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If you’ve been an enthusiastic watcher of anime just like me, then one thing you’ve come to know is that each and every show comes with a set of specific genres. There’s a multitude out there when it comes to anime—action, drama, and horror just to name a few. But do you even know all of them? Do you think you can recite all of them in one fell swoop?
I know there are many anime genres in existence because they come and go every now and then. But the most popular ones become common enough to stay for a very long time. And so, I’ve come up with this anime genre list to serve as a complete guide with explanations and meanings for all of them.
I’ve tried my best to make this a complete list of anime genres so that it can serve as your very own one-stop compendium for when you’re looking for a genre guide. I've provided a basic list of genres for easy viewing. Below that will be the genres with more descriptive details as well as anime that fit in that category. Whether you’re a diehard anime fan, a casual watcher, an interested onlooker, or even just a non-fan who is passing by, this list of anime genres shall equip you with some basic knowledge and help you venture through the anime world with ease and delight.
List of Major Anime Genres
- Action
- Adventure
- Comedy
- Drama
- Slice of Life
- Fantasy
- Magic
- Supernatural
- Horror
- Mystery
- Psychological
- Romance
- Sci-Fi
List of Anime Subgenres
- Cyberpunk
- Game
- Ecchi
- Demons
- Harem
- Josei
- Martial Arts
- Kids
- Historical
- Hentai
- Isekai
- Military
- Mecha
- Music
- Parody
- Police
- Post-Apocalyptic
- Reverse Harem
- School
- Seinen
- Shoujo
- Shoujo-ai
- Shounen
- Shounen-ai
- Space
- Sports
- Super Power
- Tragedy
- Vampire
- Yuri
- Yaoi
Major Anime Genres
The following genres are the broad categories that anime can fit in. These are the typical genres that are used to categorize other mediums such as films or books. As these are the basic types of narratives, anime in these categories are a constant presence in the industry. Some anime can be a hybrid of different types of narratives but they can usually be easily labeled with one or two of the following categories.
What Is Your Favorite Anime to Watch?
Action
The action genre in anime depicts extremely high levels of intense action. More often than not, you’ll be witnessing thrilling battles and action-packed fight scenes in the shows from this genre. These series will make you jump off your seat or knock your socks off. Overall, the action genre usually possesses lots of battle scenes, fluid animation, and highly-engaging elements that will make your adrenaline rush!
Some examples of action anime includes:
- Kill la Kill
- Gurren Lagann
- Fullmetal Alchemist
- Trigun
- Darker than Black
For a more detailed list on the genre, check out this article on the 10 best action anime.
Adventure
The adventure genre is about travelling and undertaking an adventure in a certain place or around the world (which may sometimes escalate to the whole universe or even to the other dimensions). In this genre, the main characters don’t usually stay in one place. They venture into several different places, usually with a goal in mind (e.g. searching for treasure, exploring some new place, defeating a heinous villain, or saving the world). Adventure anime are so broad and flexible that these shows can usually stretch to a huge number of episodes as well as overlap with multiple genres, usually with action.
Examples of adventure anime includes:
- One Piece
- Fairy Tail
- Hunter X Hunter
- Kino's Journey
- Spice and Wolf
Comedy
The main purpose of the comedy genre is…you got it…to make you laugh! If it fails to make you laugh or at least make you giggle, then it’s a failure. But then again, humor can depend on your personal sense of humor. The animation may not be as impressive as TV shows in the action and drama category, but that can be forgiven for the laughs. Funny moments, hilarious scenes, wacky dialogue, comical happenings—all of these are covered by the comedy genre in anime!
Examples of comedy anime include:
- Gintama
- The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
- The Devil Is a Part-Timer!
- Daily Lives of High School Boys
- Nichijou
For a more in-depth look at the genre, check out this list of the top 10 comedy anime.
Drama
Bringing us tears and a wave of emotions is basically what the drama genre does best! Drama anime tends to connect the viewers to the experiences of the characters. This results in viewers feeling what the characters are going through. Whether it's a tickle of emotion or a barrage of feelings, the goal of these series is to touch our hearts. In anime, one of the greatest signs that the drama effectively worked is if it was able to make you cry.
Examples of drama anime includes:
- Clannad
- Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
- Your Lie in April
- Kanon
- Little Busters!
For a more detailed look at the genre, take a look at the list of the top 10 best drama anime.
Slice of Life
When one says slice of life, that means the mundane good ol’ life. Stories depicted in this genre are realistically set in the domain of real life. Nothing out-of-the-blue happens, but that’s the point! Everyday life is portrayed in a realistic light, with nothing out of the extraordinary wrecking the premise.
Examples of slice of life anime includes:
- Barakamon
- Non Non Biyori
- Koufuku Graffiti
- Lucky Star
- Wagnaria!!
Fantasy
The fantasy genre in anime primarily deals with fantasy worlds and surreal events and locations. Most of the time, the setting is in a magical world where the characters start an adventure. Sometimes they get sent there from the real world. Magic is oftentimes a component of this genre, and various mystical elements serve as the building blocks of the story. You’ll often know it’s a fantasy anime if the environment and atmosphere seems so dazzling and dreamlike that it’ll make you feel captivated and allured.
Examples of fantasy anime includes:
- No Game No Life
- Nanatsu no Taizai
- Inuyasha
- Escaflowne
- Slayers
Magic
Magic, in all its essence, is about magical stuff like spells and incantations. It can also include magical sources, beings that grants wishes, and good ol’ sleeve tricks. One of the most famous themes in the magic genre is magical girls. It is so popular that it might just become a whole new genre on its own in the future.
Examples of magic anime includes:
- Puella Magi Madoka Magica
- Magical Doremi
- Magi: Labyrinth of Magic
- Little Witch Academia
- Maria the Virgin Witch
Supernatural
When one says supernatural, they’re referring to stuff or events that are odd and out-of-the-blue. For this category, supernatural might refer to something mythical, mystical, bizarre, or something outside the bounds of accepted reality. There’s a shadow of mystery often found in shows involved with this genre.
Examples of supernatural anime includes:
- Mushishi
- Blue Exorcist
- Durarara!!
- Bakemonogatari
- Noragami
Horror
It’s not difficult to spot the horror genre in anime. Usually, if there are ghosts, monsters, gore, and creeps, then you’re likely watching a horror series. Heavy gore and bloody violence is a common trait. The most important factor for a show to be considered horror is its ability to scare and creep you out.
Examples of horror anime includes:
- Junji Ito Collection
- Parasyte -the maxim-
- Another
- School-Live!
- Hell Girl
For a more detailed look at the genre, check out this list of the top 10 horror anime.
Mystery
If there’s one thing that’s similar in all mystery anime shows, it is the existence of a central enigma. Whether it’s an event, a place, or an item, there’s some sort of mystery surrounding the narrative. In the history of anime, the most popular shows in the genre have featured detectives and gumshoes.
Examples of mystery anime includes:
- Detective Conan
- Hyouka
- Eden of the East
- Tantei Opera Milky Holmes
- Gosick
Psychological
Psychological anime are shows that delve into how the mind and psyche work. This genre tackles everything on a psychological level (sometimes even philosophical). You’ll often find mind games here as well as battles where the use of the wits is the primary focus. Series in this genre will play with your mind and make you think hard.
Examples of psychological anime includes:
- Death Note
- Mirai Nikki
- Zetsuen no Tempest
- Monster
- Paranoia Agent
Romance
Romance is all about love and sweet moments. Shows involved with this genre often have the skill to tug everyone’s heartstrings with their romantic scenes and tender moments. The focus of these shows is the romantic relationships between the characters as well as their blooming love with one another. You’ll often find romance anime tightly tied with the shoujo subgenre, but it also works pretty well with comedy, harem, and drama.
Examples of romance anime includes:
- Honey and Clover
- Golden Time
- Toradora
- Lovely Complex
- Special A
You can check out this list of the top 10 best romance anime for a more detailed look at the genre.
Sci-Fi
Sci-fi (short for science fiction) is a genre that showcases scientific and technological elements in its story. Machines and various kinds of technologies are staples of this genre. Most of the time, its focus is on the advancement and development of science and technology. That is why you’ll often find sci-fi combined with subgenres such as mecha and space.
Here are some examples of sci-fi anime:
- Evangelion
- Space Dandy
- Cowboy Bebop
- Knights of Sidonia
- Outlaw Star
Best Anime for Boys
The following is a list of anime recommendations with shows that are catered to a male audience. Girls can easily enjoy these shows as well but the studios had a clear target audience when making these. Expect a fair amount of action and shounen. This list can be helpful in getting you into anime or introducing the medium to someone else.
- Hunter X Hunter
- Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
- Naruto
- Attack on Titan
- Dragon Ball Z
- Bleach
- Noragami
- Blue Exorcist
- Trigun
- Berserk
Best Anime for Girls
Just like above, these are anime recommendations with shows catered to female audiences. You can expect to see the shoujo and romance genres as well as strong female protagonists. Some may lack action-packed battles but boys can easily enjoy these shows as well.
- Ouran High School Host Club
- Fruits Basket
- Sailor Moon
- Cardcaptor Sakura
- Princess Tutu
- Chihayafuru
- Princess Jellyfish
- Revolutionary Girl Utena
- Nana
- Kamisama Kiss
Anime Subgenres and Settings
These are the more specific categories of anime. Some of these subgenres are unique as they can describe a type of narrative that is essentially exclusive to anime or at least more prevalent in that medium. These subgenres cover a wide variety of themes and settings that can apply to the wider spectrum of major genres. For example, there can be multiple anime with a school setting that range from comedy to horror.
Cyberpunk
This type of anime is a subgenre of sci-fi. It usually displays a future where society has become more ingrained with technology at the expense of social order. The setting is typically a dystopian future where technology may be doing more harm than good.
Examples of cyberpunk anime includes:
- Ghost in the Shell
- Serial Experiments Lain
- Bubblegum Crisis
- Ergo Proxy
- Texhnolyze
Game
The game category encompasses shows revolving around the idea of gaming and playing. The anime can feature a card game, board game, puzzle game, or even a virtual online game. As long as it concerns any playable game of any kind, it belongs in this category. Sometimes, even videogame-based shows can count in this selection.
Yu-Gi-Oh! is arguably the progenitor of this subgenre. The series began in 1996 as a manga and continues to be a major franchise today. Its influence can still be seen today with a stream of imitators.
Examples of game anime includes:
- Yu-Gi-Oh!
- Sword Art Online
- Phi Brain: Puzzle of God
- selector infected WIXOSS
- Cardfight!! Vanguard
Ecchi
The word ecchi comes from the sound of H in the word hentai, which in turn means pervert in Japanese. This subgenre is generally accepted as being full of sexually provocative scenes (mild enough to be viewed by the general audience) and scenarios derived from innuendoes and humorous situations. It’s a fact that ecchi shows are taking an upswing nowadays as more and more titles are produced every season. More often than not, ecchi is paired up with comedy as both genres compliment each other well. This in turn serves as a buffer that prevents the shows from crossing the line and delving into something less appropriate for general audiences.
Examples of ecchi anime includes:
- Saekano
- Shimoneta
- High School DxD
- To Love-Ru
- Keijo!!!!!!!!
Check out this list of the top 10 ecchi anime for further info about the genre.
Demons
Originally just an infrequent theme, the rise of demonic characters and themes have given rise to this subgenre. The term demon does not only encompass literal demon characters. It also extends to other entities such as monsters, beasts, ghosts, and other demon-type figures. The demons present can come from biblical backgrounds or come from Japanese culture. Believe it or not, this category doesn’t just come hand-in-hand with the horror genre; it surprisingly blends well with other genres as well.
The earliest iconic entry in the subgenre is arguably Devilman, which debuted in 1972. Recent entries such as The Devil Is a Part-Timer show that demon characters can work in comedies.
Examples of demon anime includes:
- Hataraku Maou-Sama
- Inuyasha
- Chrono Crusade
- Blue Exorcist
- Black Butler
Harem
If you see a reluctant male character surrounded by multiple female characters who all adore him, then you’re probably watching an anime of the harem subgenre. This type of show typically features more than two female characters go head-over-heels for a single male character. Anime in this category is typically within the comedy and romance genre. It's possible that a harem anime can have no romance and feature mostly slapstick comedy.
Oh My Goddess and Tench Muyo! can be considered early examples of harem anime from the early 80s and 90s. The subgenre exploded in the 2000s from the success of Love Hina. The infamous series School Days is often considered to be a deconstruction of the harem genre as it shows how volatile it can be to court multiple girls at once.
Examples of harem anime includes:
- Nisekoi
- Maken-ki!
- Sekirei
- To Love-Ru
- High School DxD
For a more detailed look, check out this list of the top 10 harem anime.
Josei
Josei is actually a demographic but is also considered a general category in anime. It specifically targets female viewers around the age range of 18-40. These shows depict life and romance in a more mature light, usually with more grounded realism and less idealistic fantasies. The subgenre is fairly wide and doesn't necessarily have to focus on romance. It merely needs a narrative that caters to the mature woman. Josei originated from manga during the 80s. Girls who grew up reading shoujo stories from previous decades wanted stories for adults.
Examples of josei anime includes:
- Princess Jellyfish
- Chihayafuru
- Paradise Kiss
- Natsuyuki Rendevous
- Nodame Cantabile
Martial Arts
Martial arts play a big role in every anime that has fighting/battles in it. Whether it's hand-to-hand combat, swordplay, gun fighting, or armed combat, there’s some kind of martial art element that plays through them. But did you know that there are shows that are primarily focused on martial arts itself and their battle techniques? There’s a lot of them, and they mainly involve hand-to-hand combat and technician battles.
This subgenre is constantly popular and is usually in the action category. The most iconic entry in this category is Dragon Ball Z, which is responsible for introducing anime and manga to the mainstream consciousness in the Western world.
Examples of martial arts anime includes:
- Hajime no Ippo
- History’s Strongest Disciple
- Dragon Ball
- Baki the Grappler
- Katanagatari
Kids
A lot of people say that anime is just for kids, but that’s not really true. As a matter of fact, there are only a few number of anime that are precisely catered towards children. These shows are contained within the kids subgenre. These shows are mild, light, and insightful, which makes them perfect for children 12 and under.
These kinds of anime actually have a difficult time finding an audience in the West. This is due to the fact that international anime fans are typically older and have little interest in these. Doraemon is one of the biggest franchises in Japan but the series has never caught on in America.
Cultural differences in what is appropriate for children is also a problem in localization. Case Closed is one of the biggest kids series in Japan. However, the mysteries in the show are almost always murder cases and the show is not shy when it comes to showing them. When it aired in the US on Cartoon Network, it was deemed too mature for the Toonami block and it was placed on the Adult Swim block. However, viewers felt it was too childish. The show got low ratings and was eventually pulled from the network.
Examples of kids anime includes:
- Pokémon
- Machine Robo Rescue
- Doraemon
- Digimon
- Chi's Sweet Home
Historical
As the name suggests, historical anime revolves around events in history and moments of antiquity. Shows of this subgenre are typically set in Ancient Japan and the feudal period. Other settings such as the Middle Ages and medieval period of Europe exist but they’re much more rare in anime. As long as the time or setting (or even elements) are old and ancient, then the series can be considered a historical anime.
Examples of historical anime includes:
- Rurouni Kenshin
- Fushigi Yugi
- Junketsu no Maria
- Samurai Champloo
- The Rose of Versailles
Hentai
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Hentai literally translates to 'pervert' in Japanese. This is the R-18 (mature) domain of the anime world. This subgenre commonly depicts nudity and highly explicit content. Unlike ecchi, the focus here is on explicit sexual content rather than on storyline and narrative progression. That is why the shows in this category are usually brief and lacking in substance.
Isekai
Isekai translates to 'another world.' This subgenre typically has a narrative where a protagonist somehow gets transported to a different world. The new world is more often than not in a fantasy setting, occasionally with traits pulled from JRPG games.
This category of anime exploded during the 2010s and arguably dominated the decade. A good portion of isekai anime is adapted not from manga but rather from light novels. The most popular series in this subgenre may be Sword Art Online. While the world featured there was just virtual reality, it did feature a fantasy setting that would be mimicked in other anime.
The type of anime has become so prevalent that there is actually a backlash against it now. Story contests in Japan have actually banned isekai stories from being submitted just because of how saturated the market has become with it.
Examples of isekai anime includes:
- Gate
- Konosuba
- Re:Zero
- Sword Art Online
- Flip Flappers
Military
As the name implies, this subgenre involves the military in one way or another. War may also be a huge part of military anime. One thing to note about this category is that it is often coupled with the mecha and action genre.
Examples of military anime includes:
- Fullmetal Panic
- Code Geass
- Kantai Collection
- Saga of Tanya the Evil
- GATE
Mecha
Mecha stands for mechanical (as in mechanical units or robots). You’ll never see a mecha anime without a robot or mechanical suit in it. That’s the most important element of it. And while this subgenre is rising in fame as the days go by, it almost always uses a standard formula to carry the plot. As a general trend, mecha is often seen alongside the military, sci-fi, and action genre.
This may very well be the most iconic anime subgenre as there is a multitude of memorable shows in this category. The mecha can be considered to be one of Japan's most popular exports. Some of the earlier iconic titles from the late 70s and 80s include Mobile Suit Gundam, Mazinger Z, and Super Dimension Fortress Macross. Neon Genesis Evangelion is considered to be an iconic and dark deconstruction of the genre as it examined the psyche of young pilots. Gurren Lagann was a massive hit that brought the genre back to its hot-blooded and idealistic roots. With a rabid fanbase that loves mecha designs, this genre is one that has been consistently popular over the years.
Examples of mecha anime includes:
- Lagrange: The Flower of Rin-ne
- Patlabor
- Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet
- Code Geass
- Mobile Suit Gundam
For a more in-depth look as this subgenre, check out this list of the top 10 mecha anime.
Music
Anime shows in the music subgenre aren’t that popular nowadays, but they do exist and they are very timely. These shows typically focus on singing, dancing, or playing musical instruments. These usually fit within the larger categories of comedy and drama.
Examples of music anime includes:
- K-On!
- Beck
- Sound! Euphonium
- Kids on the Slope
- Idolm@ster
Parody
A parody anime is one where countless numbers of other anime references are showcased throughout the plot. It might be a popular running gag, a famous symbol, a character reference, or any other attempt at bringing another show into its domain. One anime worthy to note is Gintama. They often use similar elements from other anime to showcase in their own show.
It should be noted that parodying another property in anime can be problematic. Japan does not have a parody exception in their copyright law. As such, using a parody of copyrighted material may cause an anime studio to be in legal trouble if they did not get permission from the holders of those rights.
A recent of example of this coming into play was with the anime Mr. Osomatsu. The first episode had multiple parodies of different popular anime shows. The episode was eventually pulled from streaming services and was never released on any home media.
Examples of parody anime includes:
- Gintama
- Blood Lad
- Senyuu
- School Rumble
- Excel Saga
Police
The police subgenre emphasizes the life and struggles of law enforcement in their line of duty. Police-based characters have shown up in numerous shows and there are now anime that could be considered as police procedurals. This genre isn't exclusive to police officers; detectives, investigators, and enforcers of any type are included as well.
Examples of police anime includes:
- You’re Under Arrest
- Psycho-Pass
- Lupin the Third
- Beautiful Bones: Sakurako's Investigation
- Case Closed
Post-Apocalyptic
Post-apocalyptic anime are basically shows that are set in a world that is in a dystopian state. This could mean the world is destroyed and/or humans are nearly extinct. Post-apocalyptic settings were merely a theme in the past, but an influx of titles bearing this backdrop over the years have made it become a subgenre on its own. This type of anime has become more and more popular by the day.
Examples of post-apocalyptic anime includes:
- Sidonia no Kishi
- Shin Sekai Yori
- Attack on Titan
- Sound of the Sky
- Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress
Reverse Harem
A reverse harem anime is typically a harem series where the gender roles are switched around. There is one female character surrounded by multiple male characters who are all potential love interests. Like the traditional harem genre, anime of this variety is usually within the comedy and romance genre.
Some examples of reverse harem anime includes:
- Pretear
- Ouran High School Host Club
- Uta no Prince-sama
- Fruits Basket
- The Wallflower
Check out this list of the top 10 best reverse harem anime for a more detailed look at the genre.
School
There are countless anime that use school as a setting. An anime can be considered a part of the school subgenre if a school is the primary setting and the anime deals mostly with school and student life. This type of anime is usually seen within the comedy genre, though there are some entries in drama as well.
Examples of school anime includes:
- Ansatsu Kyoushitsu
- Great Teacher Onizuka
- Gokusen
- School Rumble
- Azumanga Daioh
Seinen
Seinen is actually a demographic but is also considered to be a category in anime. It’s a subgenre that specifically targets male viewers around the age range of 18-40. The shows here are depicted in a more mature light and often include more explicit content such as gore, sex, and violence. More cerebral narratives are present as well.
Examples of seinen anime includes:
- Berserk
- Monster
- Ergo Proxy
- Fate/Zero
- Drifters
Shoujo
Shoujo refers to the demographic of young girls. This subgenre specifically targets female viewers around the age range of 10-18. Most of the time, shoujo anime works hand-in-hand with the romance and comedy genre, particularly with the former. The protagonist is traditionally female and the narrative focuses on romance as well as personal growth. The world in these shows are often very idealized.
One of the earliest examples of shoujo anime is Princess Knight from 1967. It has staples of the subgenre such as internal conflicts as well as conflicts with others. The Rose of Versailles is another iconic entry that has influenced anime and future shoujo titles like Revolutionary Girl Utena.
Examples of shoujo anime includes:
- Sailor Moon Crystal
- Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun
- Ao Haru Ride
- Revolutionary Girl Utena
- Pretty Cure
Shoujo-ai
Shoujo-ai literally translates to 'girls love.' The typically young female characters in shojou-ai anime show love and affection for each other. The romance is usually more milder in comparison to the more explicit yuri genre. Shows in this category portray blooming feelings of love and romance rather than intimate relationships.
Examples of shoujo-ai anime includes:
- Aoi Hana
- Blue Drop
- Burst Angel
- Maria Watches Over Us
- Survival Game Club!
Shounen
Shounen refers to the demographic that this type of anime targets, which is male viewers around the age range of 10-18. These shows are usually a combination of action and adventure and are typically adapted from serial manga series. As such, these anime tend to have lengthy runs. One Piece currently has over 800 episodes and is still running. These shows are typically the most popular with mainstream audiences. They have done very well when exported to foreign markets thanks to their relatively simple plots and focus on action.
Examples of shounen anime includes:
- Naruto
- One Piece
- Fairy Tail
- Bleach
- Dragon Ball Z
Shounen-ai
Shounen-ai literally translates to 'boys love.' The male characters (typically younger boys) in these shows display tender affection for each other. The romance in shounen-ai is generally milder when compared to the more explicit yaoi genre. There is usually more focus on developing romance than actual relationships.
Examples of shounen-ai anime includes:
- Hybrid Child
- Gakuen Heaven
- Yuri!!! on Ice
- The Highschool Life of a Fudanshi
- This Boy Caught a Merman
Space
The setting of space has always been massively popular. With so much anime taking place there, it has become a subgenre in itself. Any anime set in the cosmos can be labeled in this category. Space anime is often within the larger mecha and sci-fi genre.
Examples of space anime includes:
- Outlaw Star
- Cowboy Bebop
- Space Dandy
- Bodacious Space Pirates
- Majestic Prince
Sports
Pretty much self-explanatory, sports anime are shows that cover characters engaging in athletic competition. Popular choices in this category includes basketball, tennis, baseball, and soccer. Other sports exists as well (including those that you wouldn’t expect showing up in anime). As time goes on, more and more of these series are produced. Just like real sports, shows in this subgenre are action-packed!
Slam Dunk is arguably the first modern sports anime that other series have emulated to this day. Most notably, it did away with the notion of the protagonist becoming an instant expert in their sport. As the main character learns how to play basketball, the audience also picks up on techniques.
The subgenre struggled to gain popularity with American anime fans. Big Windup was released to poor sales and many licensors refused to pick up any sports titles afterwards. Titles like Free! and Haikyu!! have revitalized interest in the subgenre in recent years.
Examples of sports anime includes:
- Haikyuu!!
- Ace of Diamond
- Yowamushi Pedal
- Kuroko's Basketball
- Free!
Be sure to check out this list of the top 10 sports anime for recommendations.
Super Power
You know you’re watching a super power anime if you’re seeing an array of explosive super powers scrambling right on the screen. If you see bursts of energy balls, death-defying attacks, and opposing forces battling it out throughout the story, then that means you’re probably witnessing a show in this subgenre. These shows generally fit in the action category.
Examples of super power anime includes:
- Dragon Ball
- Akira
- Toriko
- My Hero Academia
- Tiger & Bunny
Tragedy
As the name implies, the tragedy subgenre revolves around tragic events or phenomenon where the characters are deeply involved and affected. Tragedy comes in diverse varieties such as disasters, accidents, misfortunes, and deaths. These shows are often very dramatic and can pull the heartstrings of audiences.
Examples of tragedy anime includes:
- Tokyo Magnitude 8.0
- Zetsuen no Tempest
- Technolyze
- Clannad
- Hell Girl
Vampire
As vampires have become so popular throughout the world, it’s no shock that they’ve also infested the world of anime. There are lots of titles now featuring vampires and they’re not just exclusive to the horror category. They’ve also manifested themselves into other categories such as comedy, romance, and drama.
Examples of vampire anime includes:
- Vampire Knight
- Shiki
- Nyanpire
- Hellsing Ultimate
- Vampire Princess Miyu
Yaoi
Yaoi is the much more sexually explicit counterpart of shounen-ai. This subgenre covers male-to-male relationships (typically older boys) in a more mature light. There is more emphasis on serious relationships and intimacy.
Examples of yaoi anime includes:
- Junjou Romantica
- Gravitation
- Super Lovers
- This Boy is a Professional Wizard
- Love Stage
Yuri
Yuri is essentially the more mature and explicit version of shojou-ai. The female characters are typically older and the series examines their more mature relationships.
Examples of yuri anime includes:
- Yuri Kuma Arashi
- Sakura Trick
- Strawberry Panic
- Kannazuki no Miko
- Simoun
What category does Tokyo Ghoul fall into?
Believe it or not, it's a member of the horror genre. It also falls under the action, supernatural, and psychological genres.
92What anime genre does 'Fairy Tail' fall into?
It's part of the shounen, action, magic, and comedy genres.
62Citrus belongs in the drama, romance, school, and shoujo ai genres.
47Does One Punch Man belong in the fighting anime genre?
What category does Deadman Wonderland fall into?
It is the same as Tokyo Ghoul--horror, action, and psychological.
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kinda hard when you've already watched every single anime on every genre listed above（/TДT)/ give me something to watch y'all. help this girl out ╥﹏╥
Kinda sad that the most popular sub genres are specifically aimed at a gender when women and men both love shounen for example anyways that's just my opinion
Your inclusion of Gokusen really sparked my day and your article was so neatly and diligently written. Thank you for your hard work and well-did research.
I was trying to find any anime genre of writing. About author and everything
I saw this dude in my big sisters class and all i could think was that he belongened in a shoujo anime, but i couldnt remember if shoujo was the right name.
Thank you for including Outlaw Star soo much! I love it when it gets deserved attention
Um, I don't believe I see Jojo's Bizarre Adventure anywhere on this page, hmmm?
As one of the few anime watchers in our school i had to do paper about anime when we were talking about Japan And this was REALY helpfull
it is super help full now i can find animes faster and understand them and find good ones ;) x)
wow what a list, it really helps.
is there a non-harem genre?
Thanks so much for this guide. As the one who orders Anime for our patrons, it's helpful to understand what categories/ genres are available and what defines them.
This is a very interesting site and it helps a lot..thank you!!!
There are more, like slapstick, Post-Apocalyptic, bishousen, mahou shoujo,
It's a close call, but my favorite genre has to be Supernatural. A lot of my favorite anime are related to it ¯_(ツ)_/¯
thanks to this list i now have a great school project grade and i learned some new genres
I think Monster would fit better in the Mystery or even Psychological category, I don’t think it’s specifyilly targeted to just Seinen. Great job on the list, it’s really helpful!
Hmm.wonder why DAYS was not included in top sports anime
This list is quite good and complete but lacks one of the most important generes of Anime from the 1970s to 1990s.
Children and teenage DRAMA.
While some of the core elements of the genere were born in the 1960s with series like 'Search Of The Ninja Legend of Kamui' and 'Princess Knight', it didn't become a full genere until 1969 and it didn't become a recurring trend until the 1970s and from then on it was everywhere.
It was popularized in a 1969 Anime block by Mushi Production and later Nippon Animation called - World Masterpiece Theater - which consisted on retelling various stories from classic international authors of teenage/children novels.
To name but a few:
'Heidi the Girl Of the Alps'.
'Dog of Flanders'.
'3000 Leagues in Search of Mother '.
'The Story of Perrine'.
'Anne of the Green Gables'.
'The Adventures of the Little Prince'.
'Nobody's Boy: Remi'.
'Belle And Sebastian'.
'Hello! Sandybell'.
'Lady Georgie'.
'The Story of Pollyanna: Girl of Love'.
Dell reinstall windows 7 without cd. 'The Tales of Little Women'.
'Trapp Family Story'.
and there's even a drama series about The Little House on The Prairie called:
'Laura, the Prairie Girl'.
One could also even include Anime milestone 'Galaxy Express 999' into this genere.
And one might also think that this trend died out or is completely irrelevant today but that couldn't be further from the truth.
There was a very important Anime series from 1978 called 'Future Boy Conan' by Anime master Hayao Miyazaki which mixes this trend of youngling drama with fantasy and adventure, which he later expands in 'Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind', and this influences most if not all of his future works with Studio Ghibli.
The importance of Studio Ghibli in western culture, particularly since the 1990's is unparalleled and unquestionable. It's basically the most widely known and important Japanese studio in the world and its feature films are usually the most cherished and finest examples of Japanese animation for countless westerners.
I came into this page wanting to find the propper Japanese name for the genere but seeing how it wasn't even listed as DRAMA I decided to sign in and leave a little piece of trivia of my own here.
PS: If anyone knows the Japanese name of this genere I would appreciate a response to this comment. Any questions I can adress here as well.
Very detailed and informative. The Gintama pic also so perfectly summarises the comedy genre.
yeah actually, this was super helpful, i've been on kissanime tryin to find anime i might like and now i know the names of the genres
Finally! Someone made an article like this! Kudos man. Horror is my favorite genre of anime, now and forever, and not because I like seeing people ripped apart: It's usually a blend of mystery and thriller that keeps me on the edge of my seat. Psychological is definitely my second fave, which leads me to something that bugs me here..
The definition of the Psychological genre. Usually, even sites like Myanimelist, love to place any show that has the characters using strategy against one another as psychological, but from my understanding, the difference between anime with some smart characters and one requiring a deeper level of thought is what the characters are symbols, meaning some characters represent concepts and have double-meanings in the story, instead of just being people. Mira Nikki and Deathnote require SOME thought, and are awesome, but they don't go deep enough. Some real psychological anime? Perfect Blue, Ergo Proxy, Serial Experiments Lain, and Paranoia Agent. Heck, for a lighter dose, I'll throw Big O up there. Take some of THESE prescriptions, then call me back in the morning.
Uh.. What about seitenkan genre. I know is small in quantity, but have some great stories, just as Hourou Musuko.
What I want to know is what Genre does Digimon fall into?
Thanks for making this guide, it really helped me :)
The reason the 'demon genre' does not usually depict demons as evil is that they're not demons in the Christian sense, but there are words that mean something closer to 'monster' or 'spirit being' or 'Shinto god' often translated incorrectly in dubs as 'demons', which implies evil in the West. I don't like that term being used in dubs for youkai because it makes anime look anti-Christian to Christian parents.
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Who wants to laugh their hearts out? You! Hahaha, that’s why you’re here right? You’re here to search for funny anime shows that will make you LOL! Comedy, humor, comicality, absurdity, hilarity—all of these are right here embodied within this assortment of series.
So don’t hold back now. The top 10 best comedy anime are here, ready to tickle your funny bone! Whether you’re happy, sad, angry, bored, or confused—watch these and you’ll forget everything else! After all, laughter is said to be the best medicine! Sit back, watch, enjoy, and laugh till you drop!
Top 10 Comedy Anime
- Gintama
- Sakamoto desu ga? (Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto)
- Nichijou (My Ordinary Life)
- Daily Lives of High School Boys
- Galaxy Angel
- Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei
- Hataraku Maou-sama! (The Devil Is a Part-Timer!)
- Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun
- Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu
- Arakawa Under the Bridge
10. Arakawa Under the Bridge
Jokes, weirdos, unusual settings, gag moments—Arakawa Under the Bridge has all of these! Now mix all of that and add two main characters whose ideals are quite extreme—then poof, you’ve got an anime that is so oddly fun that you’ll surely be inescapably enthralled as you watch it.
Kou Ichinomiya truly believes that he is a winner in life. Why? Because of his philosophy in life which goes like this: “Never be indebted to anyone, ever!' That’s the main rule that guides his life into perfection!
Anime Dude That Cheats And Gets Killed 2
Unexpectedly though, humorous circumstances have led him to fall off the Arakawa Bridge! Then a strange woman named Nino saves his life! Oh no, now he’s in debt for the first time ever! Nino only wants one thing in return though, to fall in love! And so it begins—Kou’s uncanny but comedic life under the Arakawa Bridge!
The voice actor for Kou, Hiroshi Kamiya, is actually married to the creator of the original manga, Hikaru Nakamura.
9. Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu
So what’s it like to have a school that’s so unique that you’ll never want to be called absent in class? Adding more to that, what’s it like to be at either the top or bottom of the rankings of this special school? I’m talking about Fumizuki Academy! At this school, idiots, tests, and summoned beasts are the main attractions. They run rampantly as they’re the primary cause of all the hilarity and amusement!
Akihisa Yoshii is the biggest idiot of the school! He’s low in practically every subject and has no motivation at all, which explains why he is at the lowest class of Fumizuki Academy—Class F! But when an extraordinarily beautiful, kind, and genius girl named Mizuki Himeji unluckily gets enlisted into Class F, Yoshii and the other students of Class F find unparalleled motivation.
Using wits to turn their overwhelming disadvantages into their very own advantages, Class F, led by the president Yuuji Sakamoto, takes the whole school by surprise! Idiots, tests, and summoned beasts—commence the student wars!
Anime Dude That Cheats And Gets Killed On Facebook
8. Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun
Whenever a love confession goes astray, more often than not—a comical mishap follows! And just so you know, Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun (a.k.a. Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun!) is all about that! A love confession gone wrong, a dense oddball of a guy, a gullible girl in love, and several wacky personalities—this is what a life out of a shoujo anime/manga is like! Or is it actually not?!
Basically, it all started out when Chiyo Sakura tried to confess her love to the unmindful Nozaki. Instead of seeing through Chiyo’s love confession, he thought that she was asking for his autograph! After all, he is actually a secret shoujo manga artist!
And so, with the wacky situation left as it is, things have led to Chiyo becoming his assistant! Nozaki sure is a prominent manga artist under the pen name Sakiko Yumeno, but will he, Chiyo, and their friends’ lives be more like a shoujo manga?
You can check out this list of similar anime if you enjoy this one.
7. Hataraku Maou-sama! (The Devil Is a Part-Timer!)
What could be more funny than a demon lord (the baddest villain of all) working part-time in a fast-food joint? Talk about tables turning, waves whirling back, and destiny going totally upside down! What’s worse—the demon lord is from another world, and Earth is a new place to him! With an out-of-this-world scenario such as this, moments of laughter are drizzled with awkwardness and randomness!
Ente Isla is the home base of the demon lord Satan and his loyal generals of darkness. On his path to supremacy as a conqueror, he is unexpectedly driven to a corner by the great hero Emilia in his very own land. Due to the dire circumstances, he and his right-hand man, Alsiel, finally escape to a portal—one that surprisingly leads to modern day Tokyo! Woah, what?!
Now, Satan and Alsiel are called Maou Sadao and Ashiya Shirou respectively. Living in a humble abode and working with part-time jobs, both are forced to live the normal life. With limited powers, an inadequate amount of money, and a new environment, will they cope and survive? As things have turned out, the most powerful demon lord is now a part-timer!
If you think this anime is hilarious, you can check out this article for similar shows.
This series was not initially on the radar for fans when it aired in 2013. Its humor won over audiences and it ranked in at number nine in Newtype magazine for most popular series that year.
6. Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei
Pessimism and depression? Doesn’t sound like a great combination, but Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei bags it! Suicidal as it may sound, this show actually kills—with laughter that is! With its arsenal of smart jokes and cast of characters with various extreme issues, this show blatantly screams that it's depressingly good!
Itoshiki Nozomu is a teacher—but he’s unlike any other teacher! He’s always depressed, in despair, and always in an attempt to take the easy way out! Oh, what an eccentric teacher to have!
But wait! Nozomu has students who possess emotional and psychological baggage far more complex than what he has! Talk about despair, talk about wackiness! Such is the extremely weird class of Zetsubou-Sensei!
If you're still uncertain on this series, you can check out this short review.
This anime was licensed for an English release back in 2010 but never saw one. The distributor Media Blasters lost the license for this series in 2013.
5. Galaxy Angel
Springing on to the top five, the Angel Brigade of Galaxy Angel brings in the giggles and snickers while hopping on all sorts of intergalactic, planetary, and space adventures! As if space adventures aren’t imaginative enough, this show has wackiness and hilarity at every turn!
In a certain colony in space far, far away, a brigade only known as the Angel Brigade is tasked with an extremely important job—to search for the scattered pieces of Lost Technology. With five quirky members, the Angel Brigade goes through space adventures with smiles on their faces. Well, why not? Every adventure is a wacky one!
The Lost Technology they’re dealing with possesses some unique and comical qualities. The Angel Brigade is often forced into troublesome and humorous situations!
Action Comedy Anime Recommendations
Perhaps you are in the mood for some thrilling action to go along with your laughter. Here are some anime series that combine action and comedy to create explosive laughter.
- Gurren Lagann
- Angel Beats!
- My Hero Academia
- Mob Psycho 100
- One-Punch Man
4. Daily Lives of High School Boys
High School? That’s like one of the drollest parts of life! And high school boys? Now it all sounds a hundred times more crazy and whack! Putting it simply, Daily Lives of High School Boys is about the fun and foolish moments of high school—especially high school life for boys! Silly scenarios coming ahead!
Follow the daily high school lives of Tadakuni, Hidenori, Yoshitake, and the other boys as they try to keep day-to-day living as awesome as it can be! No dull moment is allowed at Sanada North High School. The student body fires a blast of interest and fun at every opportunity they could get.
From giddy topics to plain weird conversations, Daily Lives of High School Boys offers a wonderful high school life for everyone—an ultra-amusing and ultra-funny one!
3. Nichijou (My Ordinary Life)
Mundane life—just hearing this term sounds boring already! But in actuality, it’s in life’s everyday moments that amusement and enjoyment breaks free. And so, the comedic series Nichijou cracks up jokes in day-to-day life in order to show that life is actually funny the way it is. No need to take life too seriously, just find the jokes in it and you’re all set for a world of glee!
Nichijou primarily means My Ordinary Life—and it’s the not-so-ordinary story of high school girls Mio Naganohara, Yuuko Aioi, and Mai Minakami. Starting off with the three girls, they shall bump into the genius girl Hakase Shinonome. Now that’s four! Add Nano and Sakamoto and we’ve got six! And these six essentially make up Nichijou!
Walking through ordinary life has never been so amusing! From treading the path of normalcy to dashing towards the ludicrous, the six main characters, as well as some others, shall live everyday with high spirits and positivity!
This series was actually a financial flop in Japan when it saw low sales at release. It received critical praise and a sizable fanbase in the US and eventually saw more sales with a rerelease.
2. Sakamoto desu ga? (Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto)
Hogging the spotlight of the number two spot, Sakamoto desu ga? (a.k.a. Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto) demonstrates to all its shine of being cool, cooler, and coolest! Sakamoto is cool, and so is his show! It’s so cool, it’s also hilarious! Well-deserving of the spotlight, prepare to drop your jaw by means of endless laugher!
From the first day of school, a new student has taken the spotlight all to himself. Everything he does is cool, cooler, and coolest! He’s so stylish in everything—studying, cleaning, eating, doing jobs, the list goes on—that he’s totally the coolest! Who is he? Well, Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto!
If you enjoy this series, you can check out this list of similar anime.
1. Gintama
Mother of all comedy and parody anime! That’s right—it’s Gintama! With over 350 episodes and counting, Gintama dazzles audiences of all kinds with its funny viewpoints and hilarious moments! Comedy, parody, weirdoes, laughable moments, outrageous jokes, slapstick entertainment, and humorous wits—everything’s in it! No wonder it took the prestigious number one spot here! Now laugh all you want and giggle silly with Gintama!
Meet oddballs Gintoki Sakata, Shinpachi Shimura, Kagura, and their pet dog Sadaharu! It’s feudal Japan and swords have been banned! Wait, what?! Not if Gintoki doesn’t have anything to say!
The Amanto aliens are the cause of it all! But as Gintoki still has his samurai heart, he and his friends shall continue living to their fullest! Aliens, pirates, magicians, odd beings, and practically everything you can imagine—nobody can get in the way of the fun of Gintoki and the rest!
This is one of the biggest franchises in Japan. It consistently sees huge sales in home media and merchandise.
Are you an avid spectator of the comedy genre in anime?
I heard that Gintama also has tragic moments. Is it true ?
That is true. But ultimately, the tragic moments are mostly parodies and often lead to hilarious endings. Gintama is, after all, a comedy anime. While the 'tragic' moments in this anime have serious potential, their fundamental essence is still pure comedy.
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Does Gintama have an English Dub for any of the seasons?
This list looks great and I will definitely watch some of these but I have one thing to say - be warned people: My hero academia is NOT funny at all. It has made me cry one too many times and this is the sad reason why I need to watch some funny anime. It's a great show though! But I highly recommend watching it when you are in a good mood.
Gotta say, I was pretty surprised Saikii Kusuo no Psi Nan (The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.) wasn't on here. It stars a boy named Saiki Kusuo with powers who tells you that life with powers isn't all it's cracked up to be. It's honestly hilarious, with so many different character types and so many parodies, I swear, I'll have to stop watching some episodes out of laughter and of fear I'll stop breathing. I think it deserves at least an honorary mention
People are saying that they didn't like Gintama, that's like my dog is giving a bad review of a novel thathe read. I hope you get the sarcasm. Gintama is so awesome, I'm kind of happy that idiots just give up on and miss out on it greatness, you're simply not worthy.
What about Grand Blue and Hinamatsuri?! The first is just too funny, especially for college/uni students. As for Hinamatsuri it's incredibly well done, and it throws in a little bit of feels somewhere midway. Both can be truly appreciated if you're old enough (out of high school that is), and you'll definitely cry (laughing that is). Easily among the best of 2018!
Gintama isn't an anime that you should try to comprehend some sort of plot point. The show highlights this many times, they do not have a solid plot point. They do not conform to the regular rules of anime, in fact a lot of times they make fun of it. They are just there in their silly universe living their silly lives. The show is also braver and more daring than other shows, making satire out of political scandals and racial issues. That's Western comedy territory.
Those that don't like Gintama most likely won't like similar animated comedies from the West such as Family Guy and South Park. Gintama is Japan's answer to those shows.
I have watched 100 episodes of gintama, i have never regret something in my life this much. The comedy is so bland and the anime has no sense of direction. The episodes always have some weird plot that makes no sense at all. I do not recommend it.
This is to whoever says watch 50 episodes of Gintama and you'll know.. If you say that, then I'll also say-'Wait for Saiki Kusuo No Psi Nan to release 50 episodes and then YOU'LL know!'
Where's aho girl??
the disastorous life of saiki is a lot better than sakamoto
Gintama is the best. Continue to episode 50,and you will find out why
to see the beauty of gin-san's anime you must watch atleast 50 episodes konoyaru
let me tell you, saiki k (it's on netflix) is the FUNNIEST anime i have ever watched!! it's so understanding of the stereotypes and uses them for comic relief. the main character's grandfather is a tsundere for god's sake. sometimes i have to force myself to stop watching it, it's that funny!
I must admit the FIRST episodes of Gintama isn't funny for everyone, but if you continue watching it, you will eventually reach the sweet pure nectar of comedy. It takes time but eventually you will understand why its on the number 1 spot.
to the guy who said gintama is not funny, you're missing something dude. gintama is definitely one of the funniest anime out there. you watch 10 episodes and never laugh? eh? i rewatch the anime 3 times and it still manages to give me great laughs. i pity you, you're life must be boring.
grand blue definetly deserves a place in this
Why do people keep talking as if Gintama was the best comedy ever? Or as if it is fun at all. There is A LOT of comedies waaay better than Gintama out there, like so much better that you can't watch 2min without laughing I saw 10 epis of Gintama, never laughed once. It tries so hard to be fun that it just get boring.
Where Konosuba???
You forgot something . Sket dance . you forgot Sket dance. Way better than gintama. But not much people watch this I know But after watching all the episodes it is the best.
I think Gintama really deserve the first place. But I don't understand very much well about Sakamoto.
what about Mr.Osomatsu?
Where is Konosuba???
if you want sort of a supernatural comedy you should watch soul eater.
I enjoyed Nichijou bc I usually watch action anime. I started to take a break, so I watched lighthearted animes like K-ON and Nichijou
I really wanted to watch sayonara zetsubou sensei. but is there an english dub? I have a very self-deprecating sense of humor so i feel like the show would be hysterical
I'm not being bitchy here..
But.. personally.. I didn't find Sakamoto to be very funny. I laughed, yes, but out of pity.
Gekkan Shoujo, on the other hand, was (and is, following the manga), so funny that there was never one episode that I didn't laugh out loud. If I finally finish Gintama, Gekkan Shoujo would be only my second most favourite in the Comedy section. (Gintama. It's fun. We all agree on that. To those who don't, oh. I don't know..)
#justsaying
I'm going to look at these animes. They look interesting I love comedies
Trust your taste for you have Gintama in number 1. Think will give the Highschool Boys one a try, for a start.