Crunchyroll has the world’s biggest anime library. It’s perfect for watching ongoing series since the newest episodes arrive on the platform an hour after their Japanese premiere. During Spring 2022, Funimation merged with Crunchyroll, making its vast library even bigger.
It can be difficult to choose which anime to watch next since there are so many titles. Luckily, Crunchyroll always adds new titles, whether they’re older classics or brand-new series from every anime genre. There’s an anime out there for everyone, and more likely than not, new viewers can find it somewhere in Crunchyroll’s extensive library.
Update on June 28th, 2023 by Louis Kemner: Crunchyroll’s library of top-tier anime is truly impressive, and every anime season adds even more wonderful titles to this expansive collection. By June 2023, anime fans can find practically anything on this juggernaut streaming platform, from delightful romantic comedies to science fiction to horror and drama and much more.
35 BOFURI: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defense (2020–Present)
24 Episodes
BOFURI follows Kaede Honjou after she’s invited to play a virtual reality game with her friend. Kaede creates “Maple,” her in-game character. Kaede hates pain, so she decided to survive in the game by prioritizing defensive statistics above all else.
Usually, many anime that take place in video games prioritize how many kills a character can get. In Kaede’s (or Maple’s) case, she had a creative approach by maximizing her defense to avoid conflict and make it out of the game alive. This isekai comedy is an excellent change of pace from others in the genre.
34 Chillin’ In My 30s After Getting Fired From The Demon King’s Army (2023)
12 Episodes
Chillin’ In My 30s After Getting Fired From The Demon King’s Army follows Dariel after, as the title suggests, being discharged from the demon king’s army because he doesn’t have any magic. Even though Granverza raised him, Bashubaza deemed him a stain on the army and kicked him out.
Now, Dariel’s homeless and unemployed. He spends his days roaming the forests until one day, he saves a girl getting chased by a monster. He now has a purpose to live again but comes to the realization that he was never a great fit for the demon king’s army since he’s a human, not a demon.
33 Kimi Ni Todoke (2009–2011)
38 Episodes
Kimi Ni Todoke is a classic shojo anime that follows Sawako Kuronuma. Unfortunately, her classmates nicknamed her “Sadako” because she looks like the ghost from The Ring. Constantly misunderstood and bullied, Sawako feels extremely lonely in high school.
Sawako’s always admired Kazehaya because people naturally gravitate toward him. She wanted to be like him one day but never imagined that he was interested in her as well. Kazehaya gets along well with everybody, so Sawako just assumed he was treating her like everyone else–but that may not be the case.
32 Nichijou (2011)
26 Episodes
Nichijou is a must-watch slice of life for those trying to get into the genre. Nichijou follows Mio, Yuuko, and Mai through their everyday activities. They’re childhood friends who always have each other’s backs.
One day, their lives change after meeting Hakase, Nano, and Sakamoto. Sakamoto is a talking black cat, Hakase is a genius, and Nano is a robot tasked with looking after her. The show has a fairly simple premise but brilliantly blends in charmingly whimsical elements so even the fantastical seems mundane.
31 Vinland Saga (2019–Present)
30 Episodes
Vinland Saga is one of the best modern seinen series. The first season was produced by Wit Studio, while MAPPA handled the second. Vinland Saga follows Thorfinn after he becomes a mercenary to avenge his father and kill Askeladd, his murderer. Thorfinn ended up going against his father’s pacifistic wishes in the process.
Vinland Saga explores the world of Vikings, but not in a way that fans have seen over and over again in the past. With brilliant, fluid animation and a compelling narrative, Vinland Saga is a must-watch for fans who want a darker story.
30 Demon Slayer (2019–Present)
44 Episodes & 1 Film
Demon Slayer’s third season wrapped up in June 2023 and the Swordsmith Village arc did not disappoint. In Demon Slayer, Tanjiro Kamado’s entire family was killed by a vicious demon. His sister Nezuko, the sole survivor of the attack, became a demon herself.
Tanjiro vowed to heal his sister and avenge his family by joining the Demon Slayer Corps. Produced by Ufotable, Demon Slayer’s stunning animation, and impressive character designs will keep viewers captivated from beginning to end.
29 Bungou Stray Dogs (2016–Present)
72 Episodes & 1 Film
Bungou Stray Dogs’ fourth season was recently announced and is scheduled for January 4th. Bungou Stray Dogs is a supernatural seinen series with a dynamic ensemble cast. With a character-driven narrative and lots of fight scenes, Bungou Stray Dogs is the perfect gateway series for shonen fans who want something with a bit of an edge.
Atsushi Nakajima was kicked out of his orphanage and left to die on the streets. Unknowingly possessed by the tiger he thought was hunting him, the Armed Detective Agency recruited Atsushi to help them solve mysteries and carry out missions.
28 Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War
37 Episodes
Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War tells a love story between two high school geniuses—Kaguya Shinomiya and Miyuki Shirogane—who are deeply in love with each other, but both of them are too prideful to confess. After all, love is war, and whoever confesses first in this high-stakes battle of wits loses.
Instead of confessing, Kaguya and Miyuki would rather put each other (and everyone around them) through hell via a series of elaborate mind games to draw a confession out of the other. This seldom works, but it’s equally entertaining and frustrating to witness. The sequel film, Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War: The First Kiss Never Ends, was released in the U.S. in February 2023.
27 Hunter X Hunter (2011–Present)
148 Episodes
Hunter X Hunter is one of the greatest masterpieces that shonen anime offers. It’s very formulaic but never feels contrived or like something fans have already watched a hundred times before. Hunter X Hunter follows Gon Freecs, a young boy who sets out on a mission to become a Hunter and follow in his estranged father’s footsteps.
Ultimately, Gon wants to reunite with his father eventually. Departing from Whale Island to take the Hunter Exams, Gon meets Kurapika, Leorio, and Killua. They all instantly hit it off and stuck by each other’s sides for the exam’s duration.
26 Attack On Titan (2013–Present)
87 Episodes
Attack On Titan’s final episodes are looming over fans’ heads and anticipation is building to see how the series will end. Attack On Titan is one of the grittiest titles offered by the shonen demographic. A blood-soaked masterpiece, Attack On Titan follows Eren Yeager after his hometown is demolished by man-eating Titans.
Eren vows to join the Survey Corps and annihilate all of them. However, Eren soon learns that the waters are far more murkier than he initially believed. Attack On Titan blurs the boundaries between heroes and villains, even arguing that one’s allies could just as easily become their enemies if the political tides shift a certain way.
25 Haikyuu! (2014–Present)
85 Episodes
Haikyuu! is the juggernaut of modern sports anime. Hinata Shoyo is short, but he can jump to astounding heights on the court. After watching Karasuno High play during nationals, Hinata wanted to join their team and become the greatest player in Japan.
Haikyuu!’s lovable ensemble cast presents at least a handful of characters for every type of potential viewer. Though Karasuno is the series’ focal point, it’s easy to fall in love with characters from every team. Haikyuu! cements shonen as a diverse demographic.
24 The Ice Guy & His Cool Female Colleague (2023–Present)
12 Episodes
The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague is one of many romantic comedies that premiered during the 2023 Winter anime season. The series is perfect for fans of workplace romances like Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku, but has the same whimsical charm as shojos like Fruits Basket and Kamisama Kiss.
The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague tells the love story of Himuro and Fuyutsuki. Himuro is the descendant of a yuki-onna, a snow spirit. When he gets excited, he starts blizzards, generates tiny snowmen, and even freezes things. Fuyutsuki is an aloof, but warmhearted coworker who accepts Himuro with open arms and does everything she can to accommodate his snow powers.
23 Tomo-chan Is A Girl! (2023–Present)
13 Episodes
Tomo-chan is a Girl! stars the titular Tomo Aizawa, a karate expert who finally mustered up the courage to confess her feelings to her childhood friend, Junichirou. Unfortunately, he mistook her romantic confession as a platonic expression of gratitude, which sent Tomo spiraling.
Tomo wants others to view her as a girl and even tries to do more traditionally “feminine” things, like wearing skirts or speaking softer. However, those don’t help her case at all since it’s pretty apparent that Junichirou wouldn’t change a thing about her. The series is equally heartwarming and hilarious.
22 Buddy Daddies (2023–Present)
12 Episodes
Buddy Daddies immediately drew comparisons to 2022’s smash hit Spy X Family after its premiere. Though they look similar at first, but they’re much different than fans would have expected. Kazuki and Rei are assassins who end up adopting Miri, their target’s daughter.
Miri is absolutely convinced that Kazuki is her father, even though he’s not. However, they can’t exactly abandon this kid, so they’re forced to take care of her while still acting as assassins. It’s chaotic, hilarious, and absolutely worth checking out.
21 Classroom Of The Elite (2017–Present)
25 Episodes
With season three rapidly approaching, there’s no better time to start watching Classroom Of The Elite. Classroom Of The Elite is a slice-of-life series with a psychological twist. Kiyotaka Ayanokoji is a brilliant high schooler who never applies himself academically. He’s placed in class D, which serves as a dumping ground for underperforming students.
The only way to change class rankings is if everybody works together to score better than the school’s top students. Koudou Ikusei High presents a cutthroat environment full of eccentric personalities as those at the top struggle to maintain their position while the bottom rung works to take over.
20 The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten (2023–Present)
12 Episodes
The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten follows Mahiru and Amane. They go to the same high school and are even neighbors, but never spoke to each other until Amane offered Mahiru an umbrella while she was sitting alone in the rain.
Mahiru returns the favor by helping Amane out around his house after seeing how much of a mess it was. Mahiru and Amane eventually grow closer. Angel Next Door’s relaxed pace and heartwarming love story make it the 2023 winter anime season’s cutest sleeper hit.
19 Do It Yourself!! (2022–Present)
12 Episodes
Do It Yourself!! is a laidback slice-of-life series that feels like a Pinterest DIY board brought to life. It’s entertaining, but educational and even inspiring. Do It Yourself!! follows Sefufu Yua who lives in a terrifyingly familiar world where automatic labor makes handmade crafting a thing of the past.
Sefufu and her friends work together to keep the spirit of DIY arts and crafts alive. Rejecting modernity and embracing tradition is the lifeblood of this anime. In an increasingly digitalized world, Do It Yourself!! is a humble reminder to turn it all off for a while and get in touch with their inner creativity.
18 YuYu Hakusho (1992–1994)
112 episodes
YuYu Hakusho was Yoshihiro Togashi’s first masterpiece prior to Hunter X Hunter. YuYu Hakusho follows Yusuke Urameshi, a delinquent who nearly died trying to save a kid from getting hit by a car.
Yusuke’s unexpected self-sacrifice touched the authorities of the spirit realm, so they gave him a second chance, with some conditions. With one of the best tournament arcs in shonen history, well-written antagonists, and exciting fight scenes, YuYu Hakusho is a must-watch for every shonen anime fan.
17 Lycoris Recoil (2022–Present)
13 episodes
Lycoris Recoil was one of the best anime released during the summer 2022 season. Lycoris Recoil follows a crime syndicate called the Direct Attack. The group fosters orphan girls and raises them as cold-blooded assassins in their “Lycoris” program.
Lycoris Recoil stars Takina and Chisato. Takina is a strong Lycoris who is passionate about her work. After a terrible hostage situation, Takina gains a new partner in Chisato, a Lycoris prodigy who doesn’t take her job quite as seriously. Throughout the show, the duo learns how to work together. Lycoris Recoil isn’t primarily character-driven. Instead, the series lets its action do the storytelling.
16 Mob Psycho 100 (2019–Present)
26 episodes
Mob Psycho 100 is an unconventional shonen hit that takes itself seriously for what it is while poking fun at the genre’s most overdone trope. With a simplistic, but unique art style and visually stunning animation courtesy of Studio Bones, Mob Psycho 100 is equally character-driven as it is action-packed.
Mob Psycho 100 stars Shigeo Kageyama, or “Mob,” a teenage esper who keeps his emotions bottled up to avoid overloading his ESP. If his emotions hit 100%, Mob’s already powerful abilities grow terrifyingly strong.
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