5 Anime Easter Eggs You Definitely Need To See

It seems that easter eggs are something which audiences around the world have come to expect. Whether it be television or film, inside jokes and pop culture references seem to be slipped into almost everything fans consume.

Of course, anime is no exception to the rule; The vibrant industry continues to ground out hundreds of series a year, and many shows aren’t afraid to pay homage to new and old titles.

Here at ComicBook, we selected just a few of the funniest easter eggs you can find in an anime these days.

From character cameos or straight-up lampoons, anime isn’t afraid to poke fun at itself. In fact, the medium seems to embrace it.

Light Yagami In Death Parade

When Death Parade debuted in 2015, fans were quick to note that one episode very openly referenced a very popular anime lead from another series. During an episode, fans are shown a mysterious bar, and they were a bit stunned to see Light Yagami sitting in it. The character is the lead of Death Note, so the crossover was apt. After all, how could two anime series so closely connected to the afterlife not brush into another?

Naruto Headband In Assassination Classroom

Assassination Classroom is not a series which takes itself too seriously, and it has been known to nod to other anime series. However, there was no way fans were going to overlook the show’s overt reference to Naruto. When Koro-sensei was shown wearing Naruto’s headband and even sporting the ninja’s cheek whiskers, it was game over for easter egg sleuths.

Persona in No Game No Life

No Game No Life is the anime series for game enthusiasts, and the show made sure to drop references its audience would love. During one episode, Sora is seen talking about some of his favorite video games, and he mentions Persona, Akiba Strip, and Steins;Gate by name. These video games titles also double as anime series, so the connection is strong between the franchises.

Dragon Ball Z in Gintama

There is no denying that Gintama is one of the most easter egg-friendly anime titles out there. The shoenen title may revel in action, but gag comedy is equally as important to its mission. So, really, it isn’t too surprising to hear that Gintama has paid close attention to Dragon Ball Z. The animehas even gone so far as to retell the latter anime’s origins with one intense lampoon!

Attack on Titan In Osomatsu-San

Back in 2015, Osomatsu-San was gifted with a revival, and the gag series did not waste time reintroducing to its brand of humor. In the revival’s premiere episode, the show had a slew of anime references which ultimately made it be removed from Osomatsu-san’s home release. So, if you want to see the show’s opaque take on Eren’s first fight against the Colossal Titan, you will have to find it on Youtube.