Top 20 Extremely Short Anime Series

Need a quick TV fix? This collection features shows with short episodes or limited seasons, perfect for watching in one evening without getting bored. You’ll discover fast-paced comedies, spooky short horror series, and unique shorts that deliver complete stories in just a few minutes per episode.

We’ve handpicked shows with all the key info you need right away – like how many episodes there are, how long they usually last, and what makes the story interesting. These shows are fast-paced and easy to get into, whether you’re looking for something funny, sci-fi, or scary. You can start watching at any point and finish quickly!

‘Teekyu’ (2012–2015)

As a total film and TV buff, I stumbled upon this series and it’s a really unique format. Each episode is super short – usually just around two minutes – and there are a bunch of seasons. It’s *technically* about a high school tennis club, but honestly, most of the sketches don’t really involve tennis at all! What makes it great is the fast-paced dialogue and constant visual jokes – it’s just packed with funny moments. The short length is perfect; I can easily watch a few episodes during a coffee break and feel like I’ve seen a complete, satisfying bit. It’s a quick hit of comedy, and I’m hooked!

The show is structured like a series of very short, self-contained sketches, featuring jokes that resolve quickly and characters who appear briefly. It’s filmed with a fast pace – using quick edits, simple sets, and a high number of jokes packed into each minute – which works well for its short-form, episodic format.

‘Plastic Elder Sister’ (2011-2012)

This quick-paced comedy follows three friends in a school’s model building club. Each short episode, lasting just a few minutes, features fast-talking, silly conversations and recurring jokes that always wrap up before the end.

I absolutely love how this show moves! It doesn’t bother with fancy sets, instead focusing on really expressive characters and a super quick pace. Each episode feels perfectly packed with a complete story – a beginning, middle, and end – which means you can binge the whole thing without feeling like anything’s missing. You still get to know and love the characters and all their running jokes, it’s brilliant!

‘Space Patrol Luluco’ (2016)

This fast-paced sci-fi story centers on a middle school student unexpectedly recruited into a space patrol. Each episode is short, and the entire story moves quickly, jumping between different locations with exciting cliffhangers that are resolved in the next quick chapter.

Studio Trigger maintains a fast pace with energetic editing, striking title cards, and short segments at the end of each episode. The show follows a ‘case-of-the-week’ format that builds towards a focused conclusion, allowing the entire story to be told within a relatively short amount of time.

‘I Can’t Understand What My Husband Is Saying’ (2014–2015)

This series offers a glimpse into the everyday life of a married couple – an office worker and her otaku husband – through short, bite-sized episodes. Each episode focuses on small, relatable moments like their routines at home, how they celebrate holidays, and visits from friends, perfectly suited to the show’s brief format.

The show presents two seasons exploring the everyday lives of a couple, using fast-paced scenes to showcase their miscommunications and the little ways they meet in the middle. The production style is concise, with each scene kept short and sweet to maximize comedic timing, and every episode wraps up with a satisfying conclusion.

‘Tonari no Seki-kun: The Master of Killing Time’ (2014)

Each quick episode features a student’s surprisingly detailed desk setup – things like tiny games or homemade gadgets – and shows how hard it is for a classmate to concentrate. You can watch the episodes in any order because each one is self-contained and doesn’t rely on previous ones.

This show relies on visual gags and excellent sound effects to create humor, rather than a lot of talking. The episodes feature complicated, chain-reaction machines, and each one is structured like a short classroom lesson – with a clear start, middle, and end – lasting only a few minutes.

‘Aiura’ (2013)

This show offers a glimpse into the daily lives of three friends, presenting their experiences in short, self-contained scenes. Each episode captures brief moments – like quick conversations, unplanned stops, or simple errands – making it easy to watch any segment without needing to follow a larger story.

Simple backgrounds and calming sounds create a realistic feel, while fast cuts emphasize comedic timing. Because each episode is short, it focuses on a single, complete scene with a clear beginning and end.

‘Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai’ (2013–2023)

I’ve been completely captivated by this collection of urban legends! Each story is told like a little play, using a charming paper theater style. What I love is how quickly they grab you – each one sets the scene, throws in a surprising twist, and then leaves you with a final, chilling moment, all in just a few minutes. It’s perfect for a spooky night when you want to binge-watch a bunch of short, creepy tales!

Each episode of the series works as a self-contained story, allowing viewers to start anywhere. The animation style is simple but effective, using limited movement and striking images to quickly build suspense. The storytelling combines narration to establish the overall myth and ends each episode with a powerful conclusion.

‘Bananya’ (2016–2019)

This charming series showcases miniature cats who live inside bananas. Each short episode follows a little discovery or everyday experience. The stories are self-contained and quickly resolved, usually wrapping up in just a few minutes.

The show uses calming visuals and sounds to make it enjoyable for viewers of all ages. Each short episode focuses on one simple problem and a quick, satisfying solution, framed by brief introductions and conclusions. This keeps things easy to follow and perfectly suited to the episode’s length.

‘Honobono Log’ (2016)

This series, based on a set of illustrations, shares short, relatable stories about couples and families. Each episode centers around a single moment – like receiving a surprise or traveling together – and ends with a thoughtful reflection.

The show uses simple sets and gentle colors to highlight the movement and emotions of its characters. Each short episode, with just a few scenes, is carefully paced to deliver a clear message and end on a positive feeling in just a couple of minutes.

‘Crossing Time’ (2018)

As a total movie buff, I recently stumbled upon this really neat little short-form series. It’s all filmed at railroad crossings, which is a cool visual touch, and each episode features two people having a conversation while they wait for a train to come. They talk about everything – the usual stuff like school stress, but also some surprisingly raw and awkward confessions. What’s really clever is that each episode ends *right* as the train arrives, leaving you thinking about what they just said. It’s simple, but really effective.

The show takes place in one unchanging location, which also acts as a timing device, naturally shortening episodes to just a few minutes. Sounds like bells and engine noises keep the pace, and the format lets each scene stand alone as a mini-sketch with a clear start and finish.

‘Ojisan and Marshmallow’ (2016)

Each short episode features an office worker with a fondness for marshmallows and a colleague who constantly finds creative ways to offer them. The stories quickly wrap up, usually revolving around a simple misunderstanding about the snack or a funny event at work.

Keeping the setting consistent, like always using the same office floor or convenience store, helps jokes land more effectively by minimizing distractions. Short opening tags and quick preview clips also make each segment concise and allow for rapid transitions between them.

‘Miss Monochrome’ (2013–2015)

This series follows a hopeful idol as they try to make it in the music industry. Each episode is short, focusing on a single event – like a job or a performance mistake – and ends with a funny moment or song.

Supporting characters pop up throughout the show to help move smaller storylines forward. The production style is simple, with music used effectively and quickly. This format makes it easy to watch a whole season in less than an hour and still feel like you’ve experienced a complete story.

‘Morita-san wa Mukuchi’ (2011–2013)

The show follows a shy, quiet student and the funny misunderstandings that happen because he doesn’t talk much. Each episode is brief and focuses on a simple classroom situation that quickly gets resolved.

The animation relies on expressive faces and subtle movements rather than lots of talking, ensuring each scene is clear and concise given the short episode length. Each episode tells a complete story, starting and finishing within itself, and doesn’t carry storylines over to future episodes.

‘Poyopoyo Kansatsu Nikki’ (2012)

This show follows a plump cat and the people who welcome him into their home. Each episode features a small, everyday event, and because the episodes are short, everything usually happens in one place – like a funny moment in the living room or a cute surprise during naptime.

The show relies on uncomplicated visuals and a consistent flow of funny moments, which works well with its short episode length. Each episode follows a predictable but satisfying structure – a problem is introduced, things get complicated, and then it’s quickly resolved – making it easy to watch multiple episodes without feeling lost or unsatisfied.

‘Wooser’s Hand-to-Mouth Life’ (2012–2015)

A quirky, unusual character tells short, rambling stories in very brief episodes that start and stop suddenly. This format is perfect for fast-paced, funny moments and bizarre thoughts that don’t need a continuing storyline.

The story is divided into short chapters grouped by season, and familiar themes reappear briefly throughout. The animation style is simple to emphasize quick pacing and witty dialogue, ensuring each part stays concise.

‘Nyanbo!’ (2016–2017)

This charming stop motion animation features cat-shaped cardboard characters discovering the world around them. Each short episode focuses on a single delightful find and concludes with a thoughtful moment.

Real-world objects and scenery add depth, and simple character movements help keep things moving quickly. Each segment is a complete, self-contained story that begins with a question and concludes with a clear resolution.

‘Please Take My Brother Away’ (2017–2021)

I love this show! It’s all about siblings who are total opposites, and they’re always playfully arguing and then making up. Each episode is short and sweet, focusing on just one little situation at school or home. The best part is, there are tons of these little scenes, and you don’t even need to watch them in order – you can jump around and still enjoy it!

The show uses fast-paced dialogue and editing to deliver jokes within a short, two-to-three minute timeframe. They keep the focus on the main comedy sketch by carefully trimming the beginning and end of each segment.

‘Rail Romanesque’ (2020)

As a total cinema fan, I recently discovered this charming little series! It’s set in a town that really loves its railway history, and the coolest part is that the trains are brought to life as characters. Each episode follows one of these train ‘mascots’ as they tackle a specific event or help with a local tourist attraction, and it always wraps up neatly with a quick look at how things turned out. It’s a sweet, concise watch!

Each short episode focuses on a single character instead of long storylines. The stories include nods to the history of trains, and each scene is kept brief to fit the short episode format.

‘BanG Dream! Girls Band Party!☆PICO’ (2018–2020)

This cute, short-form spin-off packs all the fun moments with the band members into just a few minutes per episode. Each episode features skits based on things that happen during practice, concerts, and hanging out, and it’s a great little addition to the main series.

The show uses quick visual jokes and short musical cues to highlight each sketch. Each episode features complete, standalone stories, so you can watch them in any order or just catch bits and pieces without missing anything.

‘Senryu Girl’ (2019)

This sweet high school romance tells stories using short, poetic verses of seventeen syllables, naturally included in everyday dialogue. Each episode focuses on a single situation – like being in a club or taking a walk – and wraps up the story within that short time.

The show blends poetry into the visuals, displaying written poems alongside the scenes. Gentle backgrounds and calming sounds create a peaceful atmosphere, and each episode concludes its own story neatly, without requiring lengthy continuation.

Let us know your top quick stock picks in the comments – let’s all create a fast-moving watchlist together!

2025-10-09 07:47