There's a wealth of great comedy anime out there and, with shows like the Netflix Original Komi Can't Communicate still coming out, it doesn't seem like the laughs will run out anytime soon. Viewers looking for a high-quality comedy anime are spoilt for choice at the moment.
While comedy anime tends to take in other genres such as romance, action-adventure, or even the supernatural, what they all have in common is memorable laugh-out-loud moments. These shows are the best examples of that, full of charming characters, absurd plotlines, and of course, a ton of hilarious situations.
Golden Time (2013 - 2014) Available On Crunchyroll
A romantic comedy that has moments of serious drama too, Golden Time is an anime about the relationship between college student Tada Banri and the beautiful but enigmatic Kaga Kouko, as well as his new college friends. The drama in the show largely arises from Banri's past in which he had a traumatic accident that left him with severe memory loss about who he was before.
However, whenever Banri becomes conflicted about his choice to create a new life for himself in college, leaving behind his old self, his friends are always there for him, ready to cause wholesome and chaotic moments that are what give the show so much heart.
ORESUKI: Are You The Only One Who Loves Me? (2019 - ) Available On Funimation
A show that pokes fun at the typical oblivious protagonist that's at the heart of a lot of anime, ORESUKI's main character is Amatsuyu "Jouro" Kisaragi, a high school student who adopts a persona of innocent friendliness in hopes of obtaining his very own romantic comedy. His plans start to fall apart as the romantic intentions of different characters overlap and it quickly becomes a farce as Jouro struggles to continue the ruse.
The show also has a key antagonist in the form of a park bench that somehow seems to always spell trouble for Jouro whenever he's made to sit on it. ORESUKI's cast of likable characters heightens the enjoyment of this messy romantic comedy and the show is full of hilarious moments.
Hi Score Girl (2018 - ) Available On Netflix
For anime fans who have nostalgia for retro video games or even just the '90s in general, this Netflix Original series may be ideal. The show is centered around video game-loving Haruo Yaguchi, who dreams of being a professional gamer, and his rivalry with the rich, shy Akira Oono who is the only person at their local arcade who can beat him at Street Fighter 2.
Hi Score Girl is a lighthearted romantic comedy and the side characters are loveable enough that they even begin to overshadow the main protagonists. The show's animation has a unique CGI appearance that sets it apart from other shows in the genre. Whether for nostalgia purposes or just for a simple, sweet comedy, Hi Score Girl is well worth a watch.
Konosuba: God's Blessing On This Wonderful World!! (2016 - ) Available On HBO Max
A parody of the Isekai genre that, with its absurd clichés and tendency towards a lack of self-awareness is ripe for making fun of, Konosuba isn't afraid to make its characters the butt of every joke. This is especially true for the protagonist, reclusive NEET Kazuma Satou, who chooses to go to a fantasy world rather than heaven after dying in rather embarrassing circumstances.
Tasked with defeating a powerful demon king despite initially not even being able to pay his living expenses, Kazuma is forced to deal with sidekicks who while likable are often less than useless. Whilst it might not be the most biting parody, Konosuba is nevertheless a consistently funny fantasy adventure, as well as the funniest Isekai anime around.
The Devil Is A Part-Timer! (2013 - ) Available On Hulu
If it isn't obvious from the name alone, the best part of The Devil is a Part-timer is the absurdity of the show and its premise. Not a metaphor but very literal, the show centers around a demon who is left powerless in the real world and in need of making a living. In his human guise as Sadao Maou, he begins working at a suspiciously familiar fast-food chain.
Maou is surprisingly inspired by the work to climb the corporate ladder and take over the human world. The show's best comedy moments come from putting the devil in ridiculously mundane situations like that, forced to deal with the toils of the real world despite recently being an extremely powerful immortal being.
Grand Blue Dreaming (2018 - ) Available On Amazon Prime
Grand Blue Dreaming is a hilarious comedy about the misadventures of Iori Kitahara after moving to the coastal town of Izu for his first year of college. Having moved into the room above his uncle's diving shop, the titular Grand Blue, Iori has high hopes for his college life which, of course, doesn't end up going exactly how he imagined it.
A lot of this is due to some of the oddball members of the diving club who end up becoming friends with Iori. The show blends comedy and slice-of-life elements, making it an enjoyable and often raucous experience.
Komi Can't Communicate (2021 - ) Available On Netflix
Shouko Komi is the popular girl in her class, beloved by all her classmates despite the fact she is extremely mysterious and never seems to talk. Hitohito Tadano is a boy in the same class who wants nothing more than to not draw attention to himself. Unfortunately for him, he is seated next to Komi, making him the rival of everyone else in the classroom.
Tadano is soon to discover that Komi's mysterious nature is actually a result of her severe social anxiety and possibly even become her first friend. Komi Can't Communicate is great at blending sad and funny moments and is still airing new episodes weekly, looking set to be one of the funniest comedies of the year.
Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War (2019 - ) Available On Funimation
Turning the romance genre into a Death Note-style war of the minds, Love is War is a romantic comedy set at Shuuchin Academy, where top students Miyuki Shirogane and Kaguya Shinomiya vie to make the other confess their love first. The pair are forced into increasingly absurd situations as they do whatever it takes to avoid the embarrassment of confessing to the other.
Love is War is a show where the side characters and side plots are just as fun as the main event, with Student Council Secretary and Student Council Treasurer Chika Fujiwara and Yuu Ishigami both becoming stand out characters as the action continues. One of the best romance anime with tsundere characters, now is a great time to watch the show, as it looks set to receive a third season next year.
Monthly Girls' Nozaki-Kun (2014 - ) Available On Netflix
A single-season romantic comedy from 2014, Monthly Girls' Nozaki Kun is a show about Umatarou Nozaki, a high school boy who happens to be the writer of a popular young girls' romance manga, and Chiyo Sakura, the girl who has a crush on him. However, despite her best efforts to confess her feelings, she can't seem to come across as anything other than a fan or an enthusiastic helper to the oblivious mangaka.
This misunderstanding between them reflects the show, which is centered around the relationship of the pair and their friends who together can never seem to avoid miscommunication and trouble. Monthly Girls' Nozaki-Kun is the best anime about making manga and quickly turns into one of the best ensemble comedies around, full of memorable side characters and absurd moments.
The Disastrous Life Of Saiki K. (2016 - ) Available On Netflix
For viewers who enjoy fast-paced comedy full of constant punchlines, The Disastrous Life of Saiki K is the perfect show. The show's episodes are divided into short segments no more than five minutes each that can usually be enjoyed as a self-contained episode, and even those are so quick that it's easy to miss jokes and have to rewind.
The show is centered on the misadventures of Saiki Kusuo, a high-school student determined to keep his incredible supernatural powers a secret and live a normal school life. Working against him are his friends, who always seem to unintentionally cause him even more trouble than the average superhero ever has to deal with. The show has two full seasons, as well as a shorter series called Saiki K Reawakened, which provides a conclusion to the series.