10 best gag anime series that you should try

Gag anime hold a special place for those seeking nonstop outrageous laughter from start to finish. Unlike structured sitcoms, gag anime thrive on non-sequiturs, anti-humor, and absurd situations guaranteeing ridiculous entertainment. Typically episodic, long-running gag anime like Gintama may have an overarching plot.

However, any semblance of sanity soon descends into zany tangents mocking popular culture or anime tropes. Even without continuity, the colorful characters and unpredictability mean viewers never know what crazy scenario comes next. Through slapstick, crass jokes, and funny faces, gag anime keep the laughs coming.

For fans who need an escape from dramatic storylines, dive into the wacky world of gag anime comedies. Here are 10 of the best gag anime series sure to tickle even the most stoic funny bone.

10 best gag anime that will make you laugh out loud

1) Gintama

As a quintessential gag anime that defined the genre, Gintama is set in an era where aliens known as Amanto influence feudal Japan after an invasion. The anime stars Gintoki Sakata, a sweet-loving but deadpan samurai who takes odd jobs with his friends to pay the bills.

Assisted by Shinpachi, the straight man in glasses, and Kagura, a gorging teenage alien girl, no job is too strange for this trio, whether it's locating lost cats or solving mysteries. Gintoki often finds himself in bizarre situations, with twisted parodies of history and pop culture, causing chaos.

With clever parody writing combined with cultural satire and absurd characters like a giant dog running a restaurant or alien fanatics, Gintama's comedy balances the shifting tones. Gintama's cast of oddballs never fails to be amusing, especially when encountering even stranger foes over the seasons.

2) Nichijou (My Ordinary Life)

This gag anime, Nichijou, meaning "my ordinary life," is anything but ordinary. This anime skips any semblance of an overarching plot and instead opts for a sketch comedy style with surreal and absurd gags.

Even the simple act of a character trying to eat breakfast erupts into over-the-top hilarity. From a talking cat to an eight-year-old professor and a robot girl with a wind-up key, the ensemble cast allows for all sorts of wacky interactions and gags.

Witness the characters attempt to have "normal" school days that inevitably descend into moments of slapstick and parody humor. While there is some continuity, viewers never know what to expect next in this crazy comedy.

3) Osomatsu-san

Focused on sextuplets, Osomatsu-san brings these irreverent characters into modern times. The episodes consist of sketches featuring identical siblings with unique personalities: leader Osomatsu, narcissistic Karamatsu, neurotic Choromatsu, gloomy Ichimatsu, eccentric Jyushimatsu, and crafty Todomatsu.

They all live together in various situations, often as unemployed adults, much to their parents' chagrin. The shorts feature mocking social commentary, pop culture parodies, and dark and slapstick humor.

Whether attempting various schemes to get girls or making fun of overused anime tropes, the sextuplets' antics induce laughter. With sharp writing and lovable idiots, this show hits right on the funny bone.

4) The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.

The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. (Image via J.C. Staff / Egg Firm)

The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. follows Kusuo Saiki who just wants to live a normal life, but that's impossible since he's born with incredible psychic powers—telepathy, telekinesis, x-ray vision, time travel, invisibility, and more. Hiding his abilities from his schoolmates already requires Saiki to go to extraordinary lengths.

Add in an array of eccentric, possibly insane, friends trying to get his attention and it usually results in complete chaos. This anime thrives on putting Saiki into uncomfortable situations made exponentially worse thanks to his not-so-helpful abilities.

The visual gags, deadpan delivery, and mocking humor parody the typical protagonist journey. With rapid-fire pacing punctuated by Saiki's exasperated monologues, prepare to binge this whole hilarious series.

5) Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto

Haven't You Heard? I’m Sakamoto (Image via Studio Deen)

This unique gag anime follows the mysterious and handsome Sakamoto as he steps into third-year high school, capturing the curiosity of students and faculty.

However, it's not his suave looks but rather his ability to get out of any situation—no matter how ridiculous—without breaking composure that earns him popularity. Watch Sakamoto calmly handle the strange scenarios thrown his way with an overconfident flair that frustrates bullies.

From diffusing fights to helping classmates with dilemmas or getting around school rules, his ingenuity in solving problems in extraordinary ways is certain to induce laughter. It almost seems like Sakamoto planned for the zany situations, making his solutions more absurd and amazing.

6) Daily Lives of High School Boys

Daily Lives of High School Boys (Image via Sunrise)

The Daily Lives of High School Boys anime focuses on the daily shenanigans of Tadakuni, Yoshitake Tanaka, and Hidenori Tabata—students at an all-boys academy.

The episodes follow a sketch comedy format with the boys holding silly discussions that eventually descend into even more ridiculous fantasies and daydreams. At other times, short self-contained gags or parodies poke fun at high school stereotypes and anime tropes.

For example, revel as Habara, one of the few girls in the show, terrifies the boys. Other times, smile at the earnest yet futile attempts by Tadakuni to crack down on his friends' antics. From building cardboard castles to chasing unexpected skirt sightings, these trivial incidents highlight the awkward moments of high school.

7) Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo

Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo (Image via Toei Animation)

Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo, an outrageous gag anime, is set in a dystopian world where an evil empire attacks innocent people with nose hair and rebel warrior Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo fights the bald overlord.

With his blonde stylized afro and powerful nose hair techniques, Bo-bobo leads his own hair-based attacks. Accompanied by his sidekick, Don Patch, and the straight-man Gasser, who questions everything in this crazy world, Bo-bobo parodies anime tropes while combatting increasingly weird opponents.

The nonsensical plot lines, visual gags, anti-humor, and musical stylings make Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo one long absurdist trip that fans can't help but find hilarious. Every moment veers farther away from reality with unpredictable fourth-wall breaks or contrasts between the stoic characters and their ridiculous actions.

8) Detroit Metal City

Detroit Metal City (Image via Studio 4°C)

In this gag anime, Soichi Negishi moves from the countryside to Tokyo, hoping to join the pop music scene but instead becomes the lead singer and guitarist of the black metal band Detroit Metal City. On stage, Negishi becomes Johannes Krauser II, wearing demonic makeup and shouting explicit lyrics to violent songs.

However, the gentle Negishi privately dreams of performing sweet pop tunes, hating the accidental fame of his vulgar metal star alter ego. The juxtaposition of a polite young man adopting this outrageously crass persona already elicits laughs.

Yet, the real humor comes from seeing Negishi lapse into his role when not in costume or vainly trying to get his pop music noticed while dressed in a bunny suit. Pop culture mockery, mistaken identities, slapstick humor, and more collide in this excellent parody series.

9) Cromartie High School

Cromartie High School (Image via Production I.G)

Taking gag anime to new heights of absurdity, Cromartie High School is known for its delinquents and low academics. So when brainy Takashi Kamiyama decides to enroll, everyone questions whether he is lost.

Little do they realize, Takashi longs for intellectual discussions, which is impossible with his eccentric classmates, including a gorilla, a robot, and Freddie Mercury himself. Absurd doesn't even begin covering this series where characters comment on the strange situations, especially Kamiyama.

Watch rival gangs try one-upping each other with increasingly ridiculous contests or robot Mechazawa spout non-sequiturs given his limited life experience. The deadpan expressions meeting sheer insanity and bizarre problems elicit steady laughter. Cromartie proves that even delinquents can be hilarious.

10) Plastic Nee-san

Plastic Nee-san (Image via TYO Animations)

A perfect short-form gag anime, these shorts pack a major comedic punch with high school girls as the main characters. Iroe, nicknamed "Nee-san" (meaning older sister), is part of a plastic model club with her friends.

The episodes typically range from about 2 to 3 minutes, focusing on their absurd interactions, often involving exaggerated physical humor and strange scenarios.

Viewers can simply sit back and enjoy the quick visual gags as chaos unfolds, with the characters remaining unruffled in the aftermath. In mere minutes, this gag series captures absurd situations, proving comedy comes in many forms.

Conclusion

The shows above prove that in surreal gag anime, literally anything goes. When exploring this genre, dive into the absurd plots, cultural parodies, and quick back-and-forth banter satirizing society or anime.

Let the shows take viewers by surprise with their brand of humor poking fun at daily mundanities and human interactions. With no necessity to always be coherent, fast-paced chaotic entertainment full of laughs is guaranteed.

For fans who ever need a break from dramatic plot-driven series, turn to the madcap world of gag anime. As this list reveals, comedy comes from both established franchises and lesser-known niche shows, so explore all kinds while holding one's sides. Laughter truly is the best medicine.