholesome, though the same can’t be said for Gushing Over Magical Girls, which mixes ecchi, action, and humor in a distinctive way.
Delicious in Dungeon offers a hilarious spin on the fantasy genre, while Sasaki and Peeps and Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasy provide a comedic twist on the isekai genre.
Mashle: Magic and Muscles – The Divine Visionary Candidate Exam Arc
Season 2 of Mashle has successfully improved upon the decent but not extraordinary groundwork laid by its predecessor.
In the first part of the series, the reliance on Mash for laughs sometimes made scenes without him feel dull. This became particularly noticeable during the second half of the season when the heroes split up for individual fights, causing a dip in momentum.
However, in Season 2, the creators have made smart choices by keeping Mash involved in the action and enhancing the comedic roles of characters like Barrett and Ames.
Mashle has really hit its stride, keeping us laughing consistently. The fight scenes are now more imaginative than before, and characters like Finn and Lemon add charming commentary that makes them even better. While Mash is still the main attraction, the show’s humor doesn’t solely rely on him anymore.
Urusei Yatsura Season 2
Rumiko Takahashi’s Urusei Yatsura is a popular classic manga that received a fantastic anime adaptation in the early ’80s.
While the original series can be hard to find nowadays, the 2022 adaptation is easily accessible on HIDIVE, and it lives up to its predecessor’s greatness.
The story revolves around aliens invading Earth, with the planet’s fate resting on a competition between Lum, the daughter of the invaders’ leader, and Ataru, a guy with a single-minded focus.
To make a long story short, Earth is saved when Lum falls in love with Ataru, despite his initial objections, and they become engaged.
Despite the quirky characters and comedic situations, Urusei Yatsura delves into deeper themes and emotions, making it a timeless classic that continues to attract audiences even today.
Urusei Yatsura operates as a sitcom, often maintaining the status quo while occasionally allowing for character growth.
Many episodes center around Ataru’s flirtatious behavior and Lum’s habit of zapping him with electricity, all while supported by a colorful cast of secondary characters.
Despite its focus on comedic antics, the anime boasts excellent animation, classic slapstick humor, and generally engaging characters (though Ataru can be a bit much at times).
Urusei Yatsura lives up to the legacy of its source material, offering a timeless and entertaining experience.
1) Brave Bang Bravern!
Brave Bang Bravern! should definitely be on your radar, even though it’s a mecha anime that hasn’t garnered much attention.
What sets it apart is its unexpected humor. The series from CygamesPictures has an unusual vibe: while the human characters are serious.
The main mecha, Bravern, is hilariously over-the-top. It’s this contrast that makes the anime genuinely funny and worth checking out.
While Bravern might feel like it belongs in a comedic Super Robot anime, the rest of the anime takes on a more serious tone akin to a real robot military story.
This creates a hilarious contrast that can leave the human protagonist scratching their head. Additionally, Bravern’s dialogue is filled with double entendres about 50% of the time, adding an extra layer of fun to the mix.
2) KamiKatsu: Working For God In A Godless World
In Spring 2023, like many seasons before it, isekai stories were abundant. Among them, KamiKatsu stands out as one of the most wild and hilarious isekai adventures ever.
Yukito, the son of a cult leader, is sacrificed by his father. In his final moments, he wishes to wake up in a world without belief in gods.
Surprisingly, his wish comes true, and he finds himself in a society with no religion, gods, or fear of death.
To make a long story short, Yukito ends up summoning a god named Mitama, and together they went on a journey to restore Mitama’s power by gaining followers.
While KamiKatsu’s premise might not immediately seem like a comedy, it’s all about how it’s done. The writing has a bold and dark sense of humor that throws common decency out the window.
This style of comedy might not be for everyone, but KamiKatsu fully commits to its absurdity and deserves credit for it.
Studio Palette also cleverly uses visual gags, likely to make up for any budget constraints, adding to the comedic charm of the anime.
3) The Devil Is A Part-Timer!
The Devil is a Part-Timer! boasts one of the most delightfully absurd premises ever conceived. It follows the story of Satan, who, after finding himself stranded in the mortal territory, has to work at a local fast-food joint to make ends meet.
As expected, the chaos leads to hilarious situations for Satan and his hungry customers. The original anime wrapped up its 13-episode run in 2013, but sequels began airing in 2022.
The first season remains consistently funny, as it showcases extraordinary characters dealing with the most mundane of situations.
However, the sequels fail to capture the magic of the original. They suffer from lackluster storytelling, animation, and humor, ultimately falling short of expectations.
4) Gintama
Gintama is a unique blend of comedy, samurai action, and science fiction which makes it a very pleasant
and lighthearted anime.
Set in a world where aliens have taken over during Japan’s Edo period, the story follows Gintoki Sakata, a skilled samurai who becomes a freelancer after humanity loses the war against the aliens.
Not one to bow down to their new rulers, Gintoki goes on comedic misadventures with his friends as they navigate life under the alien regime.
The series is known for its fourth-wall-breaking humor and its ability to seamlessly blend comedy with drama.
Gintama offers a unique mix of battle shonen action and side-splitting comedy. While about half of its episodes focus on intense battles, the other half are dedicated to pure laughter, with well over 100 episodes solely dedicated to tickling viewers’ funny bones.
With an extensive cast of characters, almost all capable of delivering hilarious moments, the anime consistently pushes the boundaries of humor and storytelling. When it comes to both quantity and quality, Gintama stands out as a comedy anime like no other.
5) Nichijou: My Ordinary Life
Nichijou is a gem of a comedy anime, featuring a delightful mix of surreal humor and endearing characters. The story revolves around a group of high school girls living in a strange city filled with eccentric characters.
While there isn’t a central plot, the anime masterfully progresses from depicting everyday life to diving into bizarre and hilarious situations.
As the series unfolds, it transitions from a quirky slice-of-life to an absurd and unforgettable journey. Nichijou features some truly unique characters, like an android girl and a talking cat.
They’re among the more ordinary characters in the show’s wacky world. As the series dives deeper into absurdity, it only gets funnier and more memorable.
6) The Disastrous Life Of Saiki K.
Kusuo Saiki is an incredibly powerful psychic who can do almost anything, except avoid attracting the attention of the quirkiest students at his school.
Despite his abilities, Kusuo just wants to blend in as an average person. But that’s a tough task when surrounded by characters like the flawless Kokomi Teruhashi, the lovably dim-witted Riki Nendou, and the fantastically delusional Shun Kaidou.
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. is made up of short skits that brilliantly utilize the anime’s wonderful cast of secondary characters.
Kusuo plays the perfect straight man amidst the chaos created by the rest of the cast, while still managing to deliver plenty of laugh-out-loud moments himself.
7) Kaguya-sama: Love Is War
Kaguya-sama: Love is War is a clever blend of parody and top-tier romance anime. Miyuki Shirogane and Kaguya Shinomiya hold the positions of student council president and vice president at Shuchiin Academy.
Despite having feelings for each other, they’re determined not to confess. Instead, they engage in a battle of wits, playing mind games to outmaneuver the other into confessing first.
Kaguya-sama begins as a hilarious comedy, with each episode featuring skits centered around clever battles of wit. Miyuki and Kaguya are usually at the forefront, but secondary characters like Chika and Yuu also shine, with some even arguing they’re the funniest.
As the series unfolds, romantic elements are introduced, but the comedy remains an important part of the show’s charm throughout its progression.
8) Shin Chan
Crayon Shin-chan holds the title as one of the most popular and longest-running comedy anime, boasting over 1,000 episodes and being dubbed in numerous countries worldwide.
The series follows the adventures of Shin-chan, a mischievous kindergartner known for causing chaos and asking adults inappropriate questions.
Shin-chan’s humor may be juvenile, but that’s precisely what makes it so appealing. The series beautifully captures the adventurous spirit of childhood, combining it with silly and offbeat jokes.
It’s the perfect comedy anime for anyone seeking a lighthearted laugh without needing much explanation.
9) Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu
Fumoffu, a spin-off of Full Metal Panic, centers around Sousuke Sagara’s efforts to protect Kaname Chidori by blending in as a student at her high school.
However, due to his military background, Sousuke struggles to keep a low profile. His stoic demeanor and tendency towards violence often lead to more trouble rather than solving any problems.
Unlike the mecha-focused mainline series, Fumoffu is purely a gag comedy without any overarching plot or serious stakes.
As a result, viewers don’t need to be familiar with Full Metal Panic to enjoy this comedic spin-off. Sousuke’s no-nonsense demeanor is perfect for comedy, and his larger-than-life personality often makes every other character the straight man to his antics.
Kaname also shines as a powerhouse of punchlines, and even Teletha gets her own entertaining two-episode arc.
10) Detroit Metal City
Detroit Metal City is a hilarious parody of the music industry and heavy metal culture. It follows the story of a young musician who dreams of becoming a pop star.
However, fate has different plans for him, and he ends up as the lead singer of a popular blackened death metal band.
The contrast between the cheerful pop and the intense brutal metal in Detroit Metal City creates comedic brilliance, and the music itself adds to the enjoyment.
Despite not being particularly likable, Souichi shines as the lead character, with his two contrasting personalities bouncing off each other perfectly. Fans of anime and music alike will surely love this series.