There have been many innovations in animation over the years. The invention of cel animation, which made it easier to show movement without re-drawing the background every frame, having moving backgrounds to show increased depth (pioneered by Snow White in 1937), the introduction of digital coloring with The Little Mermaid, and so on.
My Favorite Short Anime Is…
Another innovation, from a business standpoint, was introducing new “short anime” formats that allowed studios to put out material for fans without taking huge financial risks that the series would disappoint in sales, as the outstanding Nichijou reportedly did. It’s all fine when an anime delights us for years, but who among us ponied up for the $90 Blu-rays? Having series with shorter, 3-, 5- or 10-minute episodes takes the pressure off the studios and gives busy fans more viewing options.
The series that kicked off the short anime trend was Yama no Susume, about cute girls climbing mountains as a way to make friends and manage social anxiety issues. At the time fans were pretty surprised at the minuscule 3-minute format, and the series had trouble making traction with fans. Happily, while many short format shows do remain in permanent obscurity, many shows have broken out and become quite popular.
I asked J-List readers what their favorite short anime series were, and here are some of everyone’s favorites!
Aho Girl
A show about a dumb (aho) girl who does dumb things, usually involving bananas. A fan favorite was the class president who was always so prim and proper, even as she started stalking the main character. It’s one of my favorite short anime series for casual re-watching.
Tsuredure Children
If there’s one show on this list I want everyone to watch, it’s this one. A series of shorts about relationships, the show follows several couples as they try to navigate love. It’s the most adorable thing ever. Go watch it now, we’ll wait here.
Miru Tights
We’re obviously fans of Yom’s amazing sexy tights doujinshi, and have been selling them for years on the site. When we heard they were making an anime about the girls, I wondered how the luxurious look of the tights the artist draws could possibly be animated. Happily, they pulled it off nicely!
Oshiete Galko-chan!
A wonderful short anime about a “gal” — a flamboyantly dressed modern girl who is assumed by society to have loose sexual morals — who is the most pure-hearted girl you’ll ever find in anime. It’s a show that challenges us to not judge people by their appearance, something we should all try to do better. It’s one of my favorite short anime shows.
Ueno-san wa Bukiyou
A show about a perverted science girl — are there any non-perverted science girls in anime? — who wants to attract the attention of her kouhai, Tanaka, so she creates invention after insane invention. Despite the cartoon-ey style, How clumsy you are, Miss Ueno was one of the sexier series of its season.
Joshi Kausei
A strange anime about…anime girls’ thighs. In each short episode, three high school girls go on adventures related to their thighs. The series was interesting in that there’s no dialogue at all.
Isekai Quartet
It seemed like a bad idea at first: take a ton of characters from isekai shows and turn them into chibi students all attending the same high school. Yet the execution was outstanding, and this is a fun show.
I Don’t Understand What My Husband is Saying
An anime series about a “normie” woman who marries an otaku husband and struggles to understand his way of life. Lots of otaku jokes here, as each tries to adapt to the other in their new life.
Why Are You Here, Teacher?
You want some sexy anime trash? I got your anime trash right here, with Why Are You Here, Teacher?, a series in which three different teachers find themselves in ridiculously sexy situations with their hot and sexually frustrated female teachers. Just turn off your brain for this one…and make sure you’re viewing one of the uncensored streams.
The Manga Artist and his Assistants
As a professional poster of sexy gifs to the Internet, I need content, and I usually find it in this great short anime series about a perverted manga artist and his harem of cute female assistants. Because you can’t create art without having lots of sexy anime girls around you 24/7.
How did you like our list? Did we miss your favorite short anime series? Tell us in the comments, or on Twitter!
