Anime protagonists are no strangers to hard work — heroes like My Hero Academia's Deku and Black Clover's Asta spend their entire childhoods with their noses to the metaphorical grindstones. On the other side of the spectrum is Saitama, who becomes the strongest character in One-Punch Man by currently ambiguous means.

Given that he's virtually indestructible, the show makes it a point to highlight its numerous other characters and their various failings in comparison to the flawless Saitama. Although One-Punch Man is clearly an anime parody, the story follows a classically Shonen pattern. As such, fans of the show can enjoy several other anime programs that maintain the same feel as One-Punch Man.

Updated on March 1, 2024, by Ajay Aravind: One-Punch Man is so over-the-top that it has been called a satire of Shonen anime. While this interpretation certainly rings true, the series also has a phenomenal storyline and engaging character arcs. As such, fans of One-Punch Man are likely to enjoy the anime shows we've mentioned in this list.

20 Uncle From Another World Deconstructs The Shonen Archetype

The cast on the official Uncle From Another World Poster
Uncle From Another World
TV-MA

Uncle From Another World is a Fantasy anime adapted from the manga of the same name and exclusively streams on Netflix.

Release Date
July 6, 2022
Main Genre
Comedy
Seasons
1
Creator
Hotondoshindeiru
Number of Episodes
10

Ratings

  • IMDb Score: 7.4
  • MyAnimeList Score: 7.80
Related
Has the Boat Already Sailed on Uncle From Another World?
Time was of the essence for Uncle from Another World, and the isekai anime's delays likely killed its chances of becoming a hit series.

Isekai stories often feature conventionally attractive nerds traveling to alternate worlds and using their incredible powers to look as cool as possible to everyone around them. Uncle from Another World tries a different approach. It takes place after protagonist Takafumi Takaoka has already returned to his home world, following a period of seventeen years trapped in a fantasy world.

In the same way that One Punch Man works as a deconstruction of the shonen archetype, Uncle From Another World deconstructs the standard isekai tropes. Much like Saitama, Takafumi is comically overpowered, using his abilities in ways that perplex everyone else around him. It also avoids many of the standard fanservice tropes by making him entirely inept at romantic scenarios, resulting in most romantic encounters being funny and awkward.

19 Hitman Reborn Is Never Afraid To Delve Into Humor

Ratings

  • IMDb Score: 7.6
  • MyAnimeList Score: 8.13

Tsunayoshi Sawada is so bad at everything people literally call him "Loser Tsuna", as he can't seem to excel at anything. However, all that changes when he learns his role is to become the next leader of the Vongola mob boss family. To prepare him for that, he runs into a legendary hitman named Reborn, who seems to be a literal baby.

During the highlight of battle Shonen era, Hitman Reborn was like little else on the air at the time. The story wasn't afraid to delve into humor when needed. In fact, the first twenty episodes of Hitman Reborn are episodic with a larger focus on comedy than action. While the action in later episodes is great, it's still funny seeing a baby as one of the most powerful fighters in a series.

Tsunayoshi Sawada with a neutral expression in Katekyo Hitman Reborn!

18 KonoSuba Is The Ultimate Isekai Comedy Anime Series

Cast of Konosuba God's Wonderful Blessing On This World posing on anime cover art
KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!
TV-14

It was a happy day for Kazuma - right up to the moment he died. A goddess intervenes and offers him a second chance in a magical land.

Release Date
January 14, 2016
Cast
Jun Fukushima , Sora Amamiya
Main Genre
Anime
Seasons
3
Studio
Studio Deen, Drive
Number of Episodes
20 + 2 OVAs

Ratings

  • IMDb Score: 7.8
  • MyAnimeList Score: 8.10

KonoSuba is the ultimate isekai comedy series. The series focuses on Kazuma, a young man sent to an alternate world after an embarrassing accident. When the goddess Aqua won't stop teasing him, he makes a wish that she's forced to come to the new world and help him save everyone from the Demon Lord. Now they're both trapped on this alternate world until he wins, as Kazuma gathers one of the most useless RPG parties in history around him.

KonoSuba is a little more on the parody side than on the serious side, but it still does an excellent job of both world and character building. Most viewers will already be in love with the entire cast after watching just one season. The story isn't done yet, thankfully, and there's a third KonoSuba season in the works for 2024.

Kazuma gets annoyed in KonoSuba

17 Assassination Classroom's Lead Character Is Similar To Saitama

Koro-sensei surrounded by weapons in Assassination Classroom (2013) anime series poster
Assassination Classroom (2013)
TV-14
Animation
Action
Comedy

Original title: Ansatsu kyôshitsu.
A powerful creature claims that within a year, Earth will be destroyed by him, but he offers mankind a chance by becoming a homeroom teacher where he teaches his students about how to kill him. An assassination classroom begins.

Release Date
February 18, 2015
Main Genre
Anime
Seasons
2
Creator
Yûsei Matsui
Production Company
Fuji Television Network, Lerche
Number of Episodes
49

Ratings

  • IMDb Score: 8.0
  • MyAnimeList Score: 8.08
Related
Assassination Classroom: Will There Ever Be a Season 3?
Will the strange story of a junior high class (with too little ambition) and their planet-destroying teacher (with too many limbs) get a third season?

Class 3-E at Kunugigaoka Middle School have been given an impossible task: take out a strange threat to the planet, an alien being known only as "Koro-sensei". A strange alien-looking being, Koro-sensei has already destroyed part of the Moon, and swears that he'll destroy the Earth next. Beating him won't be easy, as he has super-speed and can seemingly only be hurt by one type of weapon.

However, while he's there, Koro-sensei becomes Class 3-E's teacher, helping them deal not only with their grades at school but their life problems as well. Assassination Classroom is similar to One Punch Man in that the protagonist is near-invincible. He's a super-powered being in a world full of normal humans. While the focus should be on the students learning, they're also forced to make attempts to assassinate him throughout the story, which makes for a hilarious yet compelling dichotomy.

Koro-sensei is surrounded by greenery in Assassination Classroom.

16 Mashle: Magic & Muscles Is A Parody Of Harry Potter And Action Shonen

Mash Burndead in front of his schoolmates in Mashle Magic and Muscle
Mashle: Magic And Muscles
TV-14
Comedy
Fantasy

Into a world of magicians is born Mash, a young boy who lacks magic but is the strongest person around. His existence and destiny will change his world.

Release Date
April 8, 2023
Cast
Chiaki Kobayashi , Katsuyuki Konishi , Takuya Eguchi
Main Genre
Anime
Seasons
1
Studio
A-1 Pictures
Creator
Hajime Kōmoto
Number of Episodes
12

Ratings

  • IMDb Score: 7.6
  • MyAnimeList Score: 7.60

Mashle: Magic and Muscles is the anime that's the most clearly like One Punch Man. The lead protagonist Mash Burnedead has been forcibly sent to the prestigious Easton Magic Academy in the hopes of him becoming a "Divine Visionary", one of the most powerful mages. It's a difficult goal to achieve, and one that's even more difficult because Mash can't use magic. However, he does have the physical strength to dispatch most mages with ease, making him quite formidable.

Mashle is a parody of Harry Potter and action shonen in general. Like Saitama, Mash doesn't take most things seriously because he's able to simply punch any threat away. Mash isn't quite as overpowered, but his supporting cast still reacts with the same shock and awe when he's able to defeat enemies who should be far beyond his level.

Lemon Irvine with a stack of books in Mashle: Magic & Muscles

15 Kill La Kill Satirizes Both The Shonen And Magical Girl Genres

Kill La Kill poster with Ryuko Matoi standing in front of Satsuki Kiryuuin
Kill la Kill

A young girl arrives at a school of superhumans to find out the truth behind her father's murder.

Release Date
October 4, 2013
Cast
Eric Mendez , Matthew Mercer , David Vincent , Christine Marie Cabanos , Carrie Keranen , Patrick Seitz
Main Genre
Action
Studio
Studio Trigger

Ratings

  • IMDb Score: 7.9
  • MyAnimeList Score: 8.03

Conceived and developed by Studio Trigger, Kill la Kill is one of the best short anime series ever made. The show centers around the rebellious Ryuko Matoi, a high school run by a dictator, sentient clothes, and weaponized scissors. Although the story is relatively small in scale, the main characters soon get embroiled in a high-stakes battle between two sisters.

Some might consider this show to be ridiculous, but it somehow embraces its inherent weirdness and delivers a one-of-a-kind experience for all anime fans. Kill la Kill is an affectionate satire of the 'Magical Girl' genre of anime, while simultaneously poking fun at Shonen concepts. Both One-Punch Man and Kill la Kill do their jobs very well and are wildly entertaining. In fact, there are very few parody anime on the same level as Kill la Kill.

14 Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo Couldn't Care Less About Logic Or Reason

Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo
Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo
TV-Y7-FV
Anime
Action
Adventure

The impossible adventures of Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo, a warrior who fights using his nose hairs to defeat an evil empire that wants to turn the human race bald.

Release Date
September 30, 2003
Main Genre
Anime
Seasons
1
Production Company
Toei Animation
Number of Episodes
76 Episodes

Ratings

  • IMDb Score: 7.1
  • MyAnimeList Score: 7.49

Fans of Bobobo already know there's no reason to discuss the story's plot. This is a show about a buff guy beating people up with his nose hair. His best friends are a sentient block of jelly, a guy with a scoop of ice cream for a head, and a kid who fights through flatulence. Meanwhile, the evil Maruhage Empire and Czar Baldy Bald IV go around spreading havoc everywhere.

Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo couldn't care less about logic or reason, and that's why the series is great. Bobobo is what fans might get if One-Punch Man somehow took itself less seriously. Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo is a comedy through and through. This series does have a bit of action and drama, but the main goal is to make viewers laugh until they drop. In that one category, this anime series succeeds better than most.

Jelly Jiggler And Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo on an airplane in Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo

13 Gurren Lagann Has Tons Of Action, Comedy, Drama, And Heart

Gurren Lagann mecha anime cover art
Gurren Lagann
TV-14
Anime
Sci-Fi

Two friends, Simon and Kamina, become the symbols of rebellion against the powerful Spiral King, who forced mankind into subterranean villages.

Release Date
April 1, 2007
Main Genre
Anime
Seasons
1
Studio
Gainax
Creator
Hiroyuki Imaishi
Number of Episodes
27

Ratings

  • IMDb Score: 8.3
  • MyAnimeList Score: 8.63
Related
10 Best Gurren Lagann Characters, Ranked
Simon, Kamina and the rest of Team Dai-Gurren did the impossible, reaching heights few anime characters ever have.

Anyone who likes giant mechs, Shonen battle anime, and has a predilection for drills has to check out Gurren Lagann. Created by the same studio responsible for Kill la Kill, this 2007 Gainax anime series follows Simon and Kamina — two lower-class drillers with dreams big enough to overpower cosmic entities threatening the fate of every life in the known universe.

This series features the same sort of high-octane action that made One-Punch Man famous. Gurren Lagann's characters are very memorable and endearing, and the series does a great job delivering on its awesome premise. Not every moment is lighthearted, and the characters go through their own periods of grief in different ways. All in all, however, Gurren Lagann has tons of action, comedy, drama, and heart, making it an exceptional single-season anime series.

Simon takes Kamina's place in Gurren Lagann

12 FLCL Is A Prime Example Of A Short-But-Sweet Series

Naota Nandaba posing front of a mech in FLCL
FLCL
TV-14
Action
Comedy

Mysterious things start happening when 12-year-old Naota meets a strange woman on a Vespa wielding a big guitar.

Release Date
April 26, 2000
Main Genre
Anime
Seasons
1
Studio
Gainax, Production I.G
Creator
Yōji Enokido
Number of Episodes
6

Ratings

  • IMDb Score: 8.1
  • MyAnimeList Score: 8.03

FLCL, also known as Fooly Cooly, is a prime example of a short-but-sweet series. This anime came out over a decade ago, back in April 2000, eventually airing on Adult Swim in 2003. FLCL is only six episodes long, but each installment is ludicrously over-the-top. The show breaks all the rules and conventions associated with most anime shows.

FLCL even parodies South Park at one point, a rare instance for a show that has been satirizing everyone else for years. Anyone looking for an anime series with a rich plot and layered characters won't be satisfied with FLCL. However, those who enjoy programs as wild, fun, and irreverent as One-Punch Man will certainly enjoy this minimal series. Most critics found FLCL to be as artistically triumphant as it is totally bizarre.

Naota hugs Haruko from behind in FLCL.

11 Tiger & Bunny Works Despite Its Unorthodox Narrative Foundation

The cast of Tiger and Bunny posing in front of their suits on Tiger & Bunny Season 2 cover art.
Tiger & Bunny

Follows the exploits of a group of sponsored super heroes who aspire to be crowned "King of Heroes." The story focuses on Ketsu T. Kaburagi, a veteran hero known as Wild Tiger, and his young partner Barnaby Brooks, Jr, who is known as Bunny.

Release Date
April 3, 2011
Cast
Wally Wingert , Yuri Lowenthal , kari wahlgren , John Eric Bentley , Laura Bailey , Michael Sinterniklaas , Josh Keaton , Robbie Daymond
Main Genre
Anime
Seasons
2
Studio
Sunrise

Ratings

  • IMDb Score: 7.2
  • MyAnimeList Score: 7.85

Tiger & Bunny imagines a world where superheroes not only exist but represent major commercial companies. Applying the concept of NASCAR racers driving cars littered with ads to DC's Justice League is the framework for Tiger & Bunny's basic premise. But this isn't just a show about product placement; there's an impressive amount of heart in this superhero series.

Tiger & Bunny is much more grounded and serious than One-Punch Man. This show also blends traditional 2-D animation with cel-shaded 3-D animation. Similar to One-Punch Man, Tiger & Bunny surprisingly works well in spite of its unorthodox narrative foundation. Kotetu T. Kaburagi and Barnaby Brooks have their work cut out for them, but they end up getting through their struggles together.

An image of two heroes sponsored by Bandai and SoftBank in the Tiger & Bunny anime

10 My Hero Academia Reinforces Superhero Conventions

Class 2-A leap into battle with the League of Villains on the MHA Anime Poster
My Hero Academia
TV-14
Action
Adventure

A superhero-admiring boy enrolls in a prestigious hero academy and learns what it really means to be a hero, after the strongest superhero grants him his own powers.

Release Date
May 5, 2018
Main Genre
Anime
Seasons
6
Production Company
Bones
Number of Episodes
145

Ratings

  • IMDb Score: 8.0
  • MyAnimeList Score: 7.87
Related
10 My Hero Academia Quirks That Make Less Sense the More You Think About Them
My Hero Academia features hundreds of exciting Quirks, yet some of these superpowers begin to fall apart once fans pay closer attention.

Boku no Hero Academia, more popularly as My Hero Academia in English, is a shonen battle anime about child superheroes. The show's fandom likes to think of it as the lovechild between a series like Dragon Ball Z and a franchise like The Avengers or The X-Men. My Hero Academia doesn't slow down even for a second, making it a thrilling watch from start to finish.

One-Punch Man is all about breaking the traditions and conventions associated with superhero stories. On the other hand, My Hero Academia reinforces those traditions and plays them straight. Both of these shows are immensely popular in Japan and around the world, further showcasing their pop-cultural reach. Each of them also contributes to superhero mythology in startlingly impressive and heartwarming ways.

9 Samurai Champloo Disregards Tradition And Provides A Unique Experience

Covert art for Samurai Champloo
Samurai Champloo
TV-MA
Action

Fuu, a waitress who works in a teahouse, rescues two master swordsmen, Mugen and Jin, from their execution to help her find the "samurai who smells of sunflowers."

Release Date
May 20, 2004
Main Genre
Action
Seasons
1
Creator
Manglobe, Masaru Gotsubo
Production Company
Barnum Studio, Flying Dog, Fuji Television Network

Ratings

  • IMDb Score: 8.6
  • MyAnimeList Score: 8.51

Shinichiro Watanabe is the genius behind Cowboy Bebop, Blade Runner Black Out 2022, and Space Dandy. Back in the early 2000s, Watanabe created Samurai Champloo — a show that blends stunning samurai battles with beautiful Rap and Hip Hop music. In other words, viewers should watch Samurai Champloo while also paying attention to the musical score.

Set during an alternate Edo period in Japan, Champloo is another short series, only running for two seasons, or 'volumes.' However, this show is also a testament to the saying: 'half as bright, twice as long.' Just like One-Punch Man, Champloo disregards tradition and provides a unique experience unlike anything else out there. The show has since received widespread acclaim, particularly from western critics and viewers.

An impromptu baseball game breaks out in Samurai Champloo.

8 Gintama Is Raucous, Exhilarating, And Strangely Unconventional

Gintama Anime Poster
Gintama
TV-14
Action
Comedy

In an era where aliens have invaded and taken over feudal Tokyo, an unemployed samurai finds work however he can.

Release Date
April 4, 2006
Main Genre
Animation
Seasons
8 Seasons
Creator
Hideaki Sorachi
Number of Episodes
375 Episodes

Ratings

  • IMDb Score: 8.7
  • MyAnimeList Score: 9.03

As a samurai anime series, Gintama is just as, if not more, unconventional than Samurai Champloo. Gintama reimagines history, taking place in a world where aliens have conquered Edo period Japan. The Shogun immediately surrendered, acquiescing to the alien's requests to ban swords, effectively destroying the Samurai caste.

Gintoki Sakata is the main character of the show as well as its namesake. Gintoki used to fight as a rebel samurai, but now he gets by as a freelancer. Although this description makes Gintama sound super serious, this couldn't be further from the truth. On the contrary, this anime can be just as raucous and exhilarating as One-Punch Man. There are a lot of anime references and pop-cultural jokes in Gintama, making it even more amusing in some cases.

Gintoki with a look of horror on his face in Gintama.

7 Hetalia: Axis Powers Is One Of The Funniest Takes On World War II

An illustration of Hetalia: Axis Powers characters posing near their country's flags.
Hetalia: Axis Powers
TV-MA
Comedy

An anime in which personified countries show history in a humorous fashion.

Release Date
January 24, 2009
Cast
Todd Haberkorn , Patrick Seitz
Main Genre
Animation
Seasons
6 Seasons
Creator
Hidekaz Himaruya
Production Company
Kids Station, Studio DEEN

Ratings

  • IMDb Score: 7.2
  • MyAnimeList Score: 7.26

Hetalia: Axis Powers isn't as heavy on the action as One-Punch Man, but the former series is positively hysterical. Hetalia centers around a slew of characters who represent each of the countries that were involved in World War II, an era filled with suffering, death, and destruction. Italy is essentially the show's main character, and he's every bit as goofy, dense, and lovable as Saitama is.

Hetalia also features the likes of Germany, a caninophile whose gruff demeanor belies a heart of gold; Britain, a snarky yet brilliant strategist; and America, who's kind of self-centered but is great with tech and giving rousing speeches. Hetalia is one of the funniest takes on the most destructive 20th-century conflict that anime fans will ever come across. It manages to reinterpret the Second World War through the lens of humor and parody.

Anthropomorphic Italy smiling sweetly in Hetalia

6 Full Metal Panic! Is Worth A Watch For Its Action Sequences Alone

Full Metal Panic! 1
Full Metal Panic!
PG-13

Sousuke Sagara, a member of a covert anti-terrorist private military organization known as Mithril, tasked with protecting Kaname Chidori, a spirited Japanese high school girl.

Release Date
January 2, 2002
Main Genre
Anime
Seasons
4
Studio
Gonzo (seasons 1 & 2), Kyoto Animation (season 3), Xebec (season 4)
Artists
Shikidouji
Creator
Shoji Gatoh (writer), Shikidouji (illustrator)
Number of Episodes
53

Ratings

  • IMDb Score: 7.6
  • MyAnimeList Score: 7.60

One of the things that make Saitama and Genos' friendship great is how much of an odd couple they are. Genos always approaches every situation with a straight face and the utmost sincerity. Saitama, on the other hand, seems to be living on another planet. Sousuke Sagara and Kaname Chidori have a similar relationship in the light novel turned anime series Full Metal Panic!

Sousuke is the Genos of this duo: he's an undercover anti-terrorist agent who's infiltrated Jindai High School on a mission to protect a schoolgirl named Kaname Kidori. Kamane, however, is very similar to Saitama — irresponsible, hot-headed, and not too bright. That said, even Sousuke finds it difficult to deal with school life after spending years working in the military. Full Metal Panic! is worth a watch for its action sequences alone, but the comedy is where it shines.

Sousuke and Kaname blush and look away from each other in Full Metal Panic! Invisible Victory

5 JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Works Hard To Become Something Entirely New

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure with Joseph Joestar in front pointing
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
TV-14
Animation
Action
Adcenture

The story of the Joestar family, who are possessed with intense psychic strength, and the adventures each member encounters throughout their lives.

Release Date
October 4, 2012
Main Genre
Animation
Seasons
5
Creator
Hirohiko Araki

Ratings

  • IMDb Score: 8.5
  • MyAnimeList Score: 7.88
Related
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Cast and Character Guide
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure has introduced a long line of eccentric characters throughout its run, including Joseph Joestar and Caesar Zeppeli.

Here's a story that's been around for a long time. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is a long-running franchise from the 1980s. At first, the series started out as a horror manga, but Hirohiko Araki changed JoJo's genre and tone after being inspired by Fist of the North Star. Since then, JoJo's become infamous for its fascinating characters, gripping battles, and mystifying world.

The JoJo fandom enjoys how surreal and bizarre every consecutive season gets, especially with the main characters becoming more and more expressive. The manga series currently has three parts that are yet to be adapted. Much like One-Punch Man, JoJo works hard to separate itself from the average anime series. This anime series is still going on, and fans are hoping that the three latest parts of the manga will be adapted as soon as possible.

4 Aggretsuko Is A Knee-Slappingly Hilarious Anime Series

Aggretsuko Netflix anime cover art
Aggretsuko
TV-14
Comedy

Frustrated with her thankless office job, the 25-year-old red panda copes with her daily struggles by belting out heavy metal karaoke after work.

Release Date
March 31, 2018
Main Genre
Anime
Seasons
5
Studio
Fanworks
Creator
Rarecho
Number of Episodes
50 + Special

Ratings

  • IMDb Score: 8.0
  • MyAnimeList Score: 7.64

Aggretsuko made waves back when it debuted on Netflix in 2016. The series follows Retsuko, a red panda with a massive heap of repressed emotions. Rather than lash out at innocent bystanders, Retsuko vents at her favorite karaoke bar, where sings death metal at the top of her lungs like it's the 1990s. However, her life only gets worse after a few years go by, forcing her to find satisfaction in different ways.

Aggretsuko is a knee-slappingly hilarious show, but it also hits pretty close to home for anyone who's experiencing a quarter-life crisis. This show's worth a watch for anyone feeling down about their current lot in life, or for fans of Japanese death metal. Saitama would unquestionably be a fan of Aggretsuko and its adorable red panda protagonist.

Retsuko and Haida sit together with an unspoken tension while drinking tea from Aggretsuko

3 Lupin The Third Is Filled With Endearing Characters And Non-Stop Laughs

Lupin III official poster
Lupin III
Anime
Action
Comedy
Adventure
Crime

Lupin III, the grandson of the legendary Arsène Lupin, is a master thief known for his cunning plans, disguises, and acrobatic skills. He is joined by his loyal companions

Release Date
1971-00-00
Main Genre
Animation
Seasons
6
Studio
Telecom Animation Film, Monkey Punch Production
Creator
Monkey Punch (Kazuhiko Katō)
Main Characters
Lupin III: The grandson of Arsène Lupin, a master thief known for his cunning and disguises. Daisuke Jigen: Lupin's right-hand man, a sharpshooter with unwavering loyalty. Fujiko Mine: A seductive femme fatale who often manipulates situations for her own gain. Goemon Ishikawa XIII: A skilled swordsman with a stoic demeanor and a deep sense of honor. Inspector Zenigata: An Interpol officer determined to capture Lupin.
Number of Episodes
237

Ratings

  • IMDb Score: 7.9
  • MyAnimeList Score: 7.89

Lupin the Third is one of the longest-running franchises of all time. Famed Japanese mangaka Kazuhiko Kato (also known as Monkey Punch) first created Lupin the Third back in 1967. Since then, the series has been adapted into multiple anime shows, several OVAs, and numerous video games. There are currently seven anime programs, with the latest one released in 2021.

The eponymous character Lupin may be a thief, a conman, and a sleaze, but he's got a good heart deep down inside — and he's just too charming to hate. Viewers interested in a series with non-stop laughs and endearing characters can't go wrong with Lupin the Third. That said, readers have observed that the manga version is considerably more morbid and explicit. Thankfully, the anime's lighter tone helps establish the meta style of humor.

Lupin III sitting on his yellow Fiat 500 while Jigen watches.

2 Ghost Stories Has One Of The Most Flippant English Dubs In History

Ratings

  • IMDb Score: 8.0
  • MyAnimeList Score: 7.74
Related
Is The Ghost Stories Anime A Comedy?
Ghost Stories has a famously goofy dub that has been referenced across the internet for years, but is it a comedy?

Originally written as a series of novels by Toru Tsunemitsu, Ghost Stories was specifically crafted for younger readers in 1990. Back in the year 2000, Studio Pierrot and Aniplex teamed up to adapt the books into a 20-episode paranormal anime series. Both studios wanted to market the show to young audiences, so they decided to keep things lighthearted and spooky (but not genuinely scary) overall.

The end result was Ghost Stories, a show that received little to no fanfare when it debuted. When it came time to produce the English dub of the series, Pierrot and Aniplex gave the English voice actors free rein. The English VAs jumped at the opportunity to make one of the funniest, most flippant anime dubs in history. One-Punch Man is arguably more amusing than Ghost Stories, but the latter series deserves at least one watch.

Cat with heterochromia smiling in Ghost Stories

1 Mob Psycho 100 And One-Punch Man Share The Same Creator

Group Photograph from Mob Psycho 100 II OVA
Mob Psycho 100
TV-14
Action

A psychic middle school boy tries to live a normal life and keep his growing powers under control, even though he constantly gets into trouble.

Release Date
July 12, 2016
Main Genre
Action
Seasons
3
Studio
Bones
Creator
One
Number of Episodes
37 + 2 OVAs

Ratings

  • IMDb Score: 8.6
  • MyAnimeList Score: 8.49

Mob Psycho 100 and One-Punch Man have a lot in common. Both shows focus on OP protagonists and feature tons of brain-bending battles. Mob Psycho 100 centers around a high school student with psychic powers. Mob and Saitama are also stronger than practically everyone else in their respective worlds, but they both want different things. While Saitama struggles to find meaning in life, the titular Mob has difficulty fitting in at school.

Fans of One-Punch Man simply have to check out Mob Psycho 100 since both stories were originally illustrated by the same person. ONE is the enigmatic artist behind both anime series. Not much is known about them, save for the fact that they've got a fascinating sense of humor. Mob Psycho 100 received countless nominations at the 1st Crunchyroll Awards in 2017, winning Best Fight Scene and Best Action.