While many of the most-watched and critically acclaimed anime are shows like Demon Slayer and Attack on Titan, not everyone can handle 30 episodes in a row of combat or tragedy. Comedy anime are a special part of the anime world that ranges from romances to general slice-of-life.
In just the 2020s alone, many MyAnimeList users have found joy in comedy anime and rated them appropriately to give other fans a better outlook on what they might enjoy.
Horimiya (8.21)
Horimiya stars the titular protagonists Kyouko Hori and Izumi Miyamura. Hori is incredibly popular while not many people give a second thought to Miyamura. However, around one another they find that they can be their true selves.
It's a popular concept for romance slice of life anime: a girl celebrated by her peers and a boy disliked by his classmates find something special in one another and bond. Usually due to the boy having something secret about himself or just being incredibly compassionate and kind. It's a tried and true formula, and successful in Horimiya. Shows that also use the basic premise well include Komi Can't Communicate and My Dress-Up Darling.
Great Pretender (8.27)
Great Pretender stars a famous pickpocketer and swindler named Mokoto who has taken the nickname "Edamame." Mokoto's skills as a swindler are put to the test in a rivalry against a man named Laurent, a seemingly much more experienced and talented criminal.
For those who love mafia shows or any anime starring charismatic crooks, few shows pull that off more than Great Pretender. Black Lagoon and Baccano! are both recommendations for fans of Great Pretender.
My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU Climax! (8.39)
SNAFU began with loner Hachiman Hikigaya forced to join the high school service club under its president and only member Yukino Yukinoshita. Climax is the third season of SNAFU and covers Yukino and Hikigaya's final year of high school together.
SNAFU's portrayal of the metamorphic nature of high school life is its strongest selling point, and the characters have flaws realistic of high school students. For fans looking for more shows that cover crazy high school life, Rascal Doesn't Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai has many common slice-of-life elements with a few more twists and turns.
Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid Season 2 (8.40)
Miss Kobayashi is a series that pretty much gives its main selling point in the title: a young woman named Kobayashi acquires a series of dragons that begin to work for her in her house as maids.
For a lot of people, Miss Kobayashi is a guilty pleasure anime that really isn't received as fantastic art. However, not every anime needs to be Monster or Attack on Titan, and Miss Kobayashi's can be incredibly fun. Recommendations for fans include Hinamatsuri about another mystical being living with a human.
Teasing Master Takagi-San 3 (8.46)
Teasing Master Takagi-San follows the antics of Nishikata, a young boy who is constantly teased by a girl in his class named Takagi. In an attempt to get back at her, Nishikata tries pranks and tricks of his own. However, the boy often finds himself on the losing end of the conflicts.
For fans looking for a cute show where kids just have fun and mess with one another, this is a perfect comfort anime. The show is fairly simple in premise but executes the niche very well. For fans who like the show but wish the duels were a bit less one-sided, Kaguya-Sama: Love is War features a romantic battle of the brains between two geniuses where fans never know who will come out on top.
Kotaro Lives Alone (8.46)
Kotaro Lives Alone stars a very young boy named Kotaro who has moved into a local apartment by himself. The other protagonist, an unpopular manga artist named Shin who lives in the same apartment complex, learns to care for the boy and discover more about growing up along the way.
The real star of the show isn't the titular character as much as Shin and the other apartment members, who many audience members grow to love as they grow more attached to Kotaro. For people that are big fans of Shin, Poco's Udon World features another story about a young adult taking care of a child.
Laid-Back Camp Season 2 (8.54)
Laid-Back Camp is about a group of friends that go camping. It's a simple premise, but the main group of friends is what drives the show more so than the plot in this slice-of-life anime.
This entire anime is one giant beach episode. While the characters may not necessarily be on the beach, the concept of having a wholesome day off to experience a break from the action is much of why the show works. It's relaxing, it's laid back, and there's camping. No show quite matches the serene simplicity of some Laid-Back Camp episodes, but K-On! is another fun anime about kids enjoying a hobby they share.
Haikyuu!! To The Top 2nd Season (8.54)
Hinata Shoyo is a boy that wants to become an incredible pro volleyball player. The only problem is that he's remarkably short. After moving to the same high school as his sworn rival Kageyama, the two boys work together to win nationals and become the greatest spiker-setter combination in Japan.
Often hailed as the best sports anime ever, Haikyuu!! has a large and diverse cast of characters that fans will love. In To the Top, which covers the national tournament, Hinata and Kageyama take on the arguable favorite to win the entire tournament: the lovable Miya twins. For fans of sports anime, Blue Lock is an upcoming soccer/football anime by the studio Eight Bit.
Fruits Basket 2nd Season (8.57)
Tohru was a high school girl living on her own upon losing the only family she had. After she decided to take up home in the mysterious Souma families' residence in season 1, she's grown far closer to the inhabitants of the household. Season 2 focuses on Tohru's journey with Kyo and Yuki and the strange secret that surrounds the Soumas.
While there are many great anime romances that don't come from romance anime, romance is definitely a front-and-center part of Fruits Basket. Despite how prominently it's featured, the main couple's relationship will leave fans wanting more of just them.
Kaguya-Sama: Love is War (8.65)
Kaguya-Sama: Love is War stars Kaguya and Miyuki, the vice-president and president of the student council. While they have feelings for one another, neither party will admit it. So in order to still end up together, the two have decided to try different tactics to make the other person confess first.
Kaguya-Sama has a vignette-style storytelling method where multiple scenarios can begin and end in a single episode. Kaguya and Miyuki's comedic antics make them one of the most beloved duos in anime and for good reason. Another romantic comedy that uses multiple short stories per episode is Komi Can't Communicate, a story about a girl that deals with social anxiety and a boy that strives to help her make friends.