Chibification Is The Greatest Comedic Device Ever.

One thing that keeps me coming back to anime is the chibis. I love chibis. They’re just so damn cute. The type of thing that you could pet for days on end and not get bored of. Any comedy show taht relies heavily on chibification always gets a laugh out of me. Sure, shows can work without it (though most shows use this technique anyway) but I think chibification does a lot of things at once that makes the joke more accessible, and funnier, to the viewer.

The simplicity of the characters and character designs during the scene shows that it’s meant to be seen as simple, childish fun. You’re not meant to be looking at character/plot development or dialogue or subtlety – it’s meant to be enjoyed for the lack of complexity. There’s a contrast between the normal style of most anime (or the show in question) and the chibified style also makes the viewer look at the scene from a different, more light-hearted perspective.

Similarly, the simplicity of the scene means the viewer isn’t meant to take it seriously. If this happens, then the viewer’s more relaxed and open to whatever jokes are coming. In fact, they’re expecting comedy so they’ll probably find it even funnier, and when something fulfills your expectations, you’re much more satisfied.

It’s also a great technique economically. Thought the art and animation aren’t as good, there’s nothing sacrificed when it comes to the main purpose of the technique: the comedy.

Then there’s the fact that it’s so damn cute. That helps too.