Anime is known to be overly dramatic, emphasizing its points with energetic reactions and bizarre moments. However, anime is so special and beloved because it is over-the-top and ridiculous. Every series is a bit over-the-top, including some of the most popular anime, such as One Piece and Solo Leveling.
However, some series take things to the next level, being so overly dramatic that it engulfs the entire show. This list will rank the ten best over-the-top anime that are worth watching based on originality, unique aspects, exaggerated characters/emotions, overly dramatic moments, excessive elements, going beyond expectations, and overall quality.
10
‘Kuroko’s Basketball’ (2012–2014)
Created by Tadatoshi Fujimaki
Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world, so it is only natural that anime would produce its own show surrounding the game. Kuroko’s Basketball follows the titular character, who joins forces with a hothead in their new high school. Kuroko looks to prove his style of basketball by defeating all his previous arrogant teammates.
In comparison to the other anime on this list, Kuroko’s Basketball may not be the most over-the-top, but considering its genre and content, it is deservedly on this list. Most sports anime, including this one, are overly dramatic, but it takes things to the next level with flashy special powers and sparkling lights. Kuroko’s Basketball is pure entertainment because of the unrealistic moments/characters, and flamboyant moves.
- Release Date
-
2012 – 2014
- Directors
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Shunsuke Tada
- Writers
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Noburo Takagi, Tadatoshi Fujimaki
- Franchise(s)
-
Kuroko’s Basketball
9
‘Dandadan’ (2024–)
Created by Yukinobu Tatsu
2024 was a great year for anime, and one of the biggest hits was Dandadan, a story about love, ghosts, and aliens. Okarun believes in aliens but not ghosts; Momo believes in the opposite. When they dare each other, Momo awakens her psychic powers, and a spirit possesses Okarun, resulting in a goofy quest to find his missing golden balls.
Dandadan isn’t great at subtlety, with everything the show does being dialed up to eleven. However, this works in its favor, using its overwhelming sexual content and outrageous situations to create an over-the-top anime that matches the silly characters and creatures. Dandadan is one of the best shōnen anime of the decade and became so through originality and alien/ghost madness.
8
‘The Disastrous Life of Saiki K’ (2016–2018)
Created by Shūichi Asō
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K follows the titular protagonist and strongest psychic in the world. However, only his parents know, and he would like to keep it a secret and maintain his lackluster life. However, his endearing and bizarre group of friends and classmates make life more difficult for him than he’d like, constantly having to save them with his powers while avoiding being found out.
Any comedy anime is going to be over-the-top; that’s just how Japanese humor works. However, Saiki K doubles down through its eccentric cast and psychic insanity, which creates unexpected moments and unforgettable jokes. Everything in Saiki K is over-the-top and ridiculous, from the character designs to the scenarios to the personality, but that’s what makes it one of the most rewatchable anime series.
7
‘Food Wars! Shokugeki No Soma’ (2015–2020)
Created by Yūto Tsukuda and Shun Saeki
Who said cooking wasn’t exciting? There are many gourmet anime, but Food Wars! Shokugeki No Soma takes the cake as the most popular and arguably the best. After his father closes the family restaurant, Soma enters an elite cooking academy, where debates are settled with food battles. Competition boils over every day, allowing Soma to perfect his craft and culinary expertise.
While the cooking competitions and drama are over-the-top, Food Wars lands on this list for one main reason: the exaggerated reactions. This anime takes food orgasms to the next level, providing very explicit reactions to the best-tasting food. Clothes fly off, and explicit emotions are made with every bit, meaning the food in Food Wars must be delectable.
6
‘Nichijou’ (2011)
Created by Keiichi Arawi
Like Saiki K, Nichijou is a comedy anime that takes its jokes and gags to the extreme. Roughly translated to “everyday life,” this anime is anything but normal. Following the residents of an unnamed town, including three high school girls, a child genius, a robot, and a talking cat, they get up to hilariously chaotic daily adventures that annoy the equally absurd civilians.
Nichijou has a wide range of comedy, touching on subtle gags or pure shock factor, but everything it does is unexpected. From German suplexing a deer to destroying a building with laser beams, this anime is very extra with everything it does, no matter where it starts. Small things can escalate into grand, multiple-episode surreal jokes. Nichijou is a modern classic because of its one-of-a-kind humor and over-the-top comedy.
5
‘Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt’ (2010–2011)
Created by Hiroyuki Imaishi
Right from the title, fans can already expect Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt to be an overly sexual and explicit anime. After misbehaving, heaven kicks out the two titular angels, with their only way back to the pearly gates being through exterminating demons. Each episode is a new raunchy adventure of them taking down demons and building their reputation back up.
Heavily inspired by Western cartoons, Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt makes a Western anime with influences from both mediums to create the wackiest piece of fiction. Taking the weirdest things from cartoons and anime, this show is a sexual romp with explicit humor, flashy gun fights, and chaotic pacing. Fans had better watch the first season since season two of Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt is one of the most anticipated anime of 2025.
Panty & Stocking With Garterbelt
- Release Date
-
2010 – 2011-00-00
- Directors
-
Hiroyuki Imaishi
- Writers
-
TAGRO, Hiroyuki Imaishi, Jamie Marchi
- Franchise(s)
-
Panty & Stocking With Garterbelt
4
‘Grappler Baki’ (2001)
Created by Keisuke Itagaki
There comes a point in every boy’s life when they want to be the strongest person possible, and Grappler Baki is about just that. After his father made him for the sole purpose of finding a worthy opponent, Baki trains night and day in order to best his dad, the strongest human on Earth. However, he must face increasingly challenging and weird opponents if he wants to be the strongest.
While the original anime is fairly forgotten, the Netflix sequel brought the series back in a big way to remind fans how crazy Baki is. It uses some real techniques but plants an assortment of random challenges that make no sense but are entertaining nonetheless. Baki and Yujiro have an excellent dynamic, but the best part of the anime is the ridiculous characters and fights, including a giant imaginary praying mantis, a caveman, and a prison riot with alternate versions of Mike Tyson and Che Guevara.
- Release Date
-
2018 – 2019
- Directors
-
Toshiki Hirano
- Writers
-
Tatsuhiko Urahata
- Franchise(s)
-
Baki the Grappler
3
‘Kill la Kill’ (2013–2014)
Created by Kazuki Nakashima
Studio Trigger is one of the most renowned anime production companies, and it is known for creating some of the most imaginative and unique shows, including Kill la Kill. After the death of her father, Ryuko’s only clue is half of a giant scissor. Searching for his killer, she stumbles upon an elite academy, where she suspects the suspect is hiding.
Like many anime, Kill la Kill features overly sexual content, and this is partially why the show is over-the-top. But it mainly lands on this list because of its bright colors, in-your-face animation, piercing art style, and extravagant story. Its action sequences and flashy animation provide a spectacle to watch, making Kill la Kill one of the best action anime.
2
‘Gurren Lagann’ (2007)
Created by Kazuki Nakashima
Like Trigger, Gainax was a renowned studio that made some notable works with their trademark weirdness, including Gurren Lagann. After two friends find an ancient mech underground, they use it to finally reach the surface and start a new life. Aiming to conquer the stars, Simon and Kamina team up with whoever to battle whoever in this epic mecha sci-fi anime.
While everything is overly dramatic and epic beyond belief, that’s Gurren Lagann‘s appeal, which makes the show one hundred times more worth watching. No anime fan should go their entire life without watching this anime, as it delivers the most stunning series of events possible. Throwing galaxies at a universal entity is on the tame side for Gurren Lagann, which is over-the-top in everything it does, making it a perfect sci-fi anime series.
1
‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’ (2012–)
Created by Hirohiko Araki
Anime is a weird medium, but none embodies that aspect, as well as Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, the craziest series full of random enemies, nonsensical moments, and absurd abilities. Each part follows a new member of the Joestar lineage on a crazy new journey, usually involving their ancestral enemy, Dio.
Everything this anime does is extra and over-the-top; even the simplest story points or interactions are made ten times more bizarre. Jojo characters are beloved and brimming with originality; everything is unique, from the design to their personalities to their powers. The suspense is riveting, and the fights are captivating, using the most outrageous moments to create an anime that is constantly over-the-top.
