Top 23 Weirdest Anime: The Strangest Stories Ever Animated

How do I even start…

The Monogatari series is a mix of psychological horror, supernatural mysteries, and rapid-fire dialogue that barely gives you time to process what’s happening.

It follows Koyomi Araragi, a high school student dealing with oddities, strange supernatural occurrences that take the form of ghostly apparitions, spirits, and vampires.

What makes Monogatari weird? Everything. The conversations are fast, witty, and filled with cryptic references.

The animation style constantly shifts in unexpected ways. The characters engage in some of the most surreal interactions imaginable.

It’s an anime that demands your full attention, and once it gets you hooked, it’s impossible to look away.

Bakemonogatari info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 15
• Released: Summer 2009
• Studios: Shaft
• Genres: Mystery, Romance, Supernatural
• Themes: Vampire
• Score: 8.32 (MAL), 8.0 (IMDb)

Ever wondered what it’d be like to be reincarnated as someone’s pet dog? No? Well, My Life as Inukai-san’s Dog explores exactly that, from a first-person perspective.

Yes, you experience everything through the eyes of a literal dog, as his owner (a beautiful high school girl) takes care of him in ways that are… let’s just say, very suggestive.

It’s awkward, it’s ridiculous, and it’s one of the most uniquely weird anime out there.

My Life as Inukai-san’s Dog info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Inu ni Nattara Suki na Hito ni Hirowareta
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Winter 2023
• Studios: Quad
• Genres: Comedy, Ecchi
• Themes: N/A
• Score: 5.05 (MAL), 4.4 (IMDb)

Watch My Life as Inukai-san’s Dog trailer:

If you’ve never heard of kappa before, they’re mythical Japanese creatures that are part turtle, part humanoid, and known for stealing people’s shirikodama, a mystical organ located in…well, a place you don’t want anything stolen from.

Sarazanmai, directed by Kunihiko Ikuhara (Penguindrum), follows three boys who get transformed into kappa and must fight supernatural enemies by literally extracting people’s hidden desires (yes, through their butts).

If that didn’t make sense… well, welcome to Sarazanmai.

It’s a musical, deeply symbolic, and emotionally heavy series. It explores connection, desire, and identity. All of this is wrapped in a bizarre mix of transformation sequences, catchy songs, and surreal storytelling.

Sarazanmai info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 11
• Released: Spring 2019
• Studios: MAPPA, Lapin Track
• Genres: Action, Supernatural
• Themes: Anthropomorphic
• Score: 7.47 (MAL), 6.9 (IMDb)

Watch Sarazanmai trailer:

Imagina a world where seeing too many panties could literally end the world. And it’s not even the weirdest thing in Punch Line.

The protagonist, Yūta, is cursed. If he gets too excited by seeing panties, a meteor will crash into Earth, wiping out humanity. That’s the central premise of Punch Line.

While the concept is played for laughs, the anime itself takes a wild turn with supernatural battles, time loops, and mind-bending twists.

It starts off as a silly fanservice-heavy comedy, but before you know it, you’re knee-deep in an intense sci-fi thriller.

Come for the ridiculous premise, stay for the shockingly deep story.

Punch Line info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Spring 2015
• Studios: MAPPA
• Genres: Comedy, Sci-Fi, Supernatural, Ecchi
• Themes: Super Power, Time Travel
• Score: 6.89 (MAL), 6.0 (IMDb)

Watch Punch Line trailer:

If Alice in Wonderland was an anime, it might look something like Kyousougiga.

Set in a colorful, chaotic mirror world, this anime follows a girl who wields a giant hammer and gets tangled up in a surreal family drama full of gods, monks, and bizarre creatures.

With its breathtaking animation, intricate symbolism, and fast-paced storytelling, Kyousougiga feels like a fever dream brought to life.

It’s a feast for the eyes and the mind, though it may require multiple viewings to fully appreciate its depth.

Kyousougiga info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 10
• Released: Fall 2013
• Studios: Toei Animation
• Genres: Action, Fantasy
• Themes: N/A
• Score: 7.69 (MAL), 6.9 (IMDb)

A wrestling anime, but make it weird. Keijo!!!!!!!! takes the traditional shonen sports formula and applies it to… butt-battling competitions.

The entire premise revolves around a professional sport where women battle each other using only their butts and breasts while standing on floating platforms.

Despite how ridiculous it sounds, the anime takes its “sport” extremely seriously.

There are special moves, ridiculous slow-motion effects, and over-the-top power-ups like the “Vacuum Butt Cannon.” It’s absurd, but also strangely hype.

Keijo!!!!!!!! info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Hip Whip Girl: Keijo!!!!!!
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Fall 2016
• Studios: Xebec
• Genres: Sports, Ecchi
• Themes: Combat Sports
• Score: 6.90 (MAL), 6.7 (IMDb)

Being reincarnated as a slime, skeleton, or sword still makes some sense. A slime is a living organism, it could evolve in fantasy setting. A skeleton still has a humanoid form.

And a sword? Well, in anime, there are plenty of swords that talk, retain intelligence, and interact with their wielders.

But a vending machine? It has no natural way to survive in a fantasy world, making it the most illogical choice. No biological functions, severe mobility limitations, and no combat abilities?!

Actually… what am I even saying? At this point, I don’t know what’s normal or not in anime anymore. HELP ME.

The title says it all. It’s a story of a man who dies and is reincarnated as a vending machine in a fantasy world.

Unable to move, he can only communicate through pre-programmed vending machine phrases.

Fortunately, a strong warrior girl finds him useful and carries him around, leading to some of the strangest adventures ever.

It’s an isekai that leans into its ridiculous premise and somehow makes it work.

Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Jidou Hanbaiki ni Umarekawatta Ore wa Meikyuu wo Samayou
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Summer 2023
• Studios: Studio Gokumi, AXsiZ
• Genres: Comedy, Fantasy
• Themes: Isekai, Reincarnation
• Score: 6.46 (MAL), 6.3 (IMDb)

Imagine a dystopian city where sorcerers experiment on humans, leaving behind grotesque mutations and chaos.

Now, add a lizard-headed protagonist named Caiman who’s trying to regain his memories, and a psychotic cook named Nikaido. That’s Dorohedoro.

Along the way, he faces off against wicked sorcerers, eats an unhealthy amount of gyoza, and teams up with the ultimate best girl, Nikaido.

This anime is a chaotic blend of dark humor, violence, and pure weirdness. It has an absurd yet fascinating world where sorcerers casually turn people into bugs, and a giant talking cockroach named Johnson steals the show.

It’s like a fever dream, gritty, unpredictable, and bizarrely charming.

Dorohedoro info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Winter 2020
• Studios: MAPPA
• Genres: Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Horror
• Themes: Gore
• Score: 8.05 (MAL), 8.0 (IMDb)

If there’s one anime that lives up to the word “bizarre,” it would be JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.

From the very first arc, this series throws reality out the window and never looks back. Expect muscular men striking dramatic poses, psychic battles with absurdly specific abilities, and moments that turn into instant memes.

One minute, a vampire is freezing time, and the next, a gangster is punching someone into an infinite death loop.

If you’ve ever wondered where all those JoJo memes come from, just watch this show. You’ll get it soon enough.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken
• Episodes: 26
• Released: Fall 2012
• Studios: David Production
• Genres: Action, Adventure, Supernatural
• Themes: Historical, Vampire
• Score: 7.87 (MAL), 8.5 (IMDb)

If anime had an energy drink form, it’d be FLCL.

This six-episode chaotic fever dream throws in robots bursting from heads, guitar battles, and an alien girl on a Vespa, because why not?

Naota’s dull life flips when Haruko smacks him with a guitar, triggering mechs, conspiracies, and pure madness.

Beneath the absurdity, though, lies a surprisingly deep coming-of-age story. Short, bizarre, and unforgettable, FLCL is a must-watch.

FLCL info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 6
• Released: 2001
• Studios: Gainax, Production I.G
• Genres: Action, Avant Garde, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Suspense
• Themes: Mecha, Parody, Psychological
• Score: 8.03 (MAL), 8.1 (IMDb)

Kunihiko Ikuhara, the mastermind behind Revolutionary Girl Utena, is known for crafting surreal, deeply symbolic stories, and Penguindrum is no exception.

The plot? Two brothers make a deal with a sentient penguin hat to save their terminally ill sister, under the condition that they find the mysterious Penguindrum.

The anime bounces between tragic drama and absolute nonsense, featuring random penguins, bizarre transformations, and mind-bending storytelling.

It’s weird in a way that makes you think, and you’ll probably still be decoding its meaning long after finishing it.

Penguindrum info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Mawaru Penguindrum
• Episodes: 24
• Released: Summer 2011
• Studios: Brain’s Base
• Genres: Avant Garde, Drama, Mystery, Supernatural, Suspense
• Themes: Psychological
• Score: 7.93 (MAL), 7.4 (IMDb)

Imagine a world where martial artists are so strong that they can literally flex their muscles to stop earthquakes. That’s Baki in a nutshell.

The series follows Baki Hanma, a fighter aiming to surpass his monstrous father, Yujiro Hanma, who is basically a walking natural disaster.

What makes Baki so weird isn’t just the grotesquely over-exaggerated muscles or the fact that fighters casually break the laws of physics, it’s the absurd scenarios.

In one episode, a man survives getting his face caved in and just walks it off. In another, a convict literally jumps out of a high-security prison and nobody questions it.

It’s a fever dream of over-the-top testosterone, and every fight feels like a showdown between demigods.

Baki the Grappler info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 24
• Released: Winter 2001
• Studios: Group TAC
• Genres: Sports
• Themes: Combat Sports, Gore
• Score: 7.45 (MAL), 7.5 (IMDb)

Not all weird anime are comedy, some are just straight-up mind-bending. Serial Experiments Lain is a psychological deep-dive into the internet, reality, and human consciousness.

It follows a girl named Lain who gets drawn into the Wired (a version of the internet), where she begins to question if she even exists.

The series is slow, eerie, and loaded with hidden meanings, making it one of the most thought-provoking and unsettling anime ever made.

Serial Experiments Lain info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 13
• Released: Summer 1998
• Studios: Triangle Staff
• Genres: Avant Garde, Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Supernatural, Suspense
• Themes: Psychological
• Score: 8.09 (MAL), 8.1 (IMDb)

Take three hardcore yakuza members, force them into gender reassignment surgery, and turn them into a cutesy J-pop idol group, that’s Back Street Girls.

This anime is exactly as ridiculous as it sounds. The contrast between the characters’ tough-guy inner monologues and their forced cutesy idol personas is pure comedy gold.

Picture tough guys in frilly dresses trying to keep their yakuza spirit alive while performing choreographed dances. It’s unhinged in the best way.

Back Street Girls: Gokudols info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 10
• Released: Summer 2018
• Studios: J.C.Staff
• Genres: Comedy, Ecchi
• Themes: Gag Humor, Organized Crime, Workplace
• Score: 6.98 (MAL), 6.6 (IMDb)

If random had an anime, it would be Excel Saga. This show is a nonstop barrage of absurdity, breaking the fourth wall, and throwing logic out the window.

It follows Excel, an overly energetic girl working for a secret organization bent on world domination, except she’s terrible at it.

The anime constantly shifts genres, makes fun of anime tropes, and breaks the fourth wall. One episode might parody shoujo romance, the next might turn into a war movie, and then suddenly, you’re watching a sci-fi horror.

It’s unpredictable, fast-paced, and absolutely bonkers. If you enjoy chaotic comedy that never takes itself seriously, Excel Saga is a must-watch.

Excel Saga info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Heppoko Jikken Animation Excel Saga
• Episodes: 26
• Released: Fall 1999
• Studios: J.C.Staff
• Genres: Comedy, Sci-Fi
• Themes: Adult Cast, Gag Humor, Parody
• Score: 7.48 (MAL), 7.5 (IMDb)

Romance anime often have their quirky elements, but Mysterious Girlfriend X takes things to a whole new level.

The story revolves around Akira, a normal high school student, who one day tastes the drool of his mysterious classmate, Mikoto, and immediately becomes addicted to it.

Yes, you read that right. He literally forms a dependence on her saliva.

Despite the utterly bizarre premise, the anime somehow manages to tell an oddly sweet and compelling love story.

If you can get past the saliva-sharing gimmick, you’ll find a romance that explores emotional bonds in a truly unconventional way.

Mysterious Girlfriend X info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Nazo no Kanojo X
• Episodes: 13
• Released: Spring 2012
• Studios: Hoods Entertainment
• Genres: Romance
• Themes: School
• Score: 7.23 (MAL), 7.1 (IMDb)

A successful businessman ends up indebted to a homeless girl who believes she’s from Venus, forcing him to live under a bridge with a community of absolute weirdos.

Among the residents: a man in a kappa suit (who insists he’s an actual kappa), a rock star with a star-shaped mask, and a nun who’s actually a former soldier.

Despite the outlandish setup, Arakawa Under the Bridge is surprisingly heartfelt, showing how even the weirdest people have their own version of normal.

Arakawa Under the Bridge info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 13
• Released: Spring 2010
• Studios: Shaft
• Genres: Comedy, Romance
• Themes: N/A
• Score: 7.56 (MAL), 7.1 (IMDb)

Take an all-boys school, throw in an absurdly strict underground student council, and mix it with the most exaggerated fanservice imaginable, welcome to Prison School.

The anime follows five guys who get thrown into the school’s prison for trying to peep into the girls’ bathhouse.

From there, things escalate into brutal punishments, insane power struggles, and some of the most absurdly dramatic scenes ever.

Despite being packed with fanservice, Prison School plays everything so seriously that it turns into pure comedic gold.

Prison School info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Summer 2015
• Studios: J.C.Staff
• Genres: Comedy, Ecchi
• Themes: Gag Humor, School
• Score: 7.59 (MAL), 7.5 (IMDb)

A delinquent wakes up one day to find that his right hand has turned into a tiny girl named Midori. That’s the entire premise of Midori Days, and yes, it’s exactly as weird as it sounds.

What follows is a mix of romantic comedy and slice-of-life hijinks as Seiji adjusts to his unusual predicament.

It’s goofy, endearing, and surprisingly heartfelt, making it a hidden gem among weird anime.

Midori Days info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Midori no Hibi
• Episodes: 13
• Released: Spring 2004
• Studios: Pierrot
• Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Ecchi
• Themes: Delinquents, School
• Score: 7.21 (MAL), 7.2 (IMDb)

What if magical girls transformed into buff, muscular men instead of cute, frilly warriors? That’s Magical Girl Ore.

In this parody series, a weak idol girl finds out her mother was a magical girl, except in this world, the transformation turns you into a muscular dude in a frilly outfit.

It hilariously flips the magical girl trope on its head, making for one of the strangest yet funniest takes on the genre.

Magical Girl Ore info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Mahou Shoujo Ore
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Spring 2018
• Studios: Pierrot Plus
• Genres: Comedy
• Themes: Idols (Female), Mahou Shoujo, Parody
• Score: 6.64 (MAL), 6.1 (IMDb)

Imagine if an anime was written by a sleep-deprived comedian on a sugar rush, that’s Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo.

This series is the very definition of nonsense humor. There’s no logic, no consistency, and yet, it’s endlessly entertaining.

The plot? A hero with a giant golden afro fights an evil empire using his nose hair as a weapon. Alongside him are a jellyfish, a sentient sun, and a talking block of tofu.

The humor is so random and nonsensical that no two episodes feel the same. If you love unfiltered chaos, this is your show.

Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 76
• Released: Fall 2003
• Studios: Toei Animation
• Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
• Themes: Gag Humor, Parody
• Score: 7.50 (MAL), 7.1 (IMDb)

An idol group consisting of four Greco-Roman busts. Yes, they don’t move, don’t change expressions, and yet they somehow have full personalities.

The anime follows an idol manager in charge of four statues. Mars, Hermes, Saint Giorgio, and Medici, who somehow have booming voices, charming personalities, and a dedicated fanbase.

The comedy comes from how the show treats them completely seriously, following their rise as musical idols while their manager struggles to deal with their stone-cold attitudes.

Sekkou Boys info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Winter 2016
• Studios: LIDENFILMS
• Genres: Comedy
• Themes: Anthropomorphic, Idols (Male), Music
• Score: 6.25 (MAL), 5.9 (IMDb)

At first glance, Dragon Pilot: Hisone and Masotan seems like a wholesome aviation anime about a girl joining an elite military unit.

Then you realize that the “fighter jets” are actually dragons in disguise… and to pilot them, you have to let them swallow you whole.

It’s an odd mix of adorable, surreal, and strangely heartwarming. Despite the absurd premise, the anime is beautifully animated and delivers a surprisingly deep story about self-discovery and personal growth.

Dragon Pilot: Hisone and Masotan info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Hisone to Maso-tan
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Spring 2018
• Studios: Bones
• Genres: Award Winning, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
• Themes: Military
• Score: 7.29 (MAL), 6.8 (IMDb)

Embracing the Weird Side of Anime

When is something considered too weird? Is there even a limit to weirdness? I don’t want to think about it too much.

Anime is at its best when it dares to be different, and these bizarre series prove that “weird” isn’t a bad thing, it’s what makes them unforgettable (or makes us want to forget them).

So, which of these bizarre anime have you seen? Got any other weird recommendations? Drop them in the comments, I’d love to hear your favorites!