10 funniest anime series that aren't supposed to be funny
10 funniest anime series that aren't supposed to be funny
Some anime try really hard to be funny — and they usually are. But sometimes, the ones that make you laugh the most weren't even meant to. You start watching for the drama, the action, the fantasy — and then out of nowhere, you're cracking up at something completely unexpected.
Maybe it's a character with zero chill, a plot twist that borders on the ridiculous, or just how seriously absurd the whole world is.
Whether they're meant to be dark, emotional, or intense, these shows accidentally end up being comedy gold. Here are ten anime that aren't classified as comedies but are way funnier than they have any right to be.
Funniest anime series
that were meant to be deep, not dumb
Beastars
On paper, Beastars is a deep, moody show about identity, social hierarchies, and carnivore guilt.
In practice? Sometimes it plays out like a furry soap opera with way too much dramatic flair. There's a mafia subplot with deer, a wolf having an emotional breakdown over a bunny crush, and high school drama taken to Shakespearean levels. One minute it's existential, the next it's unintentionally hilarious. It's kind of like Zootopia meets Twin Peaks — and you never know whether to reflect or just laugh.
Attack on Titan
Is Attack on Titan supposed to be funny? Absolutely not.
But between Eren's overly dramatic speeches, Levi's obsessive cleaning habits, and the sheer absurdity of people parkouring off rooftops with grappling gear to fight giant naked people, it gets... weirdly funny. And let's not forget the over-the-top intensity of every. single. conversation. You could make a drinking game out of how often someone screams the word 'freedom.
'
Parasyte: The Maxim
Parasyte is a psychological thriller about aliens invading humans, but let's be real: Migi, the sarcastic talking hand, steals the whole show.
His deadpan comebacks and weirdly logical takes on human behavior are unintentionally hilarious. Plus, watching protagonist Shinichi try to act normal while arguing with his right hand in public is pure gold. Imagine trying to walk down the street while your hand starts mocking people — it's bizarre, it's tense, but also? Kinda funny.
Death Note
There's murder, manipulation, and a notebook that kills people. Very serious stuff. But then you've got Light Yagami dramatically eating potato chips like he's performing Shakespeare, and L crouching in chairs like a cryptid. It's all so overacted, it crosses the line into parody — and that's what makes it glorious. No matter how dark it gets, Death Note always has that unintentional edge of 'Wait, what did I just watch?'
The Promised Neverland
Season 1? Straight-up psychological thriller.
Season 2? Unintentional comedy. The pacing goes off the rails, the plot holes multiply, and suddenly this masterfully built world starts acting like a badly written group project. Characters make bizarre decisions, serious conversations get undercut by awkward direction, and it just... spirals. You'll be laughing more out of confusion than amusement, but hey — laughter's laughter.
Tokyo Ghoul
Tokyo Ghoul really wants you to feel things — pain, angst, existential dread.
But somewhere between Kaneki screaming mid-torture and characters talking like they're reading slam poetry at a goth cafe, the melodrama becomes unintentionally hilarious. The constant identity crises, over-the-top internal monologues, and intense symbolism? It's almost like the show is trolling itself. And honestly, we're kind of here for it.
Future Diary (Mirai Nikki)
This show is pure chaos. It's supposed to be a survival game thriller, but with Yuno Gasai's unhinged yandere obsession and the main character constantly panicking like he's in a Scooby-Doo episode, it's impossible not to laugh.
There's so much screaming, betrayal, and ridiculous logic jumps that it ends up feeling like an action-packed telenovela — with knives. Peak unintentional comedy.
Elfen Lied
If you've ever watched Elfen Lied, you know it's trying to be dark and philosophical — but it accidentally becomes absurd. There's a weird mix of ultraviolence, nudity, and moments that feel like they were written during a fever dream. The tonal whiplash is real: one second there's a massacre, the next it's awkward beach fan service.
And Lucy's 'Nyuu~' persona? That alone deserves a comedy tag.
Code Geass
Lelouch is a genius strategist, sure, but he's also a theatrical drama queen. His speeches, poses, and constant outsmarting of everyone around him often feel like overacted stage play material. And let's not forget the pizza obsession — yes, that running gag with the giant Pizza Hut logo in a dystopian rebellion anime. The show is brilliant, but it also makes you laugh at the most unexpected times.
Sometimes unintentionally.
Sometimes not.
Neon Genesis Evangelion
You're not supposed to laugh at Evangelion, but come on — Shinji's mental breakdowns, Gendo's 'father of the year' energy, and Asuka's rage-fueled tirades can get unintentionally ridiculous. And the ending? It's either deeply symbolic or just so cryptic it becomes meme-worthy. 'Congratulations!' might be one of the weirdest feel-good moments in anime history. It's a psychological masterpiece, sure. But also, low-key hilarious.
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