15 Best Anime on Crunchyroll (2025)

The best anime on Crunchyroll can be difficult to narrow down simply because there are so many great series to choose from. Since it launched in 1994, Crunchyroll has built a reputation as one of the best websites for anime, film, and television. Not only do they have an abundance of genres, but many series are available in both their subbed and dubbed versions.

That being said, first-time visitors may experience a bit of choice paralysis while sifting through the hundreds of titles on Crunchyroll. From action to psychological thriller, sports anime to supernatural, which series on the streaming platform are the best?

Some Crunchyroll anime are popular thanks to their great animation, action, and other forms of mainstream appeal, while others are hidden gems that have flown under the radar. Whatever the case, there are plenty of great anime worth watching on Crunchyroll, and a few, in particular, are especially worth highlighting.

15 Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinju (2013)

Based on the Manga By Haruko Kumota

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu follows Yotaro, a former yakuza who strives to be the next great rakugo performer of his generation. To master this traditional and comedic form of storytelling, he seeks out the elderly Bon, the greatest rakugo performer of his time. The series primarily explores Bon's ascent to stardom in the early 20th century. Despite rakugo's similarities to stand-up comedy, the series is melancholic and not for the faint of heart. Not only is Rakugo an anime that shows the beauty of Japanese culture, it's also one of the most psychologically probing series ever made.

14 The Vampire Dies in No Time (2021)

Based on the Manga By Itaru Bonnoki

First airing in 2021, The Vampire Dies in No Time is a gut-busting "odd couple" anime. Ronaldo, a renowned writer and vampire hunter, is forced to become roommates with the vampire lord Draluc. In popular lore, not much can kill a vampire, but as the title suggests, Draluc can be killed by almost anything, such as a jumpscare, resulting in gags galore. Vampire boasts a memorable ensemble cast, including Fukuma, the bone-chillingly eerie editor of Ronaldo's manuscripts, and Etiquette Breacher, a vampire who disdains social norms. Most iconic of all is Draluc's pet armadillo, John, one of the most adorable creature companions in anime.

13 Kuroko's Basketball (2012)

Based on the Manga By Tadatoshi Fujimaki

It's easy to see why the sports anime Kuroko's Basketball is one of the best in the genre. The series chronicles Tetsuya Kuroko, a high school basketball player with a hidden skill set, and his colorful cast of teammates on their way to the championships. Fast-paced with genuine edge-of-your-seat thrills, Kuroko manages to keep the momentum going for 75 episodes and multiple movies. The anime even has a sense of humor in its heightened reality -- basketball players can quite literally enter "The Zone," a state of mind and body on the court where their skills rival that of superheroes.

12 Yona of the Dawn (2014)

Based on the Manga By Mizuho Kusanagi

Yona of the Dawn

Yona of the Dawn follows the story of Yona, a sheltered princess whose kingdom is overthrown by a childhood friend. Forced to flee, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery and survival, seeking to reclaim her lost throne with the help of her loyal bodyguard and newfound allies. The series blends elements of fantasy, adventure, and romance, set against a backdrop of political intrigue and personal growth.

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Yona of the Dawn is a shoujo fantasy series that deserved a second season. The protagonist, Yona, grew up a spoiled and sheltered princess until her childhood friend's betrayal forced her to flee her castle with her bodyguard, Hak Son. Watching Yona's emotional growth as she goes from sheltered royal to self-sufficient and powerful fighter is a deeply fulfilling experience. In keeping with the genre, the series contains plenty of beautiful men, including the self-absorbed Jae-Ha and the cunning Su-Won. Above all, Yona's budding attraction to Hak Son will leave romance fans positively giddy for more.

11 ERASED (2016)

Based on the Manga By Kei Sanbe

Erased (2016)

TV-14

Animation

Crime

Drama

Erased is a Japanese anime series based on a manga by Kei Sanbe. The story follows Satoru Fujinuma, a young man with an ability known as "Revival," which sends him back in time moments before a life-threatening incident to prevent it. After a personal tragedy, Satoru is sent back 18 years to his elementary school days to solve the mystery of a classmate's disappearance and prevent future tragedies.

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Cast

Shinnosuke Mitsushima , Tao Tsuchiya , Minami Takayama , Ben Diskin , Michelle Ruff , Stephanie Sheh , Sara Cravens , David W. Collins

Character(s)

Satoru Fujinuma (29 years old) , Satoru Fujinuma (10 years old) , Sachiko Fujinuma , Satoru Fujinuma (English - 29 years old) , SAtoru Fujinuma (English - 10 years old) , Kayo Hinazuki , Sachiko Fujinuma (English) , Gaku Yashiro

Release Date

January 8, 2016

Seasons

1

Main Genre

Animation

ERASED does something that seems impossible: it's a thrilling genre-bender that's still an accessible series for people who don't like anime. The protagonist, Satoru Fujinuma, has the ability to travel back several minutes into the past when tragedy occurs. When Satoru is accused of a murder he didn't commit, he is sent back a full 18 years, where it is revealed that the murder may be linked to a former classmate. Equal parts mystery, psychological thriller, slice of life, and science fiction, ERASED accomplishes a great deal over the course of 12 episodes without ever feeling rushed.

10 Death Parade (2015)

Created By Yuzuru Tachikawa

Death Parade

TV-MA

Animation

Drama

Mystery

Death Parade is an anime series where deceased individuals are judged through mysterious bar games to determine their eternal fate. In a bar known as Quindecim, bartender Decim oversees these games, exploring the depths of the human psyche and the morality of judgment.

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Cast

Jamie Marchi , Asami Seto , Alex Organ , Tomoaki Maeno , Anastasia Munoz , Jad Saxton , Rumi Okubo , Koki Uchiyama

Release Date

January 10, 2015

Seasons

1

Main Genre

Animation

Creator(s)

Yuzuru Tachikawa

In Death Parade, purgatory takes the form of a swanky bar, where the bartenders pass judgment on where its visitors will spend the afterlife. The anime follows a bartender named Decim and his human assistant, Chiyuki, exploring complex themes of morality, power, and the full spectrum of human emotion. Mysteries abound, such as what Chiyuki is doing there in the first place and whether Decim can feel human emotions at all. In spite of a fun anime opening that is outright misleading, the series has several episodes that are guaranteed tearjerkers. Fans of xxxHolic and Psycho-Pass will find a lot to love with Death Parade.

9 SK8 the Infinity (2021)

Created By Hiroko Utsumi

Released several months into COVID-19, SK8 the Infinity was just the right dose of escapism in an anxious and weary world. High schooler Reki Kyan introduces transfer student Langa to the underground skating rink known as S. The cast is iconic, ranging from the relentlessly bickering Joe and Cherry to the flamboyantly ruthless skater Adam. Even at its highest emotional peaks, the show never takes itself too seriously -- there are plenty of moments of fanservice, including an iconic beach episode. The English dub of Sk8 the Infinity also hilariously good fun; even sub-purists are encouraged to check it out.

8 Chainsaw Man (2022)

Based on the Manga By Tatsuki Fujimoto

Chainsaw Man

Animation

Action

Horror

Chainsaw Man is an adaptation of the popular manga written by Tatsuki Fujimoto, airing on Crunchyroll in the west. Denji, a young man working tirelessly for the Yakuza to pay off the debt, his late father saddled him with hunts devils with the assistance of his little friend Pochita, also known as the Chainsaw Devil. When the Yakuza kill him to gain a contract with another devil, Pochita saves Denji, and the two forge a contract, allowing Denji to gain revenge against the Yakuza. Now sought after by an agency known as the Public Safety Division, Denji joins a team led by the mysterious Makima. Denji now relentlessly hunts Devils in service of his newfound crush, Makima, slowly reaching their ultimate goal of facing the ultimate Devil.

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Cast

Ryan Colt Levy , Fairouz Ai , Sarah Wiedenheft , Suzie Yeung , Reagan Murdock

Release Date

October 11, 2022

Seasons

1

Streaming Service(s)

Hulu

Writers

Tatsuki Fujimoto

Chainsaw Man has completely dominated pop culture over the past year, and it's easy to see why. A big draw is its wacky premise -- the main character, Denji, makes a contract to fuse his body with his dog-like companion, Pochita, granting him the power to transform his body into chainsaws. He later joins a government agency to take down devils, and his motive for doing so is hilariously straightforward. A memorable supporting cast, superior art direction, and even a character inspired by South Park are just a few of the reasons to give Chainsaw Man a try.

7 Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Has Quickly Become A Modern Fantasy Classic

Anime Series By Madhouse; Based On The Manga By Kanehito Yamada & Tsukasa Abe

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End

TV-14

Animation

Adventure

Drama

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End is an animated adventure-drama series based on the manga series created by Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe. Following her parties' victory against an all-powerful demon king that threatened to destroy their world, Frieren, an elf, attempts to find her place in a new world with an undetermined future fifty years later.

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Cast

Mallorie Rodak , Jason Douglas , Clifford Chapin , Chris Guerrero , Jill Harris , Jordan Dash Cruz

Release Date

September 29, 2023

Seasons

1

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll

Writers

Tomohiro Suzuki

Directors

Keiichirô Saitô

Creator(s)

Tsukasa Abe , Kanehito Yamada

Studio Madhouse’s Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End stars Frieren, the virtually unaging elf mage of the adventure party that defeated the demon lord. While Frieren initially didn’t think much of her time with everyone, the death of the Hero, Himmel, made her realize how much she cared about them, and her regret over letting Himmel die without seeing that pushes Frieren to go on a new journey to learn how to better understand people.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End ’s sincere take on Dungeons & Dragons -esque fantasy is a breath of fresh air after years of isekai anime, especially with the poignant and all-around great character writing, and with its incredible animation and direction. Every episode is a visual spectacle from start to finish. The series is fairly new, but it's already taken the world by storm, and it's easy to see why.

6 Mob Psycho 100 (2016)

Based on the Manga By ONE

Mob Psycho 100

TV-14

Action

Animation

Comedy

Supernatural

Mob Psycho 100 is an animated fantasy action series based on a webcomic from author One. The story surrounds a powerful psychic boy named Shigeo, nicknamed Mob, who only seeks to gain the affection of his school crush. Striving to hone his craft, he seeks help from a self-proclaimed psychic named Arataka Reigen, a con artist. Exploiting Mob for his business, the two join together to exorcise demons - but Mob's power is slowly growing, and when it peaks, no one may be able to stop it.

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Cast

Kyle McCarley , Jason Liebrecht , Chris Niosi , Michael Sorich , Max Mittelman , Erik Scott , Kimerer , Casey Mongillo , Cherami Leigh

Release Date

July 12, 2016

Seasons

3

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll

Franchise(s)

Mob Psycho 100

Writers

Hiroshi Seko

Directors

Yuzuru Tachikawa , Takahiro Hasui

Main Genre

Action

Creator(s)

ONE

Since 2016, Mob Psycho 100 has been declared a masterpiece in animation, music, and well-written characters. Shigeo Kageyama, known as Mob, is a middle school psychic who works part-time exorcising powerful spirits with his boss, Reigen, who acts as a sort of father figure. Though it doesn't happen often, Mob's psychic energy sometimes reaches its breaking point (or 100%), causing him to go wild with power. The series is colorful, thrilling, wholesome, and an anime beginners must watch. Though the third and final season wrapped last year, the fanbase is just as enthusiastic and active as ever.

5 Puella Magi Madoka Magica Is One Of The Defining Anime Of The 2010s

Anime Series By Shaft; Written By Gen Urobuchi

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

TV-14

Action

Puella Magi Madoka Magica follows the story of middle school student Madoka Kaname and her transformation into a magical girl after encountering a mystical creature named Kyubey. Set in a seemingly ordinary world, the series delves into the psychological and moral implications of the magical girl contract, challenging the traditional norms of the genre. This anime is known for its dark themes and complex narrative structure.

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Cast

Christine Marie Cabanos , Cristina Vee , Carrie Keranen , Sarah Anne Williams , Cassandra Lee Morris

Release Date

January 7, 2011

Seasons

1

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll , Hulu

Franchise(s)

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Writers

Gen Urobuchi

Directors

Akiyuki Shinbo , Yukihiro Miyamoto

Main Genre

Action

Creator(s)

Akiyuki Shinbo , Gen Urobuchi , Ume Aoki , Shaft

In Studio Shaft’s Puella Magi Madoka Magica, after a chance encounter with a monster called a Witch, ordinary middle schooler Madoka Kaname is offered a chance to become a magical girl and help protect her home from Witches. As Madoka ponders over the decision, though she quickly discovers that being a magical girl is nowhere near as good as it was first made out to be, something her friends have all had to learn the hard way.

Puella Magi Madoka Magica ’s dark and deconstructive story makes for poignant and all-around excellent writing from start to finish, and even after over a decade, it still features some of the most creative animation of any anime. The story is continued in a sequel film, which is set to have another sequel in 2024, but the original anime still works as one of the best standalone stories a person can watch.

4 Naruto Earned Its Place As One Of The Big 3 Of Anime

Anime Series By Studio Pierrot; Based On The Manga By Masashi Kishimoto

Studio Pierrot’s Naruto stars Naruto Uzumaki, an outcast in the Leaf Village for being the vessel for the deadly Nine-Tailed Demon Fox. Naruto strives to become the Hokage, the leader of the Leaf Village, and earn the respect of his peers, and his journey to do so gradually escalates into battles that put the entire world at stake and leave him as the only one who can save the day.

Naruto is an anime that makes up the Big 3 of shōnen anime, and it more than lives up to its reputation. Naruto never fails to deliver incredible fight scenes and gripping character drama, and the problems everyone deals with growing in depth as they all age is a brilliant way of illustrating the anime’s continual escalation. Naruto was likely a lot of people’s entryway into anime, and the overall quality of the series makes that perfectly justified.

Based on the Manga By Hiromu Arakawa

One of the best fantasy anime of all time, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is as critically acclaimed as they come. The good news: it lives up to the hype. Brothers Edward and Alphonse lost portions of their bodies trying to resurrect their mother through alchemy, and the series chronicles their quest to get their bodies back. Awash with political intrigue, philosophy, and edge-of-your-seat action, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a tour de force, and it's easy to see why the series has been held in such high regard for over a decade.

2 One Piece Is The Undisputed King Of Modern Anime

Anime Series By Toei Animation; Based On The Manga By Eiichiro Oda

One Piece

TV-14

Action

Adventure

Comedy

Drama

Fantasy

Super Power

One Piece chronicles the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy, an easy-going young pirate with the power to stretch like rubber, gained from eating a Devil Fruit. Luffy and his diverse crew sail across the Grand Line in search of the ultimate treasure, the One Piece, to become the Pirate King.

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Cast

Mayumi Tanaka , Kazuya Nakai , Akemi Okamura , Kappei Yamaguchi , Hiroaki Hirata , Ikue Ôtani , Yuriko Yamaguchi , Kazuki Yao , Chō

Release Date

October 20, 1999

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll

Franchise(s)

One Piece

Writers

Junki Takegami , Shoji Yonemura , Hirohiko Uesaka

Directors

Kônosuke Uda , Junji Shimizu , Munehisa Sakai

Main Genre

Action

Creator(s)

Eiichiro Oda

In Toei Animation’s One Piece, the world has entered a Great Age of Piracy following the death of Gold Roger and the hunt for his legendary treasure, the One Piece. Among the people searching for it is series protagonist Monkey D. Luffy, and despite having a body made of rubber, Luffy will gather a crew to travel through the Grand Line, find the One Piece, and become King of the Pirates.

One Piece's action, comedy, and character writing are always spectacular, and despite years of infamously inconsistent animation, the most recent seasons of One Piece are of far more consistent quality and almost always feature incredibly gorgeous animation, with One Piece’s animation often being some of the best in the entire industry. No matter the era, One Piece always finds a way to show why it’s become the king of shonen anime, and that reputation is unlikely to ever change.

1 Dragon Ball Will Always Be The Most Iconic Anime Of All Time

Anime Series By Toei Animation; Based On The Manga By Akira Toriyama

Toei Animation’s Dragon Ball tells the story of Son Goku, an odd young boy with a monkey tail and inhuman strength, as he goes on adventures with his friends, often in search of the titular Dragon Balls that can grant wishes when gathered together. The series started as a martial arts comedy, but by the time of Dragon Ball Z, it shifted gears into a sci-fi epic with over-the-top battles and increasingly massive feats of strength from everyone involved.

Between the simple, yet likable cast and stellar direction of its fight scenes, Dragon Ball is always a perfect encapsulation of everything an action series needs to succeed, and while there are plenty of anime that look better on a technical level, how Dragon Ball executes the basics can’t be matched. Dragon Ball has more than earned its lasting legacy, and it easily stands as the best anime based on Crunchyroll.

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