We love anime, but sometimes we cannot watch a whole series in one day, due to school, work, or family duties. During those precious minutes commuting to school or work, you can probably squeeze an episode or two, however, it leaves us longing for more. So what can you do to get your daily anime dose? Watch a short anime. Here’s a list (in no particular order) of short anime that you can binge during your lunch break or daily commute.
15. Sushi Police
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Genre: Comedy, Police
Episodes: 13
Episode length: 3
As the title suggests, law-enforcement officers are monitoring the authenticity and quality of sushi all around the world. It’s the year 2020 and sushi are on every plate, especially with the announcement of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. However, some restaurants unsuccessfully try to copycat this popular dish to capitalize on the hype. Seeking to eradicate these fake establishments the Japanese government and other ruling powers around the world establish the WFCO – World Food-culture Conservation Organization – to protect and promote authentic cuisines. To safeguard Japanese cuisines abroad, the WFCO deploys its 9th Division, a.k.a. Sushi Police to eliminate any restaurant that besmirches this popular dish.
Trivia: The name Sushi Police comes from the Washington Post who coined it from officials that inspect the authenticity of Japanese food in overseas Japanese restaurants.
14. Plastic Neesan
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Genre: Comedy, School
Episodes: 12
Episode length: 2
Oh to be young again and have all the time in the world. The series doesn’t have a plot, but only shows the wacky antics of three high school girls. The situations that these girls get themselves into can be bumpy, but at the same time funny. In the end, you will have a good laugh for just under 30 minutes.
13. Hellsing: The Dawn
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Genre: Action, Horror, Shounen, Supernatural, Vampire
Episodes: 3
Episode length: 10
Serving as a prequel to Hellsing Ultimate. The short series starts in September 1944, and the world is in the thick of World War II. For the Nazi’s to get an advantage on the battlefield, they experiment with artificial vampire technologies. As a result, Sir Arthur Hellsing is sending his best agents – Walter C. Dornes a.k.a. “The Angel of Death” and Alucard – into Nazi-occupied Poland to stop the enemy’s vampire experiments.
12. AD Police Files
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Genre: Adventure, Dementia, Mecha, Mystery, Police, Psychological, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Episodes: 3
Episode length: 24
You can cross this series from your Bad Anime Night and Short Anime list. Imagine the movie I, Robot with a more murdery tone and some cliché dialogue and you get AD Police. In the year 2027, the implementation and integration of boomers into society is becoming a little bit… fatal. To protect the citizens of MegoTokyo, the government forms the AD Police to destroy these killer boomers.
11. Today’s Asuka Show
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Genre: Comedy, Ecchi, Seinen
Episodes: 20
Episode length: 3
The series follows Asuka an attractive and clueless high school student who is unaware of the sexual suggestiveness of her actions. Each episode features a different awkward situation that Asuka causes.
10. Danchigai
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Genre: Comedy, Slice of Life
Episodes: 12
Episode length: 3
Fortunately, I’m an only child but those with many siblings, especially female siblings can relate to the main character Haruki who lives in an apartment with his four sisters. Stuck in a house with four girls, Haruki has to deal with all sorts of trials. From going grocery shopping to practice kissing. Life is never boring in Danchigai!
9. Brotherhood: Final Fantasy XV (currently airing)
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Genre: Action
Episodes: 5
Episode length: 12
Brotherhood explores the friendships between Crown Prince Noctis and his three buddies – Gladiolus, Prompto, and Ignis. The anime sets the tone that gamers will set out upon in Final Fantasy XV RPG
8. Ani Tore! EX
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Genre: Comedy, Sports
Episodes: 12
Episode length: 4
Forget all those boring short exercises that you see on your news feed. Because five girls aiming to become idols will exercise with you to help you shed those nasty pounds. Each episode contains a variety of routines, from push-ups to yoga. So If you have a few minutes to spare you can watch an anime and burn a few calories.
7. Ojisan and Marshmallow
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Genre: Comedy, Slice of Life
Episodes: 12
Episode length: 3
The do’s and don’ts of office romance are manifold and can cause unnecessary headache. However, Iori doesn’t care, because she has her eyes set on Habahiro Hige – an older man who loves marshmallow – and will do anything to lure him into a romantic relationship, despite her friends’ worries.
6. Murder Princess
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Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Episodes: 6
Episode length: 24
Imagine Lindsay Lohan (Freaky Friday) meets Guts (Berserk) and you’ll get Murder Princess. The story follows Princess Alita, who flees her home after witnessing the death of The King. While fleeing from those who murdered The King she meets with the bounty hunter Falis. In a twist of fate, they Alita and Falis switch souls. Worried for the safety of her Kingdom, Alita begs Falis to return and protect the Kingdom, offering herself as collateral. After a bloody battle, Falis resumes the title of Princess of Forland, leading to the birth of the most vicious princess in the Kingdom – the Murder Princess.
5. Voice of a Distant Star
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Genre: Drama, Mecha, Romance, Sci-Fi, Space
Episodes: 1
Episode length: 25
Voice of a Distant Star tells the beautiful long-distance love story between a boy on earth and girl in space. They keep in touch by sending cell phone text messages. However, the farther away they get from each other, the harder it is for the text messages to get to each other.
4. Sekko Boys
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Genre: Comedy, Music
Episodes: 12
Episode length: 7
Due to the crappy economy, it is tough for a recent college graduate to land a job. However, luckily Miki Ishimoto landed her first job as the manager for a new boy band. These are not your typical One Direction boys they are stone figures. The story portrays their efforts to make it in the entertainment world with their inexperienced female manager Miki.
3. I Can’t Understand What My Husband Is Saying
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Genre: Comedy, Seinen, Slice of Life
Episodes: 26 (2 seasons)
Episode length: 3
Neither can I. Kaoru is a social drinker office lady who's passionate about her job. Her husband Hajime, on the other hand, is a hard-core otaku who lives a nearly shut-in lifestyle. Although she has trouble understanding the vast and complicated world of anime and manga that her husband is deeply entrenched within they still love each other. The series explores the good, the bad, and ugly side of newlyweds.
2. Tonari no Seki-Kun: The Master of Killing Time (My Neighbor Seki)
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Genre: Comedy, School, Seinen
Episodes: 21
Episode length: 7
Watching Seki kill time is the perfect way to kill yours. As the title already mentions the story centers around Seki, a boy who kills time by playing by himself at his school desk and how this annoys Yokoi – a dutiful student. Although Yokoi is peeved by Seki's distracting yet intricate playtime, she finds herself being drawn into his fascinating hobby. Basically, what you do in class but with an animated twist.
1. Time of Eve
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Genre: Sci-Fi, Slice of Life
Episodes: 6
Episode length: 18
Sometime in the near future, androids are everywhere and doing things that we do not want to do ourselves. As a result, humans see these androids as a common everyday tool, while others empathize with the androids due to their human-like appearance. The story centers around Rikuo – who takes androids for granted – whom one day discovers that Sammy – his home android – has been acting strangely. On top of that, Rikuo finds a strange recording in Sammy’s activity log. Rikou is filled with curiosity and one day along with his friend Masaki trace Sammy's footsteps, who leads them to an unusual café. The primary rule at the café is not to discriminate between humans and androids. If you’re a fan of Planetes, you’ll definitely be a fan of Time of Eve. Furthermore, the anime also explores several social issues.
There you have it, 15 short anime that you can watch during your break. If you just so happen to have seen everything on the list already, fear not because next week Fanime Blog will continue with part 2 of short anime shows.
Which anime can you squeeze into your busy schedule? Sound off below