Animation content has truly grown over the years and longtime favs like One Piece and Pokemon have proven that the audience will keep cherishing the classics while enjoying the reigning contents like My Hero Academia and the popular Attack on Titan. Want to satisfy your anime cravings right away? See our list of 5 best Anime Streaming Services.
1. Crunchyroll:
This is one of the best options around and it is currently a global destination for anime streaming. Launched 16 years ago, the brand currently has over 100 million registered users and 5 million subscribers. If you are not aware, Crunchyroll presently shares its large lineup with fellow genre great, Funimation to offer lots of titles 24/7. Users will enjoy fresh episodes of My Hero Academia and viewers can also expect shock releases like the eight special episodes of Attack on Titan that were released weeks before the final season premiere. As at the time this article was written, the price for Crunchyroll streaming was $7.99 per month.
2. Funimation:
This one used to be a Crunchyroll rival, but they are currently different because of their distinct libraries. Funimation possesses more than 13,000 hours’ worth of content and controls the full Dragon Ball Z collection. Users will find lots of subgenres on the service and Funimation thrives in the dub sector.
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As far as new episodes are concerned, you are covered with lots of fantastic anime content from time to time. You can also register for a free account to watch classics while creating bookmarks and personal watchlists. As at the time this article was written, the price for Funimation streaming was around $5.99 per month for a premium subscription.
3. Hulu:
Still on the best Anime streaming services to use right now, this streaming service is home to over 300 anime titles and it is the best option if you care about content like My Hero Academia, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, Tokyo Ghoul, Attack on Titan, Soul Eater, Bleach and so on.
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It is also home to simulcasts that stream each season, dazzling viewers with new releases from Japan regularly. Fun fact, when it comes to anime content, Hulu is more reliable than Netflix. Fans can also expect Pokemon films, Sailor Moon and Akira titles as well. As at the time this article was written, the price for Hulu streaming was around $6.99 per month.
4. Netflix:
Despite the fact that Netflix doesn’t deliver new instalments and simulcasts like Hulu, it has definitely stepped up its anime content. Presently, there are lots of Japanese imports on the platform, as well as Netflix originals like Yasuke, Cannon Busters and Devilman Crybaby.
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Popular anime content like Demon Slayer, Hunter x Hunter, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure and the superb nine seasons of Naruto are available as well. What makes Netflix stand out is the absence of adverts. As at the time this article was written, the price of Netflix streaming was around $9.99 per month.
5. Hidive:
This one is the best option if you are above 18, and it allows users all across the globe to stream their favorite anime content, including simulcasts. You will not just have access to curated anime from all subgenres, there are lots of live-action adaptations to enjoy as well.
It delivers customizable subtitles, in-episode live chats, and exclusive catalog, plus users can decide if they want censored or uncensored anime. Hidive is an independent service and the brand also allows fans to request their favorite titles if they don’t find them in the search results. As at the time this article was written, the price for Hidive streaming was around $4.99 per month after the 30-day free trial.
wrapping up:
Having read through this list of 5 best Anime streaming services. If you have any personal favorites we haven’t mentioned above, kindly let us know in the comment section below. We would love to hear from you.
More Information On Anime:
Anime is hand-drawn and computer animation originating from Japan. In Japan and in Japanese, anime (a term derived from the English word animation) describes all animated works, regardless of style or origin. However, outside of Japan and in English, anime is colloquial for Japanese animation and refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. Animation produced outside of Japan with a similar style to Japanese animation is referred to as anime-influenced animation.
The earliest commercial Japanese animations date to 1917. A characteristic art style emerged in the 1960s with the works of cartoonist Osamu Tezuka and spread in following decades, developing a large domestic audience. Anime is distributed theatrically, through television broadcasts, directly to home media, and over the Internet.
In addition to original works, anime are often adaptations of Japanese comics (manga), light novels, or video games. It is classified into numerous genres targeting various broad and niche audiences.
Anime is a diverse medium with distinctive production methods that have adapted in response to emergent technologies. It combines graphic art, characterization, cinematography, and other forms of imaginative and individualistic techniques.
Compared to Western animation, anime production generally focuses less on movement, and more on the detail of settings and use of “camera effects”, such as panning, zooming, and angle shots. Diverse art styles are used, and character proportions and features can be quite varied, with a common characteristic feature being large and emotive eyes.
The anime industry consists of over 430 production companies, including major studios like Studio Ghibli, Sunrise, Ufotable, CoMix Wave Films and Toei Animation. Since the 1980s, the medium has also seen international success with the rise of foreign dubbed, subtitled programming and its increasing distribution through streaming services. As of 2016, Japanese anime accounted for 60% of the world’s animated television shows.