With tons of anime available, many more anime coming out soon, and several different places to watch them, it can be a bit overwhelming for newer fans who are just getting into Japanese animation. There are a few streamers with fantastic anime offerings that some TV watchers might already be visiting. Here is a list of the major streaming platforms for anime, all of which are easily accessible. These streamers have great anime libraries for longtime viewers as well as fans just breaking into all the hype.
Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll is the premiere destination for anime watchers. It has all the most popular series, like One Piece, Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen, as well as classics like Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.
An ad-supported free tier allows fans to watch pretty much everything, with its paid memberships offering more benefits, like same-day simulcasts with Japan (making new shows available the same day they premiere in Japan). There are thousands of hours of anime within Crunchyroll, and it’s a great starting place to explore as a new anime fan, with all of the classic shows that longtime fans can get nostalgic over.
Netflix
Netflix is the biggest streamer and constantly drops new shows and films for its subscriber base, but did you know it has some pretty fantastic anime? Netflix is low-key an anime giant with a library of original anime exclusive to the service. Netflix has released some of the best anime in recent years, like 2018’s Devilman Crybaby and two of the best anime of 2023, Pluto and Scott Pilgram Takes Off.
Netflix also has several well-known series on its service through licensing, such as Hunter X Hunter, making its library pretty formidable. This year alone has seen several of the best-animated series of the year. On several different fronts, Netflix is a heavy hitter, and anime is one of its strongest qualities.
Hulu
Hulu might not have the slate of exclusives that Netflix has, but it makes up for it with the amount of anime in its library. Like Netflix, it might be a streamer someone who watches TV already has, making it valuable for someone getting into anime or trying to watch an old favorite. Hulu has popular series like My Hero Academia, with new episodes premiering on the service pretty quickly after they premiere in Japan.
Hulu has a few of the must-see anime of 2023, such as Summer Time Rendering, Attack on Titan and Demon Slayer. Hulu is quite a serviceable streamer for people interested in anime, with plenty of variety.
