KissAnime was an anime-focused file streaming website that hosted links and embedded videos, allowing users to stream or download movies and TV shows illegally for free.[1][2][3] It was a sister site to a related manga viewing website, KissManga.[1][4][3] KissAnime was described as “one of the world’s biggest streaming anime websites”.[1]
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The best anime streaming services for watching classic and original Japanese animated seriesCrunchyroll.Netflix.Hulu.Funimation.Hidive.VRV.Amazon Prime Video.
CrunchyrollAccording to Crunchyroll, it's now "the world's largest anime library of more than 40,000 episodes and over 16,000 hours of 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.
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.
AnimeLab is cost-effective on both monthly and yearly plans. Crunchyroll's Fan plan costs A$8 per month, which offers to stream on one device simultaneously. AnimeLab's premium plan costs A$7, which, unlike Crunchyroll, allows streaming on multiple devices simultaneously.
Purchasing a Funimation subscription in 2022 might not be worth it, since the streaming service will eventually completely merge with Crunchyroll.
If you prefer subs, Crunchyroll might be better, but if you prefer to watch dubbed anime, go for Funimation. Since the selection of shows you can stream is different as well, check out Funimation to see if it has anything that you like that is not on Crunchyroll.
It was announced on March 1st that Funimation's content will be moving over to Crunchyroll to create “the world's largest anime library.”
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.
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).
CartoonCrazy is one of the best-dubbed Anime sites that have a bunch of dubbed Anime videos to watch. Since many Anime lovers don't want to watch while reading subtitles, this website has granted their preference. It supports Anime videos in 360p, 720p, and 1080p Animes and Cartoon videos.
KissAnime is one of the most famous Anime websites where you can watch My Hero Academia, Black Clover, Naruto, One Piece, etc. It updates the newest episode of each series regularly. Also, most videos within this website are already in HD quality, like 720p and 1080p. However, KissAnime requires you to register a free account before you can start watching Anime videos for free. But after you create your account, you can stream your favorite Anime as much as you like. Click here to see how to download from KissAnime to watch offline.
Hulu. Hulu has been famous for streaming movies and TV series since 2007. You can watch The Good Doctor, Grey's Anatomy, Family Guy, This Is Us, and more TV shows in high quality. It also has lots of Anime to watch on this website, such as Bleach, Akira, Afro Samurai, and more.
Funimation is an excellent Anime streaming website that airs newly released Anime such as Boku no Hero, One Piece, Black Clover, Haikyuu, and more. Also, you can find different Western and Asian TV series on this website. Besides, each Anime video has a subbed and dubbed version. Before you subscribe to an account with Funimation, you can try its free trial first. However, you see lots of video ads that appear whenever you play an Anime video.
We all know that Netflix is one of the biggest movies and TV series sharing websites at the moment. By purchasing its subscription, you can watch unlimited movies, TV shows, KDrama, and Anime as much as you like in HD quality. Netflix is accessible on Windows, Mac, Smart TVs, Mobile Phones, and Tablets. You can also create a list of your favorite and most-watched TV series within your account. There are so many Anime series that you can watch on Netflix, like Dragon Ball, Black Clover, Naruto, Baki, and more.
Yes, YouTube is another best website to watch Anime series for free. It consists of a short, clipped video and a full video of an Anime episode. Most of the Anime videos on YouTube are already in HD quality like 720p, 1080p, and 4K. Without making a YouTube account, you can still watch the Anime series.
Of all the major streaming services, six are the traditional go-to for anime fans. Three of them ( Crunchyroll, Funimation, and Hidive) are specifically geared toward anime. The other half of the list ( Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu) are geared more toward live-action programming, but they also happen to have fairly fleshed-out anime ...
That means you can find all the major shonen anime inspired by manga series on the service, such as Dragon Ball, My Hero Academia, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, and Black Clover, as well as slice-of-life and isekai, the latter of which has dominated the anime industry for the past year.
Several Crunchyroll Originals are based on webcomics from around the world as opposed to manga, light novels, or video games--meaning Crunchyroll is one of the few services that offers anime and anime content that aren't solely focused around Japanese culture. Of all the anime streaming services in this guide, Crunchyroll is the only one ...
So though Hulu is the best subscription for getting your feet wet when it comes to anime, it's unlikely to keep you satisfied for more than a year if watching anime becomes a regular hobby.
Hulu doesn't have any notable original or exclusive anime. Instead, it hosts both Japanese audio and English dub versions for several mainstream, experimental, and adult-oriented series. Regardless of where you are in life, Hulu likely has an anime that will appeal to you.
Funimation is not the only streaming service to offer dubs of anime, but it is probably the best. You can find shows in their original Japanese audio too, though in terms of unique content, Funimation doesn't stand toe-to-toe with other services.
It's also very easy to find new anime on Hulu, as the service probably does the best job out of all the ones on this list when it comes to recommending new shows based on what you've watched in the past, making it easy to intermingle popular anime with a TV series or movie on the weekends.
They are good . . . but if you’re an anime addict, or if you suspect you might become one, then you can get VRV for $10 and Funimation for $6. That’s $16 a month for more anime than you could ever possibly consume if you’re also a functioning and contributing member of society.
Craig is a long-time writer, presenter, and podcaster, and he now runs the Reviews.org YouTube channel, where he strives to be far more charming and presentable than he is in real life. Within the Reviews.org umbrella, he has accidentally become a streaming expert after covering the streaming wars for almost three years.
If Hulu and Netflix are for the casual fan, then Funimation is for the more serious anime obsessive. It’s more narrowly focused for anime fans. Funimation has got a deeper library than Hulu, tons of Dragon Ball content for instance, plus you get simulcast, so you don’t have to wait around for the next season of Fire Force to drop before you can watch it with everybody else.
It’s slightly different though. While both services provide both subbed and dubbed shows, Funimation holds a lot of exclusive rights to dubbed content while Crunchyroll is more of a destination for subbed stuff.
With the explosion of paid subscription sites like Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, or Amazon Prime, it might seem impossible to enjoy free content online.
Not all of the platforms below are available worldwide. Most of them are limited to US and Canadian audiences. But there’s good news. You can still access these platforms wherever you are, with the help of a VPN (Virtual Private Network).
If you can’t access anime websites like RetroCrush or Crunchyroll, don’t worry. The workaround is simple. With a VPN and a little patience, you can watch your favorite anime in no time.
If you access legal anime sites, there are no risks involved. You’re not breaking any laws, so you’re free to enjoy as much anime as you want.
We don’t recommend you access unofficial streaming platforms. But if you do, at least stay safe while you’re at it. Here’s what you can do about that:
Crunchyroll is a streaming service known for its vast catalog of popular anime shows and films. The website also features Asian dramas and manga. However, most of Crunchyroll’s content is subtitled rather than dubbed, so that’s something to think about.
Funimation is a Sony-owned entertainment company that’s been a long-time distributor of anime series in the U.S. The streaming service is focused on anime fans and has a deep library of old and new series. Anime enthusiasts looking for old, popular anime series definitely enjoy Funimation’s content.
HIDIVE is a streaming service that offers subscribers anime simulcasts and niche content. Most of the shows from the discontinued streaming service, Anime Network Online, went to Hidive. As such, shows from Section23 and Sentai, like “Akame ga Kill!” and “Non Non Biyori,” are exclusive to Hidive.
Netflix is the platform for you if you want to stream anime movies and shows — and much, much more. Needless to say, Netflix is a good place to start if you’re in the anime discovery stage. It’s also one of the most versatile platforms to watch anime and other TV series.
Hulu is an on-demand video streaming platform that boasts around 2,500 movies and over 40,000 episodes from thousands of TV shows, including comedy, drama, and anime. Hulu’s partnership deal with Funimation in 2018 made it a contender in the anime department because subscribers get the biggest Funimation shows in the catalog.