I’m a Longtime Anime Fan, and Here Are 18 of My Favorite Anime on Crunchyroll
If you love anime, Crunchyroll is still probably the best streaming service for you. While other platforms, including Netflix , have made huge strides in popularizing anime in the U.S., Crunchyroll still offers the largest collection of classics, modern hits, and, most importantly, trending shows available right now.
That’s why it’s so hard to put together a list of the best shows on the service. There’s so much here that I could sit here all day (shounen — the screaming fighter series — could easily fill this entire list). So, rather than try to cover every must-watch on the site, I’ve chosen a few of my personal favorites from a variety of genres and eras. I’ve included some big names, some lesser-known ones, and a few shows that are still going strong to ensure there’s something for everyone. I’ve also tried to keep overlaps with shows that are already available on other platforms to a minimum, but there were times when I couldn’t resist.
Unfortunately, even with my rules, this still had to be written with some serious cuts, but that’s what the comments section is for. I have 34 years of anime watching under my belt, and I mainly compiled this list for those who are just starting out in the anime world. But if you don’t see your favorite series here, feel free to recommend it to other readers – I won’t be offended if you want to praise Galaxy Express 999 .
Spy x Family
Here’s one for all the Mr. & Mrs. Smith fans out there. Set in an alternate history that’s apparently just a distant replacement for Cold War-era Berlin, Spies & Family follows Westalis secret agent Twilight as she infiltrates the opposition state of Ostania (you get the idea). His mission? To be a father. Yes, as part of his duties, he must create a discreet “fake” family and help his “fake” daughter succeed at a prestigious academy in order to forge a relationship with a particular politician whose son also attends the school.
Why the scary quotes around the fake? Well, as you can probably guess, his found family genuinely loves and relies on each other. Which only makes it even funnier when it turns out that everyone in the makeshift group has a secret to hide from the rest of the family, from Twilight’s stand-in wife who’s a better assassin to his stand-in daughter who’s a telepath. What could have been a dark tale of cutthroat espionage quickly turns into a rowdy family comedy, with everyone constantly finding themselves in some kind of Three’s Company -style situation that requires them to be in two places at once. Ultimately, though, it becomes clear that the family loves each other, no matter how far-fetched their connection may seem. Perfect for any adult anime fans who have their own family shenanigans going on at home.
Dragon Ball Z
An anime that attracted many young viewers when it began airing on Toonami in 1998, Dragon Ball Z still holds up today. While I personally prefer the more lighthearted series that preceded it, Dragon Ball , DBZ is certainly the more iconic of the two on a global scale, following the Saiyan Goku and his friends who discover that the universe is much larger than they once thought. Still featuring a charming mix of comedy and fighting, this show is a worthy place for new viewers to dive in, as it focuses on lore that is new to Z almost immediately, and its more dynamic choreography makes it a bit more exciting than its predecessor. While it still gets sequels to this day, there’s something special about this era of the franchise, which has had a profound influence on other fighting anime and has references in everything from Chainsaw Man to Jujutsu Kaisen .
Kaguya-sama: Love is War
Most romance anime are all about quiet sentiment and sluggish drama. Not Kaguya-sama . Instead, this delightful comedy frames romance as a struggle where the first one to confess their love loses. Sure, it’s not the healthiest take on dating, but it’s also very teenage. The show follows the student council president and vice president of Shuchiin Academy, who are clearly madly in love but refuse to admit it as they are increasingly egged on by their secretary Chika, a young woman who’s easy to write off but who seems smarter than her classmates give her credit for. While the show is mostly funny, there are plenty of cute moments and even some tension, mostly stemming from the main couple’s social class difference.
Yu Yu Hakusho
I said I’d be picky with my choices, but I can’t help but include one of my own top five on this list. Yu Yu Hakusho is a lot like Dragon Ball , but it goes for a more personal, slightly more down-to-earth approach. Following delinquent turned “spirit detective” Yusuke Urameshi, the show is nominally about demon hunting, but it’s really about the relationships Yusuke, once shunned by society, slowly builds with fellow delinquent Kuwabara and two reformed demons named Kurama and Hiei. The result is one of the strongest main characters in the action anime genre, who quickly form a deep and meaningful relationship that transcends any prejudices they may have once had for each other. If you liked this year’s KPop Demon Hunters , consider this the boy band version (sans the singing, sadly).
Hunter x Hunter
From the same creator as Yu Yu Hakusho , Hunter x Hunter stars the much brighter-eyed Gon Freecss. The perpetually optimistic young man lives in a mysterious world full of “hunters,” or people who excel at solving the many mysteries of their world. Hunters can have a variety of specialties, from treasure hunting to cooking, and Gon’s absent father is one of the best hunters of them all. Desperate to follow in his father’s footsteps, Gon sets out to find out what kept his dad away from home while he was growing up, and eventually discovers other reasons for continuing his adventure, as well as the dangers and moral questions that complicate his once-naive worldview. I won’t spoil too much, but suffice it to say, you’re not exactly supposed to like Gon’s dad.
Nichijo – My Ordinary Life
Nichijou is an early hit from Kyoto Animation, beloved for its fluid animation and detailed backgrounds. At its best, it’s probably the funniest gag anime ever. Essentially presented as a series of sketches, the anime follows a group of young girls whose initially normal lives spiral out of control. The show’s best sketches start with seemingly innocuous provocations, like “I accidentally lent my friend a notebook with an embarrassing drawing on it” or “I accidentally dropped part of my lunch in front of everyone,” and continue to escalate well past the point where they’d seem to stop, becoming increasingly absurd while still remaining deeply relatable. I’ll admit that not every sketch is a winner, likely due to some of the humor getting lost in translation, but when the show hooks, it hooks. Particularly notable are the series’ “sakuga,” or moments where the animation becomes particularly fluid, which usually emphasizes jokes in the same way that other anime emphasize climactic moments in fight scenes.
Everyday life of high school students
Often compared to Nichijou , Everyday Lives of High School Boys has a similar “everyday life sketches” premise, but goes in a more down-to-earth direction. There are no robot girls or child geniuses here, instead there’s a close-knit group of guys acting like guys. Our characters seem to be constantly bothered by obsessive thoughts, and they’re always goading each other to follow them. This means a good amount of lighthearted teasing, but nothing toxic. Instead, they might find a stick on the ground and have an impromptu LARP session around it, or sit and wonder about that one kid who always wears a baseball cap and what might be underneath. Or they might cover for each other when one of their sisters yells at them for stealing her stuff. If you’ve ever hung out sipping Monster energy drinks at a gas station, you know the vibe. It’s a very realistic portrayal of growing up, and in a medium that tends to gravitate towards bombastic action, it’s a charming change of pace.
Agent of Paranoia
The only series from the late, great Satoshi Kon, Paranoia Agent is a dreamlike, mostly episodic thriller about the stresses of adulthood. The series follows the lives of various characters as they encounter a serial killer named “Lil Slugger,” who frees them of their responsibilities by brutally beating them with a baseball bat. It’s dark, but if you’ve ever dreamed of getting into an accident and skipping work while hospitalized, you’ll understand.
It’s also a deeply meta series, focusing on how the stories we obsess over can shape our lives, and what it might say about our unspoken needs when certain urban legends gain popularity. If you’ve ever seen Kon’s Perfect Blue or Paprika , you’ll feel right at home, and considering the director manages to maintain this cinematic atmosphere over 13 episodes, that’s high praise indeed.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
Following various members of a single family from Victorian England to ’80s Japan to modern-day Italy, this globetrotting, time-spanning adventure is like Dragon Ball Z meets Drag Race . Ostensibly a fighting anime, the art and locations here are heavily inspired by high fashion and classic rock, creating a colorful cast of characters who, thanks to the show’s unique fighting mechanics, practically make out with each other until their opponents fall. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is a lot of fun, but don’t let that fool you: There’s also a lot of heart here, as well as surprisingly tactical combat. Sadly, the most recent season is only available on Netflix, but the first six are still available on Crunchyroll.
Pharmacist’s diaries
Based on a powerful, slow-burning romance novel, The Apothecary Diaries is a great choice for those looking for a series that will engage both the mind and the soul. The series follows Maomao, a young woman in a fictional version of Imperial China who is suddenly kidnapped from her adoptive father and sold into service at court. Trained by her adoptive father (an exiled court physician) in reading, writing, poisons, and medicine, she quickly attracts the attention of court officials and is promoted to pseudo-apothecary (technically, due to sexism, she is a taster).
As it turns out, medical errors are common in court, and Maomao often has to rely on her experience and strong deductive intuition. The occasional conflicts are tense and thought-provoking, but as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that there is more to our protagonist than meets the eye, as is the official who spots her – a man who should be a eunuch but who can’t seem to resist flirting with her.
Cowboy Bebop
If Dragon Ball Z turned a generation of kids into anime fans, then Cowboy Bebop did it for adults. This gritty space western tells the story of the crew of the run-down spaceship Bebop, a ragtag group of bounty hunters who can’t seem to find a place to rest. Despite being highly skilled, protagonist Spike Spiegel and his… friends? … coworkers? … always end up without a paycheck at the end of the day. The series has plenty of swashbuckling episodic adventures and no shortage of comedy as we explore the absurdity of the dystopian near-future in which the show is set, but a big part of what’s kept the show relevant all these years is its pathos, with every character having some kind of dark past they’re running from… even their dog.
Dan Yes Dan
Dan Da Dan is the latest anime from the legendary studio Science Saru, and it’s arguably one of the most realistic on this list. It’s got explosive fights, supernatural and sci-fi antics galore, and the world’s most awkward teenagers struggling through a very heartfelt and realistic bout of puppy love. There’s some raunchy humor, but with such a genuinely sweet cast, the series is sure to make you go “ah!” while also having a shocking lead. It also charmingly mixes genres to create a colorful world where aliens are trying to invade Earth, if only those damn cryptids and ghosts would stop getting in their way.
Mobile Suit Gundam
Since 1979, this revered mecha series has become virtually synonymous with the genre overseas. But in Japan, things are a bit different. Despite being considered the prototype for giant robot anime in the States, Mobile Suit Gundam was actually something of a deconstruction of that type of anime. Instead of following a bright-eyed young man and his robot friend, the series launched the “real robot” subgenre, with the protagonist suddenly thrust into a semi-realistic cockpit during a brutal, morally complex war that quickly leaves him questioning both his role as a child soldier and the future of humanity.
These themes continue to guide Gundam to this day, and while there are now dozens of shows to choose from, the original is still the best in my opinion. Its animation hasn’t aged the most gracefully, but its central conflict largely defines all the other Gundam series, including this year’s Mobile Suit Gundam Gquuuuuux (available on Amazon Prime). It also sets the tone for the excellent sequel series Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam and its less-than-great but generally underrated sequel Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ . All three are on Crunchyroll, and are the perfect trio for introducing not only to the wider Gundam franchise, but to mecha in general. The catch? Their stories culminate in Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack , a movie you’ll need to watch elsewhere (see: Netflix).
Brotherhood of Fullmetal Alchemists
It’s rare that a remake manages to outshine the original, but that’s exactly what happened with Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood , which is a remake of 2004’s Fullmetal Alchemist from the ground up. While I personally like both shows, I’ll admit that’s a minority opinion, and that’s because the original was filmed before the manga it was based on reached its end, instead derailing into a completely different ending that didn’t quite live up to everything that came before it.
Brotherhood presents viewers with the story as it was originally intended, and how it turned out! Following the rise of brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric as “state alchemists”—essentially warrior-mage-scientists—the series tackles complex themes of war, empire, and the real-life political climate of the time the manga was written (there was, of course, a lot going on in 2001). Most striking are the questions the series raises about “equivalent exchange” and moral calculus, which ask what it really means to sacrifice or even save a human life for one’s own gain.
Princess Medusa
This show is probably my most unobtrusive debut in all of anime. Princess Jellyfish follows a group of unemployed nerds living in a women-only housing complex in Tokyo, and follows their lives after meeting a transvestite who the main character unwittingly compares to a jellyfish (her hyperfixation) due to his fluffy wig and antennae-like dresses. Impressed by their new friend’s confidence and beauty, they begin to open up and assert themselves a little more, while he finds himself developing feelings for both the main character and the strange community she lives in.
Not every aspect of the show has stood the test of time well, but it’s a deeply personal and authentic work about being true to yourself and living your best life, and it’s definitely worth watching for anyone who’s ever been ostracized for being overly concerned with something others don’t understand.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica
The beloved original Sailor Moon isn’t on Crunchyroll, but I have a great replacement. Puella Magi Madoka Magica is an adorable (and not at all suspicious) magical girl anime that follows young Madoka and her encounter with Kyubey, a cute cat-like creature who keeps offering to grant her a wish and turn her into a superhero. What a deal! There’s definitely nothing sinister going on behind the scenes.
It’s hard to avoid spoilers for this show at this point, but even so, the less you know, the better. Written by Gen Urobuchi, who also wrote Psycho-Pass and Fate/Zero , this show’s fluffy exterior hides a dark psychological thriller that I definitely wouldn’t recommend to kids. However, it’s clearly written with a love for the genre it’s imitating, deftly sidestepping the cynicism to land on something a little more subtle. The series itself is great, but I’d also recommend the movie sequel, Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Rebellion (unfortunately not on Crunchyroll), for the full experience. That movie has famously been waiting over 10 years for its sequel, but it’s supposedly finally set to debut next year.
Dirty couple
Stay with me on this one. I understand your hesitation — that title, those bikini-clad characters. But in Dirty Pair , you’ll find an equally believable and unconventional sci-fi comedy about two hapless mercenaries who constantly get themselves into trouble in pursuit of easy money. A grotesque parody of ’70s and ’80s sci-fi cliches, each episode of this brilliant animated show is like a mini-movie, with capable but overconfident “problem consultants” Kei and Yuri taking on seemingly easy assignments, only to struggle to succeed and cause massive collateral damage.
The way the situations here reach the point of absurdity is reminiscent of Nichijou , and the delightful analog animation has an old-school Gundam -esque charm. It’s a great choice for retro memories, especially since the episodic nature of the series makes it easy to turn on when you’re in the mood for something low-fi. If you miss the anime of the Suncoast era, this is the show for you.
Man with a chainsaw
Chainsaw Man is only 12 episodes in, but having read the entire first half of the manga it’s based on, I can tell you that anyone who dives into it right now is in for a treat. Lovingly animated by MAPPA, the studio behind Attack on Titan (don’t be mad, but I just couldn’t find a place for it on this list), the show is a heartbreaking look at the perpetually downtrodden Denji, a broke and ultimately good-natured, goofy kid who just wants what most teenagers do (yes, even NSFW things) but just can’t find anyone to believe in him. That seems to change when he’s recruited to hunt “devils” for the government, but as we learned in Gundam , being a child soldier comes with its own traumas.
It’s a saucy coming-of-age story in the same vein as Dan Da Dan , but it’s a lot bloodier and has more to do with the “romance” than you’d expect. Still, I never wanted to stop rooting for the guy.