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#1 The Disastrous Life Of Saiki K.
#2 Gintama
#3 Grand Blue
A Short History Of Anime
Notice the short in the title? Well, that is because anime, in fact, has such a long history and has played such an important part in pop culture that to tell it all, we’d need a giraffe’s neck-long scroll. What we have here is a very abbreviated version of anime history, just to get our bearings on this incredible animation style:
Early 1900s
Japanese animation begins with short films inspired by Western cartoons.
1950s
Astro Boy (Tetsuwan Atom) by Osamu Tezuka became the first popular anime series, sparking the industry's growth.
1960s
Color TV leads to more vibrant anime like Speed Racer (Mach GoGoGo) and Kimba the White Lion (Jungle Taitei). Interestingly enough, some believe that Disney’s Lion King is incredibly similar to Kimba, but you’ll be the judge here!
1970s
The "Super Robot" era begins with series like Mazinger Z, and the space opera genre takes off with Space Battleship Yamato.
1980s
The "Real Robot" genre emerges with Mobile Suit Gundam, and Studio Ghibli creates classics like My Neighbor Totoro and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Naturally, the latter two took pop culture by complete and utter storm!
1990s
Anime gains international popularity with hits like Dragon Ball Z, Sailor Moon, and Neon Genesis Evangelion. And if it were up to us, we’d also include Candy Candy as one of the defining anime series of the decade!
2000s
The digital age leads to more diverse genres and worldwide streaming platforms, with titles like Naruto (only the most popular anime series ever) and Spirited Away (only the most popular foreign animated movie of all time!) gaining global acclaim.
2010s
Attack on Titan, One Punch Man, and My Hero Academia become international sensations, solidifying anime's global presence. At the same time, anime series spans through masses of genres and subgenres, creating further appeal for even broader masses.
2020s
Anime continues to flourish, with new technologies enhancing animation quality and a growing global fanbase.
Long live anime! No, but really, with a history of over 100 years, it is clear to us that anime series is and will always be relevant, enjoyable, and entertaining!
#4 One Punch Man
In a nutshell, One Punch Man tells the story of Saitama, a superhero who can defeat anyone with just one punch. But, of course, he soon gets bored by the lack of challenges and sets out to find a worthy opponent. You know, just to add a little spice to the dull life of a superhero. The first season enjoyed massive success and was praised for its unorthodox hero, fantastic animation, and kooky sense of humor.
#5 Asobi Asobase
Asobi Asobase is another great comedy anime that revolves around a group of teenagers, Olivia, Kasumi, and Hanako, who form an unofficial "Pastime Club" in their school. It's not easy to make people laugh when you only have a few minutes to do so, but this gag-anime managed to accomplish this feat with flying colors!
#6 Assassination Classroom
The story here is quite an unusual one. It follows the daily life of a powerful octopus-like alien working as a junior high teacher. The creature's students are tasked to assassinate him, as asked by their government, thus trying to prevent the planet's obliteration. And who's gonna teach them how to use weapons and strategy to kill him? The professor himself! This popular anime series can sound like it oversteps the "weirdness line", but trust me here: there's no way to stop binge-watching Assassination Classroom.
Why Is Anime So Entertaining?
Many of you had this question, and although it isn’t an easy one to answer, here’s our take as to why the funniest anime series are so entertaining:
- Anime offers a wide range of diverse genres - from action to romance and from horror to fantasy - ensuring that everyone is able to find an anime they like;
- Every anime, be it a funny anime series or romance, relies heavily on complex anime characters. Complexity, in turn, engages the viewers and makes the male and female heroes more relatable;
- One other key aspect of anime is engaging storytelling. Basically, you’re always on the edge of your seat, even if it’s the funniest anime ever with the goofiest plot imaginable!
- Watching anime series, you’re often given a chance for cultural exploration with a glimpse into Japanese traditions and way of life;
- That said, anime series always maintain a global appeal by incorporating universal themes, quotable dialogues, and relatable emotions!
To summarize it a bit, anime is so entertaining because it’s, in a nutshell, always relatable, engaging, and full of adventures. Of course, it might not look like so in the beginning, but the longer you watch, the harder you fall into the sweet abyss of the anime world!
#7 Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War
#8 Prison School
Prison School's premise – a group of boys get put in prison for peeping on girls – sounds pretty gross, right? But don't let that fool you. Prison School is actually one of the funniest anime shows you can watch. It has an unforgettable cast of characters and each episode delivers a new level of ridiculousness, making this one of the best comedy anime ever!
#9 One Piece
Based on the manga by Eiichiro Oda, One Piece is one long watch as, since its release in 1999, it has aired over 1000 episodes. Now that's impressive! The series follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy, a boy whose body gains rubber-like qualities after he unintentionally eats a Devil Fruit. His main quest is to find the ultimate pirate treasure, known as One Piece, to become the next pirate king. Of course, Luffy isn't alone on his adventures and is followed by the Straw Hat Pirates. And although One Piece has been running for 22 years as of today, the series still holds its position as one of the most-watched animes worldwide. Longevity to be envious of!
Which Anime Is The Funniest?
Okay, well, the answer depends on your personal sense of humor and taste in jokes, but based on your votes and our extensive browsing through various lists on the internet, the top five funniest anime of all time are these:
1. The Disastrous Life Of Saiki K.
2.Gintama
3.One Punch Man
4.Grand Blue
5.Prison School
As we said - this rating is a bit subjective, and if you disagree with this ranking, be sure to vote for the best funny anime of your choice!
#10 Konosuba: God's Blessing On This Wonderful World!
#11 Daily Lives Of High School Boys
Daily Lives of High School Boys provides a new comedic perspective on high school boys doing… well, daily things. You may think that there isn't much to work with here, but the show manages to make seemingly mundane situations hilarious through its unique storytelling and great characters.
#12 Beelzebub
The idea of a high school delinquent being paired with a baby that turns out to be Satan's son is so ridiculous that it had to be an anime. The fact that it actually happens makes it even funnier. Beelzebub's premise and humor are so absurd that it transcends age and is enjoyable both for kids and adults. There's something about the absurdity of fighting gangs of delinquents with the spit-up from a demon baby that just never gets old.
#13 Great Teacher Onizuka
#14 Noragami
Noragami follows the story of Yato, a forgotten minor god seeking to gain enough money to build his own temple. His life changes when he teams up with a human girl he saved. Along with Yato's Regalia, Yukine, the trio goes through many adventures struggling with their friendship, identity, and pasts. Get ready to jump into an alternate reality occupied by demons, deities, and gods!
#15 The Devil Is A Part-Timer!
#16 My Ordinary Life
You'd be hard-pressed to find an anime more perfect for memes than My Ordinary Life. The series follows a group of eccentric friends living in Tokyo and experiencing all kinds of weird adventures. Despite the title, there's really nothing ordinary about this series!
#17 Monthly Girls' Nozaki-Kun
Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun focuses on high school student Chiyo Sakura, who develops a crush on her classmate Umetaro Nozaki after confessing her love for him. She later discovers that he is actually a famous shoujo manga artist! She decides to become his assistant to support his manga career, help him meet deadlines, and possibly get closer to him. Critics listed it as one of the best anime of 2014.
#19 Aho Girl
Aho Girl is the ultimate dumb comedy, following the life and wacky adventures of high schooler Yoshiko Hanabatake and her long-suffering friend Akuru Akutsu. If you're looking for a fun anime with lots of slapstick comedy and physical gags, then Aho Girl might just be your new favorite show!
#20 Shin Chan
Shin Chan features the misadventures of Shin Chan Nohara, a 5-year-old kid and the worst nightmare of every parent! It's been around since 1992 and has become one of the most popular and controversial anime. Shin can be vulgar, abrasive, and downright annoying at times. But he's intelligent, witty, and clever as well. While some people may find Shin Chan offensive, many others consider him hilarious. If you're looking for an anime that will make you laugh out loud, then this is definitely the one!