Kara Dennison
November 13, 2020 
Feeling kind of gloomy? In need of something a little off the rails to distract and delight you? No worries. We’ve found some weird, warped, and wonderful anime guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. Whether it’s surreal gags, classic anime pastiche, or hilarious ultraviolence, one or more of these is sure to lift your spirits. Let’s dive right in and get crazy!
Space Battleship Tiramisu
If you’re a fan of classic sci-fi and mecha anime, you’ll be familiar with a lot of what Space Battleship Tiramisu has on offer. Our hero is a robot pilot fighting against an evil alien organization — but fans will get a smile (and a full-on laugh) from the true story series. See, Subaru is a mecha pilot… but he’s really more interested in his privacy and having a chance to eat in peace.
The series expands outward, showing us the alien empire and its leaders. There are lots of soap opera-esque revelations afoot. But more than that, the show continues to parody mecha anime. Prepare to see it poke at common tropes, famous characters, and more than a few relatable real-life concerns.
Bludgeoning Angel Dokuro-chan
If more bloodthirsty comedy is what makes you smile, check out Bludgeoning Angel Dokuro-chan. This anime from 2005 is all about an angel sent to stop one man from discovering the secret to immortality. Why? Because said secret would cause all women to stop aging at the age of 12. And that has all sorts of gross implications that need to be stopped.
Fortunately, Dokuro is armed with her trusty spiked bat Excalibolg. With it, she’ll wreak havoc on Sakura, the boy who eventually grows up to mess with the very fabric of humanity. But Dokuro’s version of “dealing with” Sakura amounts to killing him at least once a day. Fortunately, she can bring him back to life with a magic spell…. Wait, what was she meant to be doing again?
Pop Team Epic
The anime adaptation of Bkub Okawa’s Pop Team Epic has brought smiles to many faces… confused smiles, but smiles nonetheless. The 4koma starring strange schoolgirls Popuko and Pipimi has no plot to speak of, and occasionally veers off into different art styles or settings entirely. Plus, the cast changes mid-episode every week.
If you’re new to the series and not used to Okawa’s weird style of humor, your best bet is to just dive in. Will it all make sense? Absolutely not. That’s half the fun. Just hang on for the ride.
What other anime make you smile when you’re in a bad mood? What’s your favorite off-the-wall title?
Otaku USA may earn a small commission on purchases made through links on this article.
