The slapstick bits in Princess Tutu (mostly when Pike and Lilie were around) worked pretty well for me.
To me its worse when they're trying to go for a serious tone a lot of the time. Anime Full Metal Alchemist had this problem a lot, breaking into a chibi style often and making Ed's insecurity about his height a running gag, which to me really sapped the tension out of a lot of it.
These are the words that shall come from my mouth. I shall be known for speaking them.I agree, Japanese humor usually isn't very funny, though I liked Excel Saga... and Ouran. I heard good things about Gintama too, but that's about it.
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that's the thing, Lucky Star in no way looks funny to me except for one part where there's that Show Within a Show and that girl with the pink hair is all "NEEEEEE?!" I don't follow Japanese pop culture, so I wouldn't get any jokes geared in that way. Besides, most of the stuff I've watched or read is shonen. Oh well, can't please everybody.
I love Japanese humor but then...I've grown up on it and follow their pop culture so...yeah.
Their word jokes I can't grasp well at all due to not knowing the language well enough.
edited 10th Mar '11 3:07:57 PM by Aondeug
If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan ChahI thought FLCL was funny... Some parts of Samurai Champloo and Cowboy Bebop I also thought were funny (specifically the baseball and fridge mold episodes).
Well, I liked the comedy bits in Cowboy Bebop, and I'm a fan of Excel Saga. I also like the humor in One Piece and Dragonball, although that may not be your type.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFmGNqji4u0You might wanna try Panty And Stocking With Garterbelt
Even though it's apparently vulgar, it will make you chuckle at least once
What profit is it to a man, when he gains his money, but loses his internet? Anonymous 16:26 I believe...Arakawa Under The Bridge (anime), Saint Young Men (manga), and Level E (manga) are a few of my favorite comedy series in any medium.
I love comedy/drama mood whiplash, but I do think that manga pull it off better than anime because of comedic timing issues.
That said, I feel that non-Japanese people might not appreciate Japanese jokes as well because of things like not getting cultural references, puns etc not translating well, different mindset towards comedy, and so on. I grew up on manga, so I have no problem appreciating the humor in it.
edited 10th Mar '11 3:42:34 PM by Anarchy
Should I be talking about the humor I like best though...Hmm...Well Mari Mite I love. Most of the humor comes from their normal conversations and interactions with one another. There is the occasional pun made (the few I get are lovely things). The most prominent led to a misunderstanding between Yumi and Sachiko in regards to how they would be getting somewhere...Much of the other humor focuses on things like Yumi's amusing sounds and facial expressions, Sei's sarcastic wit, the difference in lifestyle between the characters, and so on. There's no real strict joke set ups. It's more the hilarious shit that just happens to these people in between their bouts of dramatic running and crying.
Strawberry Shake Sweet is the other sort of humor I like. Oddball shit filled with copious amounts of sight gags and enough manzai to make your head spin. It has a straight man who is also well... straight and trapped with a crazy assortment of lesbians she wants nothing to do with. It's very over the top shit that's purpose is to be funny. Hayashiya Shizuru I love in general really. Hayate X Blade is another fun thing she made.
The funniest thing I've seen though is from neither. It's from Sasameki Koto.
The "Oh Jesus..." is perfect and proof that not all Engrish humor must rely on hammy awesome.
edited 10th Mar '11 3:44:35 PM by Aondeug
If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan ChahIf you don't want slapstick humor then try a Comedy Slice of Life, I highly recommend you to watch Ichigo Mashimaro and Minami-Ke.
Panty and Stocking... did not go so well for me.
I liked Excel Saga and Hayate the Combat Butler for being parodies and not taking themselves seriously. I liked the over-the-top-ness of Gurren Lagann (I'm sure it was intentionally funny). Really, I don't have a problem with any of it. I guess Fullmetal Alchemist went a bit too far with some of their ill-timed humor and chibi.
I feel like people who don't like the humor in FMA only watched the anime. It works very well in manga format, I feel.
Speaking of parodies, Dai Mahou Touge is a great parody of Magical Girl anime in general.
And I do agree that Lucky Channel was the funniest part of Lucky Star. That, and Konata's karaoke.
I didn't find Suzumiya Haruhi funny at all, but Haruhi Chan was HILARIOUS for me.
I'm in that odd group of people (on the fora anyway) who found the main portion of Lucky Star to be the funniest part. I liked the other bits, but the main show is what drew me.
^I haven't read much of the manga. The first anime's humor was fine for the most part.
edited 10th Mar '11 3:49:30 PM by Aondeug
If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan ChahAnime comedy is funny, except when it isn't.
Like most comedy.
OK, but seriously, I don't mind comedy in a comedy anime, since that's what it's for, but I don't always know if it works in anime that's not primarily humorous. Sometimes it does without necessarily being funny, actually - I never really laughed at the random "funny moments" in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, for instance, but I thought they helped lighten the tone a bit.
Honestly, though, there are certain aspects typical of comedy in anime that I don't like. For instance, one-note characters, Accidental Pervert moments where the female lead punches the male lead so hard that he becomes a Twinkle in the Sky, and in general tired generic harem gags that weren't funny the first time and certainly aren't the three hundredth. I also hate how the Japanese don't really understand that you're not supposed to broadcast "Hey guys! It's a JOKE, get it?" like they do - why do we need a tsukkomi? I already know the stupid character is being stupid, or the thing that someone said doesn't make any sense. I don't need someone repeating "That doesn't make any sense!!!" I got it already.
Always, somewhere, someone is fighting for you. As long as you remember them, you are not alone.Why do we need a tsukkomi: Cultural differences in regard to how humor is "supposed" to work.
Though that question's probably rhetorical. I never saw the problem with this because again I grew up on it.
If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan ChahLupin III has some of the only slapstick I like.
That said, I hate the Boke and Tsukkomi Routine; I hate being told that something is ridiculous! I have functioning eyes, I don't need a living Laughter Signal.
A True Lady's Quest - A Jojo is You!I almost entirely agree with Anarchy on this—Level E, Arakawa, etc., though I haven't read Saint Young Men or FMA.
Also, I thought the humor in Azumanga Daioh was great.
Humor about tsunderes being tsun doesn't really amuse me anymore, though.
Tumblr here.I think the tsukkomi only works on an American audience if his/her own lines are witty in themselves. Example: Mal's response to an absurd offer Jayne makes: "Well, my days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle." Or Michael Bluth in Arrested Development, or much of the cast of 8-Bit Theater.

So does anyone out there who's really into anime or just casually watch it think anime humor isn't that funny? I almost never think any of the jokes are funny. Maybe what I watch and read has something to do with it since most of the jokes seem to be of the perverted, poop/fart or argumentative variety. Have any recomendations of anime that's so funny it just has to make someone laugh?