Shonen anime is easily one of the most popular genres of anime, spawning some of the most successful and longest-running series of all time. Shows like One Piece, Naruto, Dragon Ball Z, and My Hero Academia are just a few of the many shonen anime that have absolutely burst onto the scene in a definitive fashion.
A big part of what makes shonen so popular is that this genre pretty much combines all the best parts of anime (or manga) into one cohesive package. Everything from action sequences to full-blown romances can be captured within one series, and that variety can be quite a blast to watch.
One such aspect of shonen anime that has remained consistent for quite some time is the comic relief character, with the following ten personalities serving as the best examples of such in this genre.
10 Hange Zoe (Attack On Titan)
A boisterous researcher with one of the most eccentric personalities on the entire show, watching Hange in Attack on Titan is pretty much always a treat because of her commanding presence and side-splitting antics.
Considering Attack on Titan generally maintains a very serious and intense tone, Hanga's flashes of humor are extremely important. Her zany persona diminishes as the series progresses, which is indicative of the massive revelations that happen later on in Attack on Titan.
9 Gintoki Sakata (Gintama)
It was only a given that an article featuring some of the best comedic characters in shonen anime would include the lovable idiots of Gintama. Gintoki arguably reserves the right to be called the most hilarious protagonist to ever feature in a shonen series.
The amazing part about Gintama is that the series somehow manages to present its serious aspects in a rather appropriate manner as well, without compromising on the unrelenting hilarity that has made this property such a hit in the first place. Gintoki serves as the beating heart of the series in this regard — he's always a crucial part of what makes the jokes land even during scenes that are incredibly serious and important to the overarching story. While comedy relief characters are typically not protagonists, Gintoki is often the only character delivering any significant comedy in Gintama's action-driven arcs.
8 Shinpachi Shimura (Gintama)
Of course, it would be impossible to talk about Gintama without mentioning a character who sets the stage for some of the most hilarious moments in the entire show — Shinpachi Shimura.
Pretty much everything that Shinpachi touches in this show turns into comedic gold. The fact that his voice actor is pretty much a spitting image of Shinpachi somehow adds to the comedic chops of this beloved character. Shinpachi often plays the straight man to Gintoki and Kagura, but he can also be the comedy relief character during more serious moments.
7 Kazuma Kuwabara (Yu Yu Hakusho)
Yu Yu Hakusho is a classic show that any fan of shonen anime should see, especially if they love Hunter X Hunter since both series were made by the same creator. While there are several characters in the show that are worth a mention, Kuwabara fits the context of a comedy relief character in a perfect fashion.
Not only is Kuwabara a funny character in his own right, but his personality also allows Yusuke to play off with him and develop his own personality as well. Kuwabara is easily one of the most important characters on the show for this very reason.
6 Jean Pierre Polnareff (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)
The flamboyant nature of Jean Pierre Polnareff makes him an instant highlight of the Stardust Crusaders arc in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. He initially appears as an antagonist before joining the crew in a much-welcome change of heart.
After joining the group, Polnareff instantly establishes himself as one of the funniest characters in the group with his insane overreactions and hilarious lines. His chemistry with the rest of the cast ends up making his presence all the more memorable as well.
5 Alex Louis Armstrong (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is one of the greatest anime of all time, with each and every character featured in this show becoming legendary in their own right. This is especially true for Alex Louis Armstrong, whose exuberant personality is easily the character's best feature.
It's clear that the funny gene is one of the many things in the Armstrong family that has been passed down for generations. This character never fails to deliver a rib-tickling line or two whenever the spotlight is on him.
4 Saitama (One-Punch Man)
One-Punch Man is one of the best shonen anime to have come up in recent times, in no small part due to its brilliant comedic writing and timing. The anime can leave viewers breathless at times due to the relentless pace of the jokes.
At the center of this amazing show is the eponymous hero, Saitama. A bald man with an old-fashioned superhero costume (coupled with an outdated cape), Saitama is a fascinating character to watch due to the boredom he's plagued by after failing to find a single opponent who can handle more than a single punch.
The manner in which Saitama manages to add a funny spin to even the most threatening scenarios is what makes his comedy so effective. While a protagonist in the early parts of the show, Saitama's screentime diminishes as One-Punch Man expands; at points, it genuinely does seem like Saitama is mainly there to be the comedy relief.
3 Genos (One-Punch Man)
Of course, a lot of Saitama's hilarity would've been incomplete had there not been another character with a varying personality he could pair off with. This role is perfectly accomplished by Genos.
It's rather ironic how Genos is so ardent to learn from a superhero who simply managed to attain boundless power with regular strength training, but then that's part of the reason why Genos is such a hilarious character.
2 Reigen Arataka (Mob Psycho 100)
Mob Psycho 100 is a must-watch shonen series, especially for people who love One-Punch Man; after all, both shows were made by the same creator. While Mob himself is hilarious, his mentor is leagues ahead in terms of sheer comedic effectiveness.
Reigen Arataka is the most lovable fictional fraudster of all time. In fact, his personality has way more going on than what meets the eye in even Season 2, with his character arc taking center stage at one point. For such a hilarious character, watching Reigen suffer and contemplate his relationship with Mob is a surprising humanizing moment for him.
1 Sanji (One Piece)
A member of Luffy's crew, Sanji seems extremely cool and composed... that is, until he ends up trying to unsuccessfully woo women or gets irritated by his crewmates. Sanji's "battles" with Zoro are also constantly hilarious.
For all the humor Sanji provides in One Piece, he's also a major part of some of the most iconic non-comedy moments as well. It's no wonder why most One Piece fans absolutely adore this violent chef.