From laughing too much that is.

Endlessly grinding your life away like a rusty cogwheel in civilization’s machinery can be a dreary prospect. Luckily for humanity, we have generous sprinklings of humor and comedy that’ll distract us from the everyday tedium of society, and the Japanese are pretty good at it, coming up with things like a talking, crime-solving Butt Detective.

And if you’re looking to kick back and enjoy the weekend with anime that’ll have you in fits of laughter, we’ve got you covered. A Goo Ranking survey on 4,554 Japanese participants revealed what anime would have them giggling hysterically, and we’ve included the top ten for you here:

10. Nichijou (120 votes)

One of my favorite comedy anime of all time, Nichijou is about the everyday lives of a group of schoolgirls, with bizarre and random elements thrown in to make you burst out laughing. The legendary “Principal Versus Deer” scene will forever be etched into my brain.

9. Sexy Commando Gaiden: Sugoi yo!! Masaru san (125 votes)

This 1998 animation features a school’s Sexy Commando Club whose members fight with strange techniques, the preferred of which involves the unzipping of trousers to distract opponents.

8. Crayon Shin-chan (128 votes)

Japan’s darling Shin-chan and his mischievous antics have entertained viewers for 25 years now. His tactless yet innocent dialogue and inappropriate behavior creates a unique personality that has stood the test of time.

7. Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo (138 votes)

When the protagonist is a muscular dude who fights with his nose hairs while sporting a yellow afro, you know it’s going to be good. This hilarious series has also been aired on Cartoon Network too.

6. Dr. Slump (147 votes)

Akira Toriyama, the creator of the renowned Dragonball series made his first big break with Dr. Slump, a pun-filled adventure of a girl robot and her inventor set in a world of anthropomorphic creatures.

5. The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. (149 votes)

Kusuo Saiki is a high school student with extreme superhuman powers brought under control by his antennae. Despite being so gifted, he finds it difficult to cope with everyday situations.

4. High School! Kimengumi (190 votes)

Featuring a group of junior high school boys with puns for names, this show was a hit in the 80s.

3. Mr. Osomatsu (294 votes)

Mr. Osomatsu is a recent gag anime about sextuplets who are defined by their striking personalities. Their mischief has captivated many Japanese people and has spawned a growing fanbase.

2. Hozuki’s Coolheadedness (298 votes)

This refreshing, if dark, story revolves around a demon protagonist whose main job is to troubleshoot Japanese hell.

1. Gintama (685 votes)

You’ve got to hand it to the king of Japanese comedy anime. Already in its 11th year, Gintama pulls no punches with its slapstick humor and pop-culture references.

Whether you’re looking for some laughs in a dark comedy like Hozuki’s Coolheadedness or some unadulterated humor like Mr. Osomatsu, it’s hard to go wrong with any one of these picks. I can’t recommend Gintama enough though — it’s so good that people want it to be the last anime they watch when they die.

Source: Goo Rankings via My Game News Flash
Top image: YouTube/avex pictures