There are so many kinds of anime out there, of course there's a whole genre dedicated to superhero parody. Superheroes are over-represented in anime as it is, so naturally, some of the best parody anime plays on the same concept.A lot of superhero anime doesn't take itself very seriously already, especially depending on the age group for which it's intended. Sometimes it's simple and funny, making fun of ninjas that look like animals or including a comic relief character. On the other hand, some of these parodies aren't just for laughs, and ask some serious questions about personal relationships, fame, and our need for heroes in general.
7 Samurai Pizza Cats (1990)
In case the references to Italian cuisine weren't obvious enough, Samurai Pizza Cats was part of the anthropomorphic ninja craze that followed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. There's even a direct reference in the theme song, "They've got more fur than any turtle ever had."
The show plays on every trope, but the favorite one seems to be how nobody recognizes them as superheroes when they're working their day jobs in the pizzeria, even though they never change out of their ninja clothes. The show also satirizes politics and social roles in a way that's much too smart for the target audience.
6 Tiger & Bunny (2011-2014)
Part of the comic appeal of Tiger & Bunny is the odd couple dichotomy the two main characters have. Both are very different superheroes, and each one is its own parody of the genre, and this push and pull is what drives the plot.
Tiger is the classic idealist, insisting that he wants to use his powers for good as opposed to fame. Bunny is the cynical opposite of that. He's a modern superhero who values his face-time, and insists that superheroes can accomplish more and better things using the power of publicity.
5 Samurai Flamenco (2013 - 2014)
This anime starts as a parody, and part of the fun is when the tone changes, and it becomes the real thing. It's about a young man named Masayoshi Hazama, who is so enamored with the idea of being a superhero that he decides he's just going to be one.
He doesn't have any martial arts skills or the ability to construct robotic weapons or suits. What he does have, however, is a successful modeling career and the ability to look good in cool latex suits. Then a local cop discovers his secret identity and supernatural villains start to appear that aren't supposed to exist. Masayoshi doesn't have the power to fight them, or does he?
4 Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt (2010 - 2011)
Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt isn't just a superhero parody. It also lampoons the occult trend and makes a lot of adult references to both just for the laughs. The plot revolves around a few wayward angels that have been expelled from heaven and have to earn their way back by defeating a certain amount of pesky evil ghosts.
The heroes are named after their chosen weapons, and each one is based on a clever joke. Stocking, for example, doesn't exactly fight with her stockings. They turn into katana swords when she takes them off. Isn't there an X-Man that can do that?
3 Tentai Senshi Sunred (2004 - 2014)
Equally bizarre and hilarious, this superhero parody asks if there ever really is such thing as retirement. Sunred, the main character, is finding out that there isn't. He wants to quit, but his arch enemies are still sworn to destroy him, and he gets no peace from their antics.
Also known as Astro Figher Sunred, this anime was designed as a parody of sentai anime. "Sentai" means "squad" or "team" in Japanese, and they always have uniforms with a robotic look. That's part of the joke since Sunred is on his own most of the time and never takes off his headgear. Maybe if he took that helmet off, and stopped acting like an anti-social jerk, living a normal life would be easier.
2 One Punch Man (2015 - 2019)
A unique interpretation of the overpowered superhero trope, One Punch Man is about a main character so strong that he can take out anyone who challenges him with a single punch. It doesn't matter what it is, a demon, a monster, another superhero, they're always down in two hits. It sounds like a boring premise, and it would be except the comedy is great and keeps the story going even past the often predictable fight scenes.
Saitama, the main character, is actually a decent guy and this lack of a challenge upsets him. The main plot of the series is his quest for a worthy opponent, and there's some real drama here as he sometimes despairs that he'll never find that special someone, but there are a lot of laughs along the way.
1 Gin Tama (2006 - 2010)
Set in an alternate timeline in which aliens took over Japan during the feudal age, Gin Tama tells the story of a lone samurai who dons a secret identity and fights for the victims of the evil otherworldly regime. He has a faithful sidekick and some faithful friends, some who have strange powers, who help him. They include a little girl with superhuman strength and an aggressive but hilarious dog.
The description sounds like a serious superhero anime, but this is one of anime's most endearing and popular shonen comedies. Creator Hideaki Sorachi focused more on the laughs in th early seasons, and as the series progresses the story gets more dramatic.