The best anime on Hulu right now

Naruto (2002)

Genre

Animation, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Junko Takeuchi, Noriaki Sugiyama, Chie Nakamura

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Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto was a mainstream juggernaut for the anime genre as a whole. The series begins with the titular protagonist, who grows up an outcast of the Hidden Leaf Village who is nonetheless determined to fulfill his lofty goals of eventually becoming an elite ninja and the village’s leader.

Filled with fantastical world-building and a wide cast of colorful characters, Naruto is an imaginative and action-packed spin on coming-of-age themes and fantasy worlds influenced by Japanese mythology.

Mobile Suit Gundam 00 (2007)

Genre

Action & Adventure, Animation, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, War & Politics

Cast

Hiroshi Kamiya, Shin-ichiro Miki, Mamoru Miyano

Created by

Seiji Mizushima

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Japan’s Mobile Suit Gundam franchise remains one of the most enduring anime IPs and media franchises in general. Set within a universe dense with lore and world-building, Mobile Suit Gundam 00 is among the best standalone stories for longtime fans and newcomers alike.

Telling a story with underlying themes, Mobile Suit Gundam 00 follows a paramilitary group determined to end the bloody internal warfare over scraps of usable energy.

Trigun Stampede (2023)

Genre

Animation, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Sakura Ando, Kenji Matsuda

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Veteran studio Madhouse’s original TV anime adaptation of Yasuhiro Nightow’s Trigun is celebrated as a ’90s classic. However, studio Orange has come along with Trigun Stampede as a CG reboot of the original story.

This style of animation is infamously treated with caution in many fandom circles, but this reimagining shows the strides the technology has made. Likewise, it’s made some creative twists for this continuity, like having Meryl Stryfe as an up-and-coming investigative journalist under the mentorship of the original character, Roberto De Niro.

TIGER & BUNNY (2011)

Genre

Action & Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Hiroaki Hirata, Masakazu Morita, Go Inoue

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Capitalizing on the prominence of the superhero genre in media, studio Sunrise’s Tiger & Bunny is an engaging and subversive exploration of such characters. Taking place in a futuristic spin on New York City called Stern Bild City, those with powers compete in their heroics for points to be crowned the King of Heroes. And due to veteran hero Wild Tiger’s diminishing reputation, he’s assigned a new superhero partner nicknamed “Bunny.” The story follows these two polar opposites as they learn to work together to save their careers in this corporate superhero world.

Durarara!! (2010)

Genre

Action & Adventure, Animation, Drama, Mystery

Cast

Miyuki Sawashiro, Toshiyuki Toyonaga, Mamoru Miyano

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Based on the light novel series of the same name, animation studio Brain’s Base’s adaptation of Durarara! is an urban supernatural mystery revolving a group of school kids. Young Mikado Ryuugamine has long craved for a dose of excitement in his life, and he jumps at the opportunity to move to Tokyo and attend school in the district of Ikebukuro. However, the area is rife with rumors of dangerous gangs and other intimidating figures. However, the mysterious legend of the “Black Rider,” a headless person that rides a black motorcycle, seems to give Mikado and co. more than they could bargain for.

Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans (2015)

Genre

Animation, War & Politics, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Yoshimasa Hosoya, Kengo Kawanishi, Yuka Terasaki

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One of the most historic anime IPs in the history of the genre, Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans established itself among the best of the franchise’s TV series. Set in its own timeline, Iron-Blooded Orphans takes place around 300 years after a disastrous event dubbed the Calamity War, resulting in four corrupt economic blocs from Earth ruling it and the space colonies, and the Gjallarhorn operating as intergalactic peacekeepers. The story mainly follows child soldiers Mikazuki and Orga as they fight against their oppressors and the invading Gjallarhorn, and go on to accept a mission from aristocratic freedom-fighter Kudelia Aina Bernstein as a newly-formed mercenary group bound in brotherhood.

Pokémon (1997)

Genre

Animation, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Rica Matsumoto, Ikue Otani

Created by

Satoshi Tajiri, Junichi Masuda, Ken Sugimori

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The overall Pokémon franchise has proven to be one of the most lucrative in media, and the long-running anime series is a big contributor to that legacy. Starting in the ’90s with a bright-eyed young boy eager to embark on his life-changing adventure as a trainer, Ash Ketchum goes on to meet a myriad of friends, rivals, and — of course — Pokémon to capture, train, battle, and befriend along the way. Ash’s globetrotting adventures throughout the Pokémon world take him and a rotating cast of supporting characters across the regions of Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and beyond.

Gurren Lagann (2007)
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Genre

Animation, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Marina Inoue, Kiyoyuki Yanada, Michiko Neya

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Often regarded by veteran anime fans as a modern classic, animation studio Gainax’s Gurren Lagann is another example of a superb anime-original series. Though it’s certainly a sci-fi mecha-action anime, the flashy action and visuals are vehicles for the surprisingly emotional plot. Gurren Lagann opens with Simon and Kamina as they toil in the work of maintaining their underground settlement while the daunting Spiral King rules all life aboveground and has compelled most of humanity to flee underneath. Kamina, in particular, has grand ambitions for humanity’s comeback, and that’s just the surface of what unravels into an investing and thoughtful character-driven story about willpower.

Psycho-Pass (2012)
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Genre

Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Animation, Action & Adventure

Cast

Yuki Kaji, Kana Hanazawa, Yuichi Nakamura

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An original anime story, Psycho-Pass is perhaps one of the best options out there for riveting sci-fi tales. Animated by Production I.G, Psycho-Pass takes place in a technological dystopia where the Japanese government enforces a Minority Report-style rule over citizens. In an authoritarian attempt to quash all crime, the government monitors brain biometrics to calculate an individual’s propensity for criminality. Should they fail this Psycho-Pass, the government isn’t above dealing out immediate lethal force. The series largely centers around the jaded Enforcers the Japanese government deploys until a novice Inspector with lofty ambitions for justice begins to shake things up. In addition to the Steven Spielberg thriller, Psycho-Pass has also been praised for its inspiration from Ridley Scott’s cyberpunk landmark film Blade Runner.

Dragon Ball (1986)
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Genre

Animation, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Masako Nozawa, Mayumi Tanaka, Hiromi Tsuru

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While Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball franchise has since exploded into a global multimedia juggernaut, not enough of that credit goes to its original series. Dragon Ball Z was certainly a new peak, but the original Dragon Ball still stands as a shounen anime classic. This franchise launch pad follows Son Goku’s beginnings as a fish out of water who doesn’t know his own strength as he meets a colorful cast of heroes and villains on the way. Dragon Ball features classic villains like the Red Ribbon Army, as well as the antagonistic days of converted-hero King Piccolo.

Kill la Kill (2013)
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Genre

Action & Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Ryoka Yuzuki, Ami Koshimizu, Aya Suzaki

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From the studio that brought us Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, Kill la Kill is still one of Trigger’s most iconic works. The stylish character designs, vibrant color palette, and thrilling action-focused animation are instantly recognizable. All of those qualities are on display here, with Kill la Kill revolving around the quest of a rebellious schoolgirl as she tries to find her father’s killer and avenge his death. Along the way, she clashes with the student council president of Honnouji Academy, Satsuki Kiryuin, as well as the latter’s imposing fashion-empire-leading mother. In fitting fashion, much of the action revolves around the superpowers gained from the seemingly sentient clothes the characters wear.

Bleach (2004)

Genre

Action & Adventure, Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Masakazu Morita, Fumiko Orikasa, Hiroki Yasumoto

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One of the anime and manga series regarded as Weekly Shounen Jump’s “Big Three” alongside Naruto and One Piece, Bleach is poised for a grandiose comeback following the original series’ fizzling out in popularity. Because of that, the anime adaptation never got to finish the source material’s story, but that is set to change with the premiere of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War. This new season/successor series picks up where the original left off, this time focusing on the build-up to the titular Quincy Blood War. Ichigo and company find themselves in a dire situation, as he and his allies at the Soul Society have to form an unlikely alliance with their former enemies of Hueco Mundo to quell the uprising of the Wandenreich. This secret society of the surviving Quincy family is hellbent on revenge against the Soul Reapers that nearly snuffed them out ages ago. Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War premieres on October 10 on Hulu and Disney+.

My Hero Academia (2016)

Genre

Action & Adventure, Animation

Cast

Daiki Yamashita, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Kenta Miyake

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My Hero Academia has been a shounen hit that’s also combined the mainstream popularity of the superhero genre. The story follows Izuku Midoriya, nicknamed Deku, as he starts out as a boy with poor luck for being born without a Quirk (the show’s name for powers) — despite 80% of the population manifesting one. These powers are also a reflection of the user’s personality. Regardless, Deku soldiers on and enrolls into the prestigious superhero academy U.A. High School. Season 6 premieres on Hulu on October 1, and after quickly tying up some loose ends from the prior season, it will lead into the climactic fight between the heroes of U.A. High School and the villains of the Paranormal Liberation Front — who are spearheaded by Tomura Shigaraki.

Spy x Family (2022)

Genre

Animation, Comedy, Action & Adventure

Cast

Takuya Eguchi, Atsumi Tanezaki, Saori Hayami

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Taking the anime scene by storm earlier this year, animation studios Wit and CloverWorks’ adaptation of Tatsuya Endo’s Spy x Family has been a welcome and wholesome addition to 2022’s slate of shows. The series opens with the elite spy only known by his codename Agent Twilight as he is sent on a top-secret diplomatic mission abroad. His aim is to quell the potential spark of a war between two powerful nations, but his covert mission proves to be his most difficult yet for unexpected reasons. Twilight dons the alias of Loid along with Anya and Yor to create the Forger family, with each member having something to hide from the other about their roles and capabilities. Season 1 has been an emphatic success so far with its first 12 episodes, and Hulu will be streaming the season’s second part starting October 1.

Chainsaw Man (2022)

Genre

Animation, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Kikunosuke Toya, Tomori Kusunoki, Shogo Sakata

Arguably one of the best shounen manga to publish in recent years, Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Chainsaw Man is finally getting an anime adaptation. Animated by the immensely talented animation studio MAPPA — of Attack on Titan: The Final Season and Jujustu Kaisen fame — Chainsaw Man tells the story of the tragically orphaned young man Denji as his life is drastically upended in a world of supernatural creatures. Having to do the local Yakuza’s dirty work as repayment for his father’s death, Denji’s best friend and dog-like devil Pochita saves his life when the organization inevitably turns on him. Now fused with the Chainsaw Devil, Denji joins the Japanese government agency responsible for hunting devils. Chainsaw Man is as over-the-top violent as the name suggests, but it’s also impressively nuanced and emotional as a coming-of-age tale. The anime premieres on Hulu on October 11.

Mob Psycho 100 (2016)

Genre

Animation, Action & Adventure, Comedy

Cast

Setsuo Ito, Takahiro Sakurai, Miyu Irino

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From the writer ONE, who also brought fans the widely acclaimed superhero and shounen satire One-Punch Man, comes Mob Psycho 100. Adapted into anime format by veteran studio Bones, Mob Psycho 100 has been similarly lauded on its own merits in its first two seasons as it follows the story of the mild-mannered Shigeo Kageyama — also known as Mob. Mob is an esper with immense psychic powers that he tends to keep to himself in an attempt to lead a mundane life. However, along with his self-proclaimed psychic and con artist friend/mentor Reigen, Mob stumbles upon problem after problem that puts his control and patience through grueling tests. Mob Psycho 100 has all the dazzling visual spectacle and action fans would expect, in addition to charming art direction and a perfect balance of fights, comedy, and resonating coming-of-age themes. Season 3 premieres on Hulu on October 5.

Fate/Zero (2011)

Genre

Action & Adventure, Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Ayako Kawasumi, Rikiya Koyama, Akio Otsuka

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Spinning out of the popular light novel series by Gen Urobuchi, Fate/Zero is an action/fantasy series that takes place before the events of Fate/Stay Night. The anime tells the events of the Fourth Holy Grail War, which is a secret tournament held where seven Masters summon the reincarnated legendary souls of combatants spanning the world’s history. These warriors compete in this brutal battle royale to win the coveted and titular Holy Grail, which is a magical chalice that grants the winner their wishes. Fate/Zero follows protagonist Kiritsugu Emiya, a ruthless assassin, as he takes part in the Fourth Holy Grail War on behalf of the Einzberns, his wife’s family.

Hunter x Hunter (2011)

Genre

Action & Adventure, Animation, Drama

Cast

Megumi Han, Mariya Ise, Miyuki Sawashiro

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Animation studio Madhouse adapted a new-and-improved TV series based on writer Yoshihiro Togashi’s acclaimed shounen manga Hunter x Hunter. From the same mind that brought fans Yu Yu Hakusho, Hunter x Hunter is a sprawling and colorful modern fantasy that’s packed with world-building and intriguing characters. The young Gon Freecs sets out one day to become a world-class hunter — one who specializes in seeking out rare things, creatures, or locations — like the father who abandoned him. After he passes the examination for his license, Gon bands together with his new friends and allies, Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio, on a globetrotting adventure filled with supernatural perils and vibrant new worlds.

Hellsing Ultimate (2006)

Genre

Animation, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Jouji Nakata, Fumiko Orikasa, Yoshiko Sakakibara

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The 10-episode Hellsing Ultimate series is the second anime adaptation of writer Kouta Hirano’s cult-classic dark-fantasy horror manga. The first anime series spun out into an original story that was loosely based on the source material, while Ultimate sticks closer to the script. In a world where the undead is a regular threat to the living, the Hellsing Organization has been Britain’s best defense against them. Sir Integra Hellsing — the organization’s leader — inherits its greatest weapon in the form of Alucard. The vampire is a rare undead creature who fights on the side of the living. The group eventually gets involved in a bloody fight against rival monster-hunting organizations and the undead alike.

Dragon Ball Super (2015)

Genre

Animation, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Masako Nozawa, Ryou Horikawa, Hiromi Tsuru

Created by

Akira Toriyama

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Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball franchise is one of the global icons of the anime genre. Dragon Ball Super is the long-awaited sequel series to the beloved Z, with Goku and company living a relatively peaceful life after the climactic fight against Majin Boo. However, after the God of Destruction Beerus comes down to Earth to test the mettle of its strongest combatants, the cast is drawn back into a life of high-octane action. From there, the story spirals into a bombastic adventure spanning the exploration of multiple timelines, with the Z Fighters meeting powerful new allies and foes along the way.

Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2018)

Genre

Action, Science Fiction, Animation

Stars

Masako Nozawa, Aya Hisakawa, Ryou Horikawa

Directed by

Tatsuya Nagamine

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Dragon Ball Super: Broly is another landmark for the franchise and veteran fans. This feature film marks the first canon appearance of fan-favorite villain Broly, taking place after the Tournament of Power arc from the TV anime with Goku and Vegeta facing off against the Legendary Super Saiyan. Just as well, it chronicles the history and demise of the Saiyan race on Planet Vegeta, painting Broly as a more sympathetic and misunderstood antihero in the process. Being manipulated for his daunting and rage-induced power, Goku, Vegeta, and even classic Dragon Ball Z villain Frieza get involved after the latter’s return from hell.

Mushi-shi (2005)

Genre

Animation, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Yuji Ueda, Daisuke Kishio, Mika Doi

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Taking place in a fantasy rendition of this world rooted in magical realism, Mushi-shi is an introspective anime. Spiritual entities known as Mushi inhabit the world and are largely peaceful to mankind, unbothered by their earthly squabbling. To study and understand these difficult-to-perceive beings, Mushi masters are tasked with seeking them out. Enter the titular master Ginko, with his anthology-style adventures that take him across the countryside as he meets people and interacts with the Mushi.

Akira (1988)

Genre

Animation, Science Fiction, Action

Stars

Mitsuo Iwata, Nozomu Sasaki, Mami Koyama

Directed by

Katsuhiro Otomo

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Akira is one of the anime movies alongside the likes of Ghost in the Shell that helped transform the medium and force global audiences to take notice of what anime was becoming. It takes place in a sci-fi dystopian future where a pair of childhood friends in a Neo-Tokyo motorcycle gang live their lives avoiding the constant threat of military occupation and war. One of the boys, Tetsuo Shima, becomes burdened with dangerous telekinetic powers that threaten the city and the world. It’s an exciting, visceral, and though-provoking sci-fi thriller that pays homage to the likes of Blade Runner.

Steins;Gate (2011)

Genre

Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Animation, Mystery, Comedy, Drama

Cast

Kana Hanazawa, Mamoru Miyano, Yu Kobayashi

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Based on the visual novel video game of the same name, Steins;Gate is a thoroughly compelling sci-fi thriller. Self-professed mad scientist Rintaro Okabe has created delusions of thwarting a secret organized conspiracy. Along with Rintaro’s colorful cast of supportive friends, the group dive into the mystery behind achieving time travel. However, once Makise Kurisu finds herself involved, a darker mystery begins to unfold.

Attack on Titan (2013)

Genre

Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Animation, Action & Adventure

Cast

Yuki Kaji, Yui Ishikawa, Marina Inoue

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Attack on Titan has been one of the most popular anime series for the better part of a decade. And now that the final season is in progress, Hulu is premiering episodes the same week they debut in Japan. The series is set in a post-apocalyptic future where humanity lives in walled cities to escape the Titans, a race of giant humanoids with an appetite for destruction. Eren Jaeger loses his mother to the Titans at an early age and enlists in the Survey Corps to fight them. When Eren discovers his own ability to transform into a Titan, it gives humanity a chance to fight back while also exposing some of the Titans’ hidden secrets.

Initial D (1998)

Genre

Animation

Cast

Shin-ichiro Miki, Mitsuo Iwata, Takehito Koyasu

Created by

Shuichi Shigeno

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Before The Fast and the Furious, Initial D brought street racing to anime. The series follows Takumi Fujiwara, a local delivery boy whose driving skills quickly capture the attention of the underground racing scene. After improbably winning a race against one of the top competitors, Takumi suddenly finds himself the target of other racers who want to be the one to defeat him. Each competitor pushes Takumi to new limits as his skills expand. But how long can Takumi withstand the nonstop onslaught of challengers?

Horimiya (2021)

Genre

Animation, Comedy

Cast

Haruka Tomatsu, Koki Uchiyama, Seiichiro Yamashita

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In Horimiya, we follow Hori and Miyamura. Hori is one of the most popular girls at school and dresses like it, too. At home though, she dresses down and must scrimp and save to survive, all while taking care of her younger brother. Hori does everything she can to hide this from her classmates to maintain her grade-A status. That is until Miyamura, a goth peer that Hori strays from at school, discovers her at-home life. Once adversaries, the two pupils begin confiding in one another.

Kaguya-sama: Love is War (2019)

Genre

Animation, Comedy, Drama

Cast

Aoi Koga, Makoto Furukawa, Ryota Suzuki

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A decorated anime rom-com, Love is War follows Kaguya Shinomiya and Miyuki Shirogane, two students at the prestigious Shuchiin Academy that just happen to have feelings for each other. But as it turns out, neither is willing to admit these romantic secrets. Both too proud and popular, the class-act students must navigate the tumultuous, and at times amusing world of true love while navigating the intricacies of academia and a bustling social life.

Parasyte -the maxim- (2014)

Genre

Animation, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure

Cast

Nobunaga Shimazaki, Aya Hirano, Kana Hanazawa

Created by

Shōji Yonemura

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In Parasyte: The Maxim, a high school student named Shinichi Izumi finds himself thrust into the center of an alien invasion. The invaders are known as Parasytes, and they typically take total control of their victims’ brains. However, Shinichi’s Parasyte embeds itself in his arm instead of his brain. After the Parasyte develops its own personality and calls itself Migi, Shinichi forms an alliance with his personal invader as they take on other Parasytes within the city. Together, they may be humanity’s only real defense against the Parasytes’ invisible invasion.

Black Lagoon (2006)

Genre

Action & Adventure, Animation, Drama, Crime

Cast

Hiroaki Hirata, Tsutomu Isobe, Megumi Toyoguchi

Created by

Sunao Katabuchi

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Within the show that shares its name, the Black Lagoon is the ship that belongs to a group of mercenaries called the Lagoon Company. Poor Rokuro Okajima winds up in their orbit when he is kidnapped by the team after he was roped into transporting a valuable disc that was filled with important intel. The good news for Rokuro is that the mercenaries, Dutch, Revy, and Benny, all warm up to him fairly quickly. After proving his worth to the Lagoon Company, Rokuro accepts their offer to join them and renames himself Rock as he embarks on a new life of adventure.

Fruits Basket (2019)

Genre

Comedy, Drama, Animation

Cast

Manaka Iwami, Nobunaga Shimazaki, Yuma Uchida

Created by

Natsuki Takaya

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The wildly popular Fruits Basket manga has received a reboot anime series that serves as a more faithful retelling of the original story. As before, the main character is Tohru Honda, a high school student who is orphaned by the tragic death of her parents. After arranging to live with her classmate Yuki Soma and the rest of the Soma family, Tohru discovers their secret. The Soma family is cursed to transform into the animals of the Chinese zodiac when they experience heightened emotional states. Even a hug from Tohru is enough to transform the men in the Soma family. Because she cares for them, Tohru decides to find a way to break the curse.

InuYasha (2000)

Genre

Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Comedy

Cast

Kappei Yamaguchi, Satsuki Yukino

Created by

Rumiko Takahashi, Katsuyuki Sumisawa

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If you’re an old-school Toonami viewer, you probably know Inuyasha very well. Based on the popular manga series, Inuyasha introduces viewers to Kagome, a high school student in the present who has no time for myths and legends. At least not until Kagome finds herself stuck in Japan’s distant past alongside the half-demon warrior Inuyasha. Much to Kagome’s surprise, she finds that she has some measure of control over Inuyasha when he gets out of hand. But both of them are surprised when their quest to reclaim a shattered gem stirs romantic feelings in both of their hearts.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (2019)

Genre

Animation, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Natsuki Hanae, Akari Kito, Hiro Shimono

Created by

Ufotable

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Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is so huge right now that the anime movie that came out in 2020 recently beat the Mortal Kombat reboot and topped the U.S. box office. The anime series of the same name is also incredibly popular all over the world. It takes place in Japan’s distant history, as a teenager named Tanjiro loses his family to a demon attack. Tanjiro’s younger sister, Nezuko, is the only survivor, but unfortunately, she is transformed into a demon by the experience. To avenge his family and save his sister’s soul, Tanjiro undertakes a quest to become a demon slayer.

MEGALOBOX (2018)

Genre

Animation, Action & Adventure, Drama

Cast

Yoshimasa Hosoya, Hiroki Yasumoto, Michiyo Murase

Created by

Katsuhiko Manabe, Kensaku Kojima

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In the future, boxing has been spruced up a bit for the next generation. In Megalobox, the sweet science now includes fighters who battle with exoskeletons that enhance their strength. But that’s not enough for Junk Dog, aka Joe. He’s an underground fighter in scripted matches who wants to break into the real Megalobox competitions. After getting a chance to fight the Megalobox champion, Yuri, Joe is forced to start at the bottom and work his way back up to earn the right for a rematch. It’s not an easy road, even with technological enhancements. That’s why it’s going to take heart and determination for Joe to make his way to the top.

Rurouni Kenshin (1996)

Genre

Action & Adventure, Animation, Comedy

Cast

Mayo Suzukaze, Miki Fujitani, Mina Tominaga

Created by

Aniplex

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What would you do to escape your darkest sins and find redemption? For the lead character of Rurouni Kenshin, it meant leaving behind his life as an assassin and becoming a wanderer. Kenshin Himura is seemingly only remarkable by the scar on his face, but his fighting skills reveal the past that he has tried so hard to forget. With the encouragement of Kaoru Kamiya, Kenshin reinvents himself as a defender of the people who strives to move beyond his formerly wicked ways. But there’s always someone threatening his newfound peace, and Kenshin never walks away from a fight that matters.

Yu Yu Hakusho (1992)

Genre

Animation, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Nozomu Sasaki, Shigeru Chiba, Megumi Ogata

Created by

Studio Pierrot

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At the start of Yu Yu Hakusho, the leading character, Yusuke, is anything but a hero. Instead, he’s a teenage narcissist who seemingly only cares for himself. And yet Yusuke surprises everyone, including himself, by sacrificing his life to prevent a young boy from being killed by an oncoming car. The powers that be in the afterlife are suitably impressed, and they allow Yusuke to come back to life as a Spirit Detective. Even Yusuke’s former rival, Kuwabara, becomes a part of his new life as they are drawn into the ongoing battle between monsters, demons, and humans for control of reality.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009)

Genre

Action & Adventure, Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Romi Park, Rie Kugimiya, Shin-ichiro Miki

Created by

Hiroshi Ōnogi

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Technically, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is not a reboot of the 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist series. Instead, it’s simply a more faithful adaptation of Hiromu Arakawa’s original manga. In an alternate steampunk universe, Edward and his brother, Alphonse Elric, pay a heavy price when they try to resurrect their mother with alchemy. Edward loses an arm and a leg, while Al’s spirit is stuck in a suit of armor. Instead of giving up, Edward becomes a Fullmetal Alchemist and teams up with his brother on a quest to restore their bodies before facing a conspiracy that has links to their long-missing father.

Afro Samurai (2007)

Genre

Animation, Action & Adventure

Cast

Samuel L. Jackson, Phil LaMarr, Yuri Lowenthal

Created by

Yasuyuki Mutō, Tomohiro Yamashita

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Afro Samurai wasn’t created for Samuel L. Jackson, but the versatile actor was drawn to the adaptation of Takashi Okazaki’s manga series. Jackson also voiced Afro, a lone warrior in a feudal future. When Afro was a child, a man called Justice killed Afro’s father and claimed the Number One Headband, an object said to bestow godlike powers on its wearer. As an adult, Afro alienates his childhood friend, Jinno, and claims the Number Two Headband so he can challenge his father’s murderer. However, the holder of the Number Two Headband constantly has to defend his trophy, and Afro has several battles to fight before he can come face to face with Justice.

The Promised Neverland (2019)

Genre

Animation, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Drama

Cast

Sumire Morohoshi, Mariya Ise, Lynn

Created by

Toshiya Ono, Kaiu Shirai

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In The Promised Neverland, an orphaned girl named Emma lives with her friends, Norman and Ray, as well as many other orphans in Grace Field House. While awaiting adoption, their lives are blissfully carefree under the guidance of “Mom.” At least until Emma discovers the truth: Grace Field House isn’t an orphanage, it’s a farm … and the kids are the cattle! To escape their grim fate, Emma has to lead the children to safety even if it means venturing into an outside world even more dangerous than the one they want to leave behind.

One Piece (1999)

Genre

Action & Adventure, Comedy, Animation

Cast

Mayumi Tanaka, Kazuya Nakai, Akemi Okamura

Created by

Junki Takegami

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How big is One Piece? The animated adaptation of Eiichiro Oda’s manga series began in 1999 … and it’s still going with more than 900 episodes produced to date. Not even The Simpsons can match that episode total! The show follows the ongoing tales of Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirates as they go from one thrilling adventure to the next. The search is on for the “One Piece,” the world’s ultimate treasure that could allow whoever finds it to become the new Pirate King. Monkey’s elastic body gives him an edge, but the Straw Hat Pirates have a lot of competition in the search for this prize.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure (2012)

Genre

Animation, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Kensho Ono, Kohsuke Toriumi, Junya Enoki

Created by

Hirohiko Araki

watch on Hulu

It took two attempts for the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure manga to break out as an anime, but the wildly successful revival series has become a genuine hit. The current show chronicles the adventures of the Joestar family from the 19th century to the present. Each generation has its “JoJo,” with Jonathan Joestar being the first. Jonathan’s conflict with the seemingly immortal vampire, Dio, spans decades. And it falls to Jonathan’s grandson, Jotaro Kujo, to finish the fight alongside a band of misfits who wield superpowers called “Stands.”

Cowboy Bebop (1998)

Genre

Action & Adventure, Animation, Crime, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Koichi Yamadera, Unsho Ishizuka, Megumi Hayashibara

Created by

Hajime Yatate

watch on Hulu

Netflix may have the upcoming live-action series, but Hulu has the original Cowboy Bebop. More than two decades after its initial debut, Cowboy Bebop remains a fan favorite thanks to its stylish mix of sci-fi, westerns, and noir. In the future, an unlikely group of bounty hunters makes their way among the interstellar colonies. However, the past is often present for Spike, Jet, Faye, Ed, and Ein. Cowboy Bebop only ran for 26 episodes, but the series’ fascinating journey and memorable ending still resonate to this day.

One-Punch Man (2015)

Genre

Action & Adventure, Animation, Comedy

Cast

Kazuhiro Yamaji, Yuichi Nakamura, Kenjiro Tsuda

Created by

ONE

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Meet Saitama, the most powerful superhero in the world. Despite his slight physique, Saitama can defeat any foe as long as he can land a single punch. But that’s a big problem for the star of One-Punch Man. Saitama craves a challenge that he can never truly find, which leads to some very funny moments. The superheroes of this world simply can’t compare to Saitama, and they have a hard time believing that he is truly as humble as he appears. One-Punch Man is one of a kind, and it’s easily among the most memorable series of the past decade.

Naruto Shippūden (2007)

Genre

Animation, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Junko Takeuchi, Chie Nakamura, Noriaki Sugiyama

Created by

Masashi Kishimoto

watch on Hulu

There are four different Naruto-related anime series on Hulu, but the best one is Naruto Shippuden. It’s the first sequel series, and it takes place more than two years after the original show as Naruto Uzumaki returns to his village for the next stage of his quest to become the Hokage (leader) of his village, Konohagakure. But first, Naruto will need to reconnect with his friends and rededicate himself to his training before facing his destiny.

Ergo Proxy (2006)

Genre

Animation, Action & Adventure, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Crime, Drama

Cast

Rie Saitou, Koji Yusa, Akiko Yajima

Created by

Dai Sato, Manglobe

watch on Hulu

Although Ergo Proxy lasted only a single season, it made quite an impression thanks to its stunning visuals and its occasionally confounding philosophical stories. It takes place in a future where humans and androids live side by side in peace until a virus gives the androids self-awareness and a desire to kill. Inspector Re-L Mayer soon discovers that another species called Proxy may hold the secrets that will decide the fate of humanity and androids alike.

Ranma ½ (1989)

Genre

Comedy, Action & Adventure, Animation

Cast

Kappei Yamaguchi, Megumi Hayashibara, Noriko Hidaka

Created by

Rumiko Takahashi

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Ranma Saotome is a perfectly normal martial artist and teenage boy … except when he’s a girl. That’s the curse at the heart of Ranma 1/2, one of the first anime series to break out in the U.S. Before the events of the show, Ranma and his father, Genma, fell into a cursed spring. Subsequently, they transform into a girl and a panda, respectively, any time they are exposed to cold water. Naturally, that complicates Ranma’s betrothal to Akane, a fellow martial artist. But it also ensures a lot of laughs in this comedy series.

Space Dandy (2014)

Genre

Animation, Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure

Cast

Junichi Suwabe, Uki Satake, Hiroyuki Yoshino

Created by

Bones

watch on Hulu

Space Dandy is a weird show, but in a good way! The series follows a guy named Dandy, or as the show calls him, “a dandy guy in space.” He travels the universe with a robot named QT and the cat-like being known as Meow. This is a sci-fi comedy with only the loosest possible interpretation of continuity between each episode. That’s why Dandy and his friends can meet darkly hilarious ends and return in the next episode completely healed and intact. Trust us, it’s a blast.

Death Note (2006)

Genre

Animation, Mystery

Cast

Mamoru Miyano, Noriko Hidaka, Nozomu Sasaki

Created by

Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata

watch on Hulu

Imagine holding the power of life and death in your hands. It’s not a hypothetical situation in Death Note, a series in which high-school student Light Yagami comes into possession of the Death Note, a book that allows Light to kill anyone whose name is written in it. Light quickly develops a God complex as he takes credit for killing “bad people” while using his alter ego, Kira. That leads to a delicious game of cat and mouse between Light and the enigmatic investigator known as L. But when the Death Note is in play, very few will make it out alive.

TRIGUN (1998)

Genre

Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Animation

Cast

Masaya Onosaka, Hiromi Tsuru, Satsuki Yukino

Created by

Yasuhiro Nightow

watch on Hulu

In the Trigun anime, Vash the Stampede may be the deadliest man in the galaxy, and the best gunslinger as well. He also happens to be an upbeat pacifist who just can’t seem to stop leaving chaos and destruction in his wake. This series struck a chord with American viewers for its deft blend of action and comedy, while Vash’s story revealed hidden chapters of his past. Regardless of what he may or may not have done before the series, Vash is a fan-favorite anime icon, and his adventures in Trigun have made this series an enduring hit.

Samurai Champloo (2004)

Genre

Action & Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Drama

Cast

Kazuya Nakai, Ginpei Sato, Steve Blum, Kirk Thornton

Created by

Manglobef

watch on Hulu

Samurai Champloo is a wild mixture of comedy and martial arts action that utilizes real events from Japanese history while integrating them with modern culture and even hip-hop music. That’s a combination that doesn’t make much sense, but somehow, it just works. The trio at the heart of the show is a young woman named Fuu, and her two reluctant companions: Mugen and Jin. After saving the two warriors from execution, Fuu recruits them for her personal mission to track down an enigmatic samurai who is very important to her.