Dexter’s Laboratory follows the chaotic adventures of a pint-sized boy genius with a hidden lab, a big brain, and an even bigger problem, his hyperactive sister Dee Dee.
Known for its sharp humor, slapstick chaos, and science-gone-wrong storytelling, the show thrives on quirky characters, clever inventions, and underdog ingenuity.
This list explores 15 underrated anime that echo Dexter’s Laboratory‘s spirit through kid geniuses, eccentric experiments, absurd tech, and subversive comedy.
1. Dai Mahou Touge (Magical Witch Punie-chan) (2006)
Streaming: DVD only
Episodes: 8 (OVA)
Rating: 7.1 (MAL)
Studio: Studio Barcelona
Plot: Punie, a magical girl princess, attends school on Earth while hiding a violent streak beneath her sugary smile.
Why It Fits: Satirical and over-the-top, it mirrors Dexter‘s unpredictable tone, blending cute aesthetics with absurd brutality.
2. Denki-gai no Honya-san (2014)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 12
Rating: 6.9 (MAL)
Studio: Shin-Ei Animation
Plot: A group of quirky bookstore employees navigate love, fandom, and awkward humor in an otaku paradise.
Why It Fits: Features hyper-stylized comedy, nerd culture obsession, and character banter that reflects Dexter’s energetic storytelling style.
3. Pani Poni Dash! (2005)
Streaming: Funimation
Episodes: 26
Rating: 7.3 (MAL)
Studio: Shaft
Plot: A 10-year-old genius becomes a high school teacher, managing a class of oddballs and her own existential crises.
Why It Fits: Like Dexter, Rebecca Miyamoto is a brainy child trying to impose order amid complete chaos—hilariously failing.
4. Dr. Slump (1981)
Streaming: DVD only
Episodes: 243
Rating: 7.4 (MAL)
Studio: Toei Animation
Notable Staff: Akira Toriyama (Creator)
Plot: In Penguin Village, a scatterbrained scientist creates Arale, a super-powered robot girl who causes more problems than solutions.
Why It Fits: Inventor antics, destructive tech, and slapstick galore—it’s basically the spiritual grandparent of Dexter’s Laboratory.
5. Time Travel Girl (2016)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 12
Rating: 6.6 (MAL)
Studio: WAO World
Plot: Mari Hayase travels through time meeting legendary scientists like Faraday and Edison, hoping to find her missing father.
Why It Fits: Science-focused plot, educational elements, and youthful curiosity make it a grounded counterpart to Dexter’s madcap energy.
6. Excel Saga (1999)
Streaming: Funimation
Episodes: 26
Rating: 7.4 (MAL)
Studio: J.C.Staff
Plot: Excel, a hyperactive agent of a secret organization, wreaks havoc while attempting to conquer the world in parodic style.
Why It Fits: Explosive gags, sci-fi spoofing, and manic pacing all align with Dexter’s high-speed absurdism.
7. Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight! (2007)
Streaming: Funimation
Episodes: 12
Rating: 7.0 (MAL)
Studio: ufotable
Plot: In a near-future where school spirit is dying, Manabi and her eccentric friends bring joy and chaos to the student body.
Why It Fits: Focus on optimism, DIY ingenuity, and character-driven problem solving connects with Dexter’s child-led brilliance.
8. Nodame Cantabile: Paris Chapter (2008)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 11
Rating: 8.1 (MAL)
Studio: J.C.Staff
Plot: Music prodigies Chiaki and Nodame navigate Parisian conservatories, awkward romance, and artistic perfectionism.
Why It Fits: Features two eccentric geniuses battling perfection, emotion, and disorder—much like Dexter and his rivalry with Mandark.
9. Sgt. Frog (Keroro Gunsou) (2004)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 358
Rating: 7.7 (MAL)
Studio: Sunrise
Plot: Alien frog Sergeant Keroro is stranded on Earth and spends more time watching TV than invading humans.
Why It Fits: Filled with gadgets, over-explained science, absurd humor, and characters always ruining their own plans—pure Dexter’s Lab chaos.
10. Kujibiki Unbalance (2006)
Streaming: Funimation
Episodes: 12
Rating: 6.2 (MAL)
Studio: Ajia-do Animation Works
Plot: Students at a prestigious school are chosen via lottery to join the student council—and absurdity ensues.
Why It Fits: Bizarre setups, genius-level schemes, and offbeat comedy echo Dexter’s rivalry-driven narratives and parody-heavy storytelling.
11. Tonari no Seki-kun (2014)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 21 (Shorts)
Rating: 7.7 (MAL)
Studio: Shin-Ei Animation
Plot: Seki spends every class period building elaborate contraptions on his desk, distracting his neighbor Yokoi in the process.
Why It Fits: Inventiveness, silent comedy, and escalating absurdity feel like Dexter’s wild solo experiments—condensed into snackable shorts.
12. Baka and Test: Summon the Beasts (2010)
Streaming: Funimation
Episodes: 13
Rating: 7.4 (MAL)
Studio: Silver Link
Plot: Students at Fumizuki Academy battle using avatars powered by their test scores, with classroom hierarchy on the line.
Why It Fits: Academic setting + bizarre tech + brain-vs-brawn dynamics = anime Dexter vs. Mandark with a school war twist.
13. FLCL (2000)
Streaming: Hulu, Crunchyroll
Episodes: 6
Rating: 8.0 (MAL)
Studio: Gainax
Plot: A boy’s dull life explodes into chaos when a Vespa-riding alien woman shows up with robots in her wake.
Why It Fits: FLCL blends science fiction, coming-of-age confusion, and hyperkinetic visuals that match Dexter’s Laboratory’s chaotic surrealism.
14. Nichijou (2011)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 26
Rating: 8.5 (MAL)
Studio: Kyoto Animation
Plot: A group of students, including a child professor and her talking robot, experience bizarre events with deadpan delivery.
Why It Fits: A literal child genius with a lab, a chaotic world, and high-concept gags—it’s Dexter’s Lab in Kyoto.
15. Kyou kara Maou! (2004)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 78
Rating: 7.6 (MAL)
Studio: Studio Deen
Plot: A high schooler is accidentally flushed into a fantasy world where he becomes its demon king.
Why It Fits: Fish-out-of-water genius scenarios, misapplied logic, and unexpected responsibilities align with Dexter’s accidental world-saving antics.
Why These Anime Work for Dexter’s Laboratory Fans
These anime carry the same DNA that made Dexter’s Laboratory a cult favorite: brainy protagonists, mad science, over-the-top visuals, and rapid-fire comedy.
Whether it’s a robot girl wrecking a lab, a child teacher managing delinquents, or aliens misusing human tech, they all share the charm of smart characters constantly outsmarting—or outdumbing, themselves.
For fans of fast-paced absurdity mixed with surprising heart, these underrated gems are ready to be discovered and binged.
