Breaking down the best anime on Crunchyroll
Now that Funimation is dead and gone, Crunchyroll is the single best place to stream new anime. The Sony-owned service now hosts most of Funimation’s old dubs and continues to put out a staggering number of new simulcasts every season.
Crunchyroll’s vast library might seem overwhelming, but have no fear! We’ve got some choice recommendations to get you started on your anime journey.
Best anime on Crunchyroll: Highlights
“Spy x Family” | Comedy, action
In “Spy x Family”, a legendary spy must pass as a normal family man in order to save his country. On the way, he recruits a daughter, wife, and dog, who, unbeknownst to him, each have their own double lives (as a telepath, assassin, and psychic, respectively). It’s a high-stakes undercover operation, but this fake family quickly grows to care about each other (even if they don’t totally realize it).
“Gachiakuta” | Fantasy, shonen
Do you take good care of your stuff? In “Gachiakuta”, mankind is plagued by trash falling from a privileged society that treats the Ground as its personal dump. This causes all sorts of nasty problems, including monsters—but luckily, there are some people who can fight back. These people, called Givers, have put so much care and effort into keeping old objects nice that they become magical weapons.
“Heaven Official’s Blessing” | Romance, fantasy
“Heaven Official’s Blessing” is a love story between a disgraced god of misfortune and a mysterious ghost king in ancient China. They face off against other ghosts and heavenly officials in a story filled with hidden identities and secret, intertwining backstories.
“Ouran High School Host Club” | Comedy, romance
“Ouran” is a beloved classic anime from the 2000s. It’s about Haruhi Fujioka, a student who finds herself indebted to her rich prep school classmates when she knocks over an expensive vase in their club room. To pay off her debt, she must disguise herself as a boy and join them in hosting gatherings for the school’s female students. But can the other students keep from falling in love with her in the process? As the song goes—kiss kiss, fall in love.
“To Be Hero X” | Action, superhero
“To Be Hero X” has some of the most innovative animation I’ve seen in years. Rather than staying to just one art style, it regularly flips between styles as the plot progresses. And the styles are just as varied as the cast: Colorful superheroes who exist in a world where your power level is determined by your popularity. And everything—your powers, your appearance, even your personality—is decided by your fans.
“The Apothecary Diaries” | Mystery, historical
If you haven’t been swept up by the cultural phenomenon that is “The Apothecary Diaries,” you’re missing out. Maomao is a Rear Palace servant, kidnapped from her home with her father and sold into forced labor. But the concubines and eunuchs around the palace soon realize that Maomao is far more talented as an apothecary. Maomao uses her medical skills and affinity for poisons to solve mysteries around the palace, and curries favor with the entire royal family in the process.
Best anime on Crunchyroll: By genre
Essential shonen series to stream
- “Demon Slayer”
- “Jujutsu Kaisen”
- “Gurren Lagann”
- “My Hero Academia”
- “Chainsaw Man”
- “One Piece”
- “Dragon Ball Z”
- “Spy x Family”
- “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure”
Top-tier shojo recommendations
- “Fruits Basket”
- “Ouran High School Host Club”
- “The Apothecary Diaries”
- “Snow White with the Red Hair”
- “Skip and Loafer”
- “I’m the Villainess, so I’m Taming the Final Boss”
Iconic magical girl anime
- “Sailor Moon Crystal”
- “Revolutionary Girl Utena”
- “Cardcaptor Sakura”
- “Precure”
Can’t-miss isekai worlds
- “I’m the Villainess, so I’m Taming the Final Boss”
- “I’m in Love with the Villainess”
- “Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon”
- “Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill”
- “That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime”
- “The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess And The Genius Young Lady”
Show-stopping sports anime on Crunchyroll
- “Free! -Iwatobi Swim Club”
- “Yowamushi Pedal”
- “Yuri!!! On ICE”
- “Haikyu!!”
- “Ace of the Diamond”
- “SK8 the Infinity”
Best gay anime on Crunchyroll
- “Yuri!!! On ICE”
- “I’m in Love with the Villainess”
- “Heaven Official’s Blessing”
- “Princess Jellyfish”
- “Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury”
- ” Isekai Office Worker: The Other World’s Books Depend on the Bean Counter”
- “Go For It, Nakamura-kun!!”
Spooky horror anime on Crunchyroll
- “Death Note”
- “Junji Ito Collection”
- “Tokyo Ghoul”
- “Parasyte -the maxim-“
- “Hellsing”
Best standalone anime movies
- “Akira”
- “Suzume”
- “Your Name”
- “Wolf Children”
- “BAYONETTA: Bloody Fate”
- “Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland”
- “The Princess and the Pilot”
- “King of Thorn”
- “Mobile Suit Gundam Wing ENDLESS WALTZ”
- “Sword of the Stranger”
- “Fullmetal Alchemist: The Conqueror of Shamballa”
Your Crunchyroll questions answered
Is "Oshi no Ko" on Crunchyroll?
Yes, "Oshi no Ko" is streaming on Crunchyroll. It used to only be on HIDIVE, but Crunchyroll also bought the rights later on.
Is Bleach on Crunchyroll?
Unfortunately, "Bleach" is one of the few Funimation titles that hasn’t been transferred over to Crunchyroll. It’s currently streaming on Hulu.
Can you read manga on Crunchyroll?
Yes, you can once again read manga on Crunchyroll.
