Best Comedy Anime of 2001

Ten-year-old Takato Matsuda enjoys playing the Digimon card game with his friends and getting lost in its imaginative world. One day, he discovers a strange blue card in his collection and swipes it through his card reader. Unbeknownst to him, this action causes it to transform into a D-Ark Digivice. When the mysterious device scans his drawings of an original Digimon named Guilmon, it produces a Digi-Egg that hatches into a real version of his own creation! Though Takato is overjoyed to have a genuine Digimon, his idealistic fantasy crumbles when he realizes his energetic new friend needs constant attention. Making matters worse, Guilmon becomes a target for Ruki Makino, a rival tamer who uses her partner Renamon to defeat other Digimon and absorb their data to grow stronger. Fortunately, Takato gains allies in his classmate Li Jianliang and his witty Digimon partner Terriermon to assist him on his path as a true tamer. As dangerous enemies appear more frequently, Takato must deepen his connection with Guilmon to safeguard both the human world and the Digital World.

While rummaging through his grandfather's attic, Hikaru Shindou discovers an old go board. When he touches it, a mysterious voice speaks to him, and he soon passes out. Upon waking, he realizes the voice still lingers and belongs to Fujiwara no Sai, the ghost of an ancient go master. Once a go instructor for the Japanese Emperor during the Heian Era, Sai's love for the game transcends time and space, allowing him to keep playing as a spirit. Sai's ultimate ambition is to achieve a divine go technique that no one has ever mastered, and he hopes to do so by playing through Hikaru. Though Hikaru has no interest in board games, he reluctantly goes along, making moves as Sai directs. But after meeting the young go prodigy Akira Touya, a spark of passion for the game begins to grow within him. Inspired by his new rival, Hikaru's journey into the world of go has only just begun.

Thirteen-year-old Tyson Granger (Takao Kinomiya), together with his teammates Kai Hiwatari, Max Tate (Max Mizuhura), and Ray Kon (Rei Kon), aims to become the greatest Beybladers in the world. Backed by the technical expertise of the team's resident genius, Kenny (Kyouju), and the immense power of their BitBeasts, the Bladebreakers—armed with their spinning tops known as Blades—strive to reach their goal.

Fifty years ago, the sinister stones called Dark Brings triggered the "Overdrive," a catastrophic event that wiped out a tenth of the planet. In the present, the evil group Demon Card seeks the power of the Dark Brings for their less-than-innocent purposes. Haru Glory, a silver-haired teenager who wields a sword, inherits the title of Rave Master: the one who holds the power of the legendary Rave Stones, artifacts that can destroy the Dark Brings. But the many Rave Stones were scattered worldwide after the Overdrive, letting Demon Card continue their wrongdoing. Groove Adventure Rave follows Haru, his odd dog Plue, the fiery blonde Ellie, and the infamous thief Musica, as they set off on a grand journey around the vast world, searching for the Rave Stones that will finally put an end to Demon Card's tyranny.

Mahoro Andou is a formidable combat android created by Vesper, a clandestine group dedicated to shielding the world from extraterrestrial threats. Her operational lifespan is critically limited; engaging in battle will cause her systems to fail within approximately one month. Conversely, abstaining from combat allows her to exist freely for more than a year. Suguru Misato, a high school student residing alone in his deceased parents' spacious home, struggles with domestic duties and seeks a maid to help manage the household. His search ends unexpectedly when a beautiful girl in a maid uniform rescues him from bus hijackers. This rescuer is Mahoro, who has decided to spend her remaining days serving as Suguru's maid. As Mahoro cherishes her final time, she forms deep connections with Suguru and his friends through their lively daily lives. Yet, she conceals her true motives for becoming his maid, and their histories appear far more connected than Suguru suspects.

Twelve-year-old Misaki Suzuhara has recently become entangled in Angelic Layer, a combat game featuring electronic dolls known as angels. Despite being a beginner, Misaki demonstrates impressive prowess as she befriends new allies and competes in Angelic Layer tournaments to face the country's top Angelic Layer champions.

Living a peaceful life in the jungle with his mother, Haré’s routine is disrupted when Guu arrives and joins their family. As the story unfolds, Haré endures numerous challenges while attempting to prevent the troublesome Guu from getting into mischief within the jungle environment.

Fresh out of college, Amawa Hibiki holds a degree in physical education but struggles to secure employment, draining his savings on basic living costs. When his landlady demands immediate rent payment, he applies for a teaching position at a local middle school. The principal rejects him outright, stating a firm policy against hiring men and expressing a deep-seated hatred for males, claiming they lack passion and love in their work. Unwilling to give up, and with support from his landlady, Amawa decides to crossdress as a woman without hesitation to secure the job. His goal is to earn income and prove the principal’s bias wrong. Now, he must maintain the secrecy of his true gender while navigating bizarre circumstances, including the romantic advances of his students of both genders.

A small pink space creature named Kirby crash-lands into Dream Land. After becoming familiar with the residents of Cappy Town, he starts protecting the town from the monsters that King Dedede, the self-proclaimed ruler of Cappy Town, commissions from the evil Nightmare Enterprises.

Following the recent passing of his mother, middle school student Tarou Hanaukyou is expected to relocate to Tokyo to live with his grandfather. Upon arriving at the designated residence, however, he encounters an unexpected surprise: the home is actually a sprawling mansion staffed by hundreds of maids. After receiving a cordial greeting, the head maid Mariel shows Tarou a brief video message from his grandfather, who insists that his grandson should inherit his entire fortune. Although hesitant about the circumstances, Tarou starts to adjust to his new environment, where the mansion’s maids are devoted to fulfilling the wishes of their young master.

The Angel Brigade, an elite unit within the Transbaal Empire's military, is tasked with locating Lost Technology—enigmatic artifacts from bygone eras that possess mysterious abilities. Under the command of Colonel Volcott O' Huey, who is nearing retirement, the Brigade journeys across various planets aboard their custom-built Emblem Frame ships in pursuit of these artifacts. However, their missions often go awry, leading them into a variety of bizarre and problematic predicaments.

Zoids—powerful animal-shaped combat mechs—are no longer used for warfare but instead have become the centerpiece of organized sporting competitions. The Blitz Team, a group of pilots trying to make a name for themselves in the Zoid battling leagues, gets a lucky break when a wandering junk dealer named Bit Cloud stumbles into their midst. He proves capable of piloting the temperamental Liger Zero, a Zoid that refuses to let anyone else into its cockpit. With Bit and the Liger leading the charge, the Blitz Team steadily climbs the ranks—but along the way, they catch the unwanted attention of the Backdraft Group, an organization of Zoid pilots operating outside the rules set by the Zoid Battle Commission. The Backdraft want powerful Zoids to strengthen their forces, and they have their sights set on the Liger Zero.

Wataru Minakami, an outstanding student, fails his high school entrance exam due to a computer malfunction. He later finds out he has been admitted to Stargazer Hill Academy, located on the mysterious Promised Island. At his father's request, Wataru is sent to the island. Before he can get settled, a dozen lovely and charming girls gather around him, each claiming to be his younger sister. As Wataru bonds with his newfound siblings, a deeper mystery begins to unfold about why they were all brought to the island.

Ran Kotobuki might look like a fashionable Shibuya teen with her designer clothes, makeup, and nails, but she's far from just a pretty face. Hailing from a family of police officers, she's quick to knock out anyone who dares to cause trouble in her neighborhood—that is, when she isn't busy with karaoke, shopping, or avoiding her homework. Follow Ran and her crew as they protect Shibuya's streets while trying to become the most legendary Gals of all time through their shopping sprees.

Season Fairies use special musical instruments to create and control the weather. They make the wind blow, the snow fall, and the sun shine—anything related to weather is their doing. Sugar, an apprentice Snow Fairy, along with her friends Salt and Pepper, wants to become a full-fledged Season Fairy. The only way to achieve this is to search for and find the "Twinkles" that will make their magical flowers bloom. The problem is that none of them know what a Twinkle is. They recruit the somewhat unwilling help of Saga, a human girl who can see Season Fairies. Much to her annoyance, Saga’s perfectly planned and ordered life has become a little too lively. Together, they search for the mysterious Twinkles while trying to perfect their magic.

Louie is a muscular student at the mages' guild who is grudgingly taken in by three young women—Merrill the thief, Genie the fighter, and Melissa the priestess—to join their adventuring party. Together, the group explores ancient ruins, battles dark creatures, and forms new friendships, all while slowly uncovering a dangerous conspiracy lurking within the kingdom.

Having lost their magical abilities, the girls regain their status as witches. However, they must now face examinations set by the Witches of the Witch World. They also encounter a new member from New York, Momoko.

Is it destiny or just a delusion? A hilarious rollercoaster of laughter and confusion begins when Taishi, the ultimate otaku, drags his friend Kazuki into the turbulent world of ambition, hatred, and love—the world of fan comics! Poor clueless Kazuki must sink or swim when he is tossed straight into the middle of a massive comic convention. Lost among hordes of buyers, sellers, and cosplayers, Kazuki faces a baptism by fire, all meant to steer him toward his true destiny: conquering the world through fan comics! Meanwhile, Kazuki's childhood friend Mizuki refuses to let him be pulled away from his normal life without a fight! But can she stop the addictive allure of the new world unfolding before Kazuki? Bit by bit, Kazuki slides down the road to fate—and Taishi is pushing him every step of the way!

To avert the catastrophe called the Grand Fall, Rid Hershel and companions Farah, Keel, and Meredy have acquired the three Greater Spirits (known as Craymels in the game) of Inferia. While en route to Mount Farlos, Rid is abducted by bounty hunter Marone Blucarno, forcing the party to travel to Belcarnu, a remote archipelago far from Inferia's main cities. A chain of adventures leaves them stranded on the islands, where a more pressing threat to Inferia slumbers.

Najica Hiiragi, a perfumer and secret agent, undertakes multiple recovery missions to capture rogue humaritts—androids with combat capabilities. Najica is given a humaritt partner named Lila, whom Najica must train as an agent and receive help from during missions. As Najica gradually comes to trust Lila, each new assignment uncovers more about the skills and hidden past of the humaritts.

Goro is having a run of bad luck, frequently losing jobs and struggling financially. While passing a pet shop, he encounters a fortune-teller who foretells a change in fortune. That evening, three young women show up in his apartment, introducing themselves as his guardian angels. Eventually, twelve girls in total arrive to assist him, each one the reincarnation of a pet Goro had previously owned and that had passed away.

49-year-old James Lynx once served as an officer and LEV pilot in the United Nations global army. One day, he received word that his wife—a Martian scientist—had been killed in a lab experiment. Filled with hatred and resentment for allowing her to go, his children blamed him and pushed him away. Depressed and without hope, James left the military and began working as a transporter between Earth and Mars, clinging to a faint belief that his wife might still be alive and hoping to find her by being out in space. After a few years, he seemed to have abandoned all hope and turned to alcohol, until one day he receives an orbital frame named "Dolores," sent by his supposedly dead wife. Once again daring to hope, he embarks on a wild and chaotic adventure to uncover the truth and bring his family back together.

Seventy-five years after the original series, Steel Angel Kurumi 2 follows the Steel Angels on another chaotic adventure. At home, high school student and aspiring cellist Nako Kagura accidentally discovers Kurumi Mk. II and kisses her, making herself Kurumi's master. However, trouble arises when Nako's best friend Uruka becomes jealous and resorts to any means—including her father's secret army of mecha—to destroy Kurumi and win Nako back. The situation spirals further when Uruka awakens Saki Mk. II, and Karinka Mk. II joins the fray, attempting to steal Nako away from Kurumi.

The creator of AA! Megami Sama, Kosuke Fujishima, returns for the second season of Taiho Schihauzo (You're Under Arrest). The same cast features two policewomen—the gentle Miyuki and the wild Natsumi—who partner up in the traffic division of Bokuto police station. Other characters include Kenichi, a motorcycle cop with feelings for Miyuki; Yoriko, who loves gossip; and Aoi, a transvestite. Together, they are prepared to deal with harmless criminals and costumed weirdos. You think you can find a better police station?

At Daimon High School, students settle their conflicts through official duels held in the school's K-Fight battle arena. Ryoko Mitsurugi, the undefeated K-Fight champion and a samurai girl, is summoned by a mysterious Priestess to defend Earth from an invasion originating from the alternate universe of Solvania. She must confront battles that challenge her skills, her friendships, and her emotions, all to uncover her true power as a samurai warrior.

The narrative centers on Kintaro, who was once the head of a biker gang that was both feared and respected. He resolves to leave that life behind and become a 'salaryman' after the death of his wife, leaving him responsible for raising his young son.

Taruto, a small cat, has recently relocated to a new town with her owner's family. She spends her time making friends and exploring her unfamiliar surroundings. She also has a tendency to get into trouble. And it appears that Taruto might be a legendary magical princess. Almost none of Taruto's friends believe she can use magic or that she's a princess, but Taruto is determined to prove them wrong. However, Taruto's magic is so erratic that you never know what will happen when she uses it.

A mishap inside the bakery's oven left a loaf of bread inside for too long, resulting in the creation of Kogepan—a charred piece of bread that could never be sold.

Comet, a twelve-year-old princess from the Harmonica Star kingdom, is supposed to attend a ball where the prince of the Tambourine Star country will choose his bride. However, the prince never shows up, so Comet is dispatched to Earth to locate him. He can be identified by the starlight gleaming in his eyes. Upon arriving on Earth, Comet quickly grows fond of the people she encounters. Meanwhile, Princess Meteor from the Castanet Star kingdom also journeys to Earth in pursuit of the same prince. Comet is accompanied by a small puppy named Rubba Ball, who has a star at the tip of his tail. Comet is not the first from her world to visit and fall in love with Earth; a previous visitor did so and got married. That visitor's pet—a white cat with bunny-like ears and a tiny heart on her tail named Bunny—continued to live as a sort of fairy in the forest. Comet draws her power from the stars of her homeland and channels it through a baton. She also wears a special pendant from which Rubba Ball emerges, and which she uses to sense and locate the prince.

Parappa is an ordinary talking dog who likes spending time with his friends, listening to music, and having adventures. Along with his companions, Parappa finds himself in all sorts of odd situations while learning how to get through life, get along with those around him, and yearn for the affection of Sunny Funny, the girl he dreams of. Based on a similarly quirky rhythm game, Parappa the Rapper features a distinctive flat art style, vivid bursts of color, and a cast of strange yet endearing characters. Parappa's friends include an anthropomorphic blue cat, a lamb, and even a flower. Parappa's experiences range from everyday events to the truly strange. He encounters mischievous villains, helps settle matters of friendship and romance, and even journeys through time itself. No matter what happens, Parappa never loses his positive attitude toward life.

Kanzaki Meirin is a junior high school student with the ability to repel evil spirits using feng shui. In reality, she operates as the fortune teller Dr. Rin. Although she harbors romantic feelings for her best friend and soccer club member Yuuki Asuka, he has a strong aversion to fortune-telling and superstitions.

Haruka Tsuchiya is an ordinary university student who owns a pet named Okojo-san. Originally hailing from a northern mountain, Okojo-san was taken to a pet shop for sale. Eager to escape, the pet devised an escape plan that led it to Haruka’s home. The duo experiences frequent humorous and bizarre incidents involving the people and animals around them. This gag anime centers on absurdity as its primary element.

The Daichis are a family on the verge of collapse. Dissatisfied and obsessed with money, mother Seiko has handed divorce papers to her meek, otaku father Mamoru. Daughter Nozomi, who has always been burdened with all the household chores, feels pained by everyone taking advantage of her. The youngest member, Dai, despite being the most foul-mouthed, is forced to watch as everything falls apart. But when the Galaxy Federation recruits the Daichis to fight alien threats to Earth's safety, it becomes a chance for the family to save the world—and possibly themselves.

Nono-chan is the eldest child of the Yamada household and a third-grader in elementary school. Her father is Mr. Yamada Takashi, her mother is Mrs. Yamada Matsuko, and her older brother Noboru is in junior high. Living with her grandmother, this five-member family forms a cheerful Japanese home. Each person has a distinctive personality, and every day overflows with happiness and unexpected moments.

Have you ever encountered the Vampirians? One noble family of these vegetarian vampires was banished from Monsterland because they couldn't frighten humans. To lift their exile, Papa, the family's head, must scare one thousand humans. He tries using his brilliant inventing skills to achieve this, but always fails. Making things harder, Papa's daughter Sue falls in love with a human boy and no longer wishes to return to Monsterland. Can Papa ever bring his family back home?

Piroppo is a brief series commissioned by Sony to advertise their robot dog, Aibo. Although 54 segments of roughly 20 seconds each were produced, the DVD release comprises only 23 titled episodes. Designed by ISHII Katsuhito, who directed Trava Fist Planet and several Grasshoppa live-action projects, the work is a highly original undertaking despite its constrained budget.

In a world where talking vehicles and humans coexist, Patrol-kun, a sentient police car, experiences his first day at the station. There he meets his partner, a human police recruit named Hajime. Together, they begin patrolling the streets of Himawari Town, gathering various life lessons along the way.

Mini Moni, a petite J-pop group that is bright and cheerful, goes on very small adventures, with each short episode lacking an ongoing plot.

Stray Sheep follows Poe, a naive, independent, and curious ram who sleepwalks into unpredictable situations on his journey to rejoin his herd and find the ewe of his dreams.

A boy named Kageman aspires to become the finest detective in the world. Each standalone episode involves an entertaining guessing game and the unraveling of a mystery.

The series follows a boy named Tangoo and a robot named Ullashong.

Baboo Factory is an extremely brief anime that broadcasts during a cooking program titled Wagamanma Kitchen. The characters are adorable alien creatures known as Baboos, originating from the PlayStation game Astronoka. In Astronoka, the Baboos were 3D polygon characters, but in Baboo Factory, they appear as standard 2D anime characters. The Baboos do not communicate in any human language; instead, they only utter "baboo baboo," with Japanese subtitles provided at the bottom of the screen.