What is Breaking The Fourth Wall anime?

Breaking the fourth wall is the action of addressing or otherwise acknowledging the audience of a work of fiction from within that work, as happens when e.g. the characters of a show speak directly to its viewers. The fourth wall in question is a reference to the imaginary "wall" at the front of the stage of a proscenium theatre, through which the action of the play is seen by the audience; the fourth wall is thus a metaphor for the boundary between what happens inside a fictional work and outside it. This situation is not to be confused with medium awareness, which is when a character shows their awareness of the fact they are a character of a fictional work by e.g. complaining to the writer that they appear in too few episodes.

Trending Breaking The Fourth Wall Anime You might like

Saiki Kusuo no Ψ-nan (TV)

(The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.)

8.21

Description:

To the average person, psychic abilities might seem a blessing; for Kusuo Saiki, however, this couldn't be further from the truth. Gifted with a wide assortment of supernatural abilities ranging from telepathy to x-ray vision, he finds this so-called blessing to be nothing but a curse. As all the inconveniences his powers cause constantly pile up, all Kusuo aims for is an ordinary, hassle-free life—a life where ignorance is bliss. Unfortunately, the life of a psychic is far from quiet. Though Kusuo tries to stay out of the spotlight by keeping his powers a secret from his classmates, he ends up inadvertently attracting the attention of many odd characters, such as the empty-headed Riki Nendou and the delusional Shun Kaidou. Forced to deal with the craziness of the people around him, Kusuo comes to learn that the ordinary life he has been striving for is a lot more difficult to achieve than expected. Note: Originally aired as 120 5min episodes that were later compiled into 24 normal lenght episodes
Type

TV

Episodes

120

Ep.Length

5 Min

Rating

Teens 13 or older

Status

finished

Aired

2016-07-04

Saiki Kusuo no Ψ-nan (TV) 2

(The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. 2)

8.21

Description:

Sequel to Saiki Kusuo no Ψ-nan (TV).
Type

TV

Episodes

24

Ep.Length

24 Min

Rating

Teens 13 or older

Status

finished

Aired

2018-01-17

Gintama

(Gintama)

8.21

Description:

The Amanto, aliens from outer space, have invaded Earth and taken over feudal Japan. As a result, a prohibition on swords has been established, and the samurai of Japan are treated with disregard as a consequence. However one man, Gintoki Sakata, still possesses the heart of the samurai, although from his love of sweets and work as a yorozuya, one might not expect it. Accompanying him in his jack-of-all-trades line of work are Shinpachi Shimura, a boy with glasses and a strong heart, Kagura with her umbrella and seemingly bottomless stomach, as well as Sadaharu, their oversized pet dog. Of course, these odd jobs are not always simple, as they frequently have run-ins with the police, ragtag rebels, and assassins, oftentimes leading to humorous but unfortunate consequences. Who said life as an errand boy was easy? [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Type

TV

Episodes

201

Ep.Length

24 Min

Rating

Teens 13 or older

Status

finished

Aired

2006-04-04

Monogatari Series: Second Season

(Monogatari Series: Second Season)

8.2

Description:

Apparitions, oddities, and gods continue to manifest around Koyomi Araragi and his close-knit group of friends: Tsubasa Hanekawa, the group's modest genius; Shinobu Oshino, the resident doughnut-loving vampire; athletic deviant Suruga Kanbaru; bite-happy spirit Mayoi Hachikuji; Koyomi's cutesy stalker Nadeko Sengoku; and Hitagi Senjogahara, the poignant tsundere. Monogatari Series: Second Season revolves around these individuals and their struggle to overcome the darkness that is rapidly approaching. A new semester has begun and with graduation looming over Koyomi, he must quickly decide the paths he will walk, as well as the relationships and friends that he'll save. But as strange events begin to unfold, Koyomi is nowhere to be found, and a vicious tiger apparition has appeared in his absence. Tsubasa Hanekawa has become its target, and she must fend for herself—or bow to the creature's perspective on the feebleness of humanity. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Type

TV

Episodes

26

Ep.Length

24 Min

Rating

17+ (violence & profanity)

Status

finished

Aired

2013-07-07

Nekomonogatari: Kuro

(Nekomonogatari Black)

7.96

Description:

After surviving a vampire attack, Koyomi Araragi notices that his friend and savior, Tsubasa Hanekawa, has been acting strange. When he happens to cross paths with her on his way to a bookstore and sees she has a bandage on her face, he knows something must definitely be wrong. Koyomi wants to help her, but Tsubasa assures him that her wound is just something she received at home and that he should not concern himself with it. But when a white cat with no tail is hit and killed by a car, the pair bury the creature and the real trouble begins. When Koyomi later pays a visit to his friend Meme Oshino and recounts the day's events, he is informed what they have buried is actually an apparition, one perfect for Tsubasa in her current state. Tasked with finding his friend to confirm her safety, he discovers that she has attacked her parents, possessed by the "Sawari Neko." Now, it is up to Koyomi to help Tsubasa as she once helped him. (Source: MAL Rewrite)
Type

TV

Episodes

4

Ep.Length

24 Min

Rating

17+ (violence & profanity)

Status

finished

Aired

2012-12-31

Gintama': Futon ni Haitte kara Buki Nokoshi ni Kizuite Neru ni Nerenai Toki mo Aru

7.87

Description:

Bundled with limited edition of the 58th Gintama manga volume. The tagline for the bundled anime reads, "It's time for all the Yorozuya members ...to wake up just one more time." (Source: MAL News, edited)This special Gintama episode was previewed at a screening at Jump Special Anime Festa 2014. On April 3, 2015, it was bundled with a limited edition of the manga's 58th volume.
Type

special

Episodes

1

Ep.Length

24 Min

Rating

Teens 13 or older

Status

finished

Aired

2015-04-03

Kimi no Koto ga Dai Dai Dai Dai Daisuki na 100-nin no Kanojo

(The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, REALLY Love You)

7.81

Description:

Rentaro Aijo was rejected 100 times in middle school. He visits a shrine and prays for better luck in high school. The God of Love appears and promises that he’ll soon meet 100 people he’s destined to date. But there’s a catch—once destiny introduces someone to him, the two must happily love each other. If they don’t, they’ll die. What will befall Rentaro and his 100 girlfriends in high school? (Source: Crunchyroll)
Type

TV

Episodes

12

Ep.Length

23 Min

Rating

Teens 13 or Older

Status

finished

Aired

2023-10-08

Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata

(Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend)

7.46

Description:

One day, an otaku high school student Tomoya Aki has a fateful encounter with a girl. This meeting inspires Tomoya to design his very own “gal-game” featuring a heroine modeled after the girl he saw. In order to make his desire a reality, Tomoya must persuade a few eccentric “creators” such as the ace member of the art club, Eriri Spencer Sawamura and the school’s top student, Utaha Kasumigaoka to join his development team. Meanwhile, Tomoya is shocked to learn that the girl he idolized as his muse for this whole project was none other than his boring classmate, Megumi Kato! (Source: Crunchyroll)
Type

TV

Episodes

12

Ep.Length

22 Min

Rating

Teens 13 or older

Status

finished

Aired

2015-01-16

Heppoko Jikken Animation Excel♥Saga

(Excel Saga)

7.39

Description:

Hyperactive Excel does anything and everything to try to please her lord, Il Palazzo, who wants to take over the planet. Excel's misadventures takes her and her partner, the ever-dying Hyatt, all over the world, meeting several strange people as they go. Everything is bizarre and goofy, as any kind of anime or entertainment genre gets mocked and spoofed. (Source: Anime News Network)
Type

TV

Episodes

26

Ep.Length

24 Min

Rating

17+ (violence & profanity)

Status

finished

Aired

1999-10-08

Sabage-bu!

(Sabagebu! -Survival Game Club!-)

7.38

Description:

Draw your weapons and take aim, because Sabagebu! is coming at you! Momoka Sonokawa was just minding her own business on the train one day when she encountered a pervert. Before she could do anything about it, a girl named Miou appears, brandishing two pistols and and scaring him off, only to be arrested herself a few minutes later for possessing firearms. Later Momoka sees this same girl at her school and follows her to a run down building. It turns out Miou is the president of the school's Survival Game Club, and it doesn't take long for Miou to capture Momoka and force her into joining them. Over the course of the series, Momoka and her new “friends” will take part in multiple battles against enemies from other schools, a rival from the same school who wants to see the club shut down and even each other (on multiple occasions). With friends and classmates like these, will Momoka even make it to graduation?
Type

TV

Episodes

12

Ep.Length

23 Min

Rating

Teens 13 or older

Status

finished

Aired

2014-07-06

Mitsuboshi Colors

7.37

Description:

The "Colors" are three cute little girls who hang out together and say they're protecting the peace of their city. They have lots of fun together, doing stuff like playing games, solving puzzles, and going to the zoo. This manga follows their largely happy daily life. (Source: MangaHelpers)
Type

TV

Episodes

12

Ep.Length

23 Min

Rating

Teens 13 or older

Status

finished

Aired

2018-01-07

Seitokai no Ichizon Lv.2

(Student Council's Discretion Level 2)

7.32

Description:

Sugisaki Ken, through diligence and academic excellence, had successfully entered the paradise that is the Hekiyou Private Academy's Student Council. There, he boldly embarks on his plan to create his personal harem with the 4 girls who are the other council members, namely: The incredibly youthful president Sakurano Kurimu; The cool and kindly yet super-sadistic secretary Akaba Chizuru; Tomboyish and hot-blooded vice-president Shiina Minatsu; and The ephemerally beautiful yet complicated treasurer Shiina Mafuyu. While every day since then has been non-stop fun, Graduation Day now looms near. Could this spell the end of their carefree days? (Source: translated and adapted from official site by Cranston)
Type

ONA

Episodes

10

Ep.Length

24 Min

Rating

Teens 13 or older

Status

finished

Aired

2012-10-13

Senyuu. 2

7.29

Description:

Second season of Senyuu.
Type

TV

Episodes

13

Ep.Length

4 Min

Rating

Teens 13 or older

Status

finished

Aired

2013-07-03

Senyuu.

7.18

Description:

Once upon a time, the demon lord Rchimedes spread terror throughout the world, until he was eventually sealed away by the legendary hero Creasion. Since then, a thousand years have passed peacefully. However, a mysterious hole has opened up between the demon and human spheres, and countless demons have surged into the human realm once more. Coming to the conclusion that Rchimedes would soon return to wreak havoc, a human king summons the possible descendants of the legendary hero—all 75 of them. Unfortunately, after so long, it was too difficult to pinpoint his true descendants. Among the lionhearted prospects is the amateur adventurer Alba Frühling. His skills may not be top-notch, but he is accompanied by the talented soldier Ross, who helps the young hero whenever he is in a pinch...or at least, he is supposed to. Though undoubtedly a skilled warrior, Ross is actually both sarcastic and sadistic, and hence revels in Alba's suffering. Senyuu. is a comedic adventure following the unlikely duo as they struggle in their endeavor to defeat the demon lord, meeting various eccentrics along the way. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Type

TV

Episodes

13

Ep.Length

4 Min

Rating

Teens 13 or older

Status

finished

Aired

2013-01-09

CB Chara Go Nagai World

(CB Character: Nagai Gou World)

7.03

Description:

Various characters from Go Nagai works including Devil Man, Mazinger, and Violence Jack, become trapped in a parody world where they all be come super deformed. They get trapped in this mishmash, fighting each other and are trying to figure a way back to their own world.
Type

OVA

Episodes

3

Ep.Length

45 Min

Rating

Mild Nudity

Status

finished

Aired

1991-02-21

Himitsukessha Taka no Tsume: Golden Spell

(Eagle Talon: Golden Spell)

6.79

Description:

The new anime's story begins when the Eagle Talon organization successfully discovers the ancient "Golden Spell," which allows one to control people's will with a single word. However, the spell and the program that is developing it are stolen. The anime will once again comment on current events in a comedic way. Unlike previous series which had self-contained stories for individual episodes, the new anime's story arc will unfold over the course of the 12-episode run. (Source: ANN)
Type

TV

Episodes

12

Ep.Length

15 Min

Status

finished

Aired

2020-10-05

Tesagure! Bukatsumono Spin-off Purupurun Sharumu to Asobou

6.79

Description:

A spin-off of the Tesagure! Bukatsumono series.
Type

TV

Episodes

12

Ep.Length

23 Min

Rating

Teens 13 or older

Status

finished

Aired

2015-04-05

MiniPato

(Mobile Police Patlabor Minimum)

6.68

Description:

Unlike most shows the three episodes are not only totally unrelated to each other but really don't follow a plot as such and are more a light hearted jibe at both the Patlabor series (TV and films) and other "mecha" Anime. Episode 1 is a brief introduction to the weaponry carried by the Ingram and how it was designed and why it is the way it is. Episode 2 looks at the design and maintenance of the Ingram 98 AV in SVU2 and takes a swipe at the marketing forces behind them (as in merchandising for the series). Episode 3 is the only one to attempt to expand on a very minor point raised in the original TV show and just how SVU2 is actually funded. (Source: ANN)
Type

OVA

Episodes

3

Ep.Length

10 Min

Rating

Children

Status

finished

Aired

2002-03-30

Gintama x Mameshiba

6.56

Description:

Aired as a commercial to promote the Gintama: Kanketsu-hen - Yorozuya yo Eien Nare Movie, Gintoki, Kagura and Shipachi have turned into "weird living creatures". This is a Gintama parody on the Kids Short Animation "Mameshiba" featuring the characters the sword bean-dog hybrid creatures.
Type

special

Episodes

6

Ep.Length

0 Min

Rating

All Ages

Status

finished

Aired

2013-01-01

Hentatsu (TV)

5.96

Description:

TV version of Hentatsu. Episode 12.5 is included in the total episode count.
Type

TV

Episodes

13

Ep.Length

1 Min

Status

finished

Aired

2020-01-04

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