Ditch Your 'Office' Re-runs and Try These 9 Anime Comedy Series Instead

Kuragehime (2010)

The story revolves around Tsukimi Kurashita, a jellyfish otaku, and her eccentric housemates, who are all NEETs (Not in Education, Employment, or Training). But hey, nothing to scoff at here; their charm lies in their quirkiness. Their peaceful life takes a turn when the fashionable Kuranosuke Koibuchi enters their world. The unlikely friendship between these misfits is something akin to biting into a strange but surprisingly scrumptious sushi roll. The series is largely set in a fictional apartment named "Amamizu-kan," which means "Jellyfish House."

Arakawa Under the Bridge (2010)

Imagine owing your life to a homeless girl living under a bridge and then promising to live there with her. Sounds absurd? Well, that's the hilarious premise of Arakawa Under the Bridge. Kou Ichinomiya, a young man who has never asked for a favor in his life, has his entire world turned upside down when he falls into the Arakawa River and is saved by a strange girl named Nino. Filled with eccentric characters and peculiar plotlines, this series thrives on absurdity. Also, don't forget to pay attention to the end credits.

Saint☆Oniisan (2013)

The mundane life of Earth gets a divine touch in Saint☆Oniisan, where Jesus Christ and Gautama Buddha, the central figures of Christianity and Buddhism respectively, are living as roommates in Tokyo. These revered deities, while on vacation, explore aspects of the modern world, resulting in a fusion of sacred and profane that's laugh-out-loud funny. The series' creator, Hikaru Nakamura, received the 2009 Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize for his innovative concept. It's like watching celestial sitcom gold!

Silver Spoon (2013)

Reeling under the pressures of city life, Yugo Hachiken decides to enroll at Ooezo Agricultural High School, located in the countryside. But little does he know that farm life isn't a walk in the park. Welcome to Gin no Saji or Silver Spoon, a delightful series that follows Yugo's journey of self-discovery, struggles, and unforgettable experiences. While humor is the show's constant companion, it beautifully blends in life lessons about food ethics, agricultural industry, and the value of hard work. The show's creator, Hiromu Arakawa, grew up on a dairy farm in Hokkaido before moving to Tokyo to start her career as a mangaka.

Barakamon (2014)

When a hot-headed, city-bred calligrapher named Seishu Handa is exiled to the Goto Islands for punching an elderly curator, he finds himself grappling with the slow-paced, slice-of-life on the island. He's now surrounded by boisterous children, peculiar neighbors, and feral cats. Not quite your quintessential Tokyo scene, eh? Barakamon, which translates to 'energetic one' in the local dialect, is a delightful series that beautifully captures the protagonist's growth, largely catalyzed by his interactions with the innocent and frank Naru Kotoishi, a local village girl.

Hinamatsuri (2018)

So, a young girl with psychokinetic powers crash-lands into the life of a yakuza member. Sounds like the plot of a high-octane action flick? Well, surprisingly, it's the premise of Hinamatsuri, an endearing comedy series. When Hina, a mysterious girl with immense powers, suddenly appears in Yoshifumi Nitta's room, it's the start of a bizarre father-daughter relationship that'll leave you in splits. Despite Hina's eerie, robotic demeanor, her stark disinterest in using her powers (except for making sure she gets her favorite salmon roe) is a running gag in the series.

Sakamoto Desu ga? (2016)

Picture a high-schooler so cool, so suave, that every action he takes seems to be straight out of a sleek spy movie. Enter Sakamoto, the protagonist of "Sakamoto Desu ga?" or "Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto". He is an interesting character who has an uncanny way of turning even the most mundane situations into a spectacle. Bully-proof and babe-magnet Sakamoto turns every adversity into an opportunity, much to his classmates' chagrin and awe. The plot's absurdity, coupled with Sakamoto's extraordinary solutions to ordinary problems, makes it an offbeat comedy series you wouldn't want to miss. No really, this guy could probably make a chess tournament seem like a thrilling parkour chase.

Working!! (2010)

If you've ever worked a part-time job, you know that the workplace can be a veritable hotbed of hilarious antics. Working!!, set in a family restaurant in Hokkaido, captures this perfectly. The plot mainly revolves around Souta Takanashi, a high school student who ends up working at the Wagnaria restaurant. As he navigates his way through a shift, he encounters an array of eccentric co-workers. Let's see, there's a violently androphobic waitress, a katana-wielding floor chief, a nonchalant manager, and well, you get the idea. The result? A comedy of epic proportions that'll make you view your own job in a different light.

Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun (2014)

Who said a romance series can't be hilarious? Enter Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun or Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun. When Chiyo Sakura confesses her feelings to her school crush Umetarou Nozaki, he mistakes her for a fan of his shojo manga work. What does Chiyo do? Well, she ends up as his manga assistant. As Chiyo gets more and more involved in Nozaki's bizarre world, the result is a delightful rollercoaster ride filled with laughs, love, and a lot of inking. This series is a clever take on high school love, laced with humor and brimming with relatable moments.