Television series
Excel Saga
- Comedy
- Light-hearted
- Strange
- Relentless
A absurdist comedy anime where an incompetent secret agent and her oblivious boss bumble through increasingly surreal missions to conquer the world. Excel Saga is deliberately chaotic—rapid-fire jokes, breaking the fourth wall, wild tonal shifts, genre pastiches. It's for people who find structure boring and don't mind if half the gags don't land as long as the ones that do make you gasp-laugh.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you laugh hardest at anarchic, fourth-wall-kicking absurdism where the jokes come fast, the parody is relentless, and the gags keep escalating until the whole thing collapses into delighted chaos.
Skip it if you want a story that settles into character arcs or stays on one track, since its episodes swerve constantly and the bits can feel scattershot, and some of the humour is deliberately crude.
What it asks of you: Twenty-six half-hour episodes, each one a sprint through sketch-like set pieces, so you need to be willing to let the frantic rhythm wash over you rather than follow a plot.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
Azuki-chan1995
Another gonzo comedy from the same fertile moment in anime history. It shares Excel Saga's love of rapid jokes, absurdist non-sequiturs, and characters whose schemes never quite work as planned. Same manic energy.
But Even by nineties anime standards it can feel scattered. Some episodes are stronger than others and there's little overarching story to hold it together.
Puni Puni Poemy2001
Two episodes of pure visual madness: joke-per-second pacing, genre parodies, reality collapsing. It's what happens if you distill Excel Saga's chaos down to its absolute essence. By the same director.
But It's only two episodes, so there's barely any character to invest in. Also completely incoherent, which some people find exhausting rather than fun.
Kill la Kill2013
High-energy action comedy with the same willingness to be ridiculous, break narrative rules, and pile on visual jokes while still delivering genuine excitement. Energetic in the same way—breathless, unrelenting, constantly surprising.
But It's much more grounded in plot and character than Excel Saga, so if you specifically want pure chaos with no anchors, this might feel too narratively driven.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Excel Saga
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story2020
Both attack their genres from the inside, using audience expectations as a weapon. But Madoka uses that power to make you hurt, while Excel Saga uses it to make you laugh.
Looks like a cute magical-girl show; becomes something much darker. It plays with genre expectations the way Excel Saga does—subverting what you think you're watching, refusing to follow the rules of its premise.
But It's genuinely sad and thematically serious where Excel Saga is frivolous. The tone shift, when it comes, is permanent and uncomfortable, not comedic.
More like this (6)
Nichijou2011
A joke-per-second comedy anime that celebrates the absurd in everyday life. Rapid-fire gags, visual experimentation, a love of comedy for its own sake. Shares Excel Saga's commitment to making you laugh above all else.
But The lack of plot and character development means it can feel thin by the end of a series. Some people find relentless comedy exhausting without emotional stakes.
Haibane Renmei2002
A weird, dreamlike series that respects the viewer's intelligence and refuses easy answers. Like Excel Saga, it doesn't follow genre conventions, though it uses that freedom for mystery and mood rather than jokes.
But It's quiet, contemplative, and slow where Excel Saga is loud and manic. If you want that same frenetic pace, this will feel glacial.
Great Teacher Onizuka1999
A comedy with real warmth about an ex-biker who becomes a teacher. The humor comes from character and situation rather than rapid-fire gags, but it has the same Japanese comedy sensibility and a beating heart underneath.
But It's conventional and sincere in ways Excel Saga aggressively is not. If you want to avoid structure and earnestness, this will feel straightforward.
Seto no Hanayome2007
A romantic comedy anime with similar energy to Excel Saga—jokes come fast, characters are lovably incompetent, and it doesn't take itself seriously. Fun without trying to be clever or precious.
But It's more interested in plot and character growth than pure chaos. If you want wall-to-wall absurdism, the genre conventions will annoy you.
Outlaw Star1998
Space opera that mixes action, comedy, and genuine charm. It has some of Excel Saga's willingness to be silly and lean into anime tropes, though it's more focused on building a world and story.
But It prioritizes adventure and plot over comedy, so it's calmer and more conventional. The humor feels like seasoning rather than the whole meal.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles1990
Both understand that the funniest response to an absurd setup is not to mock it, but to play it completely straight. Excel Saga finds that in animation; this finds it in practical effects and human commitment.
A live-action blockbuster that never forgets it's about martial-arts-trained turtles living in sewers. It's sincere about the absurd premise in exactly the way Excel Saga is—no winking, no apology, just committed to the bit.
But It's a real action film with genuine stakes and violence. If you want lightweight comedy with no dramatic weight, the earnestness will undercut the fun.
Recommended by
Cromartie High School, Perfect Hair Forever, Taiho Shichau zo, Mr. Osomatsu, Tenchi Muyou!, Puni Puni Poemy, Combatants Will Be Dispatched!, Is This a Zombie?