Anime has always had its weird touch, but there are times when you read the title of a series and all you can say is: sorry, what? In this article we are going to review those titles that seem like they came out of a joke, but no, they are real, and yes, they have anime in them. Get ready for a mix of long-winded names, logic-defying concepts and a little bit of “does this really exist?
Anime: Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon
This anime answers a question no one asked: what would happen if you were reincarnated as a vending machine? The protagonist dies and wakes up in a dungeon being, literally, a talking vending machine. Japan-level surrealism.
Mangirl!
No, it’s not what you’re thinking. “Mangirl” comes from ‘manga’ and ‘girl’. It’s about a group of girls who try to launch their own manga magazine with no idea what they’re doing. The mayhem is real, but the title sounds more like a superhero parody of dubious provenance.
League of Nations Air Force Aviation Magic Band Luminous Witches
The title of this anime is like a mix between Wikipedia and a random word generator. Basically, it’s Strike Witches, but with idols who use magic to fight while singing. Because sure, we can say that makes a lot of sense.
Butt Attack Punisher Girl Gautaman
And here we have already gone to the multiverse of the absurd. This is a parody of the magical girls but with “rearguard” attacks. Yes, you read that right. Gautaman saves the world with the power of this huge attribute already mentioned and a sacred attitude. This exists. It has anime. And it is worth mentioning that there are two OVAs.
I My Me! Strawberry Eggs
In addition to the tongue twister, the plot is about a teacher who disguises himself as a woman in order to get a job at an all-girls school. The result is a bizarre mix of social criticism, screwball comedy and lots and lots of “why?
The Strongest Tank’s Labyrinth Raids -A Tank with a Rare 9999 Resistance Skill Got Kicked from the Hero’s Party-
The title tells you the whole story, doesn’t it? In the world of isekai and very long titles, this one takes the prize. And yet, we can’t help but admire the commitment to exaggeration. Because if you’re going to be ridiculous, be epically ridiculous. You can find it on Crunchyroll.
Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai
It sounds like an absurd comedy title, but surprise: it is one of the most emotional and best written anime of the last decade. The “Bunny Girl” is just the hook. What follows is a story about trauma, human relationships and quantum physics. A classic camouflaged as a meme.
My Stepmom’s Daughter Is My Ex’s
This already sounds like a Turkish soap opera with weird dubbing. The title is so straightforward that you’d think it’s an absurd comedy, but no, it has some pretty serious moments. Even so, it’s still weird as hell.
I Want You to Make a Disgusted Face and Show Me Your Underwear
Worst of all, it’s not a joke. This anime exists. And it is exactly what it says. A collection of scenes with girls showing their underwear while making disgusted faces. Japan, are you okay?
I Want to Eat Your Pancreas
This is a sad drama about a girl with a terminal illness and her friendship with a boy who finds her diary. The title is a metaphor, but even so, it still sounds like something out of Tokyo Ghoul. A scary title, but it hides a huge heart.
There is no doubt that there is something that only anime can do: leave you confused, intrigued and curious just by reading the name of a series. Because yes, sometimes you don’t even need to see the trailer to know you’re about to enter bizarre territory. Some titles seem to come out of a fever dream, others are so long they could be an entire chapter and there are some that simply shouldn’t exist, but do.
Anime has never been afraid to take risks. Maybe sometimes the title is so long that you need to drink water halfway through or so strange that you doubt your mental health, but at the end of the day, that’s part of the magic. Behind every crazy name is a story sometimes good, sometimes terrible, but always unique.