There is a lot of TV shows out there and in this golden age of TV streaming, the choices have never been more varied. So how do you cut through the noise and find the “Best of” for any chosen topic? Well, we’re here to help celebrate and shine a spotlight on some of the latest, greatest and unforgettable shows through the years.
For our ongoing series of articles depicting the best anime, our attention turns to bite-sized anime you can swiftly complete. From hilarious sci-fi adventures to wholesome slice-of-life fun, there’s a good choice to whet your appetite.
Of course, if we’ve missed any of your favorites, feel free to comment below and we’ll add them!
Space Patrol Luluco
If you’re in need of a cutesy space anime, Space Patrol Luluco has you covered. It’s an underrated series under Studio Trigger’s catalog. It offers likable characters, stellar action scenes, and hilarious gags to entertain you. It’s set in a city called Ogikubo, where an energetic middle schooler named Luluco wants to live a mundane lifestyle.
One morning, she discovers her father’s turned completely frozen. She tries freeing him but ends up shattering him to pieces. She rushes to her father’s workplace for a solution. Her father’s boss, Over Justice, doesn’t offer much help but he does give Luluco a job. He hires Luluco as a space temp worker who must help the Space Patrol solve crimes.
He gives her the Space Patrol suit and sends her away. With all this responsibility, Luluco must balance her normal and work lives while also searching for a way to help her father. This a zany series filled with laughable sub-plots. Luluco gets herself into a lot of problematic situations but does so in a humorous fashion. For a 13-episode series with runtimes of about 7 minutes each, this is a worthwhile binge for diehard Trigger fans.
Hetalia: Axis Powers
Hetalia Axis Powers (Hetalia) is a comedic anime about politics. This is a show targeted toward viewers who don’t want to spend time reading textbooks or watching hour-long documentaries. Despite having 52 episodes to its name, they all run for about 5 minutes each. Therefore, it’s a quick series to pick up and enjoy for its amusing content.
This show personifies the world nations as handsome and foolish gentlemen. It takes the controversial parts of world history and replaces them with lighthearted sketches. It doesn’t portray any heavy part of history in a cruel way. It simply wants to poke fun at world leaders and show viewers how mundane life can be if everyone got along.
If you’re looking for an incredible parodic anime that tackles world history and controversial moments of the past, check out Hetalia Axis Powers.
Sekkou Boys
Sekkou Boys is a 12-episode anime series. Each episode has a runtime of about 7 minutes. It’s about a passionate college graduate named Ishimoto. She can’t seem to get into the idol industry despite her talent. She’s tasked with managing a boy band called the Sekkou Boys, who aren’t your typical boy band.
This one consists of four Greco-Roman cultures that are new to the entertainment world. With her college expertise and knowledge of idol culture, she must help these boys make it big in the idol industry. This anime features numerous jokes that’ll have you laughing nonstop. The characters carry this show on their back as it doesn’t have the best animation.
Nonetheless, if you’re looking for a show to binge in about 2 hours, this one’s worth checking out.
Aggretsuko
This is a funny anime series that follows a charismatic red panda named Retsuko. She loves jamming out to death metal music and hates coping with the stressful circumstances that crop up in her life. The external issues that interfere with her daily routine will resonate with audiences. This anime promises to make you laugh with its wild humor.
The show’s supporting cast is equally enjoyable. They have likable personalities which help them stand apart and have goals of their own. This anime’s art quality is simple yet effective. The animation works wonders for our cast’s facial expressions and reactions to dreadful and harmonious events.
It has four complete seasons with a fifth one releasing very soon. Each episode has a runtime of about 15 minutes. If you’re need of a quick series to binge and laugh at, give this one a try.
You can read our thoughts on Aggretsuko in our season one review here!
The Girl From The Other Side
The Girl From The Other Side is an interesting case. While there is a feature-length film that gives you a more concrete experience, many prefer the visual storytelling found in its 10-minute OVA. Regardless, both adaptations will make your heart melt. In it, we follow two characters named Shiva and Teacher. Shiva is a little girl while Teacher is a demonic beast.
Their world is split between two realms called the Inside and Outside. Shiva airs from the Inside with other humans while Teacher lives on the Outside. Those from the Outside have abilities to curse anyone they touch. Despite being unlikely companions, Shiva and Teacher living in the same forest together as outcasts. You’ll see how close these two are regardless of their multiple differences.
This anime’s art style is immaculate and nearly identical to the artwork found in its source material. The animation is sluggish but evokes similar vibes readers had while reading the manga. It’s an experimental work that’s worth your time for its unique storytelling and art style alone.
FLCL
FLCL is a wacky anime series with over-the-top animation and stellar characters. Despite having six episodes, this show will toy with your mind and make you question what you’re watching. In it, we follow Naota. He’s an ordinary boy who spends his time monitoring his brother’s ex-girlfriend and holding down the fort.
One day, strange events occur when a mysterious woman named Haruko arrives. She runs Naota over with her trademark Vespa and causes a giant horn to spring from his head. When Haruko takes residence in his household, Naota gets roped into a mind-numbing battle where the entire universe is in jeopardy. Give this one a watch if you’re searching for a zany sci-fi series to watch.
There She Is!
This is an anthropomorphic romantic comedy series where a female rabbit and a male cat fall in love. They live in a society where love between these species is forbidden and frowned upon. It’s a five-episode series and has a runtime of about 4 minutes per episode. Each short emphasizes how love between two different individuals should be accepted no matter what.
Although Dabi (the male cat) wants to destroy Doki’s (the female cat) infatuation with him, he’ll give in and appreciate her. This anime contains little to no dialogue and relies on its visuals to tell its narrative. Viewers won’t have a hard time putting everything together like other visually-driven works. This anime’s simple plot makes it easy to digest.
If you’re looking for a quick and straightforward romantic comedy series that you can binge in under 40 minutes, check There She Is out.
The Master of Killing Time
The Master of Killing Time does what’s promised by its title. It’s a great comedy series to binge if you’re in need of a time waster. However, viewers shouldn’t expect this series to be pure filth. This anime consists of 21 episodes that last about 7 minutes each. In it, we follow Rumi. She’s a determined student who often gets distracted by her classmate Seki.
Seki is essentially the class’s slacker. He does everything he cans to take Rumi’s attention away from classwork. This results in her getting sucked into his antics and being yelled at by their teacher. This is a repetitive pattern that takes place in every episode of the show. The plot never derives into anything dramatic or complex.
It simply wants to make viewers laugh at Rumi’s constant suffering and Seki’s hilarious antics. Give this one a shot if you find yourself in a tight bind or need entertainment that’ll make your day brighter.
Chi’s Sweet Home
Chi’s Sweet Home is a lighthearted slice-of-life anime everyone can enjoy. It offers a simplistic narrative that’s easy to follow and contains characters who appear charming and sweet. While it doesn’t offer anything too dramatic, the anime includes some inspiring life messages regarding proper pet care and management.
This anime’s about Youhei and his mother adopting a kitten named Chi. Despite their apartment’s rules against pets, they decide to house the little kitten. We examine Chi’s short adventures in this household as she develops a strong bond with her newfound family. Along the way, they get into difficult mishaps because of Chi’s notoriously curious behavior.
Although this anime contains over 100 episodes, each chapter lasts about 3 minutes. This means you’d finish this anime in about two to three days. Despite being a seinen series, it never delves into anything nightmarish or horrid. If you adore animals, you’ll grow fond of Chi’s Sweet Home.
Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san
This is an anime geared toward an adult demographic. It follows a solemn individual named Honda who works in a Japanese bookstore. He happens to be a skeleton and learns how crazy it can be working for a public facility. This anime provides viewers with excellent humor they can relate to. Those who’ve worked retail jobs will understand Honda’s grief with his workplace.
Furthermore, this is a show that has villain-like beings working day jobs. It’s an absurd concept that works surprisingly well from a comedic perspective. You’ll find yourself laughing at Honda’s multiple mistakes and adore his interactions with customers who enter the bookstore. This show includes twelve 11-minute episodes for you to enjoy.
Despite having a minimalist art style and simplistic premise, you’ll find yourself wishing there were more episodes and seasons. If you want an excellent and short comedy series to binge, check this one out.
So, there we have it, our picks for the best bite-sized anime of all time!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!