Best Comedy Anime of 1988

Ryo Saeba operates as a private detective by day, but he also serves as a sweeper who eradicates evil from the city. While he is highly skilled, he has a weakness for beautiful women. It falls to his partner, Kaori Makimura, to shield those lovely female clients from Ryo’s inappropriate advances.

Otokojuku is a private institution that accepts juvenile delinquents who have been expelled from ordinary schools. Here, Japanese chivalry is instilled through feudal and military fundamentals. The lessons are akin to an action film, dominated by violence. Only those who endure it become genuine men.

Meet the Osomatsu boys—a set of sextuplets who are indistinguishable in appearance, speech, and dress. They are just one more element of the hyper-eccentric townspeople who regularly shatter the boundaries of common sense. Leave your logical thinking at the door and dive into the everyday lives of these unique characters, who are wild in both looks and temperament.

Kiteretsu is a boy with a genius for science, having created a robot companion named Korosuke. Using his self-built time machine, he often goes on time-traveling adventures with his friends and Korosuke. Miyoko is a girl from his neighborhood who essentially serves as his girlfriend. Tongari acts as his rival, bearing some resemblance to Honekawa Suneo. Buta Gorilla (Kumada Kaoru) is the local bully, similar to Gian (Takeshi Goda), but frequently picks on Korosuke (despite all of them being in elementary school).

During one night, a Star of Life descends through the chimney of a bakery located deep in a forest, bringing the dough in the oven to life. This dough becomes Anpanman, a superhero formed from an anpan (a sweet roll filled with bean jam). Along with his companions, Anpanman battles his rival Baikinman and assists those who are malnourished.

Nine-year-old Wataru Ikusabe is magically transported to Soukaizan, a divine realm he is destined to save. During his quest, he manages to transform a clay sculpture into a somewhat autonomous, small Super Robot.

Hagemaru Hageda is a young boy in fourth grade who lives with his parents in Japan. As an only child, he and his parents are extreme misers who will do anything to save money, and that forms the core premise of the series. Hagemaru has a pet dog named Pesu, who often remarks on how stingy the family is and complains about not being fed. He is best friends with his classmate Masaru Kondo and has a crush on Midori, a girl in his class. Most episodes follow Hagemaru at school, with the story centering around his teacher (whom he calls "miss") and his friends. Each episode ends with a countdown of the top ten moments.

Each episode presents an independent retelling of a unique fairy tale or folk tale. Not every installment comes from the collection of stories gathered by the Brothers Grimm.

Maria Perego's creation Topo Gigio has been a cherished character for over twenty years. This animated television series includes many thrilling tales and brings in a host of new companions. Topo Gigio is the inaugural mouse astronaut to explore the Milky Way. Is it possible for a mouse to be an astronaut? Indeed, Topo Gigio hails from a time 2,388,400 years in the future. He is amiable and can communicate with people. He befriends his neighbors, which include a girl, her pet mouse, cats, and other mice.

As a young boy, Kenichi Kokuho got lost in the mountains and was never found. Unbeknownst to everyone, however, Kenichi was raised in the wilderness by his foster father. When Kenichi turns 15, his foster father reveals the truth about his origins. Upon learning this, Kenichi decides to head into civilized society, where his biological parents live. Everything Kenichi encounters in town fills him with surprise and wonder. His family is overjoyed to see their son alive, but shocked to find he has grown up wild and unlike other children. Now, his new life is about to start. His feral behavior and physical strength cause numerous troubles around town. Kenichi has his own way of handling situations, but it is so different that most people cannot understand what he is up to. Can he adapt to life in the town?

Akko-chan is a lively and spirited fifth-grade elementary school student, with a father who works as a newscaster and a mother who writes picture books. She treasures the small, palm-sized mirror given to her by her father and handles it with great care. However, her scatterbrained mother accidentally breaks it. One night when a beautiful full moon illuminates the sky, Akko-chan buries the mirror fragments in the garden and goes to bed. She is awakened by a gentle, kind voice belonging to the Queen of the Mirror Kingdom. The Queen thanks Akko-chan for treating the mirror so carefully and gives her a magical compact mirror. By singing the special words, Akko-chan can transform into anything she wishes.

The origins of Kitarou.

Dommel is a lethargic canine whose activities are limited to eating and sleeping. His master, Semafoor, creates the most bizarre inventions imaginable. Their pairing results in a blend of humorous situations.

Maria Perego's creation Topo Gigio has been a beloved character for over two decades. This animated television series is packed with many exciting adventures and introduces a variety of friends. Topo Gigio is the first mouse astronaut to journey across the Milky Way. Can a mouse become an astronaut? Well, Topo Gigio comes from a time 2,388,400 years in the future. He is friendly and able to converse with humans. He forms friendships with his neighbors, including a girl, her pet mouse, cats, and other mice.

Michael is a chubby orange cat residing with a pair of well-meaning yet incredibly foolish humans who mistakenly think they are his owners. Michael's real everyday life is full of various small events and disruptions—evading the local bully cat Nyazilla, a monster Michael knows he will always lose against, scavenging food from neighborhood shops, gathering with his animal companions, and amusing the humans as much as possible. Michael also possesses a fantasy life that would make even his fellow cat Garfield envious, complete with cat corporations, cat nightclubs, and his own imitation of a dancing American megastar also named Michael.

Adapted from the manga by Tanaka Keiichi. Dr. Chichibuyama serves as the lecherous director of a remote mountain hospital, where he inflicts terror upon patients alongside his partner and an attractive young nurse.

Based on Fujiko Fujio A's manga of the same name.