Top 20 Guilty Pleasure Anime
Script written by Mark Sammut
#20: “Eromanga Sensei” (2017)
Tsukasa Fushimi doing what he does best. "Eromanga Sensei" centers around the relationship between a brother and sister, although the protagonists are step-siblings this time around. Masamune is a light novel writer who learns that his younger sister, Sagiri, is Eromanga, the secret illustrator who works on his projects. Masamune and Sagiri are not especially strong leads, but the show makes up for it with a decent secondary cast, with characters such as Elf and Megumi being particularly entertaining. As long as somebody knows what they are in for, "Eromanga Sensei" is peak trash just waiting to be digested.
#19: “Combatants Will Be Dispatched!” (2021)
From the same author who blessed the world with "KonoSuba" comes...this. An anime that struggles to step out of the shadow of its predecessor, but refuses to skip out on the vulgarity. Agent 6 and the AI droid Alice are sent to take over a planet, a mission that naturally complicates itself almost immediately. It;s sense of humour is pretty much identical to KonoSuba, although with a less memorable protagonist. Just go in expecting a silly show with fun minor characters and, for the most part, the antics of these two would-be villains should steal a laugh from you.
#18: “Domestic Girlfriend” (2019)
Natsuo has a thing for his teacher, Hina, but also unknowingly slept with her sister, Rui. Naturally, Natsuo's father gets remarried to Hina and Rui's mother, suddenly domesticating this love triangle. "Domestic Girlfriend" is a roller coaster of bad decisions, immature people, and steamy sessions. Thus we have our beautiful, dumpster fire of anime that ticks yet flips every trope of its genre. Whether regarded as a total trainwreck or a memorable look into adolescent desire, this series can’t be accused of being boring.
#17: “Magical Sempai” (2019)
Top 10 Magical Girls In Anime
A bit of magic never hurt anyone. A sketch show that tries to hit the sweet spot between comedy and ecchi, and for the most part it does a pretty good job at it. A high school student winds up joining the Magic Club at the behest of the titular Sempai, a decision that spawns a surprisingly great double act. Sempai's boundless enthusiasm and clumsiness bounce well off her Assistant's straight-man act, and the two leads are not the only likable characters on the show. It’s an easy sit, especially with Sempai at the helm.
#16: “Queen's Blade” (2009)
Here’s one you might want to avoid watching with your parents. "Queen's Blade" is an infamous show known for its risky content, especially for a long-running fantasy anime. Admittedly most don’t watch this for the plot, even as the anime makes a...semi-decent attempt to do some world building while introducing the contestants for the upcoming tournament arc. Though we don’t blame you if you didn’t actually get that far. Having a first episode that features a bunny demon shooting acid out of her bare chest while sounding like Amy Rose can be a tad...off-putting.
#15: “Miru Tights” (2019)
Look, you know what you’re getting into here. Don’t blame us. "Miru Tights" is beyond criticism in the sense that it delivers exactly what it promises, nothing more and nothing less. Spread over 13 standalone short episodes, "Miru Tights" centers around three high school students who really love tights; they love wearing them, feeling them, and showing them off. A slice of life show in certain ways, this thing is shockingly well animated, whilst never overstaying its welcome. Put aside an hour and experience true culture.
#14: “Keijo!” (2016)
Come in expecting a shameless ecchi series about women battling for dominance using their posteriors, and leave having watched a delightful sports anime about women battling for dominance using their posteriors...AND the power of friendship. "Keijo" creates a unique sport that seems tailor-made for fanservice. While there is a fair amount of jiggling, the anime takes its premise and characters rather seriously. Dumb but fun, you’ll be surprised just how much effort when into the design of its busty brawls!
#13: “SHIMONETA: A Boring World Where the Concept of Dirty Jokes Doesn't Exist” (2015)
In this version of Japan, erotic humor and sexual behavior have been outlawed. While many people have come to accept this reality, others refuse to bow down without a fight. "Shimoneta" wholeheartedly embraces sexuality with every fiber of its being, blending raunchy gags with funny dialogue and gloriously over-the-top characters. For all its unapologetically ecchi influences, it does explore the genuine consequences of living in such a repressed and censored society, even if its focus is primarily on getting laughs. Just be warned that after watching, you won’t be able to look at cookies the same way.
#12: “Chivalry of a Failed Knight” (2015)
"Generic" shows get a bad rep; there's nothing wrong with sticking to a tried and tested formula, permitting it's done well. This modern-day hack and slash follows Ikki; a failing student due to his poor affinity for magic. It's the classic underdog story, but the series shakes things up by making Ikki competent, speeding up his growth, and throwing out a refreshingly mature romance. Ikki and Stella's relationship serves as the story's beating heart, and the anime allows them to be a couple rather than a whole season teasing it.
#11: “How Not to Summon a Demon Lord” (2018-)
Another Top 10 Guilty Pleasure Anime
There are approximately a million isekai anime out there, most of which do not offer much outside of an overpowered protagonist, a generic fantasy RPG world, and maybe a harem. On the surface, "Demon Lord” is about as bog-standard of an isekai as possible; however, it has a few things that set it apart. For one thing, Diablo very much struggles to keep up the charade of being an unflinching and terrifying evil monarch, leading to plenty of hilarious moments. The two main girls, Rem and Shera, are also allowed to shine as characters rather than just being vehicles for fanservice. Even if Shera is responsible for most of the show’s fanservice...
#10: “Peter Grill and the Philosopher's Time” (2020)
After being crowned the world's strongest fighter, Peter Grill learns that such an honor doesn't come without a few surprises. This supposedly pure-knight suddenly finds himself as the most desirable baby-making machine in the world, which proves to be a problem for a guy who's happily in love. As women of all races try to become intimately familiar with him, Grill fights bravely against their advances and his own libido...which he consistently fails at. This anime has very little in the way of story, and opts to embrace its fanservice-heavy premise with reckless abandon.You can despise Grill all you want, but at least it’s got the best orc girl out there!
#9: “Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest” (2019-)
As an adaptation, the "Arifureta" anime is rushed and disappointing. By itself? Not a bad time. A bunch of students are sent to a fantasy world and given powers, with Hajime drawing the short straw. Before long, he almost gets killed by a classmate, falls in love with a vampire named Yue, and sets out to become strong. Ignoring the not-so-great CGI, "Arifureta" has a few big things going for it. It has just the right amount of edgelord enjoyment, it’s harem candidates are surprisingly top-tier, and can you really go wrong with gun-fu in a medieval fantasy?
#8: “The Testament of Sister New Devil” (2015-18)
Top 10 Guilty Pleasure Anime
What happens when a demon, a hero, and a succubus move in together? A lot of scenes that need to be censored. Our generic dude-bro in this instance is Basara; a high school student from the Hero Clan who ends up with two not-so-little step sisters who need some protection. Doubling down on the harem and action scenes, this ecchi-a-thon matches its unapologetically lewd scenes with frequent fights. While Basara and Mio are nothing special as leads, Maria has more than enough personality to make up for both of them.
#7: “Monster Musume: Everyday Life with Monster Girls” (2015-17)
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Monsters are real and, more importantly, monster waifus are real. Incompetence and common decency join forces to drop Kimihito neck-deep in a harem that manages to be mostly wholesome despite the protagonist being constantly on the verge of bodily harm. A lewd comedy with a hint of romance, "Monster Musume" is not only funny but it does a solid job of developing its world. The female characters are mostly well fleshed out, and the anime uses their unique backgrounds to determine their behavior. Though how this man has yet to lose his v-card is beyond us.
#6: “Highschool of the Dead” (2010)
Zombies, guns, and panty shots; this anime has it all. "Highschool of the Dead" is puzzling; on the one hand, the anime gleefully flings fanservice and gore at the screen like they are going out of fashion. Yet on the other hand, it takes itself surprisingly seriously especially early on, which feels a bit off when a character like Shizuka exists. Identity crisis aside, "Highschool of the Dead" benefits immensely from being animated by Madhouse, making it one of the smoothest anime stamped with the ecchi descriptor. While the anime doesn't last long enough to fully dive into some of its themes, it’s a fun ride that will make you long for a zombie apocalypse.
#5: “High School DxD” (2012-18)
Top 20 High School Romance Anime
Plenty of ecchi anime have "plots," but in this instance, that doesn't come with quotation marks. Issei Hyodo is an ordinary high school student with a strong libido and quite a bit of bad luck, two things that combine to drive the protagonist to an early grave. After dying, Issei's luck finally begins to change as he's revived as a devil by Rias Gremory and joins her Occult Research Club. Along with really not shying away from its harem and ecchi elements, "High School DxD" is also a respectable battle anime. Just be prepared for a lot of whiplash as it switches from one to another.
#4: “Prison School” (2015-16)
Slot in a group of hormonally-repressed guys into an all girls school, along with a merciless school council and in-built prison system? What could go wrong? "Prison School" is a delight in almost every conceivable way. As an ecchi series, the anime explores the sexualities and preferences of its characters in a much more compelling way compared to its contemporaries, while also not above going all out with a juvenile sense of humour. Throw in a plot that combines love triangles, boldly harm and a desperate prison break, and you’ve got yourself an anime experience you won’t soon forget.
#3: “Do You Love Your Mom and Her Two-Hit Multi-Target Attacks?” (2019)
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Sometimes an isekai doesn't have to raise the bar. Some merely aspire to be a decent way to kill a bit of time. "Okaa-san Online" flips the script by sending a teenager and his mother into a fantasy game, with the parent being the overpowered one rather than the male lead. While the premise lends itself to comedy, this virtual gaming romp isn't so much a parody of isekai, as it is a standard show with a slight twist. What makes it enjoyable. Mamako. Plain and simple. The prophet of the coming age of MILFsekai, she is everything we could ever want in life.
#2: “Oreimo” (2010-13)
Yes, the one with the sister. Love or hate it, "Oreimo" is the type of show that gets a reaction out of everyone. Kyosuke learns that his idolized younger sister is secretly a massive otaku, something she very much wants to keep under wraps. Kirino's tsundere routine and the eventual incest angle will make or break this anime for most people, but it does have plenty of straightforward positives. The animation is generally pretty, the series depicts otaku culture more realistically than other shows, Kuroneko is great, and again, if you’re all about that wincest...have at it.
#1: “Interspecies Reviewers” (2020)
What happens when a human, elf, and angel enter a brothel? Exactly what you think happens, along with a review. This glorious premise is so ridiculously forward that it almost comes across as a parody of ecchi, but the anime is far from a joke. Each episode focuses on a different establishment and the fantastical female monsters that come with it, leading to plenty of fanservice and hijinks. Along with pushing the envelope in terms of eroticism, "Interspecies Reviewers" shines because of how well-defined its world is and the sensitive way it tackles its subject matter. We salute you!
