The Best Anime Subscription Boxes in 2021
*Walks away*
The success of the streaming service has seen a rise in quality Netflix produced anime over the past 12 months. Here are 10 of the best new Anime shows currently available to stream.
The best anime streaming services: Reviews & RecommendationsBest overall: Crunchyroll.Best for dubs: Netflix.Best for retro: RetroCrush.Best curated: HIDIVE.Best free: Tubi.
Funimation vs Crunchyroll: Anime content While Crunchyroll's humongous anime library hands down the winner, there's more to the anime on Funimation. Furthermore, both Funimation and Crunchyroll have their exclusives; however, when it comes to individuality, Funimation tends to focus on English anime dubs.
If you watch a lot of Anime, a membership is worth it. (Although if you can afford it, I say get a yearly membership because it's cheaper in the long run, especially if you get the Black Friday deal). If you're only going to watch a few things--then maybe a membership isn't really worth the cost.
Is a Funimation Subscription Still Worth it Following Crunchyroll Merger? Purchasing a Funimation subscription in 2022 might not be worth it, since the streaming service will eventually completely merge with Crunchyroll.
VRV's plan is more expensive than its competition's, but it comes with a lot more shows and movies through its different channels, which includes Crunchyroll's content, FYI. If you're interested in American and indie cartoons or you want it to be easier to find new shows, VRV beats Crunchyroll in both regards.
For what it's worth, Crunchyroll's free version is really robust. It offers a huge selection of TV shows and doesn't limit the quality you can stream in (every tier caps out at 1080p HD streaming). Still, there are a few reasons why we'd recommend opting for a paid premium Crunchyroll plan.
Funimation ties at fourth place in our Best On-Demand Streaming Services rating. It's a solid choice for anime fans, with a robust library of classics and newer releases at a reasonable price.
0:128:21Is Crunchyroll Premium Worth Paying For - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOr like i would say hulu's even though hulu's aren't that bad but yeah there's no you're gonna getMoreOr like i would say hulu's even though hulu's aren't that bad but yeah there's no you're gonna get ads if you're going to watch it for free. Now i would say if you're going to watch a lot of anime.
Try Free Trial. No ads, full HD videos to your desktop, TV, and mobile devices. Start your 14-day free trial ; Featured Shows
Action-packed adventures, offbeat comedies, inspirational stories -- these anime movies and TV shows have a style and spirit unlike anything else.
The term “hentai” might invoke images of wide-eyed animated girls doing deliciously nasty things in front of your screen. Still, it’s a whole genre of porn with more flavors than your local ...
From Crunchyroll and Funimation to Hulu and Netflix, here's our guide to the best anime streaming services depending on what you like to watch.
3. 9Anime. 9Anime is the largest anime collection after the shutdown of Kissanime.It has the fastest updates, covers every genre, and services users with both subbed and dubbed anime. 9Anime is a promised land where you will find practically all anime shows, including these that are not available on other anime websites.
Image from: Crunchyroll Crate. Why We Love It: You don’t have to go to Japan to buy licensed and legit products because each box of Crunchyroll Crate offers 4-6 officially licensed anime items. It includes apparel, collectibles, gear, and more!
All manga are safe for audiences over the age of 16. Choose from their boxes: Manga Box, which may contain 5 or 10 books, Shonen Manga Box, which has 5 books that target young female audiences, or Shojo Manga Box, which includes 5 books that cater to teenage boys.
Premium Box contains 16 products (6 sweet snacks, 6 salty snacks), 1 Wagashi – traditional Japanese pastry, an exclusive Japanese drink, a Japanese tea, a fun product, and a product list that explains everything in the box. With this subscription, you’ll get the chance to have a taste of Japan in just a single box!
Japan is best known for its beautiful scenery, good food, nice people, and of course, ANIME! The popularity of this Japanese entertainment and art-form is growing – and we all have to have a piece of our favorite anime fandoms! This list will give you an idea of all the best anime subscription boxes to get your hands on exclusive ...
Because of its robust stable of content, Crunchyroll has become the global destination for anime streaming. Launched in 2006, the brand boasts over 100 million registered users and more than 5 million subscribers.
A former Crunchyroll rival, Funimation shares a lot of major titles with the anime giant. Where the two differ lies in their respective libraries. Funimation possesses over 13,000 hours' worth of content and claims the entire Dragon Ball Z collection. Crunchyroll has some, but not all of the popular franchise.
If you're on the fence about Crunchyroll or Funimation subscriptions, Hulu boasts more than 300 anime titles and is a prime stop to watch hits My Hero Academia, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, Tokyo Ghoul, Attack on Titan, Soul Eater, Bleach and more.
As a pioneer in streaming TV, Netflix has grown its anime offerings though it lacks the fresh installments and simulcasts of Hulu. Currently, there are dozens of Japanese imports on the platform as well as Netflix originals Castlevania, Yasuke, Cannon Busters and Devilman Crybaby.
A service for the 18 and older crowd, Hidive streams content to fans around the globe, including simulcasts. Not only will you find curated anime from all subgenres, but there's an assortment of live-action adaptations too.
In the anime community, the terms dubbed and subbed are used to describe the difference between a piece of content that streams in Japanese with subtitles or an English-dubbed (or other language) version. It's a matter of personal preference, but some fans like one type over the other.
Due to licensing agreements, some streaming providers' anime lineups will change. This also depends on which country you live in, as various content may only be available in Japan, the US, or other regions.
What Netflix is to streaming, Crunchyroll is to anime streaming. If you want the biggest library of titles, with a mix of both classic titles like Captain Harlock and new hits like Jujutsu Kaisen, you can’t do much better than Crunchyroll.
While we wait to see what the Funimation/Crunchyroll merger ends up looking like, Funimation remains the other biggest player in anime streaming. Though you can subscribe to both Funimation and Crunchyroll, there is enough library overlap that you’re probably better off picking one or the other.
If you want something more grown-up than the teenage-aimed action shows that other streamers focus on, HIDIVE is the service for you. This streamer prides itself on offering edgier or more cultured shows like Redo of a Healer and Elfen Lied, but also Made in Abyss and the earlier Lupin the Third seasons.
Enough about all these mainstream shows with clean animation and formula-heavy stories; take me back to the good ol’ days! If that’s you, then RetroCrush is your streamer.
Hulu’s anime hub, home to new simulcast anime like Attack on Titan and classic films like Akira . Photo: Hulu
At this point, do you really need someone to pitch you on Netflix? What you may not know, however, is that it has a pretty great anime library too.
If you are new to anime or simply don’t want to commit to a dedicated streaming service just for that medium, then consider Hulu. Rather than license exclusive titles to try and compete with other streamers, Hulu hosts a collection of shows and movies from Crunchyroll, Funimation, and even HIDIVE.
Anime subscription boxes provide regular deliveries of the type of stuff that delights fans. That might mean collectibles, snacks, manga, or something completely different, but if the box has great curation, it’ll keep even the most diehard otaku satisfied. We dove deep to find the best anime subscription boxes currently available.
Each manga subscription box includes a cafe drink item, 3-5 Asian snacks, and 3 new ly released manga. You’ll also receive an info sheet with info about the items you’ve received, so if you want to dig deeper into a manga or re-order a certain snack, you’ll know where to go.
The Fangirl Monthly box is meant to inspire and spread the love of anime to people all around the world, and it’s especially great for those interested in cosplay. Buying as a Gift: Any fangirl should love this crate, provided that they appreciate anime-inspired jewelry.
Anime: It’s not just a form of entertainment, it’s a way of life. Well, fine — for some people, it’s just a form of entertainment, but superfans love collecting merch, diving into character backstories, and discussing the latest plot twists with the anime/manga community. We’re here for it.
That’s exactly why we love it: Loot Anime is affordable, but it’s dedicated to real fan service. Buying as a Gift: If you’re picking up a Loot Anime subscription as a gift, make sure that the recipient really loves anime — not just a specific show.
Due to licensing costs and issues, though, you won’t always get the latest or most complete series. Attack on Titan only has one of its three seasons, and anime not produced by Netflix tends to land a good while after release.
One thing Crunchyroll doesn’t have , however, is the full roster of Dragon Ball TV shows, with Funimation hosting Dragon Ball Z, Z Kai, Super, and GT alongside the original series (albeit only in the US). Like Crunchyroll, there's a free, ad-supported version or a premium subscription option with higher video quality.
Hulu signed a partnership deal with Funimation back in 2018, so you ’re getting a lot of the biggest Funimation shows to help pack out the catalogue here. However, much like Netflix, not all these seasons are complete, and it doesn’t have the breadth of a dedicated anime service.
There’s also some real prestige in Netflix managing to get the iconic 90s anime Neon Genesis Evangelion onto its service, which had been missing from any sort of streaming service for years (we expect it was expensive). Due to licensing costs and issues, though, you won’t always get the latest or most complete series.
Anime is no longer the niche proposition it was even a few years ago , thanks to the boom in online streaming expanding audiences for Japanese animation all over the world, and production ramping up to cater to those new viewers. Whether you’re a new recruit to anime TV series, love yourself some Studio Ghibli movies, ...
Honestly, Amazon doesn’t have that much going for it in terms of anime, especially since its Anime Strike platform closed down. There are however some brilliant feature-length anime films on the Amazon Prime Video service to stream like The Red Turtle or Your Name, and even Grave of the Fireflies (a Studio Ghibli movie Netflix doesn't have the rights to).
You can’t begin to talk about streaming anime without Crunchyroll. The American website has a vast catalogue of nearly 1,000 popular anime shows and films, – as well as manga and foreign drama – though it’s mostly subtitled rather than dubbed (when the original audio is replaced by US voice actors).
Anime is a rarified, fan-driven experience, so many streaming services do a lot more than merely serve up shows. For example, both Crunchyroll and Funimation have integrated and lively forum communities. Both sites also offer stores. Funimation has the best, most tightly-integrated shopping experience. As you stream video, the site shows ads for relevant merchandise and physical media. Crunchyroll 's shop is mildly disorganized by comparison, but you do get in-store bonuses and special access to convention events with a top-tier account. VRV lets you leave comments on episodes but that’s about it when it comes to community features. The relatively sparse RetroCrush could use these community features, but a shop would feel out of place on a free service. Hidive lets you create and share chat rooms so you can watch synced videos with friends while adding your own commentary.
While the name implies a simultaneous release, it's actually usually a matter of hours after an episode premieres. Simulcasts let fans stay on the cutting edge of anime and stoke popularity in a way that binge-watching never could.
By the early 2000s, US fans traded illegally duplicated VHS tapes or (if they were lucky) tiny RealPlayer files of their favorite shows on CD-R.
Anime fans have long been at the mercy of gatekeepers. First, it was media importers, who brought over only the series they felt would work with American audiences. Later, it was the fansubbing community, who labored to bring their favorite shows to their peers through file-sharing services of dubious legality.
Anime streaming service Funimation's focus on dubs limits its library compared to competitors, but it's still a slick way for English speakers to watch hundreds of shows without reading subtitles.
Hidive. Hidive may satisfy hardcore anime fans, but other anime streaming services do a better job of serving larger audiences. Back in the day, life was hard for American anime fans. A few, influential shows made it to TV broadcast, but US studios meddled with the editing and frequently made subpar dubs.
Netflix doesn't have a huge collection of anime, but it does have a decent collection of original anime and reboots of classic titles that can only be found here. Pros. sprite-check. High-quality original programming. sprite-check. Ad-free streaming. sprite-check.