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Finding the best Crunchyroll anime to watch is pretty tricky, thanks in large part to the amazing catalogue currently available on the streamer that's constantly growing. If you want to watch the best anime series (new and old), then there really is no better place.
Not only is Crunchyroll the platform with the most new anime being added to it consistently, but its massive library also includes hard-to-find classics like Dragon Ball, Naruto, and One Piece. With so much choice at our fingertips, it's easy to feel overwhelmed; however, our expert team is here to help! Below we've put together a collection of what we consider the 15 best anime shows on Crunchyroll, including some series that (hopefully) you'll be discovering for the first time.
The best Crunchyroll anime, starting with...
15. Apothecary Diaries
Apothecary Diaries is one of the most-watched anime on Crunchyroll right now and for very good reason: it's fantastic. While you may think this is a romance anime at first glance, at the heart of Apothecary Diaries is a historical mystery format that'll likely lead to binging every episode you can once you get started with it.
The show centres around Maomao, a young girl who was working as an apothecary before being sold to the Imperial Palace as a servant. However, her role becomes a lot more important after she discovers the cause of the illness plaguing the emperor's family. She soon begins investigating a lot of cases around the royal family, while also attracting the watchful eye of the eunuch Jinshi. The good news is that Apothecary Diaries seems to be getting better with every season, which is great for all of us waiting for Apothecary Diaries season 3 later this year as well.
14. Hell's Paradise
Hell's Paradise really doesn't get the attention it deserves, which is a shame because it's a great time. Since releasing in 2023, it's had to share attention with a lot of the big dogs in the shounen space, from Chainsaw Man to Jujutsu Kaisen, so that's why I've decided to give it a proper spotlight here in our list. Hells Paradise follows the ninja Gabimaru, who, after surviving an execution, gets shipped off to find the elixir of life on the island Shinsenkyo.
It turns out that Shinsenkyo is packed with monsters, and there is also a mystery that is expertly woven into all the action with some top-tier storytelling. The art is also amazing here, but be warned, a lot of people die in this show, so it can be hard to get emotionally attached to figures. Still, it's an amazing anime that you really should check out.
13. Tamon's B-Side
Tamon's B-Side is one of the newest entries in this list, but it's also one of the best comedies and shoujo anime on Crunchyroll right now. So even though it only has a few episodes out at the moment, it's still high on our recommend pile. Based on the manga series of the same name by Yuki Shiwasu, Tamon's B-Side follows a teen girl named Utage Kinoshita who is a massive fan of Tamon Fukuhara (an idol in the group F/ACE).
Utage ends up working for her idol, only to find out that the real Tamon isn't super outgoing, but instead is a loner with self-confidence issues. The dynamic between the two is hilarious as Utage tries to help him while also having her fantasy crushed, and the art style is addictively fun as well. From tone to premise, this anime is complete fun and should be on your radar.
12. Dragon Ball Z
Dragon Ball Z isn't for the soft-hearted, so if you aren't used to shounen anime, it can be a bit of a shock to your system. However, if you can hack watching filler and some epic fight sequences that last for around 20 episodes, Dragon Ball Z is one of the best spectacles on TV. The show takes place after the events of Dragon Ball (if you need timeline help, check out our guide on how to watch Dragon Ball in order), with Goku now all grown up and with a family of his own.
However, Goku's home and friends are constantly under threat from sci-fi fiends, and the series shows him having to constantly train and unlock new Saiyan-related forms in order to kick some butt. Dragon Ball Z is fun, the characters are likeable, and it's a classic that's inspired a ton of hit anime shows since.
11. Dirty Pair
While streaming services tend to focus heavily on the new (much to the detriment of, well, cultural literacy), Crunchyroll still has a few series that were likely created before you were born. One of them is the funny, freewheeling Dirty Pair, about a duo of "Trouble Consultants" that fix issues in a futuristic world, often in either tricky or explosive fashion.
Bright and funny, Dirty Pair gets by just as much on the exciting action sequences as it does on the crackling banter between its leading ladies, Kei and Yuri. As it originally aired in 1985, Dirty Pair has since left imprints on many anime to come, and one can likely find a few of the roots of their favorite current shows in it. But even as a foundational text for many anime to follow, Dirty Pair's energy makes it a singular watch.
10. Jujutsu Kaisen
Anime adaptations of manga sometimes wrestle with their source material, and the hiccups in translation, from changes in pacing to the way a story or character arc climaxes, can be obvious. Jujutsu Kaisen, though, is a recent sensation that seems to have lost none of the effectiveness of the original manga by Gege Akutami. Telling the story of young Yuji Itadori and the curse he gets (along with the society of sorcerers and warriors he joins), Jujutsu Kaisen is both full of action and dripping with a dark fantasy mood.
Other recent mega hits have lost steam in their later stages – Demon Slayer has struggled to retain the hype it garnered as a pandemic favorite. But Jujutsu Kaisen seems like it has enough energy to see its story through with panache, and it's already unleashed one of the greatest ending themes in modern times: the effortlessly catchy "Lost in Paradise" by ALI. Luckily, Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 has also just kicked off (which you can keep track of with our Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 release schedule guide) ! If you're still playing catch-up, make sure to check our guide on how to watch Jujutsu Kaisen in order.
9. given
Some drama series choose to play things close to their chest. given, the story of a band whose lead singer struggles with both heartbreak and tragedy, is not one of those series. In its portrayal of a relationship formed in the wake of emotional devastation and its treatment of connection found among friends and partners, we get a full-throated, sing-from-the-heart experience.
It's hard not to get wrapped up in given – within a few episodes, you come to want so much for the four young men who make up the musical group "Given" and every release they have, usually portrayed in dramatic, concert-level swings, feels so good to witness. Make no mistake – given will likely make you weep, especially when you learn of a certain backstory. But at its core, its about moving on and screaming (well, singing) to the world that we’re strong enough to maybe, one day, be okay. Given: The Movie is also now available on the streamer.
8. Chainsaw Man
Both uproariously funny and unceasingly violent, the Chainsaw Man anime has harnessed all of the strengths and potential of its manga source and become a modern classic in just a few short years. But it isn't just its irreverent nature or thrill ride action set pieces that have made it a hit. Chainsaw Man seems to echo inside the younger generations that have embraced it, so full as it is of commentary on class and social anxieties that plague both the manga's characters and the real world.
It turns Chainsaw Man into a gut punch from all angles, even while it's often embellished with humor that's both juvenile and silly and laced with gallows morbidity. Overall, it's truly a one-of-a-kind anime, and with only one season and now a new movie under its belt so far, it looks to continue to stun for years to come. Hopefully, we get an official confirmation on Chainsaw Man season 2 soon!
7. Ouran High School Host Club
This staple of the mid-aughts was the favorite of high school anime clubs across the nation, especially those that wanted something a little different from the action-packed fare that they'd been inundated with over the past decade. Telling the story of Haruhi Fujioka, a teenage girl who dresses like a boy in order to successfully fit into her academy's escapist "host club," Ouran is full of discussions, gags, and revelations about gender and the role it plays in society.
That said, its general good-naturedness means that little of it has aged all that poorly into 2025, so Ouran remains some supreme comfort food to its fans. Though it doesn't adapt the entirety of the manga, it, too, finds its own way to conclude and come full circle, making it a satisfying romp from start to finish.
6. One Piece
A "desert island" anime if there ever was one, One Piece's collection of over 1,100 episodes is great for anyone looking to fill their next week (or month or year). But its length is far from a drawback – Over the past twenty-five years, One Piece's mythology has grown to, well, mythic proportions, all while the story stays true to the relatable and romantic efficacy of its themes about freedom and willpower.
And though he was born from the Weekly Shonen Jump tradition of loud, battling boys, there is no protagonist quite like Straw Hat Crew captain Monkey D. Luffy, a young man who dreams of being King of the Pirates and wishes to find the titular "One Piece." Watching One Piece is a voyage in itself, but you won't be alone in these seas, as the series also has a thriving fan base around the world. And though there's decades worth of One Piece to watch in order to reach the current releases, and tons of One Piece filler to get through, there's no better time to set sail than now.
5. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
As the second adaptation of the Fullmetal Alchemist manga (the first, not on Crunchyroll, had an original ending and, as such, has been unfairly maligned for it), Brotherhood is particularly honed in. It's a no-fat all-meat approach to translating the story, rendering it an effortless watch that you'll likely finish before you know. That said, it isn't without its emotional heft – the story of the two Elric brothers is rife with tragedy and frequently the subject of both troubling horror and pathos.
Its thematic weight, as it deciphers the various power structures that bolster (and often infect) the world, from government to religion, also makes Brotherhood an engaging and thoughtful watch. It's another anime on this list that's frequently ranked among the best, if not the best (usually dueling with the likes of Cowboy Bebop for first or second place). But don't let its fame influence you – It's best to go into this one knowing absolutely nothing.
4. Frieren: Beyond Journey's End
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End became notable from the first episode, thanks to its immediate willingness to make us sob over fantasy characters we just met. And that's before the first twenty minutes are even over. From there, Frieren has much more to offer, taking the well-worn concept of a group of travelling adventurers and using it to make a statement about how the passage of time affects us and what we believe, and how the events of the past can inform the process of the future.
How do you connect with the world and the people in it when both are doomed to die and be born over and over while you stay the same? Frieren, the nigh-immortal elf mage, finds that out, and the connections that she forms (or realizes that she's formed without knowing) are a touching ode to the eternal importance of our mortal relationships. Frieren: Beyond Journey's End season 2 has also kicked off and continues to amaze us.
3. Hunter x Hunter
Manga creator Yoshihiro Togashi is one of the greatest in his field, a ceaselessly inventive voice in a genre that too often falls prey to shameless copying. And while Yu Yu Hakusho is an utterly fantastic work that rips open the pain and angst behind its battle-centric story, Hunter x Hunter is arguably the more consistent title (Both are available on Crunchyroll, so decide for yourself!).
HxH is a testament to Togashi's inability to settle down in his creations, and he uses what could be, again, a very familiar tale of a boy wanting to become stronger as an outlet for thrilling new contests, narrative twists, and surprising character development. Though the anime does not cover the entire manga (which is still ongoing), it does find its own sense of closure, so it loses no points for completionism.
2. Dan Da Dan
This list will alternate between older anime and newer titles, and few shows in the past year have been as instantly acclaimed (and warmly received) as Dan Da Dan. Part romantic comedy, part science fiction adventure, Dan Da Dan remixes countless familiar elements in a way that feels wholly refreshing. Part of that comes from Dan Da Dan's willingness to dig deep and find wells of empathy for both its human cast and its many, many strange creatures, most of whom come with tales of woe that can be heart-wrenching in their profound sincerity.
This winds up being counterbalanced by the show's curious action staging, which means that fans who have not yet read the manga succumb to a delightful unpredictability. Dan Da Dan season 3 is set to arrive sometime in the future; however, since a release window hasn't been announced yet, there's still plenty of time to catch up with the phenomenon.
1. Cowboy Bebop
Topping off with Cowboy Bebop on a best anime list is a little like ending with pizza on a "favorite food" list. It's equal parts accurate and "well, duh." And though the series, created by Shinichiro Watanabe, is frequently called one of the greatest achievements in the medium, its ubiquitous renown has done nothing to dampen its quality.
The genre-blending story of Spike Spiegel and the ragtag crew of the Bebop is a jazz-infused magnum opus, with an impact that stretches beyond animation and into film, music, and pop culture as a whole. It's crisp, cool, exciting, and frequently hilarious, and its relatively short run (26 episodes) has left fans clamoring for more for over two decades. But Cowboy Bebop's run is like a good jazz solo – go on too long and you risk repetition or exhaustion. Cut it at the right time and you'll have them on the hook forever.
Best Crunchyroll anime: honorable mentions
Crunchyroll has so much to offer! Although they didn't make our top 15, we've got a list of honorable mentions that you should 100% check out after you get through our rankings above.
- Attack on Titan
- Death Note
- Gachiakuta
- Mobile Suit Gundam The Witch From Mercury
- Your Lie in April
- Kaguya-ama: Love is War
- SK8 the Infinity
- SPY x FAMILY
- Fruits Basket
- Solo Leveling
- Demon Slayer
For more anime content, we have a list of the best anime movies for you to check out, as well as guides on how to watch Naruto in order and Demon Slayer in order.
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