BEST COMEDY ANIME

Humor is an underrated component of storytelling in anime, often overshadowed by action-packed fight scenes and colorful romances. Still, almost every anime has at least a few comic moments, even when the show itself revolves around a serious subject.

Comedy anime are wide-ranging in terms of style and story. Some are satires of overused anime clichés, while others blend wittiness with action-adventure. No two comedic anime are exactly alike and each show brings something unique to the table. It only takes a few episodes to fall in love with the best comedy anime.

Updated April 23, 2024 by Mark Sammut: The Spring 2024 anime season is shaping up to be an entertaining blast filled with action, drama, and laughter. Let's focus on the latter.

Best Spring 2024 Comedy Anime

The Spring 2024 season is in full swing, and the lineup includes plenty of anime that have the potential to be among the year's greatest offerings. Sequels nearly always dominate online discussions, but Spring 2024 has more returning heavyweights than most of its predecessors. 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 airing new episodes, and that selection is not even exhaustive.

Focusing specifically on comedies, the genre has a few very notable Spring 2024 sequels. While The Duke of Death and His Maid has been enjoyable, the season's biggest comedy anime is undoubtedly KonoSuba, which is airing its third season (not counting Megumin's spin-off). The isekai show is well-established as one of the funniest anime ever, and it will likely overshadow most of its contemporaries; however, Spring 2024 has a couple of newcomers that deserve to be spotlighted.

The Fable

At the moment, The Fable is not attracting too much attention, a situation not aided by its Hulu/Disney+ exclusivity. While quite successful in its own right, the manga is niche. The myth, the legend, The Fable has earned his glowing reputation as a hired killer. If he sets his sights on someone, they are as good as dead. Knowing nothing but murder, The Fable is ill-equipped to lead a "normal" life, something he must do when his boss requests it from him. Suddenly, the hitman has to pretend to be an average guy (named Akira Satou) for a full year, a challenge that might be harder than any hit.

The manga works as it combines surprisingly realistic art with a silly "fish-out-of-water" premise. Akira is pushed completely out of his comfort zone, and he must adapt to a world that he long thought he left behind. While consistently amusing, The Fable also explores Akira's personality quite a bit, which makes for an interesting character study.

Although its comedic style and animation can take some getting used to, the anime has produced a few of Spring 2024's biggest laughs so far, largely stemming from Akira's hilarious attempts at pretending to be a normal, weak guy. His fake sister, Youko Satou, is also a comedy tour-de-force in her own right.

A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics

Based on a light novel by Yomi Hirasaka, who also penned A Sister's All You Need and Haganai, A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics is a breezy and light romp with a lot of humor. The story is built on a reverse isekai concept as it features two female characters (Sara and Livia) from another world who find themselves in Japan. One girl ends up living with a private investigator (Sousuke), while the other is initially homeless.

A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics has quite a few similarities with Hinamatsuri. They have nearly the same premises, albeit with the former featuring a detective rather than the latter's Yakuza member. While originally coming across as a poor man's version of Hinamatsuri, A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics has begun to find its voice, with episode 3 being a big step in the right direction. Livia has been the star of the show so far, and she will hopefully continue to take center stage.

Astro Note

One of a couple of original anime that are part of Spring 2024, Astro Note has had arguably the least impressive start. While Jellyfish Can't Swim In the Night and Train to the End of the World are shaping up to be among the best anime of the season, Astro Note has struggled to find an audience. With a sci-fi premise that feels reminiscent of Urusei Yatsura, Telecom's show seems like a throwback to screwball comedies of yesteryear, and even the characters' designs appear inspired by classics.

Answering the Astro Lodge's ad for a chef, Takumi decides to move in when he meets the caretaker, the beautiful Mira. Although the boarding house's inhabitants all seem fairly quirky, the most unusual person is Mira herself, as she is an alien who came to Earth in search of a key. Alongside her talking dog and aided by her out-of-this-world fiancé, Mira's important mission might drag the rest of the Astro Lodge's members into an intergalactic conflict.

Astro Lodge has been all over the place so far. While the first few episodes have had an almost slice of life tone to them, the show has been gradually ramping up the sci-fi aspect, suggesting that a more ambitious story could be on the cards. At the same time, the series is at its funniest when focusing on anyone besides Takumi and Mira, both of whom are quite dull and mostly play the straight-man role.

Urusei Yatsura Season 2 (Winter 2024 Continuation)

Rumiko Takahashi's Urusei Yatsura is an all-time classic manga that received a great anime in the early '80s. While that series is difficult to track down and watch in this day and age, the 2022 adaptation is readily available on HIDIVE, and it is just as good as its ancestor. Aliens invade Earth, and the planet's safety comes down to a contest between Lum, the daughter of the invaders' leader, and Ataru, a guy who has a one-track mind. Long story short, Earth is spared as Lum falls in love with Ataru, leading to them becoming engaged despite the human's objections.

Even though character growth is not completely absent, Urusei Yatsura is a sitcom that mostly sticks to the status quo. Most episodes revolve around Ataru's promiscuous nature and Lum's tendency to electrocute her darling, although they are supported by a great roster of secondary characters. With great animation, timeless slapstick, and generally likable characters (except for maybe Ataru), Urusei Yatsura lives up to its source material's legacy.

Now, on to the best comedy anime ever.

KamiKatsu: Working For God In A Godless World

MyAnimeList: 6.75

Like every season of the last few years, Spring 2023 had its share of isekai tales. While perhaps not the theme's "best" offering, KamiKatsu is certainly among the most unhinged and hilarious isekai of all time. The son of a cult leader, Yukito is sacrificed by his father and, in his dying moment, wishes to awaken in a world that does not believe in gods. Surprisingly, Yukito gets his wish, and he finds himself in a society with no religion, deities, or fear of death. Long story short, the protagonist ends up summoning a god (Mitama), and they set out to revitalize the latter's power by acquiring followers.

KamiKatsu's premise might not scream "comedy," but it is all in the execution. The writing has an irreverent and dark sense of humor that pays no mind to common decency. Naturally, this style of comedy is an acquired taste, but KamiKatsu goes for broke and deserves praise for embracing its ridiculousness. Studio Palette also incorporates many visual gags that presumably reflect the anime's limited budget.

The Devil Is A Part-Timer!

MyAnimeList: 7.74 (Season 1)

One of the best zany premises ever conjured up, The Devil is a Part-Timer! is the story of Satan, who after getting stuck in the mortal realm, must take up a job at a local fast-food restaurant.

As expected, the resulting madness yields hilarious outcomes for Satan and his hungry customers. The anime originally ended a 13-episode run in 2013, but sequels started to air in 2022. The first season is consistently hilarious as it forces extraordinary characters to adapt to the most mundane of situations. Unfortunately, the sequels really struggle to replicate the original's magic. Not only do they have underwhelming storytelling and animation, but they are also not that funny.

Hozuki's Coolheadedness

MyAnimeList: 7.77 (Season 1)

Hell does not run itself. That's Hozuki's Coolheadedness' entire premise, as the anime turns the afterlife into a workplace comedy. Although second in the totem pole, the eponymous demon effectively keeps hell ticking, a job that is not only very important but also rather difficult. Calm, collected, and armed with a massive club, Hozuki takes himself very seriously, and he expects the same from his subordinates. If they do not meet his expectations, the demon will not hesitate to set them straight, and their education will be painful.

Although not packed with laugh-out-loud moments, Hozuki's Coolheadedness combines a likable roster of characters with a fresh setting to craft an easy-to-watch series. Along with producing its share of laughs, the anime provides an accessible and charming look into Japanese mythology.

Shimoneta: A Boring World Where The Concept Of Dirty Jokes Doesn't Exist

MyAnimeList: 7.23

After the dystopian government outlaws lewd content and language, society seems to move away from immoral behaviors. That is, until a mysterious foul-mouthed terrorist begins disturbing pornographic material around the city.

In this wacky take on the high school sex comedy genre, Shimoneta balances the social commentary with laughs for a hilariously good time in what could be one of the most memorable comedy anime in recent memory. This show is perfect for anime fans who love a good dirty joke.

One-Punch Man

MyAnimeList: 8.50 (Season 1)

The perfect blend of awesome superhero action and gut-busting comedy series, One-Punch Man is one of the coolest anime shows ever. Saitama is the titular hero of the show, an unlikely hero with the ability to destroy any opponent with a single punch.

The comedic moments round out the show's intense fighting sequences nicely, especially when supervillains and superheroes gawk at the improbable power of the unsuspecting Saitama. A clever parody of superhero culture and over-the-top action anime, One-Punch Man continues to be ranked among the best anime series of all time.

From Today, It's My Turn!!

MyAnimeList: 8.05

An obscure OVA series from the '90s, From Today, It's My Turn!! is a pain to find in this day and age, but the anime is good enough to warrant the effort. Takashi and Shinji are two high schoolers who want to get a fresh start, so they decide to revamp their looks and embrace the delinquent lifestyle. Unsurprisingly, they initially butt heads over their similar goals, especially since Shinji's straight-laced and stoic demeanor clashes with Takashi's Looney Tunes-style energy. However, after they realize they cannot seem to escape each other, they reluctantly become allies.

From Today, It's My Turn!! is an absolute blast. Even if laughs are not always its primary drive, each (long) episode is stuffed with humor, and most of the jokes land. The final episode is particularly hilarious since it introduces the two wannabe tough guys to the Yakuza, a clash of legitimacy that most delinquent anime try to avoid.

Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto

MyAnimeList: 7.55

The “perfect” character trope can be tedious at times, as they often start to border on annoying after a certain point. But that’s not the case with Sakamoto: he literally is perfect.

The show follows the titular character, the coolest kid in school who is liked by everyone, and for good reason: everything he does, no matter how mundane, is awesome. The characters are a lot of fun, as are the subplots. While short, this funny anime is very rewatchable.

YuruYuri

MyAnimeList: 7.57 (Season 1)

As its name suggests, YuruYuri is almost exclusively about yuri love, although that does not mean romance is in the air. Doga Kobo's anime revolves around a Middle School Amusement Club, which is just an excuse for a few friends to spend some time together. Akari, Kyoko, Yui, and Chinatsu serve as the show's heart, but they are accompanied and occasionally eclipsed by a slew of fantastic secondary characters.

YuruYuri plays out like a conventional slice of life comedy, albeit one filled with characters who all seem to have crushes on their schoolmates. On the surface, this might sound repetitive, but the show does a great job of differentiating the girls' relationships, infatuations, and personalities.

Silver Spoon

MyAnimeList: 8.09 (Season 1)

Following years of pressure to live up to his family's expectations, the exhausted Yugo Hachiken decides to enroll at an agricultural school. As a city kid with no experience working on a farm nor much interest in the field, he is entirely ill-prepared for the challenge and quickly finds himself struggling to complete even the most basic of tasks. Fortunately, he is surrounded by generally helpful teachers and classmates.

Silver Spoon's premise might be unusual, but the anime takes a fairly grounded approach to its characters and situations. Rather than an idiot who cannot do anything right, Hachiken is simply out of his depth, and the laughs come from watching him earnestly try to adapt to his new circumstances. The rest of the characters are awesome too. While often hilarious, Silver Spoon gets very real at times, and the show handles these dramatic moments well.

The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You

MyAnimeList: 7.81

Comfortably among the funniest anime of 2023, The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You is an outlandish parody of harem tropes while simultaneously also being one of the most wholesome additions to that genre in a long time. Battle-worn after years of rejections, Rentarou prays that his fortune will change in high school, and his pleas are directly answered by a god. Due to an error in the system, Rentarou has 100 soulmates waiting for him, and he needs to add them all to his harem to ensure they have positive futures. So begins the ultimate harem where every girl is the best girl, love conquers all, and meta jokes await.

100 Girlfriends starts silly and quickly ramps up the mayhem with each new girl introduced, all of whom lean into specific archetypes without being consumed by them. Focusing heavily on slapstick and the occasional dose of cringe, this anime is a laugh riot with plenty of room to grow. Hopefully, a sequel is announced sooner rather than later as the adaptation has only scratched the surface of the manga's chaotic brilliance.

Hinamatsuri

MyAnimeList: 8.13

Hinamatsuri tells the timeless tale of a Yakuza member who suddenly finds himself as the guardian of a powerful esper from another dimension. Whether he likes it or not, Nitta's life is turned upside down thanks to the arrival of Hina, a girl who ran away from her realm where she was used as a weapon. While the two do not always get along, Nitt and Hina eventually develop an adorable and wholesome father-daughter dynamic.

Packed to the brim with great characters, Hinamatsuri takes viewers on an incredible roller-coaster ride. The show can go from a painfully hilarious skit fueled by Hina's stoic demeanor or Hitomi's odd maturity to a surprisingly emotional storyline that deals with homelessness.

Ghost Stories (English Dub)

MyAnimeList: 7.74

Ghost Stories is an anomaly in the world of anime series. The original Japanese show follows a group of kids trying to protect their town from a group of malicious ghosts. The English dub, however, changes things juristically. The team in charge of the dub had very few rules and used that to their advantage, completely changing the dialogue and story to their liking and making it a knee-slapping comedy instead of a serious ghost-hunting show.

The dubbed dialogue is downright hilarious, featuring dark humor, pop culture references, and brilliant inside jokes. By no means a typical comedy anime series, Ghost Stories is a wicked fun ride for anyone looking for a "different" kind of animated humor.

The Eminence In Shadow

MyAnimeList: 8.30

The Eminence in Shadow stars Cid, the ultimate edge lord who gets to live out his chuunibyou fantasy when he reincarnates in a world with magic. As this is an isekai, Cid is fairly overpowered, and his faux-deep ramblings about being the shadow that governs society are taken at face value by pretty much everyone he meets. In the meantime, the protagonist tries to play the part of a background character, a role that allows him to show off his acting skills.

A self-aware parody of isekai and overpowered protagonist, The Eminence in Shadow takes its world fairly seriously, which only serves to emphasize Cid's juvenile antics and nonsensical claims. Even though the secondary characters are not hilarious, they work brilliantly as foils to the protagonist while also getting a few moments to shine.

Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun

MyAnimeList: 7.83

Chiyo Sakura is head over heels for her schoolmate, the likable but dense Nozaki. One day, she finally gets the courage to ask out her crush; unfortunately, Nozaki misconstrues Sakura's affection as admiration for his shojo manga. Before she knows it, the girl has earned a job as a mangaka's assistant, which naturally leads to many more misunderstandings.

Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun is a charming romantic comedy that leans heavily into the latter side of things. Nozaki and Sakura are not only endearing characters in isolation, but they also bounce off each other beautifully. The leads do not have the carry the show on their backs either, as Doga Kobo's anime has a plethora of great secondary characters.

Daily Lives Of High School Boys

MyAnimeList: 8.23

If someone's imagination is free enough, even the mundane can be hilarious. Daily Lives of High School Boys is a gag comedy about a trio of perfectly ordinary boys doing perfectly ordinary things that just happen to often devolve into cringe territory.

Divided into skits, Sunrise's anime is expertly paced to ensure nearly none of the jokes overstay their welcome. More importantly, the series knows when to revisit a storyline or situation to produce a couple more laughs.

Spy X Family

MyAnimeList: 8.58 (Season 1, Part 1)

Spy x Family was among 2022's shining beacons, airing two fun cours during Spring and Fall. The anime has already confirmed that a sequel is on the horizon, so the Forgers' time in the sun is far from done. Set in a world defined by a fragile peace between two powerful states, Twilight is a superspy tasked with infiltrating an academy to get close to a politician. To accomplish this task, he becomes Loid Forger and adopts Anya, a charming girl who can secretly read minds. Loid also marries Yor, a quiet woman who moonlights as an assassin.

Spy x Family has exceptional characters who all inject a unique brand of comedy into the story. Anya tends to steal the spotlight due to her weird mix of innocence and insightfulness; while she can read the minds of adults, she does not always understand what she hears. Loid works well as Anya's straight man, while Yor is a surprisingly great source for slapstick humor.

While not reaching the same heights as its predecessors, season 2 is also consistently charming and funny.

FLCL

MyAnimeList: 8.03 (Season 1)

One of the most absurd comedy anime ever made, FLCL is a hilariously offbeat anime that fans can watch over and over again. The original series is a mere six episodes, but the animators and writers pack a lot into these fast-paced vignettes. Equal parts anime parody and surreal madness, FLCL is sort of a loose cannon, barely following a coherent plot, yet still acting as a cohesive comedy sitcom that ranks among the best anime series ever.

The story involves a young boy and his misadventures in his small town after a chaotic alien girl arrives and robots begin popping out of his head. The jokes are so quick that viewers may need to watch it a second time just to catch every kernel of comedy gold. The visuals are amazing too.

Ouran High School Host Club

MyAnimeList: 8.16

A parody of other popular anime, Ouran High School Host Club is a silly high school comedy series at heart. The central character, Haruhi Fujioka, ends up in debt to a posh club of boys who “host” female clients.

While that sounds suspicious, the show is actually laid back and funny in more than one way. Plot twists are this show’s bread and butter, and it does them better than most other anime series.

Space Dandy

MyAnimeList: 7.78 (Season 1)

Space Dandy does a lot of things well, humor perhaps being the best one. Shinichirō Watanabe might be more known for anime series that balances comedy with other genres, but Space Dandy is much more comfortable making low-brow jokes and going for the silliest route possible.

There is still plenty of high-flying space action to soak in, but the comedic moments are the real showcase. Comedy fans should get their fill on all the absurd jokes the series throws their way.

Azumanga Daioh: The Animation

MyAnimeList: 8

Azumanga Daioh's influence and importance cannot be understated. Both the manga and its anime adaptation helped set the standard for "cute girls doing cute things" type stories, paving the way for releases like Lucky Star and School Rumble. Those two series are pretty funny in their own right, but they fall short of the standard set by Azumanga Daioh.

The most amazing thing about this anime is that the humor flows naturally from characters who are fully grounded in reality. The comedy very rarely takes on surreal or outlandish elements, instead opting to focus on the cast's charming and hilarious banter. Despite being more than two decades old, Azumanga Daioh is still as awesome as ever.

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