Gag Manga Biyori

Masuda Kōsuke Gekijō: Gag Manga Biyori (増田こうすけ劇場 ギャグマンガ日和), or simply known as Gag Manga Biyori, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kosuke Masuda. The series features a hyperactive, random, and nonsensical style that revolves around various plots and characters throughout.

It started in Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine Monthly Shōnen Jump in the January 2000 issue. The magazine ceased publication in June 2007, and the series was transferred to the then-brand new magazine Jump Square in November of the same year, where it was published until November 2014. Shueisha collected its chapters in fifteen volumes. The manga continued in Jump Square, under the title Gag Manga Biyori GB, in December 2014.

Its first anime adaptation was a short film animated by Toei as part of Jump Festa in 2002. The first anime television series adaptation and the sequel were produced by Artland, while the third, fourth and fifth sequel were produced by Studio Deen. Most episodes are five minutes long. The first four series aired in 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2010, and the fifth series aired in 2025.

Overview

Gag Manga Biyori is a nonsensical comedy series known for its bizarre plot setups and non-sequitur humor.[1] It has also been described as a "Monty Python-esque weirdness."[2] In the anime adaptation, its various characters are mostly voiced by Yūji Ueda, Kaori Nazuka and Takeshi Maeda.[3]

Media

Manga

Written and illustrated by Kosuke Masuda, Gag Manga Biyori debuted in Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine Monthly Shōnen Jump in the January 2000 issue.[4] The magazine ceased its publication on June 6, 2007.[5][6] Following a brief run in Weekly Shōnen Jump from August 27 to October 29, 2007,[7][8] the series was transferred to the then brand new magazine Jump Square on November 2 of the same year.[9][10] In October 2014, it was announced that the series would change its title to coincide with its 15th anniversary,[11] being serialized under the title Gag Manga Biyori until November 4 of the same year.[12] Shueisha collected its chapters in fifteen volumes, released from September 4, 2000,[13] to October 3, 2014.[14]

The series continued in Jump Square, under the title Masuda Kōsuke Gekijō Gag Manga Biyori GB (増田こうすけ劇場 ギャグマンガ日和GB), starting on December 4, 2014.[15] Shueisha released its first tankōbon volume on December 4, 2015.[16] As of August 2, 2024, eight volumes have been released.[17]

Anime

An anime television series adaptation, produced by Artland (first two series) and Studio Deen (third series onwards) were broadcast on Kids Station; the first 12-episode series aired from February 7 to April 25, 2005;[18][19] the second 12-episode series was broadcast from August 5 to October 28, 2006;[20][21] and the third series aired from March 17 to June 2, 2008.[22] The fourth 26-episode series, Gag Manga Biyori+, was first broadcast on Yomiuri TV from January 5 to June 29, 2010.[23] A fifth series, Gag Manga Biyori Go, aired from April 5 to June 21, 2025.[24][25]

Remow licensed all five series.[26][25]

Episodes

Series 1 (2005)

Series 2 (2006)

Series 3 (2008)

Gag Manga Biyori+ (2010)

Gag Manga Biyori Go (2025)

Series 1 (2005)

Series 2 (2006)

Series 3 (2008)

Gag Manga Biyori+ (2010)

Gag Manga Biyori Go (2025)

Theme songs

  • Opening
  • "Attack! Gyagu Manga Biyori" (アタック!ギャグマンガ日和) by Yuji Ueda (season 1)
  • "Oahu! Hawaii Biyori" (オアフ! ハワイ日和) by Yuji Ueda and Kaori Nazuka (season 2)
  • "Body line" (ボディライン) by Yuji Ueda (season 3)
  • "Kibō no Uchū no..." (希望の宇宙の・・・) by Yuji Ueda (Gag Manga Biyori +)
  • "Bokutachi no Gag Manga Biyori" (僕達のギャグマンガ日和) by Yuji Ueda (Gag Manga Biyori Go)[25]
  • Ending
  • "Happy Ending" (ハッピーエンディング) by Tetsuya Kanmuri
  • "Happy Go Lucky Ending" (ハッピーゴーラッキーエンディング) by Tetsuya Kanmuri (Gag Manga Biyori +)
  • "Happy Go Go Lucky Ending" (ハッピーゴーゴーラッキーエンディング) by Tetsuya Kanmuri (Gag Manga Biyori Go)[25]

Episodes

Series 1 (2005)

Series 2 (2006)

Series 3 (2008)

Gag Manga Biyori+ (2010)

Gag Manga Biyori Go (2025)

Series 1 (2005)

Series 2 (2006)

Series 3 (2008)

Gag Manga Biyori+ (2010)

Gag Manga Biyori Go (2025)

Theme songs

  • Opening
  • "Attack! Gyagu Manga Biyori" (アタック!ギャグマンガ日和) by Yuji Ueda (season 1)
  • "Oahu! Hawaii Biyori" (オアフ! ハワイ日和) by Yuji Ueda and Kaori Nazuka (season 2)
  • "Body line" (ボディライン) by Yuji Ueda (season 3)
  • "Kibō no Uchū no..." (希望の宇宙の・・・) by Yuji Ueda (Gag Manga Biyori +)
  • "Bokutachi no Gag Manga Biyori" (僕達のギャグマンガ日和) by Yuji Ueda (Gag Manga Biyori Go)[25]
  • Ending
  • "Happy Ending" (ハッピーエンディング) by Tetsuya Kanmuri
  • "Happy Go Lucky Ending" (ハッピーゴーラッキーエンディング) by Tetsuya Kanmuri (Gag Manga Biyori +)
  • "Happy Go Go Lucky Ending" (ハッピーゴーゴーラッキーエンディング) by Tetsuya Kanmuri (Gag Manga Biyori Go)[25]

References

  1. Rafael Pineda. Gag Manga Biyori Gets 4th Stage Play in September Anime News Network, April 11, 2018, retrieved March 30, 2022^
  2. Jonathan Clements, Helen McCarthy. The Anime Encyclopedia: A Century of Japanese Animation Stone Bridge Press, 2015, retrieved March 30, 2022^
  3. http://www.bandaivisual.co.jp/gag/ Bandai Visual, retrieved March 30, 2022^
  4. https://animeanime.jp/article/2015/09/18/24950.html AnimeAnime.jp, September 18, 2015, retrieved March 30, 2022^
  5. Christopher Macdonald. Shueisha to Launch New Monthly Magazine Anime News Network, April 6, 2007, retrieved March 30, 2022^
  6. Egan Loo. More Revealed on Monthly Shonen Jump's Aftermath Anime News Network, June 4, 2007, retrieved March 30, 2022^
  7. http://jump.shueisha.co.jp/henshu/backnumber/2007/39.html Shueisha, retrieved March 30, 2022^
  8. http://jump.shueisha.co.jp/henshu/backnumber/2007/48.html Shueisha, retrieved March 30, 2022^
  9. Egan Loo. Jump Square to Replace Monthly Shonen Jump in November Anime News Network, July 5, 2007, retrieved March 30, 2022^
  10. http://manganohi.jp/2007/11/8808.html manganohi.jp, November 2, 2007, retrieved March 30, 2022^
  11. https://natalie.mu/comic/news/127774 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc., October 4, 2014, retrieved March 30, 2022^
  12. https://www.kinokuniya.co.jp/f/dsg-04-4910051511249 Kinokuniya, retrieved March 30, 2022^
  13. https://www.shueisha.co.jp/books/items/contents.html?isbn=4-08-873016-X Shueisha, retrieved March 30, 2022^
  14. https://www.shueisha.co.jp/books/items/contents.html?isbn=978-4-08-880178-0 Shueisha, retrieved March 30, 2022^
  15. https://natalie.mu/comic/news/132914 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc., December 4, 2014, retrieved March 30, 2022^
  16. https://natalie.mu/comic/news/168125 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc., December 4, 2015, retrieved March 30, 2022^
  17. https://natalie.mu/comic/news/584216 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc., August 2, 2024, retrieved December 3, 2024^
  18. https://www.showtime.jp/animation/b-ch/gyagumanga1/ ShowTime, retrieved December 4, 2024^
  19. https://mediaarts-db.artmuseums.go.jp/id/C10963 Media Arts Database, National Center for Art Research, retrieved December 4, 2024^
  20. https://www.showtime.jp/animation/b-ch/gyagumanga2/ ShowTime, retrieved December 4, 2024^
  21. https://mediaarts-db.artmuseums.go.jp/id/C12555 Media Arts Database, National Center for Art Research, retrieved December 4, 2024^
  22. https://mediaarts-db.artmuseums.go.jp/id/C11645 Media Arts Database, National Center for Art Research, retrieved December 4, 2024^
  23. http://www.ytv.co.jp/apps/program_list/ Yomiuri TV, retrieved December 4, 2024^
  24. Alex Mateo. Gag Manga Biyori Comedy Manga Gets 5th TV Anime Anime News Network, December 3, 2024, retrieved December 4, 2024^
  25. Joanna Cayanan. Gag Manga Biyori Go Anime's Trailer Reveals Opening Song, April 5 Streaming Debut Anime News Network, February 26, 2025, retrieved February 26, 2025^
  26. Remow. December 3, 2024, retrieved December 9, 2024^
  27. Watch Gag Manga Biyori Go Amazon Prime Video, retrieved April 4, 2025^