Crunchyrollis easily the best place to stream anime, but even they don’t have some of the best anime series around. Crunchyroll has made a name for itself asthe best place to stream anime in America, but without a few staples of anime,their catalog feels like it could use a little help.
Let’s make one thing clear: Crunchyroll’s catalog is second to none in terms of both quality and quantity. They have some of the biggest anime series around, likeAttack on Titan, Demon Slayer,andJujutsu Kaisen,and some of the lesser-known hits likeNichijou, Tsuki ga Kirei,andOkitsura.
Surprisingly, Crunchyroll is missing a few massive anime series that can only be found on platforms like Hulu, Netflix, or Amazon Prime. Crunchyroll may never acquire the rights to these series, but if they do, their catalog can truly be considered complete.
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Neon Genesis Evangelionis one ofthe greatest anime series of all time. It’s a modern marvel of the art form that has redefined anime since it came out nearly 30 years ago. Every anime veteran has either seen this series or heard of it,showing just how fundamental it has become to anime as a whole.
Neon Genesis Evangelionfeels like a series Crunchyroll would have, but surprisingly, they don’t. They don’t have any of theNeon Genesismovies either. The easiest place to watchNeon Genesis Evangelionin America is, unfortunately, Netflix. They make it easy to see this amazing series, but their low-quality subtitling takes away from what should be a stellar experience.
FLCLis the definition of a cult-classic series.LikeNeon Genesis Evangelion,it’s one of the few series to be successful without a manga to be based on. It’s also one ofthe best anime series with less than 15 episodes, as the first entry into the franchise is only 6 episodes long.
Crunchyroll hasFLCL’ssequel series,FLCL ProgressiveandFLCL Alternative,but they don’t have the original. This makes it hard for fans wanting to check the franchise out as they can’t watch the series in chronological order. Crunchyroll already has two pieces of the pie, and it would be amazing if they could get the final third.
Violet Evergardenis often referred to as one ofthe most beautiful anime series ever created, both visually and narratively. It’s a unique series that tackles some of the heaviest themes in anime masterfully,showing that the art form can be as deep and meaningful as it can be silly and irrelevant.
Right now, the only place to watchViolet Evergardenis on Netflix. Netflix is also the only platform that has theViolet Evergardenmovies, but it would be amazing if Crunchyroll could pick the series up. Netflix is notorious for having terrible subtitling, so Crunchyroll could bring the series over and give it the subtitling thatViolet Evergardenhas always deserved.
K-On!is a staple of the Girls Band subgenre of anime. It’s also the first series in anyone’s mind when they think of the Cute Girls Doing Cute Things (CGDCT) subgenre, setting the scene for amazing series likeBocchi the Rock!that have taken the torch fromK-On!.
K-On!isn’t currently on Crunchyroll, and that means thatthere’s an entire generation of anime fans who aren’t familiar with this milestone of a series.It’s on Crunchyroll in other countries, but not America. Hopefully Crunchyroll can change their liscensing and bring the amazing series to the biggest streaming platform in the West.
6City the Animation
Animated By Kyoto Animation, Based on the Manga By Keiichi Arawi
Fans ofNichijouneed to check outCity the Animation.It’s another series from Keiichi Arawi, the creator ofNichijou,that’s animated by the famed Kyoto Animation. They’re the same studio that broughtNichijouto life, and in just a few episodes, it looks likeCity the Animationwill be just as lovable asNichijouwas.
Right now, the best place to watchCity the Animationis Amazon.Crunchyroll currently streamsNichijou,so hopefully they’ll find a way to pick up the rights to Arawi’s next series as well. It’s a hilarious, light-hearted romp filled with the most relatably funny characters in anime.
In just one 25-episode run,Blue Boxhas cemented itself asone of the best romance anime of the latest generation.It’s one of the most realistic romance series that doesn’t use any boring tropes like giving its main character a harem of women for no reason. It’s a grounded, strong series worth watching.
Netflix is the one spot to catch this amazing series, and it’s one of the few that Netflix does right. Netflix can’t handle series that require a lot of subtitling, likeKomi Can’t Communicate,butBlue Box’sslower nature gives Netflix’s subpar subtitling system time to catch up.
The Eminence in Shadowis not only one ofthe funniest isekai anime around, it’s one of the funniest anime ever made. It’s a hilarious subversion of the isekai subgenre that really brings all the silly tropes to light in a fun way.
The series stars Cid as he finds himself in another world with incredible powers, an amazing group of followers, and some of the most broken powers in anime. As the titular Eminence in Shadow, Cid doesn’t care about anything more than fighting tough opponents and having a good time. It makes for an amazing,quick watch that Crunchyroll should consider adding to their catalog.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunnersis one of the few anime series that will make viewers laugh, cry, and gasp. It’s an amazing anime series that only runs for 10 episodes, showing that a good story can be told succinctly. David Martinez’s story in Night City is nothing short of legendary, andTrigger did a great job bringing the Cyberpunk universe to the anime art form.
Crunchyroll has never streamedCyberpunk: Edgerunnerson their platform and they probably never will. It’s a Netflix exclusive, and withthe second season of the anime coming out soon, fans of the series will probably have to stick to Netflix if they want to see the next iteration of the amazing anime series.
Made in Abyssis an anime series that can be hard to put into words. There are few franchises out there that can compare to the dark whimsy that isMade in Abyss,and that’s one of the series' strong suits.It’s a must-watch for every veteran of the anime genre,and it’s not a bad series for beginners to watch, so long as they’re not afraid of a brutal series.
Crunchyroll doesn’t streamMade in Abyssin America. Instead, American audiences can watchMade in Abysseither through HIDIVE or through a HIDIVE subscription through Amazon Prime. HIDIVE doesn’t have a lot of exclusive anime series, but the anime that they do have make the platform worth checking out.
Oshi no Kois truly an anime series unlike any other. It opens with one ofthe best, most gripping premier episodesany anime has put forward, and it doesn’t take its foot off the gas from there. It’s a mind-bending series thathas no business being as deep and as thought-provoking as it is, and it pulls off its premise amazingly.
Oshi no Kois, disappointingly, one of the hardest anime series to watch in America. The only places to watch the series are Hulu and HIDIVE. As the biggest anime streaming platform in America, Crunchyroll should get the rights to this series and show everyone who hasn’t seen it just how masterfulOshi no Kotruly is.
