These Are the Best Anime Series You Can Stream Online
Anime can be magical, but it's often overlooked as a film and TV genre here in the United States.
In case you're not familiar, anime describes movies and TV created with a specific animation style originating in Japan. They usually feature zany characters, bright colors and imaginative storylines, and there's different anime out there for every type of person.
Whether you're new to anime or just looking for some recommendations, here's a list of some of our personal favorites—and of course, where you can stream them online.
Shirokuma Cafe
This series focuses on a polar bear and the customers, both animal and human, who frequent his popular café. They include a sarcastic penguin and an extremely lazy (and completely adorable) panda, who happens to be the real star of the show. Expect endless puns and the cutest menagerie of creatures you've ever seen in one place.
Stream it on Crunchyroll.
Fruits Basket
Fruits Basket follows a high schooler named Tohru who, after a series of difficult events, winds up living with a schoolmate named Yuki Sohma and his family. It's not long before Tohru discovers something weird about the Sohma family—they are possessed by Chinese zodiac spirits, and anything from high stress to embracing the opposite gender will temporarily turn them into animals. Tohru decides it's up to her to reverse the curse.
Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon is a time-honored classic anime about a teen girl named Serena who learns she has a magical alter ego called Sailor Moon, and that it's her responsibility to take down the evil Dark Kingdom. But Serena isn't alone, as she's joined by other girls who also discover they're Sailor Scouts. Only together can they defeat the evil Queen Beryl and restore order. Both Sailor Moon and the updated Sailor Moon Crystal are available to stream online, so check both of them out.
Stream it on Hulu and Crunchyroll.
Pokémon
Years and years before Pokémon Go was ever a thing, Pokémon was a video game, and then an anime series. Pokémon has been on the air in various incarnations for the last 18 years, and as time has passed, the show's roster of characters has grown from the original 150 Pokémon to the over 720 that exist today. Both the original Indigo League series and the most recent X and Y episodes are available to stream, and that theme song is iconic!
Stream it on Netflix.
Doraemon: Gadget Cat from the Future
Noby is a boy who's super lazy and bad at sports and school. One day, he meets Doraemon, a robotic blue cat from the 22nd century. Noby learns that his ancestor from the future has sent Doraemon back in time to help Noby be a bit more successful, and the two become fast, inseparable friends.
Watch it on Disney XD.
One Piece
Before Gol D. Roger, the King of the Pirates, died, he let the world of pirates know that if anyone could find his ultimate treasure, the One Piece, it would be theirs. One Piece follows a pirate named Monkey D. Luffy and his crew of both humans and bizarre creatures, the Straw Hat Pirates, 20 years later on their quest to find this lost treasure.
Stream it on Crunchyroll.
Naruto
Naruto centers around the titular character, a kid ninja whose biggest ambition is to someday become the most powerful ninja around. This would also make him the leader of his village, which he desperately wants to be, but he's not actually very skilled. Still, he's determined to do whatever it takes to reach his goal, and with the help of a couple of fellow ninja trainees, he might just manage. And did we mention he houses a powerful evil spirit within his body?
Chi's Sweet Home
Chi's Sweet Home follows a precious kitten named Chi who one day gets separated from her family cat family during a walk. In her search for her family, she meets a young boy named Youhei. Youhei and his mom want to keep Chi, but their apartment doesn't allow pets, so they decide to help Chi find a new loving home.
Stream it on Crunchyroll.
Yuki Yuna Is a Hero
Set in the future, Yuki Yuna Is a Hero tells the story of a girl named Yūna and her friends who start a "hero club" at their middle school, dedicating themselves to helping people in need. One day, the girls are caught up in a mysterious light, where they learn of their destiny to save the divine guardian tree Shinju from evil monsters called Vertex. With the help of an app, the girls transform into real-life heroes with magical powers to stop the Vertex and save the world.
Stream it on Netflix.
Love Live! School Idol Project
If you're a J-pop fan, get ready to be obsessed. It follows Honoka Kōsaka, a student at the Otonokizaka Academy. When she discovers that the school will be closing due to a lack of students, she gathers up a group of friends to start a girl idol group called μ's (pronounced "muse") to spread the word about their school and get new students to sign up. And the music they create is fire.
Stream it on Crunchyroll.
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