13 Anime Where the Token Straight Character Is the Butt of Every Joke

Many funny anime shows use a classic setup: a group of quirky, unpredictable characters and one person who reacts to their craziness with a straight face. This sensible character, called the “straight man” or tsukkomi in Japanese comedy, constantly tries to make sense of things as everything around them gets wild and illogical. A lot of the humor comes from their frustration and how they try (and usually fail) to fix the strange things their friends do.

‘Gintama’ (2006–2018)

Shinpachi Shimura is the grounded, often exasperated voice of reason in a fantastical, futuristic version of Edo-era Japan. He’s constantly teased by the others for being ordinary compared to the aliens and samurai around him, and they often reduce him to a joke – literally, sometimes just his floating glasses. He attempts to keep things under control, but usually winds up yelling in frustration at how ridiculous his companions are.

‘Daily Lives of High School Boys’ (2012)

Tadakuni begins the series as a main character, but gradually becomes less important as the story unfolds. His friends take over, often embarrassing him by involving him in silly roleplaying games, even with clothes meant for his sister. The show’s creators eventually make fun of how little he appears and how unimportant he becomes. All Tadakuni wants is a typical high school experience, but his friends constantly pull him into their strange and unrealistic adventures.

‘D-Frag!’ (2014)

Kenji Kazama is a guy who tries to appear tough, but gets unwillingly pulled into a quirky club full of girls. Each episode, he’s constantly reacting to the strange powers and silly games they come up with. The show is basically about his struggle to stay grounded when everyone around him is completely offbeat, and his attempts at being intimidating are always overshadowed by the club’s antics.

‘Arakawa Under the Bridge’ (2010)

Kou Ichinomiya, a privileged and self-sufficient businessman, always avoids needing help from others. However, his carefully constructed life is turned upside down when a mysterious girl named Nino rescues him and unexpectedly asks him to be her partner. He finds himself living among a group of unusual homeless people who all believe in fantastical things – some think they’re mythical water spirits, others believe they are gun-toting nuns. Kou struggles to make sense of their bizarre world, constantly frustrated as he tries to use common sense in a place where it doesn’t apply.

‘Seitokai Yakuindomo’ (2010–2014)

Takatoshi Tsuda is the only male member of his school’s student council, which used to be an all-girls school. He’s constantly bombarded with suggestive jokes and innuendo from the other council members, leaving him confused and embarrassed. He finds himself trying to keep the group focused on their duties while fending off their constant teasing and preventing things from getting completely out of hand.

‘Clannad’ (2007–2009)

Youhei Sunohara is constantly the victim of physical comedy throughout the series. He’s always confidently suggesting crazy plans and making romantic attempts, which usually end with him being hit or otherwise physically reprimanded by the women around him. Tomoya often tricks him into awkward and humiliating situations just for fun. Despite all of this, Sunohara stays a loyal friend and consistently takes the brunt of the show’s jokes and pranks.

‘Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun’ (2014)

Chiyo Sakura bravely tells a classmate how she feels, but he mistakenly believes she’s just a fan asking for his autograph. She ends up becoming his art assistant, and constantly struggles with his obliviousness as he misreads all her romantic gestures. Through her thoughts, we see how ridiculous his process for researching his manga often is. Despite enduring strange photoshoots and constant miscommunications, her feelings remain completely unnoticed.

‘Baka and Test: Summon the Beasts’ (2010–2011)

Akihisa Yoshii is known as the biggest fool at his school and constantly gets beaten up in magical battles. People always misinterpret his feelings and actions, and he’s unfairly punished by the school system because of poor grades. To protect themselves, his friends often leave him to face danger or intentionally set him up to fail.

‘Cromartie High School’ (2003–2004)

Takashi Kamiyama is a quiet student who starts attending a high school known for its tough, rebellious kids. Surprisingly, he manages to fit in, even though his classmates include robots, gorillas, and people wearing masks. The comedy comes from the fact that Takashi calmly accepts these strange classmates as normal. He frequently suggests sensible solutions to problems, but the other students usually ignore him and stick to their odd, unique ways.

‘Lucky Star’ (2007)

Kagami Hiiragi is often the voice of reason, contrasting with her friend Konata Izumi, who loves anime and avoids responsibility. Though Kagami tries to stay focused on school and her duties, Konata constantly pulls her into fun, silly activities and arguments. Konata knows just what to say to playfully tease Kagami, and even though Kagami often wonders why she spends time with them, she secretly cherishes their friendship.

‘The Devil Is a Part-Timer!’ (2013–2023)

Sadao Maou, formerly a fearsome demon lord, now worries about everyday problems like bills and work schedules at a fast-food restaurant. His loyal general, Ashiya, has taken on the role of a thrifty homemaker, constantly reminding him to save money. Together, they face the frustrations of being broke and dealing with difficult customers, all while trying to hold onto their pride as powerful demons. The humor comes from seeing these once-mighty beings struggle with ordinary, mundane issues like broken appliances.

‘Grand Blue Dreaming’ (2018)

Iori Kitahara starts college in a seaside town, dreaming of a fun life and meeting new people. However, he quickly gets pulled into the wild world of the diving club, where the older students constantly pressure him to drink. Every time Iori tries to get away from their antics, he ends up even more involved in their crazy lifestyle. He eventually gets used to it, but still finds himself caught in awkward situations and dealing with what others expect of him.

‘Azumanga Daioh’ (2002)

Koyomi Mizuhara juggles school, her weight, and her energetic best friend, Tomo. Tomo is always playfully teasing her and disrupting her carefully laid plans. Yomi often gets teased about her diet and serious nature, but she generally acts as the grounded one among her more carefree and excitable friends.

2025-12-08 21:45