1. Osomatsu-san Lampoons Shingeki no Kyojin
Episode one of the 2015 Osomatsu-san revival featured an onslaught of anime references - and was removed from the Japanese home media release because of it - but the most stand out parody was easily the sextuplets' take on Shingeki no Kyojin.
2. Holo Cutout in Durarara!!
Light novel readers will get a kick out of the cardboard cutout of Holo from Ookami to Koushinryou in Durarara!! (and maybe wish they had one of their own).
3. Neo Genesis Evangelion-Themed Twister in GJ-bu
In the second episode of the school club comedy GJ-bu, the likeness of Asuka, Rei, and Mari from
Neon Genesis Evangelion is seen on the cover for Twister.
4. Mako Swimming in Inou-Battle wa Nichijou-kei no Naka de
With Kill la Kill studio Trigger animating the anime adaptation of Inou-Battle wa Nichijou-kei no Naka de, it was only natural to expect a cameo or two, such as the above picture of Mako Mankanshoku swimming.
5. Kirino, Kyosuke, Ruri, and Saori in Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai
In the 11th episode of Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai, we see the main cast of Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai present at Comiket.
6. Angel Beats! References Studio Ghibli
These blurred out anime references to some of Studio Ghibli's most famous films - Tenkuu no Shiro Laputa and Howl no Ugoku Shiro - can be seen in the anime series Angel Beats!
7. Kyubey Sign in Nisemonogatari
Similar to Trigger's anime references, Shaft producing Nisemonogatari and Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica allows them to sneak in a Kyubey cameo in the former.
8. Yuyushiki Magazine in Kiniro Mosaic
Both series original featured in Manga Time Kirara and its sister publication Manga Time Kirara Max, the three oddball stars of Yuyushiki grace a magazine cover in Kiniro Mosaic.
9. Gundam Models in Keroro Gunsou
The space frog Keroro from Keroro Gunsou spends his time watching anime, reading manga, and building various Gundam figurines from the plastic model kit.
10. Goku Visits the World of Dr. Slump
Sharing the same author and illustrator - Akira Toriyama - the Dragon Ball anime takes a brief detour to the gag manga Dr. Slump during the Red Ribbon Army Saga.
11. Lupin III Homage in FLCL
The fifth episode in the sureal comedy FLCL features a playful tripute to the opening montage of Lupin III: Part II; boxing glove and all.
12. Excel Becomes Sailor Moon
Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon is far from the only series parodied in Heppoko Jikken Animation Excel Saga, but this anime reference stands out because the female leads from both series are voiced by Japanese voice actress Kotono Mitsuishi.
13. Naruto Headband in Ansatsu Kyoushitsu
During the first season of Ansatsu Kyoushitsu, the strange tentacle mosnter known as Koro-sensei sports a familar looking headband from the Naruto series.
14. The Fridge from Cowboy Bebop Lands in Space Dandy
There's numerous evidence that suggest Cowboy Bebop and Space Dandy take place in the same universe - and both series were directed by Shinichirō Watanabe - but the strongest one was the infamous alien-infested fridge from the former winding up in the latter.
15. Urusei Yatsura Ending Reference in Kill la Kill
The second ending theme for Kill la Kill called "Shinsekai Koukyougaku" is a direct reference to the first opening theme of Urusei Yatsura named "Lum no Love Song."
16. Titan Sandcastle in Nisekoi
Viewers of the harem comedy Nisekoi were treated to a sly Shingeki no Kyojin reference of the monstrous Titan peeping its head out of this sand castle.
17. Kino no Tabi: The Beautiful World Light Novel in Toaru Kagaku no Railgun
Ruiko Saten from Toaru Kagaku no Railgun is found briefly reading Kino no Tabi: The Beautiful World in its light novel form.
18. Gaming References in No Game No Life
Akiba's Trip, Steins;Gate, and Persona 4 are among the gaming references made in the No Game No Life; the last two receiving anime adaptations.
19. K-ON Castanet Dance in Watashi ga Motenai no wa Dou Kangaetemo Omaera ga Warui!
The socially inept Kuroki Tomoko from Watashi ga Motenai no wa Dou Kangaetemo Omaera ga Warui! is seen here doing Yui Hirasawa's castanet dance in K-ON!
20. Light Stops By Death Parade
The Unmade Death Man in Death Parade bears a strong resembles to Death Note protagonist Light Yagami, and considering both series are animated by Madhouse, it's likely not a coincidence.
21. Sword Art Online Figurines in Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata
For a series about a high school otaku trying to support his BD buying habits, Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata having anime references like these figurines from Sword Art Online, Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai., and more are expected.
22. Dirty Pair Cameo in City Hunter
The 1987 anime City Hunter featured cameos of the leading ladies from Dirty Pair in its 39th episode, although it's just their colorful hairs in the background.
23. Haru and Shizuka in Hoozuki no Reitetsu
Haru Yoshida and Shizuku Mizutani from Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun make an appearance as demons in the supernatural comedy Hoozuki no Reitetsu.
24. Kamehameha in Blood Lad
One of the many inside jokes in Blood Lad involved the vampiric otaku Staz Charlie Blood performing a Kamehameha from Dragon Ball Z.
25. Anime Posters in Outbreak Company
There's a ton of anime references in the 2013 series Outbreak Company, such as the second episode featuring altered anime posters of Hataraku Maou-sama!, Toaru Kagaku no Railgun, Yondemasu yo, Azazel-san..
26. Shingeki no Kyojin Uniform in Servant X Service
Outfit maker Megumi Chihaya from Servant X Service is seen in the 12th episode with a few of her cosplay creations from series like Shingeki no Kyojin, Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai., Bakemonogatari, and Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya.
27. Death Note Reference in Binbougami ga!
The likeness of L, Misa Amane, Light and more from the Shonen Jump thriller Death Note can bee seen in the 2012 comedy Binbougami ga!.
28. Miku Hatsune in Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei
Miku Hatsune and the other Crypton Vocaloids are seen auditioning for the role of Meru Meru in the anime Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei.
29. Eva Reference in Paniponi Dash!
The gag anime Paniponi Dash! pays tribute to the iconic Neon Genesis Evangelion scene of Evangelion Unit-01 holding Kaworu Nagisa.
30. D-Frag! Cameo in Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai: Megami-hen
During the second season of (Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai: Megami-hen, Takao from D-Frag! shows up in a PS Vita-ish game.
31. Shin-chan Toy in Sailor Moon
In Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon a toy based on Shinnosuke Nohara from Crayon Shin-chan is seen; owned by a boy named Shinnosuke who shares the same troubling characteristics to the character.
32. JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken in Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru. Zoku
Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru. Zoku has Hayama Hayato mimicing Giorno Giovanna's "I have a dream!" pose in JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken.
33. Grand Line Reference in Ore no Kanojo to Osananajimi ga Shuraba Sugiru
Himeka Akishino from Ore no Kanojo to Osananajimi ga Shuraba Sugiru shows off her chuunibyo skills by referencing the Grand Line from One Piece.
34. Gundams in Shirobako
While these blurred out images might be hard to make out, these are indeed Gundams appearing in Shirobako: an anime about the Japanese animation industry .
35. Yuru Yuri References in Sabagebu!
Former Yuru Yuri anime director Masahiko Oota managed to sneak in some subtle and not-so-subtle references to the series in Sabagebu, including the scene where Akari Akaza rolls off a cliff in a drum barell.
36. Light Novels in Haiyore! Nyaruko-san
Haiyore! Nyaruko-san, the romantic comedy based on the H. P. Lovecraft Cthulhu mythos, teased the light novel release of Ore no Kanojo to Osananajimi ga Shuraba Sugiru.
37. Joshiraku Addresses the Anime Industry
The hilarious comedy Joshiraku got very real when it addressed the anime industry's unhealthy fixation on the latest craze, citing the copycats of Neon Genesis Evangelion, K-ON!, Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica, and Sword Art Online.
38. Yui and Kyon in Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!
The likeness of Yui Hirasawa from K-ON! and Kyon from Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu can be seen in Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!: Kirameki no... Slapstick Noel; all three shows produced by Kyoto Animation.
39. Akira Motorcycle Scene in Michiko to Hatchin
The 22-episode series Michiko to Hatchin referenced the iconic motorcycle animation scene from the 1988 theatrical film Akira.
40. Fullmetal Alchemist Reference in Seitokai no Ichizon
The student council anime Seitokai no Ichizon includes several anime references; one of which is the famous equivalent exchange dialogue from Fullmetal Alchemist.
41. Lil' Slugger in Psycho-Pass
Lil' Slugger's infamous Golden Bat from the Satoshi Kon-directed series Mousou Dairinin is seen in the equally psychological anime series Psycho-Pass.
42. Nice Boat Shout Out in Kimi ga Aruji de Shitsuji ga Ore de
The harem comedy Kimi ga Aruji de Shitsuji ga Ore de referenced the meme-favorite "Nice Boat" scene from School Days, where a gruesome scene in the final episode was edited out with a live action clip of a boat.
43. Mashiro in Danna ga Nani wo Itteiru ka Wakaranai Ken
Danna ga Nani wo Itteiru ka Wakaranai Ken, the slice-of-life anime about marriage and otaku life, depicts Mashiro Mitsumine from Mikakunin de Shinkoukei as the husband character's "waifu."
44. DBZ Parody in Gintama
Anime references are abundant in the action/comedy Gintama, but the series pays special tribute to the popular Shonen Jump series Dragon Ball Z.
45. Rei and Asuka in Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
Two girls dressed as Playboy bunnies in Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann look awfully like Asuka Langley Soryu and Rei Ayanami from Neon Genesis Evangelion.
46. Soul Eater and Fullmetal Alchemist in Barakamon
Manga volumes of Soul Eater and Fullmetal Alchemist - two series made by Bones - appear in the 2014 summer anime Barakamon.
47. Haruhi Cosplay in Lucky Star
Kyoto Animation made plenty of references to its previous Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu in Lucky Star, but the most notable was the Haruhi Suzumiya cosplay worn by Konata Izumi.
48. Vegeta and Trunks in Seto no Hanayome
Two students who share a strong resemblance to Vegeta and Trunks from Dragon Ball Z appear in mermaid-inspired romantic series Seto no Hanayome.
49. Akira, Gundam, and more in Abenobashi Mahou Shoutengai
The surreal fantasy parody Abenobashi Mahou Shoutengai made numerous anime references during its 13 episode run, including Gundam, Neon Genesis Evangelion, and Akira.
50. Saint Seiya Transformation in Arakawa Under the Bridge
Last but not least, the charming romantic series Arakawa Under the Bridge featured a hilarious parody of the over-the-top transformation sequences in Saint Seiya.
