Asobi Asobase - workshop of fun - (2018)
A wildly absurdist Japanese anime comedy about three misfit schoolgirls whose daily nonsense turns every recess into unforgettable chaos.
Asobi Asobase - workshop of fun - - Series Information
- Original Title: あそびあそばせ
- First Air Year: 2018
- Last Air Year: 2018
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Comedy, Animation
- Content Rating (US): TV-14
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (24 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 12
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- First Air Date: July 8, 2018 (United States - TV-14), July 8, 2018 (Canada - 14+), July 8, 2018 (Australia - M), July 8, 2018 (Brazil - 10), July 8, 2018 (Mexico - B-15), July 8, 2018 (South Korea - 15)
- Networks: AT-X, Tokyo MX, KBS Kyoto, BS11, Sun TV, TV Aichi
- Alternative Titles: 游戏3人娘 (CN), To Play with Playing (US), 游戏三人娘 (HK), Asobi Asobase (JP), 아소비 아소바세 (KR), ชุมนุมคนละเรื่อง (TH), 遊戲三人娘 (TW)
- Production Companies: Lerche
- Production Countries: Japan
Asobi Asobase - workshop of fun - - Plot
During recess, Olivia, a foreign transfer student who doesn't know English, plays a game of "look-the-other-way" with Hanako Honda, a loud-mouthed airhead. Their rowdy behavior spurs the ire of Kasumi Nomura, a deadpan loner constantly teased by her older sister for her tendency to lose games. Not willing to compete, Kasumi declines Olivia's offer to join the fun, but eventually gets involved anyway and dispenses her own brand of mischief. Soon, a strange friendship blossoms between the peculiar trio, and they decide to form the "Pastime Club," where they are free to resume their daily hijinks. Whether it be failing to learn English, trying desperately to become popular, or getting caught by teachers at the wrong time, school life will never be boring when these girls are up to their hilarious antics.
Asobi Asobase - workshop of fun - - Trailer
See the Pastime Club's anarchic school-life comedy in action:
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Asobi Asobase - workshop of fun - - Cast & Crew
Main Cast
- Maki Izawa
- Konomi Kohara
- Rika Nagae
- Hina Kino
- Ryoko Maekawa
- Honoka Inoue
- Ryotaro Okiayu
- Mai Kanazawa
- Yasunori Masutani
- Aoi Yuuki
Asobi Asobase - workshop of fun - - FAQs
What makes Asobi Asobase stand out from other anime comedies?
Asobi Asobase earns its reputation through wildly unpredictable, absurdist humor that constantly subverts expectations. Its biggest trick is pairing a deceptively cute art style with sudden, grotesque facial expressions and escalating chaos. The comedy never settles into a formula, making each episode feel genuinely surprising and frequently laugh-out-loud funny.
Is Asobi Asobase based on a manga?
The series is adapted from the manga of the same name by Naduka Nagata, serialized in Shueisha's Monthly Comic @ Bunch magazine starting in 2015. The anime adaptation by studio Lerche aired in 2018 and closely follows the manga's sketch-comedy format, bringing its surreal school-life humor to life with expressive animation.
Where can you stream Asobi Asobase - workshop of fun -?
The series is available to stream on Crunchyroll, including through the Crunchyroll Amazon Channel. Both options offer a subscription-based flat-rate plan. If availability varies in your region, checking JustWatch is a quick way to confirm current viewing options near you.
Who are the three main characters in Asobi Asobase?
The trio at the heart of the show are Kasumi Nomura, a deadpan loner voiced by Konomi Kohara; Olivia, a foreign transfer student who secretly cannot speak English, voiced by Rika Nagae; and Hanako Honda, a loud, cheerful airhead voiced by Hina Kino. Together they form the gloriously chaotic Pastime Club.
How was Asobi Asobase received by critics and audiences?
The series earned strong praise from anime fans and critics alike for its fearless, unpredictable comedy and expressive animation. Viewers frequently highlight its ability to deliver genuine shock laughs through tonal whiplash — shifting from adorable slice-of-life moments to unhinged absurdity in seconds. It quickly developed a devoted cult following after its 2018 run.
Why does Olivia pretend she cannot speak Japanese in Asobi Asobase?
Olivia's central running gag is that despite looking like a foreign student, she was actually raised in Japan and speaks fluent Japanese. She fabricates an inability to speak the language to seem more exotic and interesting to her classmates. This deception spirals into increasingly absurd situations as Hanako desperately tries to learn English from her.
What are some anime series similar to Asobi Asobase?
Fans of Asobi Asobase often enjoy Nichijou: My Ordinary Life for its similarly escalating absurdist gags, YuruYuri: Happy Go Lily for its all-girl school-club comedy, and Lucky Star for its affectionate take on everyday school life. SHIMONETA also shares the show's willingness to push comedic boundaries well past conventional limits.
How many episodes does Asobi Asobase - workshop of fun - have?
The main series consists of 12 episodes across a single season, which aired from July to September 2018. There are also 3 additional special episodes collected under Season 0, bringing the total episode count to 15. Each main episode runs approximately 24 minutes and is structured around multiple short comedic sketches.
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