9+ Of The Best Anime Like Azumanga Daioh That Won’t Disappoint

Azumanga Daioh is a classic MOE anime series from the very early 2000s. In fact, it’s the reason the moe genre started to take off in the 2000s which influenced anime like K-On, Yuru Yuri, Lucky Star, and others.

The anime is about Chiyo Mihama, a schoolgirl who skipped a few grades because she’s smart and ahead of her age group. As she meets other characters like Sakaki, Kagura, the teachers and so on, they all get up to…. whatever they feel like.

No serious plot, but plenty of comedy and random (sometimes drug-induced) episodes that will give you a good laugh.

Here’s a list of anime that are like Azumanga Daioh!

 

1. Comic Girls

Comic Girls is one of those “cutesy” style anime where the girls are seen doing cute things. This is the trend Azumanga Daioh is responsible for.

It’s about moeta, the main female character, who has pink hair and wants to be a manga artist like the rest of the eventual characters. She joins a dorm of sorts, and they all get to know each other and work together.

All of the manga artists in this series have their own assistants who help get them published or offer harsh criticism if needed t improve their work.

It’s not a serious type of manga-focused anime, but it does have some realistic elements.

 

2. Minami-Ke

One of my low-key favourite anime shows of all time, especially in the slice of life genre.

The anime is about three sisters:

• Kanna Minami.
• Chiaki Minami.
• Haruka Minami.

Haruka is the oldest sister and the one who takes care of everything, while Chiaki is the youngest and follows in her footsteps. And Kanna, the anime’s “class clown” is the middle sister and the funniest.

Both the younger sisters see Haruka as an angel, and that stretches beyond their home into the school they all attend.

Foolish comedy, nonsensical plots, this is a lot like Azumanga Daioh.

 

3. Nichijou

Nichijou is an anime that despite doing well as far as reputation and how well known it is, the series didn’t sell enough and so was scrapped. It’s one of Kyoto Animation’s successful but not-so-successful anime.

The story and its characters work more like a parody than a regular comedy. Characters suplexing raindeers, and doing all kinds of crazy sh*t is the norm in this wacky slice of life/comedy series.

Similar to Azumanga, but with comedy that goes far beyond.

 

4. K-On

K-On is the influence of Azumanga Daioh in a lot of ways. But K-On came later (obviously) and was able to kickstart the moe genre in a major way which hadn’t been done to that extent before it was released.

Yui Hirasawa, an absent-minded extrovert airhead is the main female character. She joins the light music club, a club room where she, Mio Akiyama, Ritsu Tainaka and Tsumugi drink tea, eat cakes, and attempt to make music together.

The plot is random, but always unpredictable and enjoyable.

Yui is the center of the anime’s comedy, while Mio is the serious but easily scared introvert that introverts will relate to on some level.

Their music playing and the growth of this aspect in K-On is a major highlight.

 

5. School Rumble

School Rumble is a classic rom-com series from the early 2000s, around the same time as Azumanga Daioh pretty much. You can think of  School Rumble as the influence for anime like Aho-Girl years later.

The plot is centered around Kenji Harima, an upcoming manga artist and an ex-delinquent who fell in love with Tenma, the anime’s main female character.

Love changes his life drastically, but the love triangles of this anime and the humour in it are what drive the plot forward and make everything work.

Still, with 2 seasons and enough material for a 3rd season, who knows when this anime will get the new season it deserves after so many years?

 

6. Working!!

As the name implies in the simplest way, the anime is focused on working. Specifically, characters who all work in a cafe and their interaction and relationships with each other.

The main female character is a small midget who’s sensitive about her height but is seen as cute which irritates her slightly. She’s the center of the show.

You have other characters, male characters included, that make up the cast for this relaxed slice of life series with definite moe elements.

 

7. Lucky Star

Lucky Star is one of Kyoto Animation’s best pieces of work. The characters are actually older than they look (17 and up), but the designs are drawn to be more childish-like.

Konata Izumi, the blue-haired female main character is the center of the anime’s comedy and humour. While Kagami Hiiragi is the more serious, Tsundere-ish girl who secretly likes BL and Yaoi.

Most characters in this series either like gaming, are Otakus, read manga or light novels, and enjoy Otaku culture in general. This is especially true for Konata Izumi.

 

8. Squid Girl

Squid Girl is an anime that goes under the radar in 2023 and beyond, but the series has a lot of material and is easily one of the most original comedy/slice of life there is.

The anime is about Squid Girl, obviously, and her commitment to ruling the earth which is why she came to the surface from the sea in the first place.

She ends up working for the Lemon Beach House business to pay back the debt after wrecking the place, which is to say Squid Girl is ultimately a child who isn’t as menacing as she makes out to be.

The clever dialogue, especially in the dubbed version of this anime is a major highlight and a bit of a gag with the characters.

 

9. Hidamari Sketch

Yuno, the main female character of this series is interested in art, as are the other characters. After becoming part of a dorm and meeting other girls, this anime’s plot kicks off.

It’s similar to Comic Girls in this way and could be classed as the influence for Comic Girls, even if not deliberate or direct.

The “Moe” in this anime is clear as day, and it’s wholesome and chilled and pretty simplistic.

 

10. Asobi Asobase

There are comedy anime that has your usual comedy, maybe with some so-called moe attached to it. Then there are anime like Asobi Asobase, which are more like parody shows with extreme comedy that goes the extra mile.

It’s the comedy that makes this anime sine the most. You do get the “cute cliches” along with it, and that’s why it can be compared to anime like Azumanga Daioh.

 

11. Diary Of Our Days At The Breakwater

And then there’s Dairy Of Our Days At The Break Water. An anime that’s about fishing. The premise isn’t similar to Azumanga, but the characters, their interactions, what they get up to, certain personalities, and designs feel familiar.

This anime is wholesome, chilled, and relaxing. It’s a bunch of characters by the water, fishing, eating the fish they catch, learning as they go along, and doing whatever tickles their fancy in this kind of environment.

–

Recommended Next:

32+ Of The Cutest Anime Hand Holding Moments