One of the most compelling things about animation as a medium is its expressiveness. Almost limitless in what it can achieve, animation offers creators the freedom to give visual shape to things impossible in live action. In anime, the liberty and imaginativeness of animation are used to convey all sorts of things – the hype of larger-than-life battles, the raw emotions of dramatic climaxes, and, of course, the charming hilarity of visual humor.
For the most part, anime famously sticks to an established, recognized art style. Yet, when it comes to comedy, some shows push the boundaries of creativity with their visuals, crafting unique visual identities that better convey the amusing absurdness of their worlds. The funniest anime out there are unafraid to experiment with style and animation to make the visual comedy stand out.
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10
Osomatsu-san Wittily Uses the Restraints of Its Old-School Style
Osomatsu-san Maintains a Balance of Modern and Nostalgic with Its Visuals
The nostalgic visual style of Osomatsu-san calls back to the series’ origins as a modernized adaptation of an iconic ‘60s manga Osomatsu-kun – a comedy series about mischievous sextuplets and their misadventures. Osomatsu-san ages up the Matsuno brothers, gives their personalities a humorously off-putting edge by making them NEETs, and sends them into the world to find even more trouble.
The simplistic old-school art style of Osomatsu-san allows its comedy to shine radiantly. From hilariously distorted facial expressions to abrupt shifts between art styles to surreal sequences that blend reality and fiction, Osomatsu-san takes full advantage of its cartoonish designs to elevate the comedy while keeping the nostalgic charm of the original intact.
Osomatsu-san
The adventures of young Osomatsu Matsuno and his five sextuplet brothers.
- Release Date
-
August 8, 2015
- Cast
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Ray Chase
, Max Mittelman
, Billy Kametz
, Michael Sinterniklaas
, Alex Cazares - Seasons
-
3
- Creator
-
Fujio Akatsuka
- Production Company
-
Pierrot
- Number of Episodes
-
75
9
Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! Boldly Showcases What Animation Is Capable Of
Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!’s Dynamic Visuals Are Both Funny and Sincere
Masaaki Yuasa and his studio Science SARU are household names when it comes to unorthodox visual style. And in their love letter to the art of animation, Science SARU, expectedly, went all-out on creativity and visual distinctiveness. Following the bizarre antics of a high school animation club exploring the medium’s boundless potential, Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! is an explosion of artistic expressiveness.
Its visuals blend hilarious slice-of-life sequences with fantastical, otherworldly glimpses into the characters’ wild imaginations, resulting in a style that feels both relatably amusing and enchantingly surreal. Just like the minds of Misuzaki, Kanamori, and Asakusa constantly come up with new ideas, the picture of Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! never stops moving, taking the viewers on a chaotically fun ride through the world of passion and creativity.
Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken
- Release Date
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January 5, 2020
- IMDb ID
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tt10320398
- TMDB User Rating
-
8
.114 - Cast
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Sairi Ito
, Mutsumi Tamura
, Misato Matsuoka - Seasons
-
1
8
Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo Visually Parodies Hyper-Masculine Shonen Classics
Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo’s Visual Gags Benefit from Putting Style over Substance
From countless narrative tropes to a recognizable macho art style, old-school shonen anime is known for its fair share of cliches. In parodying such series as Fist of the North Star and Dragon Ball, Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo introduces the viewers to a surreal sci-fi world where an evil empire strives to steal everyone’s hair.
In their way stands Bo-bobo and his signature golden afro – a hero determined to save the world from going bald. Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo is the style of classic shonen taken to a hilarious extreme, the series’ comedy constantly experimenting with absurd character designs and action humor. And while the plot of the show is nothing overly complicated, the non-stop visual gags make Bo-bobo’s surreal adventures endlessly entertaining.
Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo
The impossible adventures of Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo, a warrior who fights using his nose hairs to defeat an evil empire that wants to turn the human race bald.
- Release Date
-
September 30, 2003
- Cast
-
Takehito Koyasu
, Ai Nonaka
, Yuri Lowenthal
, Liam O’Brien - Seasons
-
1
- Characters By
-
Takehito Koyasu, Ai Nonaka, Masaya Onosaka
- Creator
-
Yoshio Sawai
- Producer
-
Atsutoshi Umezawa
- Production Company
-
Toei Animation
- Number of Episodes
-
76 Episodes
7
Delicious in Dungeon’s Visuals Make Fantasy Adventuring More Fun Than Ever Before
Studio Trigger’s Established Style Is Uniquely Implemented in Dungeon Meshi
Studio Trigger’s eclectic visual style is mostly associated with their signature approach to action – as well as the angular, expressive character designs of their originals that work so well within the dynamic battle sequences. This year, however, the comedic potential of Trigger’s style got a spotlight in Delicious in Dungeon, a much more lowkey fantasy show about an eccentric adventurer’s party and their culinary exploration of a mysterious magical world.
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10 Best Delicious in Dungeon Episodes (So Far)
Delicious in Dungeon is a huge modern anime hit, and these episodes are a big reason why.
While still not without its high-octane action moments, Delicious in Dungeon focuses the visual expressiveness largely on comedy, bringing the characters of the original manga to life through spirited, energetic animation. The series’ visuals brim with personality and uniqueness regardless if they’re depicting a silly gag, a life-or-death battle, or a mouthwatering monster dish.
Delicious in Dungeon
Can sisters be reincarnated from dragon poop? Laios and his friends Marcille and Chilchuck delve into an endless dungeon in search of his fallen sister, fighting monsters, starvation, and corruption.
- Release Date
-
January 4, 2023
- Studio
-
Trigger
- Main Cast
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Sayaka Senbongi, Kentarou Kumagai, Hiroshi Naka and Asuna Tomari
DMC’s Comedic Charm Is Unique to Its Animation Style
When it comes to comedy anime, objectively “good” animation doesn’t necessarily mean effective or suitable for the style of visual comedy the show aims to achieve. Hardly anyone would call Detroit Metal City visually stunning. However, the series’ distinct style is what makes its surreal story about an extreme death metal band with a hilariously soft-natured and mellow frontman so funny.
Visually, Detroit Metal City largely resembles Western adult-oriented cartoons of the early 2000s, with limited animation, semi-realistic character designs, and mostly static shots. The show’s art style that mixes perfectly with its focus on parodying the obsessive fan culture is one of its most appealing features – even if it makes DMC look so unlike your typical anime.
Detroit Metal City
In Detroit Metal City, Souichi Negishi’s alter ego, Johannes Krauser II is a famous metal star.
- Studio
-
Studio 4°C
- Streaming Service(s)
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Amazon Prime Video
5
Dandadan’s Occult Plot Is Full of Quick-Witted Visual Gags
Science SARU’s Style of Visual Comedy Works Marvelously with Dandadan’s Chaotic Story
Another Science SARU hit, Dandadan has been taking the anime community by storm this season – not in the least thanks to its visual humor. A genre-bending story of Okarun and Momo, two teenagers who, through a silly bet, get sucked into the dangerous shenanigans of both the supernatural and extraterrestrial, Dandadan fully embraces the zaniness of its premise with its visuals.
Expressions in Dandadan constantly get comically distorted, characters go off-model to emphasize their emotions and actions, and the art style shifts between polished and hilariously simplistic and goofy. The series’ bizarre, zestful humor makes up as much of its identity as the romantic subplot or the occult adventures, and the Science SARU adaptation does wonders in amplifying the comical aspects of Dandadan through its visual treatment.
Dandadan
- Release Date
-
September 13, 2024
- Creator(s)
-
Yukinobu Tatsu
- Cast
-
Natsuki Hanae
, Shion Wakayama
, Nana Mizuki
, Ayane Sakura
, Kaito Ishikawa
, Mayumi Tanaka
, Kazuya Nakai
, Kaori Maeda
, Miyu Tomita
, Ryûnosuke Watanuki
, Hikaru Tanaka
, Seitaro Taniguchi
, Satomi Kobashi
, Mayuko Kazama
, Ryuuzaburou Ootomo - Seasons
-
1
- Studio
-
Science Saru
- Creator
-
Yukinobu Tatsu
- Number of Episodes
-
9
- Based On
-
Manga
- MyAnimeList Score
-
8.71
- Character(s)
-
Ken Okarun Takakura
, Momo Ayase
, Seiko
, Aira Shiratori
, Jin Jiji Enjōji
, Turbo Granny
, Serpoians
, Miko
, Muko
, Momo’s Boyfriend
, Male Student A
, Male Student B
, Elementary School Boy
, Flatwoods Monster
4
Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt Adopts a Deceivingly Cartoonish Art Style
Panty & Stocking Is a Hilarious Adult Comedy Drawn Like a Morning Cartoon
Directed by studio Trigger’s co-founder Hiroyuki Imaishi a few years prior to his leaving studio Gainax, Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt is, by far, one of the most visually unorthodox anime in the comedy genre. At first glance,Panty & Stocking is disarmingly cartoonish, with exaggerated character designs and vibrant, cutesy visuals.
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Everything We Know About Panty And Stocking, Season 2
After almost 13 years, Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt is set to return with its long-awaited Season 2, New Panty and Stocking.
Behind that sweet facade, however, hides a series about two deranged and vulgar angels filled to the brim with obscene jokes, raunchiness, and all kinds of extremes one would never catch on morning cartoons. Sometimes, the heroines do transform into your typical anime girls, as well as undergo other visual experimentations – yet the art style swaps are always done with intent and only elevate the overall flare of Panty & Stocking’s visual comedy.
Panty & Stocking With Garterbelt
Two Angels, Panty and Stocking, are kicked out of Heaven for bad behaviour and sent Ghost hunting by Garterbelt, a Priest of Daten City.
- Release Date
-
October 1, 2010
- Cast
-
Jamie Marchi
, Monica Rial
, Christopher R. Sabat
, Ian Sinclair
, Joel McDonald - Main Genre
-
Action
- Seasons
-
1
- Creator
-
Geek Fleet
- Producer
-
Satoshi Fujita, Jun Fukuda, Kenjirou Gomi, Takashi Imamoto, Kazuya Masumoto, Tomoko Suzuki, Souichi Tsuji, Natsuki Uetake, Katsumi Yasuda
- Production Company
-
Gainax
- Writers
-
TAGRO
, Hiroyuki Imaishi
, Jamie Marchi - Number of Episodes
-
14 Episodes
- Franchise(s)
-
Panty & Stocking With Garterbelt
- Directors
-
Hiroyuki Imaishi
3
Pop Team Epic’s Simple Designs Aid Its Gag Humor
Nothing Is Out of the Realm of Possibility in Popuko and Pipimi Hectic Lives
When it comes to visually distinct shows that put humor at the forefront of their artistic decision-making, Pop Team Epic definitely reigns supreme. An absurdist, nonsensical comedy all about visual gags, Pop Team Epic is a collection of surreal episodic vignettes following Popuko and Pipimi, two high school girls forced into all kinds of ridiculous situations.
From high-octane action scenarios to reference-riddled comedy sketches, Pop Team Epic jumps between hilarious prompts without rhyme or reason – and so does its art style. The base designs of Popuko and Pipimi are extremely simplistic yet expressive, which makes morphing them based on the storyline of any given episode extremely easy and results in a visual style that is never tied down by a singular aesthetic.
- Release Date
-
January 7, 2018
- Cast
-
Shunsuke Itakura
, Tōru Adachi
, Fanny Bloc
, Christine Bellier
, Shinnosuke Ogami
, Masashi Ebara
, Shouta Aoi
, Yuichi Nakamura
, Mizuki Saiba
, Sumire Morohoshi
, Yuji Mitsuya
, Hochu Otsuka
, Noriko Hidaka
, Aoi Yuki
, Toshio Furukawa
, Ayana Taketatsu
, Shigeru Chiba
, Mikako Komatsu - Seasons
-
2
- Character(s)
-
Popuko [Bob Team Epic]
, Pipimi [Bob Team Epic]
, Popuko [JAPON MiGNON]
, Pipimi [JAPON MiGNON]
, Audience B
, Old Man / Narrator
, Shouta Aoi
, Time Patrol Captain Nakamura
, Mysterious Girl
, Heroine
, Popuko
, Pipimi
2
FLCL’s Eccentric Style Defines Its Comedy
FLCL Experiments with Both Narrative and Visuals
A definitive classic of early-2000s anime, FLCL features an art style that is both nostalgic and timeless, and nowhere is it more apparent than in the show’s countless comedic sequences. FLCL is an unorthodox and hectic coming-of-age tale of Naota, an ordinary kid whose life turns on its head when a mysterious woman named Haruko barges into his life and drags the boy into world-shattering misadventures.
Calling FLCL stylish doesn’t even begin to describe how much of the series’ identity lies in its visuals. Yet, the gorgeous baseline animation and many high-octane action sequences are only a part of the show’s visual appeal. FLCL’s comedy – from the general amusing expressiveness of its characters to breathtaking stylized sequences like the famous live manga scene – is a masterclass of visual humor that makes the series iconic.
FLCL
Mysterious things start happening when 12-year-old Naota meets a strange woman on a Vespa wielding a big guitar.
- Release Date
-
August 5, 2003
- Creator(s)
-
Kazuya Tsurumaki
- Cast
-
Jun Mizuki
, Mayumi Shintani
, Izumi Kasagi
, Suzuki Matsuo
, Hiroshi Ito
, Mika Itô
, Kazuhito Suzuki
, Sho Miyajima - Seasons
-
1
- Studio
-
- Creator
-
- Producer
-
- Production Company
-
- Number of Episodes
-
- Character(s)
-
Naota Nandaba
, Haruko Haruhara
, Mamimi Samejima
, Kamon Nandaba
, Shigekuni Nandaba
, Eri Ninamori
, Masashi Masamune
, Gaku Manabe
1
Fans Have Come to Expect the Unexpected from Gintama’s Visual Humor
Gintama’s Animators Love Pulling Pranks on the Viewers
Arguably the most well-regarded comedy anime out there, Gintama infuses humor into every aspect of its artistic identity. Its visuals, while mostly standard for a shonen series, are no exception. This chaotic story of a lazy samurai going on many zany adventures in alien-invaded Edo-period Japan famously doesn’t care for conventions and experiments with visuals just as freely as it does with narrative guidelines and notions of appropriateness.
Be it featuring an entire opening poorly animated in MS Paint, randomly switching art styles to parody shonen giants like Dragon Ball or Fist of the North Star, or simply refusing to animate an episode, leaving the viewers to stare at a static image for 24 minutes straight, Gintama is truly the best when it comes to finding visually creative ways to make the fans laugh.
Gintama
In an era where aliens have invaded and taken over feudal Tokyo, an unemployed samurai finds work however he can.
- Release Date
-
April 4, 2006
- Cast
-
Susumu Chiba
, Satsuki Yukino
, Tetsuharu Ota
, Michael Daingerfield
, Akira Ishida - Rating
-
- Seasons
-
- Creator
-
- Producer
-
- Production Company
-
- Number of Episodes
-
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