Best Anime On Crunchyroll

Anime is an international phenomenon nowadays, and this development can be at least partially credited to platforms like Crunchyroll. Firmly established as the main option for streaming anime content, the service has an ever-expanding library that covers classics and modern releases, making them as accessible as possible. While not exhaustive, Crunchyroll has the most substantial (legal) selection in the North American market, exceeding both anime-focused and general alternatives. This fact was reinforced by its merger with Funimation, which saw many of the latter’s exclusive shows make their way to Crunchyroll.

Whether watching free episodes or picking up a subscription, Crunchyroll users will find themselves overwhelmed with content. The platform has nearly every genre well covered, offering shonen, romance, comedy, horror, slice of life, mecha, isekai, fantasy, and almost everything else. As such abundance can make picking the next series to watch quite difficult, let’s go through the best anime on Crunchyroll per genre or theme.

Updated October 13, 2024 by Mark Sammut: The Fall 2024 anime season is well underway by this point, and Crunchyroll’s lineup is mainly dominated by sequels. However, there are a couple of noteworthy new shows.

Best New Fall 2024 Anime On Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll’s Fall 2024 anime lineup is packed with exciting names that are likely to rank among the year’s strongest efforts. While too early to definitively declare any series as the best of the best, the following Crunchyroll anime will be highlights of Fall 2024.

New anime will be prioritized. That said,
Re:ZERO
,
Blue Exorcist: Beyond the Snow Saga
,
Blue Lock
, and
Natsume’s Book of Friends
are just a couple of sequels airing on Crunchyroll.

Dandadan

Out of all the Fall 2024 new anime on Crunchyroll, Dandadan had far and away the most hype leading into the season. Yukinobu Tatsu’s shonen manga has garnered a very respectable reputation over the years, and Science Saru is shaping up to be the perfect studio to adapt the source material’s brilliance into animated form. Blending humor, action, and character depth, the first episode serves as a splendid showcase of Dandadan‘s strengths, setting the stage for what could prove to be one of the best anime of 2024. That might sound premature, but this series warrants it. The second episode was nearly as good.

Conceptually, the anime has a simple but awesome premise. Momo and Ken believe in ghosts and aliens respectively, so they set out to prove the existence of their side of the supernatural coin. Before long, they are dragged into a chaotic world that pushes their concept of reality to its limits. Both protagonists are incredibly likable, and their dynamic changes quickly and convincingly. More important, Dandadan‘s visuals are spectacular.

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365 Days to the Wedding

Romance fans should be eating well throughout Fall 2024, even if the genre’s biggest new series (Blue Box) is not available on Crunchyroll. Still, 365 Days to the Wedding seems set to be a memorable and mature addition to the genre, the latter of which goes beyond the fact the anime revolves around an adult cast. Desperate to avoid a job relocation, Rika and Takuya decide to pretend they are getting married in a year, a con that sounds great on paper but starts to fall apart when the two remember they know nothing about each other or romance in general.

Some humor aside, 365 Days is primarily a romance drama with slice of life elements. The protagonists are both terrible at communication, not only with each other but also with the rest of the world. They have never considered marriage, and this situation forces them to rethink their lives and comfort zones.

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TsumaSho

Also known as If My Wife Becomes an Elementary School Student, TsumaSho might raise some red flags at a glance. The idea of watching a guy play house with a 10-year-old girl is naturally off-putting, so people might be tempted to just give this one a miss. However, TsumaSho is quite a different show than its alternate title might suggest, and it packs surprising narrative and emotional depth. Ever since losing his wife a decade prior, Keisuke has been in limbo. He simply goes through the motions, unable to move on while also struggling to connect with his daughter. For Keisuke, his life ended with his wife’s.

One day, a young girl named Marika knocks at his door, proclaiming herself to be Keisuke’s reincarnated wife. A few quick info drops later and her words are proven to be true, allowing both Keisuke and his daughter, Mai, a second chance to spend time with the person most dear to them. They get to do things they once took for granted and believed they would never get to experience again. It is pretty wholesome, and Marika’s presence rejuvenates Keisuke, finally beginning the healing process.

TsumaSho can be a touch all over the place tonally. While most scenes are fairly lighthearted and optimistic, the anime maintains a fairly somber tone, particularly when it comes to Marika’s new home life. Keisuke and Mai’s grief is also handled well, as is their unrelenting joy at this unexpected turn of events.

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Best Battle Shonen Anime On Crunchyroll

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

At some point during the 2010s, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood usurped the likes of Naruto as the ultimate gateway anime, particularly for people looking for action or battle shonen shows. Ambitious and epic, FMA:B takes place in a world where alchemy is possible, which is governed by the rule of equivalent exchange. When the Elric siblings break this rule, they pay a hefty price, one that requires them to find a Philosopher’s Stone to reverse.

Although a bit rushed in its opening stages, FMA:B tells a fantastic story that delivers impeccable action, heartbreaking moments, and an overabundance of humor. Picking the best action anime on Crunchyroll ultimately comes down to personal preference, but FMA:B is the ideal place to start.

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Chainsaw Man

Most seasons typically have a few shows competing for the crown of “most anticipated” anime – Fall 2022 was not one of those seasons. Chainsaw Man was comfortably the most hyped show of the season, and Fall was by no means lacking in big names.

Since debuting towards the end of 2018, Tatsuki Fujimoto’s manga has bloomed into one of the most popular shonen stories of the last decade. Chainsaw Man is gory, well-written, and surprisingly complex. The anime’s first season does justice to its source material, delivering (mostly) fantastic animation that guarantees every drop of blood is crystal clear.

Bolstered by a seasoned cast of voice actors, the characters have seemingly survived the transition into animation in one piece, and Denji’s scenes with Makima, Aki, and Power have already produced memorable moments. Even this early in its adaptation process, Chainsaw Man is already shaping up to be one of the best Crunchyroll anime.

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Attack On Titan

After almost a decade, Attack on Titan is slowly approaching its end, although the final season still has a third part to go. Set in a post-apocalyptic world where the last remnants of humanity live behind walls to “protect” them from massive man-eating beasts called Titans, this beloved anime is unpredictable, intense, well-animated, and complex.

Each season brings with it a substantial shift in the story’s direction, often taking seemingly straightforward characters and subverting expectations. Attack on Titan set a high standard for not just shonen anime but the industry in general, and it will take something special to fill the hole left by this series when it ends.

Attack on Titan
is not typically associated with battle shonen, but the anime is being included here since it is action-heavy and a shonen property.

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Best Non-Shonen Action Anime On Crunchyroll

Fate/Zero

Based on Gen Urobuchi’s light novel, Fate/Zero belongs to Type-Moon’s larger Fate franchise. Focusing specifically on anime, the 2011 show is likely to be someone’s first exposure to this universe, and Fate/Zero makes quite an initial impression. The story revolves around the Holy Grail war, which involves human Masters summoning warriors from history. The last competitor standing will be granted any wish they desire; naturally, people are willing to do nearly anything to achieve this goal.

Featuring smooth animation that holds up beautifully despite the anime now being more than a decade old, Fate/Zero pits legendary heroes from history in epic and vicious battles for supremacy. Ufotable’s anime is not just pleasing to the eyes, though, as the story dives into the philosophies and psyches of its characters. Almost nobody is portrayed as being purely good or evil, which enhances the fights since they often have an ideological component to them.

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Black Lagoon

A seinen classic, Black Lagoon is a rip-roaring action extravaganza predominantly set in Roanapur, a seedy city defined by criminal organizations and corruption. Operating within this world is Lagoon Company, a mercenary group that is more than willing to take on risky jobs, even if it entails turning an entire city against them or facing off against a killer maid. Rock, a fairly ordinary Japanese businessman, is kidnapped by Lagoon, but he winds up joining them when he realizes that he means nothing to his company. While arguably not the real main character, Rock’s transformation serves as the anime’s main throughline.

Split into two seasons and an OVA series, Black Lagoon delivers fantastic action, endearing characters, and the occasional philosophical musing. While some arcs overstay their welcome or are not all that memorable, the anime is still reasonably consistent. At its best, Black Lagoon is about as good as any other action anime to ever come out.

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Other Recommended Action Anime On Crunchyroll:

Best Comedy Anime On Crunchyroll

Gintama

As a parody of shonen stories, Gintama should not be someone’s introduction to anime; if nothing else, they should at least watch Rurouni Kenshin first, which is also on Crunchyroll. Once that masterpiece is out of the way, Gintama awaits, along with plenty of laughs.

In this alternate reality, Earth has fallen to aliens (Amanto), and samurai have been banned in Edo. With not much else to do, Gintoki has no choice but to accept any random job that happens to fall on his lap. More often than not, hilarity ensues. As it progresses, Gintama introduces arcs that are pure battle shonen. These are also great, even if the anime shines the brightest as a comedy.

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Nichijou – My Ordinary Life

A thin line separates slice of life from full-blown comedy, and Nichijou is one of the best representatives of both genres. Orbiting around three friends, a professor, a robot, and a talking cat, this series blends the mundane with the surreal, with the latter becoming more pronounced as the season progresses. Just to provide an example of the strangeness on offer, at one point, a character witnesses a wrestling match between her school’s principal and a deer. It is glorious.

Nichijou pushes “slice of life” into bizarre territory, but it is still ultimately a relaxing show without much in the way of conflict. The anime simply happens to follow “lives” that are not tethered to conventional reality.

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Bocchi The Rock!

2022 had more than a few great anime, but none managed to surpass expectations quite like Bocchi the Rock!. Based on Aki Hamaji’s manga, the show follows Hitori “Bocchi” Gotou, a talented guitarist who struggles with social anxiety. After spending middle school alone, Hitori wishes to turn things around by joining a band, but her insecurities constantly impede her dream. One day, she is randomly approached by a girl named Nijika Ijichi who asks her to join Kessoku Band as their guitarist has gone missing right before a show. Unable to decline, Hitori finds herself on stage (and in a box) alongside two new bandmates.

On the surface, Bocchi the Rock! might seem like a “cute girls doing cute things” story, but that is not the case. The anime focuses heavily on Bocchi’s growth as she struggles to face the challenges that come with being in a band and just socializing in general. Surprisingly character-driven, the series blends imaginative and surreal comedy sequences with relatable moments driven by Hitori’s fears.

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Other Recommended Comedy Anime On Crunchyroll:

Best Slice Of Life Anime On Crunchyroll

A Place Further Than The Universe

Classifying A Place Further Than The Universe as slice of life does not feel 100% accurate since the show’s subject is far from ordinary. The anime follows four girls who wish to go to Antarctica, all of whom have their own reasons for pursuing this ambitious goal. Madhouse’s series is powerful, heartbreaking, funny, and grounded (despite the somewhat outlandish premise).

Even though the girls are focused on their destination, A Place Further Than The Universe is just as much about the journey, and this is very much a coming-of-age story. Boasting gorgeous animation, an unbeatable story, and lovable characters, this show has very few peers in anime.

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Barakamon

Slice of life stories might generally avoid drama as they try to stick to the status quo, but that does not mean their characters cannot undergo development. Barakamon is a prime example of the genre’s capacity for crafting narratively satisfying journeys fueled by a protagonist’s growth. Sei, a talent calligrapher, reacts to criticism in the worst possible way, which prompts his father to send him to an island where he can “work.” In truth, the goal behind this trip is to push Sei to develop his social and interpersonal skills.

Barakamon emphasizes the importance of finding and engaging with a community. In the span of just 12 episodes, Sei undergoes an extraordinary change that is fully earned and never comes across as forced. The anime is also consistently hilarious, and all of its humor is wholesome.

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Other Recommended Slice Of Life Anime On Crunchyroll:

Best Sports Anime On Crunchyroll

Run With The Wind

Sports anime might not seem all that attractive to the uninitiated, however, the genre is among the most accessible in anime. It does not matter whether a viewer has any knowledge or interest in the main sport since, for the most part, it is only used as a vehicle to supply character development, drama, and humor.

Running with the Wind is about healing, friendship, and finding satisfaction by establishing personal goals. Outside a few exceptions, Kansei University Track Club consists of novices, so they have a long journey ahead of them if they wish to attend the Hakone Ekiden.

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Haikyu!!

Haikyu!! is about volleyball; to be exact, it is about passionate players who refuse to give up their desire to play the sport regardless of the obstacles in their way. It is about the partnership between the energetic Shoyo Hinata and the unapproachable Tobio Kageyama, two people who do not get along but also bring out the best in each other. It is about teamwork, hardship, success, and failure. Basically, Haikyu!! is about life.

More importantly, this anime is ridiculously entertaining, be it through its captivating matches, memorable characters, or on-point humor. Each season is awesome in its own right, and there is scarcely a bad episode to be found across the series.

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Fighting Spirit

Except for Tomorrow’s Joe, Fighting Spirit is the most famous boxing anime of all time, and it ranks among the sports genre’s greatest creations. The story follows Ippo, a timid and bullied teenager who is inspired to take up boxing after meeting the loudmouthed Takamura. Through hard work and dedication, Ippo sets out to climb to the top of the boxing scene, a process that involves plenty of intense battles for supremacy.

Fighting Spirit is one of Madhouse’s best shows, which is saying a lot. Even though the original season is more than two decades old by this point, the animation still looks fantastic, particularly during matches. In between bouts, Fighting Spirit falls back on a strong roster of characters, some of which are downright hilarious.

Weirdly, Crunchyroll does not have this show’s second season, making for an incomplete and disjointed experience. Still, season one has 75 episodes, so there is a lot of content to go through before hitting that wall.

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Other Recommended Sports Anime On Crunchyroll:

Best Sci-Fi Anime On Crunchyroll

Gurren Lagann

Gainax’s Gurren Lagann is hype in anime form. No, that makes it seem like the show is nothing but glorious action, but this 2007 anime backs its universe-spanning conflicts with multifaceted characters, a consistent thematic identity, and ambitious storytelling. Gurren Lagann is all about pushing beyond your limits in search of freedom.

Toeing the line between sci-fi and pure fantasy, Gurren Lagann‘s greatest strength is that the anime never ignores its human element in favor of spectacle. Ultimately, this is a coming-of-age story that just happens to take place in an incredibly unconventional reality.

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Steins;Gate

Adapted from a visual novel, Steins;Gate is split into two halves: the first twelve episodes have an almost slice of life tone as they follow the quirky lives of the Future Gadget Laboratory’s members, led by the enigmatic Rintaro Okabe. The anime’s second half is a sci-fi thrill ride centering around the consequences of time travel and the people willing to kill for it.

Both halves are brilliant when viewed in isolation, and they are even better when taken as a whole. Steins;Gate meshes together an array of genres, and it executes all of them well. After completing the series, Crunchyroll subscribers can also check out Steins;Gate 0, an alternate reality spin-off that is pretty fabulous in its own right.

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Space Brothers

Space Brothers is a different type of sci-fi anime, one grounded in reality. As its title suggests, the story follows two siblings who, as kids, wished to become astronauts. While one brother pursued this ambition, the other did not; however, the latter got an opportunity to change that, and he decided to seize it.

Space Brothers focuses heavily on the hard work and dedication required to head out into space. Most of the narrative centers on Mutta Nanba’s training, and while these stretches can last for quite a long time, they are generally intriguing and immersive. When it does venture out into the great unknown, the anime is impossible to put down.

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Cowboy Bebop

Cowboy Bebop transcends anime, and that goes beyond Netflix’s mediocre live-action adaptation. The 1998 series not only introduced plenty of people to the glorious world of anime, but also demonstrated that shows like Dragon Ball Z, Pokemon, and Sailor Moon are just a small slice of what the industry has to offer.

Set in the (not too) distant future, humanity has set up roots across the galaxy. The eponymous ship belongs to two bounty hunters, Spike and Jet, who are willing to take on all sorts of odd jobs. Before long, their crew expands to include Faye, Ed, and an adorable dog. Cowboy Bebop offers a perfect mix of stand-alone episodes and serial storytelling; the former are highly entertaining, while the latter add depth to the characters. The anime’s soundtrack is also phenomenal.

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Other Recommended Sci-Fi Anime On Crunchyroll:

Best Thriller Anime On Crunchyroll

Death Note

One of the quintessential gateway anime, Death Note‘s legacy is cemented as an all-time great. The story follows Light Yagami, an intelligent teenager who gains access to a god of death’s book, the Death Note, that allows him to kill anyone by just writing that person’s name in it. Empowered by a sense of righteousness, Light sets out to mold the world to fit his interpretation of justice, a plan that quickly attracts the attention of the police and, specifically, a master detective named L.

Death Note brings together two geniuses in a battle of wits, charisma, and drive. Packed with twists, surprises, and ethical themes, this anime is an addictive watch featuring perhaps the greatest cat-and-mouse battle in anime, except for perhaps Monster.

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Psycho-Pass

Added to Crunchyroll at the end of May 2022, Psycho-Pass immerses viewers in a dark, futuristic world where Japan is built upon a justice system that judges people on their potential to commit future crimes. Once a person’s Psycho-Pass is stained, they are removed from society with precious little hope of staging a comeback. The law is maintained by Inspectors and Enforcers, the latter of which are people already tagged as latent criminals.

Psycho-Pass is an intense sci-fi thriller that explores themes dealing with accountability and whether the preservation of the many outweighs an individual’s rights. Mature, violent, and thought-provoking, this anime is rarely an easy sit, but it is also never dull. Crunchyroll only has the show’s first two seasons, but they each tell complete stories in their own right. Season one is particularly strong and features one of the most memorable villains in anime.

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Other Recommended Thriller Anime On Crunchyroll:

Best Horror Anime On Crunchyroll

Yamishibai: Japanese Ghost Stories

Horror aficionados might find Crunchyroll’s selection of animated nightmares to be a touch lacking. Horror anime are just generally in short supply, and most of the genre’s best series – Mononoke and Shiki – are not on the streaming service. At the moment, no (legal) platform has an exhaustive selection of horror anime, and subscribers will have to make do with a small range of options. Thankfully, Crunchyroll does have some quality picks.

Yamishibai: Japanese Ghost Stories is one of anime’s more popular horror properties, and the series has produced more than 10 seasons so far. Consisting of short episodes, each segment is inspired by a Japanese urban legend or folk tale. The anime uses a minimalist animation style that can take a bit of getting used to, although it does often complement the stories being told. While every season has a handful of legitimately frightening shorts, Yamishibai becomes progressively more inconsistent as it goes along.

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Ghost Hunt

While Yamishibai‘s best segments are Crunchyroll’s scariest horror content, Ghost Hunt is overall the genre’s most consistent representative on the platform. A more conventional series, the show follows Kazuya Shibuya and Mia Taniyama as they investigate a string of supernatural cases. The anime is split into eight arcs, each of which introduces new monsters, settings, and minor characters.

Ghost Hunt‘s individual cases are well-written and engaging. While rarely terrifying, the anime has its share of creepy moments as well. The show’s core characters are also likable enough to carry the weaker mysteries. Since it aired during the mid-2000s, Ghost Hunt uses an old-school animation style that lends itself well to the horror genre.

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Other Recommended Horror Anime On Crunchyroll:

Best Isekai Anime On Crunchyroll

Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-

Crunchyroll is not lacking in isekai anime, so anyone looking to jump into another world will be set for a couple of months at the very least. The concept has produced plenty of great content, however, due to similarities in setting, tone, and protagonists, many of the subgenre’s shows can start to blend together after a while. Although it shares imagery with other isekai series, Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- is a unique beast.

A normal human, Subaru, finds himself teleported to a fantasy world with magic, waifus, and talking mascots. Standard as this setup might be, Re:ZERO wastes little time in establishing that it has no interest in telling a power fantasy story. Subaru’s journey is one filled with suffering, failure, and self-discovery. The side characters are also quite interesting, with season 2 doing a stellar job of expanding on Emilia’s personality.

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Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation is not the easiest show to unabashedly recommend since it stars a rather unlikable protagonist, especially during the first season; however, at its core, this is one of the best-written isekai anime of all time. Dying after committing his solitary good act, a NEET reawakens in a fantasy world as Rudy, a baby born to a loving couple. Rudy remembers his past life completely, and his former personality frequently shines through his actions. Unlike many other isekai stories, Mushoku Tensei‘s main character is not a blank slate or a self-insert.

Mushoku Tense‘s world-building is generally fantastic, and the show does not rush things either. The story gradually chronicles Rudy’s life as he grows up and changes along the way. He does not become a beacon of virtue since he never really stops being deeply flawed, but he is not static.

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Other Recommended Isekai Anime On Crunchyroll:

Best Fantasy Anime On Crunchyroll

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

Fall 2023 was not lacking in massive releases. The Apothecary Diaries is fantastic and features one of the best female protagonists in recent years, and Shangri-La Frontier is a fun thrill ride that will likely hit the mark with action fans.

As good as these shows were, they existed in the shadow of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, a fantasy anime that might go down as Madhouse’s ultimate masterpiece. As the title suggests, the story takes place long after the hero’s party defeated the Demon King, ushering in a new era of peace. Frieren, an elf mage, has outlived most of her former companions, and she did not take full advantage of her time with them. Wishing to remember them while remnants of their original journey remain, she goes on a new adventure with a few young comrades.

Frieren is, essentially, a slice of life fantasy story, albeit one that has quite a bit of action along with a fairly concrete goal the characters are working towards. The anime is primarily about celebrating the present while learning from the past, providing experiences that encourage the protagonists to grow, reflect, and live. Most episodes are happy to just let Frieren, Fern, and Stark’s banter and occasionally interact with the locals. While the characters are brilliant, the anime also has clever and subtle world-building that convincingly hints at a long and complex history without relying on extensive exposition.

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Other Recommended Fantasy Anime On Crunchyroll:

Best Mecha Anime On Crunchyroll

Gundam

Mobile Suit Gundam is the definitive Mecha franchise, one that has not only shaped the genre’s development but also people’s understanding of it. Crunchyroll does not have every Gundam series in existence, but it has a solid selection taken from across the franchise’s storied history. Here are a couple of seasons to take note of:

• Mobile Suit Gundam: Aside from the dated visuals and slow pacing compared to modern shows, the original series still holds up pretty well from a story perspective. This is plainly a great war anime.
• Mobile Fighter G Gundam: More of a traditional action series, this 1994 release mostly pushes the political elements to the side to focus on glorious over-the-top action. It is a solid pick for newcomers to the series as it stands on its own pretty well.
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans: Arguably the best entry-level modern series in the franchise, Iron-Blooded Orphans boasts fantastic animation, a mature storyline, and brilliant action.

Code Geass: Lelouch Of The Rebellion

In 2006, anime had a thing for empowering manipulative geniuses with a desire to shape the world in their image. Code Geass envisions an alternate reality where Japan fell at the hands of the Britannian Empire; while a resistance group does exist, they are barely more than a small nuisance for the country’s rulers. At least, that was the case until a new hero, Zero, rose up to protect the Japanese people from the discriminating Empire.

Zero’s real identity is Lelouch, and his actions are not quite as noble as they might seem to the public. The rebel fighter also has the power to force someone to follow one order, an ability Lelouch uses to good and horrifying effect. Combining mind games and mecha battles, Code Geass is a highly entertaining show with barely a dull moment to be found.

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Other Recommended Mecha Anime On Crunchyroll:

Best Romance Anime On Crunchyroll

Fruits Basket

TMS Entertainment’s adaptation of Natsuki Takaya’s Fruits Basket manga is a work of art that tells a brilliant story that covers a wide spectrum of genres and, more importantly, does justice to each one of them. At points, Fruits Basket can be a hilarious comedy, an intense drama, or a devastating romance.

The show’s romantic element largely revolves around Toru, Yuki, and Kyou, and Fruits Basket has arguably the best love triangle in anime. Even if romance tends to be an acquired taste, Fruits Basket‘s appeal is universal. This is one of the absolute best anime on Crunchyroll.

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Kaguya-sama: Love Is War

Shuchiin Academy’s Student Council is run by Miyuki Shirogane and Kaguya Shinomiya, who both like each other but are anxious to admit it. Coming from vastly different backgrounds and suspicious of each other’s intentions, Miyuki and Kaguya take part in battles to see who will be tricked into announcing their feelings first.

Kaguya-sama: Love is War starts as an over-the-top comedy, one that almost parodies romance anime. However, the series steadily begins to properly explore its core relationships, allowing its characters to change and grow along the way. The Ultra Romantic season aired in the Spring of 2022, and Kaguya-sama went from strength to strength. While comedy plays a major role, the show is constantly pushing forward its relationships and producing heart-pounding romantic moments.

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Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines!

Perhaps unexpectedly, Summer 2024’s best comedy and romance were Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines! A-1’s series is just an all-around delight, delivering constantly fantastic animation, endearing characters, relatable heartbreak, and, yes, humor. Makeine kind of subverts romance and harem tropes by surrounding its male lead with girls who lost at the harsh game of love, requiring them to put on a smile and pretend they are fine with watching their crush be happy with somebody else.

As a premise, this could work for a comedy or drama, and Makeine threads the line between both tones. For the most part, the episodes are lighthearted and silly, particularly whenever Anna takes center stage. However, the anime does not ridicule its characters for their heartbreak, instead allowing them to experience these emotions without judgment.

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Your Lie In April

Your Lie in April has become a cornerstone of the romance genre. The beloved manga led to an anime adaptation, along with a light novel extension and a live-action movie. For the most part, each iteration of the story or addition to the franchise is, at the minimum, pretty good. At their best, they are fantastic, and the anime falls within the latter category.

Music serves as this tale’s beating heart. Not only does it bring together the main characters, but it fuels their passion, growth, and trauma. Following a personal tragedy, the young Kosei has struggled to play the piano, letting his talent go to waste. One day, he meets Kaori, an exceptional violinist who embraces life with every fiber of her being. Kosei is drawn to Kaori, and vice-versa.

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Other Recommended Romance Anime On Crunchyroll:

Best Boys Love Anime On Crunchyroll

Given

Romance anime are an acquired taste, and boys love stories take that to the next level. While reasonably popular in the grand scheme of things, the shounen-ai genre is also rather insulated and might seem impenetrable to the uninitiated. Ultimately, these are simply romance shows featuring two male leads. If someone is unsure where to start, then they can hardly do any better than Given​​​​​​.

The anime focuses on four band members, two of whom are in high school while the others are college students. Even though each character is well-written and gets their time to shine, the series primarily revolves around Mafuyu and Ritsuka, the high schoolers. The former is the latest addition to the band, and while he is not that accustomed to music, he is passionate about learning.

Given treats its leads as individuals rather than couples in the making. They all come with baggage that defines the way they act both in and out of romantic situations. Mafuyu’s history drives most of the first season as his backstory is gradually revealed to his bandmates and the audience. The payoff is unforgettable.

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Sasaki And Miyano

Boys love anime have a reputation for veering into scandalous and taboo territory, which can make some of the genre’s most well-known stories difficult to recommend to newcomers. Sasaki and Miyano seems to exist to satisfy this blind spot, acting as an easy-going and wholesome option in a genre that does not have all that many of them.

Miyano loves consuming shounen-ai media, but he is too embarrassed to broadcast this fact to the larger world. One day, he meets an upperclassman named Sasaki who shows an interest in boys love manga. Before long, the two high school students find themselves discussing these stories while slowly growing closer. Miyano and Sasaki are not only adorable together, but they are also positive influences in each other’s lives. As their friendship is believable, their eventual romance also comes across as authentic and endearing.

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Welcome Home

If boys love anime are considered “inaccessible,” then the Omegaverse might as well be impenetrable to the uninitiated. While way too complicated to explain in detail, Fusion Product’s universe basically expands gender norms by introducing a system split into three categories: Alphas (can impregnate men and women), Omegas (can become pregnant regardless of their gender), and Betas (standard folks who do not fall under the other classes). Omegas tend to face discrimination as they are seen as submissive and beneath Alphas.

Welcome Home revolves around a married couple, Masaki (Omega) and Hiromu (Alpha) as they raise two children while trying to navigate a society that tends to judge these types of relationships. While touching upon themes of prejudice and the self-doubt it can cause, Welcome Home is primarily a wholesome slice of life about a family that is growing and blossoming. Hiromu and Masaki are great together and with their children, and they are supported by a strong roster of supporting characters who shine a light on the wider social situation.

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Best Girls Love Anime On Crunchyroll

Strawberry Panic

In the grand scheme of things, there are not all that many classic anime with explicit yuri relationships, and the exceptions can be difficult to find on legal streaming platforms. Thankfully, one of the yuri genre’s defining stories is accessible on Crunchyroll. Strawberry Panic revolves around a dormitory that houses female students from three academies, and the plot launches with the arrival of a girl named Nagisa. As she tries to fit within her new crowd, Nagisa captures the attention of one of her senpais, the rather aggressive Shizuma. Although their dynamic is not all that even at first, the anime eventually balances things out as it explores Shizuma’s past.

Strawberry Panic hits the mark in most areas, even if it tells a fairly conventional tale by the romance genre’s standards. The anime does a great job with its characters, and that goes beyond just Shizuma and Nagisa. A number of other relationships are given time to flourish, and they are different enough from the main pairing to stand out. Provided someone can tolerate their share of love triangles, Strawberry Panic is a must-watch.

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YuruYuri: Happy Go Lily

Similar to yaoi shows, Crunchyroll does not have an overabundance of girls love anime. Still, the service has a couple of noteworthy shows that can scratch someone’s yuri itch, although they might not all be prototypical examples of the genre. As its title suggests, YuruYuri revolves entirely around female friendships that could become something more; however, the anime is a slice of life comedy and not a romance. In fact, the series has more in common with Nichijou and Lucky Star than Strawberry Panic and Bloom Into You.

Set in middle school, YuruYuri follows a group of friends who meet up as part of the Amusement Club, which generally means they spend their free time doing nothing and everything. While season one plays it relatively safe, the sequels gradually ramp up the absurdity and creativity. The yuri aspect tends to lean heavily into one-sided crushes, which can get repetitive, but the characters themselves are charming enough to keep things interesting. Ultimately, YuruYuri is all about its humor, and the anime is more than capable of delivering laughs on a regular basis.

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I’m in Love with the Villainess

Technically, I’m in Love with the Villainess fits into the isekai category as well, but it is not really among that theme’s best Crunchyroll anime. However, it is certainly among the service’s better girls love offerings, which is admittedly not saying much since the genre is fairly underrepresented in general. Long story short, a woman dies from overwork, reincarnates in an otome game as the protagonist (Rae), and sets out to give her favorite character – a villainess named Claire – a happy ending. While constantly declaring her love for Claire, to the point of coming across as creepy at times, Rae mostly just wants to guide her away from a terrible fate, regardless of whether they end up together at the end.

Although a mixed bag overall, I’m in Love with the Villainess is at its best when focusing on Rae and Claire’s relationship, particularly once the former’s antics settle down and the latter starts to warm up to them. The show is pretty funny as well, largely thanks to the villainess. Due to crossing over with the eternally popular isekai concept, this anime is an accessible gateway to the girls love genre.

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Best Magical Girl Anime On Crunchyroll

Cardcaptor Sakura

Except for Sailor Moon, Cardcaptor Sakura probably introduced most people to magical girl anime, at least for those who watched Japanese animation during the early 2000s. Developed by Madhouse, this series tells the timeless tale of a young girl who suddenly finds herself with magical powers, and she goes on a quest to collect missing cards.

Cardcaptor Sakura‘s brilliance lies in its balance. The anime handles action, comedy, romance, and suspense well, blending them together to craft an experience that feels complete. Although generally acceptable for younger viewers, the series also has its share of dark moments that provide something a little heavier for older fans.

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Revolutionary Girl Utena

An anime classic that falls within the Magical Girl genre without being a prototypical example, Revolutionary Girl Utena is a surreal masterpiece overflowing with symbolism. Yearning to be a prince, Utena enrolls at Ootori Academy and becomes involved in a battle to determine who will basically own Anthy, the Rose Bride. As the two become close friends, Utena acts as Anthy’s protector as she takes part in countless bizarre fights that do not pay too much attention to internal logic, at least when it comes to the academy’s structure.

Revolutionary Girl Utena is an anime that yearns to be analyzed and to inspire discussion. Released in 1997, the anime has aged exceptionally well, and the series should be watched before trying out 1999’s Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Adolescence of Utena movie.

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Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Puella Magi Madoka Magica might be the most famous magical girl anime of the last two decades, at least with hardcore fans of the medium. The show’s reputation precedes it; in fact, the anime’s twist has become so well-known that it can inadvertently lessen the story’s impact or shock factor. Even with the twist spoiled, Puella Magi Madoka Magica still has fantastic writing, unforgettable characters, and some of the creepiest designs in anime to fall back on. Shaft’s show is one of the best anime on Crunchyroll regardless of genre, so watch it eventually. That said, newcomers to magical girls looking for a traditional example of the genre should not start with Puella Magi Madoka Magica since the series is very much its own entity.

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Best Seinen Anime On Crunchyroll

This section includes seinen anime that do not fall neatly under action (
Hellsing Ultimate
), thriller (
Parasyte: The Maxim
), or any other genre.

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March Comes In Like A Lion

Thanks to its indecipherable name, March Comes In Like a Lion can be a hard sell. While good, the anime’s opening season moves at a glacial pace at times and focuses quite a bit on its protagonist’s shogi career, with most of these scenes being dry. Consequently, some people might drop the show before reaching season 2, which comfortably places March Comes In Like a Lion among the best anime on Crunchyroll.

Orphaned at a young age, Rei moves in with a family friend, a place he never quite felt like he belonged. In fact, that feeling extends to nearly every part of Rei’s existence, although that starts to change when he meets the Kawamoto sisters. March Comes In Like a Lion tells a coming-of-age story that deals with depression, anxiety, listlessness, loneliness, and bullying. Rather than settle for easy answers, the anime takes a realistic look at all of these themes, and it handles them very well.

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Ping Pong The Animation

An argument could be made that most sports anime are not truly about their chosen activities, but they tend to follow a formula that allows them to be grouped into a specific genre. Despite its on-the-nose title, Ping Pong the Animation has little in common with traditional sports shows, to the point that the series basically belongs in its own category. Peco and Smile have been tight for years, with the latter seeing the former as something of a hero. They are both regarded as Ping Pong prospects, although Peco begins to fall off after he suffers a loss.

Ping Pong the Animation uses a rather simple set-up to tell a complex tale about growing up, anxiety, expectations, and friendship. In just 11 episodes, the show completely dissects its characters, going beyond just Smile and Peco. Visually, the anime is undoubtedly unique, even if the art style might not be to everyone’s tastes.

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Bungo Stray Dogs

At this point, Bungo Stray Dogs cannot do anything else to plead its case. The show’s opening season is, admittedly, not amazing, although it is still more than watchable; since then, the anime has gone from strength to strength, culminating in the fantastic season 4 and 5. The latest two entries focus on telling one arc that finds the Armed Detective Agency framed for a heinous crime by the Decay of the Angel, an extremely powerful group led by a hidden figure. The villains’ members and motives are shrouded in mystery, and the storyline has done a stellar job of peeling back the layers at a consistent pace.

It is worth getting through Bungo Stray Dogs‘ slow start to get to the good stuff.

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Best Shojo Anime On Crunchyroll

This section includes shojo anime that do not fall neatly under romance (
Fruits Basket
), magical girl (
Revolutionary Girl Utena
), or any other genre.

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Yona Of The Dawn

Based on Mizuho Kusanagi’s highly regarded manga, Yona of the Dawn is a fantasy epic that chronicles the titular character’s growth from a naive princess to a hardened warrior. The anime only lasted for one season, and while the episodes are of impeccable quality, they merely scratch the surface of the source material. Consequently, Pierrot’s anime should be regarded as a teaser for the manga, which is definitely worth seeking out.

Leading a peaceful and fantastical life in the kingdom of Kouka’s palace, Yona has little to no experience with the world at large. One day, the king is killed by Su-won, Yona’s childhood friend, and the protagonist finds herself on the run with only her bodyguard as a companion. Stripped of everything she has ever known or owned, the princess goes on a punishing journey of self-discovery as she seeks to take down Su-won.

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Natsume’s Book of Friends

Ever since he was a child, Takashi Natsume has been able to see yokai, an ability he inherited from his grandmother. The teenager also received something else from his grandparent: a book containing the names of different spirits. This gives the notepad’s owner authority over these yokai, making Natsume a target for all sorts of entities.

This premise seems made for a supernatural action series, but Natsume’s Book of Friends takes things in another direction. Rather than vicious battles, Natsume only wants to return each name, freeing the yokai from the book’s control. This journey is a generally peaceful one.

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Best Idol Anime On Crunchyroll

Zombie Land Saga

Some of the most popular anime of the last decade fall within the idol genre, but these shows are the definition of an acquired taste. Similar to mecha shows, idol anime can be a tough sell to people who are not immediately enamored with the idea.

This is where Zombie Land Saga comes in. Do not be misled by the undead protagonists, this is an idol anime through and through, and a great one at that. Kotaro Tatsumi revives a bunch of girls to form Franchouchou, an idol group set within the Saga Prefecture. While most of the girls have no experience performing in front of a crowd and come from wildly different backgrounds, they slowly come together to take the industry by storm.

First and foremost, Zombie Land Saga is a comedy, albeit one that is character-driven rather than split into sketches. All the girls are given an opportunity to shine, and while Kotaro is mostly a comedic foil, he also has some depth to him. Both seasons are strong, but the sequel is a touch superior as it features better animation during Franchouchou’s performances.

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Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club

It really cannot be understated how massive of a franchise Love Live! is. The license has produced five incarnations, starting with 2010’s School Idol Project and culminating with Summer 2022’s Superstar!!. Just to be clear, there is no indication that the franchise will be slowing down anytime soon. Across its lifespan, Love Live! has produced games, movies, and anime shows, the latter of which has some representation on Crunchyroll.

In terms of quality, Love Live! is quite consistent, which each era producing its sharing of lovable characters and memorable tunes. The most recent anime, Superstar!!, is shaping up to be the franchise’s best season; however, in terms of completed stories, Nijigasaki High School Idol Club is a great place to start.

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Idolish7

Idol culture extends to both genders, and that holds true for anime. In the world of male performers, Idolish7 is probably the most highly regarded. As the title suggests, the story revolves around an idol group consisting of seven members who are managed by the inexperienced Tsumugi Takanashi. Although a constant presence throughout the anime, Tsumugi plays a supporting role both narratively and thematically, allowing the idols to take center stage. Each member of the group develops into a fully fleshed-out figure with engrossing backstories, dreams, fears, and insecurities.

Along with great character studies, Idolish7 also takes a sobering look at the idol industry’s darker characteristics, which is something very few of the genre’s representatives do. While some of the antagonists are a bit over-the-top, the main characters’ struggles are generally grounded in some form of reality. The anime also introduces a myriad of other groups, most of which are just as interesting as Idolish7.

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Best Harem Anime On Crunchyroll

The Quintessential Quintuplets

If someone is craving a traditional harem anime, The Quintessential Quintuplets is arguably among the genre’s greatest representatives. The story sets up its key participants straight away as Futaro Uesugi accepts a job tutoring five sisters who are all struggling at school. Rather than instantly throwing out potential romances, The Quintessential Quintuplets devotes most of its early episodes to establishing each character as an individual with distinct dreams, quirks, and insecurities. Consequently, the story becomes about six people growing and maturing together rather than just a standard “who will win” dynamic, although the latter is still part of the experience.

The Quintessential Quintuplets is funny, heartwarming, and occasionally quite sad. While they do not get equal time with Futaro Uesugi, the sisters’ relationships with each other are also central to the narrative, allowing for each of them to shine regardless of whether they are genuine love interests.

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The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, REALLY Love You

Thanks to a literal god, Rentarou has 100 soulmates, and he must please them all. That is the basic concept behind The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, REALLY Love You, and the show goes for it. While most harem protagonists would faint at the mere prospect of dating one girl, Rentarou is primed and ready to take on every waifu imaginable, all of whom seem to be fine with the thought of polygamy. The show has only introduced a few girls so far, and most episodes highlight a new partner while giving the established characters something to do.

Just in case it was not clear from the premise, 100 Girlfriends is an over-the-top parody that starts ridiculous and gets progressively more unhinged. The humor leans heavily into slapstick, with Rentarou and Karane being particularly great at physical humor; however, the show tries to have something for just about everyone.

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Kiss Him, Not Me!

Harems are not just for men. Kiss Him, Not Me! follows Kae Serinuma, a girl with an appreciation for Boy’s Love stories. Following a makeover, she begins to attract the attention of her male classmates, although she would rather push the guys together rather than pursue them as partners.

Kiss Him, Not Me! does not take itself seriously at all, and that is its most endearing trait. The anime devotes its energy to establishing the personalities of Kae’s partners, and the series largely sticks to a slice of life format. As an introduction to the manga or the reverse harem anime genre in general, this show does its job.

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Best “Other” Anime On Crunchyroll: Monogatari

Some anime defy classification or incorporate so many genres that they become something utterly unique. These shows are often acquired tastes, but they can also be quite spectacular.

Even though it takes elements from the psychological, slice of life, and supernatural genres, Monogatari very much fits into its own bracket of anime. The only other show that is remotely comparable is Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai, and even then, any similarities are surface-level. An adaptation of Nisio Isin’s light novels, Monogatari is essentially about a guy who becomes sort of a vampire and winds up helping a group of girls suffering from supernatural afflictions.

That might be the show’s premise, but Monogatari is far more than just that. It is a dialogue-heavy drama packed with philosophical musings and the capacity to occasionally dish out a bloody battle. At the same time, this is an anime that is willing to craft extensive scenes revolving entirely around adolescent humor, frequently concluding on a juvenile punchline that seems to work in spite of itself. Monogatari is a visual masterpiece and a contender for Shaft’s greatest work, even if this same art style can be off-putting and overwhelming.

Basically, Monogatari is worth trying simply because there is nothing else like it.

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