Shonen heroesoften capture our hearts with their courage and determination, but their ability to make us laugh is what truly makes them endearing to fans worldwide. They stumble into absurd situations, deliver witty one-liners, and show comedic timing that rivals the clowns of the class.
10 Anime Characters We Watched Grow Up
Explore the epic journeys of anime characters like Goku, Naruto, and many others who we’ve watched grow up from tiny to mighty.
From the lovable naivety of Goku inDragon Ball, who munches meals big enough to bankrupt a buffet, to the mischievous pranks of Naruto Uzumaki, whose shadow clones serve more than just battle tactics. These funniest shonen heroes remind us that a good laugh is a powerful weapon amidst high-octane battles and dramatic storylines.
10Killua Zoldyck - Hunter X Hunter
Deadpan Humor
Hunter x Hunter
Killua’s Funniest Moments
Killua Zoldyck fromHunter x Hunterembodies a mischievously deadpan sense of humor, often expressed through his sarcastic remarks and interactions with his best friend, Gon. For example, during the Hunter Exam, his playful banter and casual attitude towards serious threats, like Johness the Dissector, not only relieve tension but highlight his cheeky personality.
His nonchalant facade when pulling out his assassin-mode techniques, like when he rips out a Johness' heart during the exam, contrasts hilariously with the otherwise grave situations. Furthermore, his obsession with sweets, particularly during the Yorknew City arc, where he negotiates with Gon over chocolate purchases, showcases his childlike side, providing comic relief amidst the arc’s darker themes.
Release Date
Episode Count
Where To Watch
June 20, 2025
Crunchyroll
9Izuku Midoriya - My Hero Academia
Adorable Hero-in-Training
My Hero Academia
Izuku’s Funniest Moments
Izuku Midoriya fromMy Hero Academiabrings a more subtle, character-driven humor to the series. His funniest moments usually stem from his ability to react to everything with extreme intensity and fanboy tendencies toward seeing new quirks or pro heroes, particularly All Might.
For instance, his geeky outbursts and meticulous note-taking on heroes, which often leads to frantic scribbling and muttering, can be quite comical, as seen when he first meets the hero Endeavor. When he first arrives at the U.A. High School, his muttering and awkward behavior earns him the nickname Deku from Bakugo, which he later embraces as his hero name.
July 25, 2025
8Natsu Dragneel - Fairy Tail
Comically Fiery Dragon Slayer
Fairy Tail
Natsu’s Funniest Moments
Natsu Dragneel fromFairy Tailis the quintessential hot-headed yet endearingly goofy shonen protagonist. His comedic moments often stem from his impulsive nature and simple-mindedness. A memorable example is when Natsu gets trapped in the magical vehicle Jutsu Shiki in the Key of the Starry Sky arc, despite his notorious motion sickness, leading to exaggeratedly queasy reactions that never fail to elicit laughs.
His friendly rivalry with Gray Fullbuster provides constant humor, notably in the Daphne arc when they engage in their signature nonsensical bickering, even while bound together by an enemy. Natsu’s antics, whether charging headlong into clearly defined traps or his unwaveringly confident proclamations, regularly lighten the mood.
July 11, 2025
7Yusuke Urameshi - Yu Yu Hakusho
Sarcastic Spirit Detective
Yu Yu Hakusho
Yusuke’s Funniest Moments
Yusuke Urameshi, the brash and street-smart protagonist of Yu Yu Hakusho, often brings humor through his irreverent attitude and sharp tongue. One of his funniest moments is during the Dark Tournament when he gives a ridiculously underwhelming battle cry that is more of a sleepy yawn, poking fun at the typical shonen trope of shouting out one’s fighting spirit.
10 Best Anime Like Yu Yu Hakusho
Fan of Yu Yu Hakusho? Level up your watchlist with Bleach: TYBW, Shaman King, and Katekyo Hitman Reborn!
His interactions with Kuwabara are comedic gold, especially when they engage in petty squabbles, like when Yusuke teases Kuwabara about his sensitive side shown in his affection for kittens. Yusuke’s sarcasm, laid-back demeanor, and habit for turning tense situations into laughable ones define his character as much as his spirit detective title.
June 01, 2025
6Inuyasha - InuYasha
The Feudal Funnyman
Inuyasha (2000)
Inuyasha’s Funniest Moments
Inuyasha, the half-demon protagonist of InuYasha, often finds himself in humorous scenarios, thanks largely to his fiery temper and impulsive nature. A running joke throughout the series is the ‘Sit Boy!’ command, where Kagome uses the enchanted beads around Inuyasha’s neck to subdue him with a forceful sit. This sends him face-first into the ground whenever he’s stubborn or rude.
His interactions with the monk Miroku lead to laughs, too, especially when Inuyasha is subjected to Miroku’s less-than-noble habits, like womanizing, and reacts with comical exasperation. The blend of his rough-around-the-edges demeanor with unexpectedly tender moments often results in humorous yet sweet scenes.
August 07, 2025
5Joseph Joestar - JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
Over-The-Top Reactions
JoJo Bizarre Adventure
Joseph’s Funniest Moments
Joseph Joestar fromJoJo’s Bizarre Adventureis renowned for his humor, primarily through his over-the-top reactions and clever tricks. In Battle Tendency, his fight against the Pillar Men is as humorous as it is dramatic; he regularly outsmarts his opponents with absurd tactics, like using sounds as a weapon or predicting his enemy’s next lines, famously saying, ‘Your next line is…’ which baffles his foes.
Additionally, Joseph’s penchant for running away from battles strategically, comically touted as his secret technique, especially against the immortal vampire, Straizo, becomes a running joke. His ability for hamming up situations, combined with his knack for the dramatic, makes Joseph a standout in terms of comedy.
June 04, 2025
4Monkey D. Luffy - One Piece
The Stretchy Pirate
Luffy’s Funniest Moments
Monkey D. Luffy, the rubber-bodied protagonist ofOne Piece, is a wellspring of comedy with his boundless enthusiasm, simple-mindedness, and unorthodox problem-solving skills. His humor is often physical, such as when he stretches his face into ridiculous expressions, or functional, like using his Gum-Gum Balloon ability unintentionally for laughs.
10 Best Shonen Anime, Officially Ranked
Shonen is the most popular anime genre that features some of the greatest anime series. Here are some of the best shows falling in this category.
He provides comic relief when he misinterprets serious situations or creates nicknames for characters based on first impressions, calling the pirate hunter Zoro something silly like Zolo or mistakingly calling Nami Namizo. Luffy’s constant craving for meat and his ability to laugh until he cries brings a lighthearted appeal to his character.
August 08, 2025
3Naruto Uzumaki - Naruto
Prankster Ninja
Naruto’s Funniest Moments
Naruto Uzumaki fromNarutooften provides comic relief with his boisterous personality and unrefined manners. Naruto’s introduction to the series is as the village troublemaker, painting graffiti on thecherished Hokages’faces to play pranks, much to the dismay of the village elders.
His use of the Sexy Jutsu, transforming into a seductive version of himself to distract opponents or even his sensei, Kakashi, never fails to elicit laughs. Naruto’s love for ramen is a recurring gag, especially at Ichiraku, where he slurps noodles with comical gusto, often competing in eating contests with Choji or begging Iruka to treat him to a meal, makes him a standout funny character.
June 22, 2025
2Goku - Dragon Ball Z
Saiyan With A Sense Of Humor
Dragon Ball Z
Goku’s Funniest Moments
Goku from Dragon Ball Z often finds himself in amusing situations due to his innocent and sometimes naive nature. His misunderstanding of social norms can lead to funny moments, such as patting people’s crotches when he was a child to identify their gender, a habit he once used on Bulma that resulted in a comical reaction.
Goku’s appetite is a running gag; he eats enormous amounts of food, bewildering servers and friends alike, with characters like Krillin and Roshi often left in awe or panic at the bill. His interactions with Vegeta bring humor, especially when Goku remains cheerfully oblivious to Vegeta’s grumbling and intense rivalry, showcasing the lighter side of this powerful Saiyan.
June 01, 2025
1Gintoki Sakata - Gintama
Samurai Of Silliness
Gintoki’s Funniest Moments
Gintoki Sakata from thesamurai animeGintama is renowned for his irreverent, absurd humor and breaking the fourth wall. For instance, his constant bickering with Shinpachi and Kagura over mundane things like how to spend their money, usually on pachinko or strawberry milk, ends in slapstick comedy.
Gintoki’s lazy persona contrasts sharply with his past as the White Demon, which is played for laughs, especially when his heroic speeches get undercut by a need for a sugar fix. The infamous toilet paper battle where Gintoki and other characters fight over the last roll in the Shogun’s castle is a standout scene. His ability to switch from goofy to serious in a split second earns him the title of the funniest shonen character.
