Hulu makes a strong case for being one of the best mainstream platforms to stream the best anime. Even with the other streaming options audiences have available, Hulu has an impressive mix of modern anime hits and all-time classics. More importantly, its selection covers a diverse set of genres, from drama and romance to action and fantasy.
While checking the service’s offerings, consider the Disney Bundle in addition to Hulu to get the most value for your subscription. This gets customers access to Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu’s ad-based tier. Fans can enjoy all the Star Wars, Marvel Studios, National Geographic, and sports content in a convenient bundled deal.
For prospective fans who might feel overwhelmed, we also have a guide on the best anime available on Netflix to make the most of their options. Plus, check out the best new shows to stream this week, the best shows on Netflix, the best shows on Hulu, the best shows on Amazon Prime Video, the best shows on Max, and the best shows on Disney+.
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Dororo2019
The Apothecary Diaries (2023)
The Apothecary Diaries has become one of the most acclaimed anime dramas in recent years. Togo Animation Studio and OLM bring Natsu Hyuga and Touko Shino’s Chinese-inspired light novel series to the screen, following a young woman, Maomao, who grew up with her apothecary father. However, Maomao’s quiet life is upended after being sold into slavery at the emperor’s palace. When a high-ranking official discovers her skills, Maomao is taken to solve medical problems further up the Imperial ranks. The Apothecary Diaries anime series has earned high praise for its characters, storytelling, and art direction. The atmosphere and character designs are vibrant, and using a setting heavily influenced by China’s Tang dynasty makes it a great period piece. The character interactions are where the series truly shines, and they’re anchored by the anime’s charming, no-nonsense protagonist.
Dororo (2019)
Studios MAPPA and Tezuka Productions’ Dororo is the second anime adaptation of the classic ronin-themed manga. Based on Osamu Tezuka’s source material, the story is set in the feudal Muromachi period of Japan and follows wandering young swordsman Hyakkimaru.
He uses prosthetic limbs after his father sacrificed him to 12 demons, and together with a plucky child named Dororo, they travel the countryside defeating these beasts to reclaim his body. Dororo is an essential anime for fans of dark fantasy and historical fiction. Supported by a story swirling with drama, emotion, and action, Dororo is a worthy adaptation of the original tale.
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (2017)
Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto has a celebrated legacy in the shonen anime space, and Boruto passes the baton. Studio Pierrot adapts the manga into Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, following the adventures of Naruto Uzumaki and Hinata Hyuga’s eponymous son. Joined by teammates Sarada Uchiha and Mitsuki, the young ninja will face a dark force that threatens the peace of the Hidden Leaf Village.
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations doesn’t quite capture the novelty of its predecessor, but its vibrant new cast of characters makes this world worth revisiting. The personalities, action, and worldbuilding are plenty for longtime fans wanting to see this fantastical setting fleshed out further.
BLUE LOCK (2022)
Sports anime continues to find a place in the medium, and Blue Lock is among the most popular ongoing series. Animation studio Eight Bit adapts Muneyuki Kaneshiro’s manga, following young soccer player Yoichi Isagi as he joins an experimental (and highly controversial) training facility.
The Blue Lock program takes a handful of promising U-18 athletes who play the striker position and has them compete in a cutthroat dog-eat-dog regimen. Blue Lock can be a wildly fun and over-the-top series for fans who like “action” in their sports anime. With thriller elements that wouldn’t be too far out of place for something like The Hunger Games, Blue Lock is a bombastic shonen anime, to say the least.
Dr. STONE (2019)
TMS Entertainment’s Dr. Stone is a sci-fi anime with a fun twist. Adapted from creators Riichiro Inagaki and Boichi’s manga, it sees young science prodigy Senku awaken from petrification after several thousand years. Joined by several friends, including high schooler Taiju, Senku strives to uncover the mystery behind mass human petrification and bring society back to the modern era.
Considering post-apocalyptic stories are a dime a dozen, Dr. Stone offers a refreshing change of pace through its premise. Backed by quirky personalities and a surprising amount of scientific realism, this series will keep anime fans entertained and intrigued.
TRIGUN (1998)
As with other sci-fi classics like Cowboy Bebop, studio Madhouse’s Trigun adaptation was among the best ‘90s anime. Based on Yasuhiro Nightow’s manga, the series is set on the planet No Man’s Land, as legendary gunman Vash the Stampede evades bounty hunters.
However, Vash is curiously upbeat and quite pacifistic despite his elite marksmanship. The recent reboot anime is great in its own right, but the original Trigun adaptation remains among the best sci-fi westerns in anime. The art direction is impeccable, and the plot is riveting, with audiences gradually seeing Vash’s backstory unravel as the series progresses.
Medalist (2025)
One of the latest anime debuts of the winter season, Medalist is shaping up to be an excellent sports anime. Adapted by studio ENGI from Tsurumaikada’s manga series, this ice-skating anime opens with a frustrated skater named Tsukasa Akeuraji. His dreams of making it into solo skating were seemingly dashed for starting “too late” in life.
However, after meeting Inori Yuitsuka, a courageous and ambitious fifth grader determined to solo ice skate, Tsukasa feels inspired to coach her into a medal-winning athlete. Medalist’s character drama and sports-themed story thrive on its straightforward premise. It’s a lovable underdog plot told earnestly, with its co-leading characters making them easy to root for.
Go! Go! Loser Ranger! (2024)
Nostalgic Power Rangers fans will feel at home with studio Yostar Pictures’ Go! Go! Loser Ranger! Based on the manga of the same name by Negi Haruba, the series is set 13 years after the Divine Dragon Rangers defeated the Villainous Army of Evil.
The Rangers reenact their victory weekly against the surviving foot soldiers against their will, but Fighter D decides to rebel against his life of slavery. Go! Go! Loser Ranger! was one of the most inventive shonen anime of 2024, praised for its subversive story. If fans want to see the Power Rangers formula turned inside out, Loser Ranger! is an entertaining watch.
MASHLE: MAGIC AND MUSCLES (2023)
Mashle: Magic and Muscles offers a fun twist to the magical fantasy school tropes popularized by Harry Potter. Produced by studio A-1 Pictures and adapted from Hajime Komoto’s manga, the series tells the story of Mash Burnedead, a boy living in a world where one’s skills with magic decide their worth in its cutthroat society.
Mash was born without magical prowess, and to protect his peaceful family life, he enrolls in an elite magic school to overcome supernatural abilities with raw strength. On top of subverting its premise’s most apparent plot devices, Mashle: Magic and Muscles feels like a comedic shonen parody. Even with these clear influences, this anime distinguishes itself well from other fantasy and action-comedy series.
Black Clover (2017)
8.3/10Other shonen anime like Naruto, One Piece, and Dragon Ball Super were the big names in the 2010s, but Black Clover was also a hit among mainstream fans. Animation studio Pierrot adapts the story of Yuki Tabata’s manga, centering around young Asta’s lofty ambitions to become this fantasy world’s Wizard King.
Using a grimoire to compensate for his lack of innate magical abilities, Asta competes with his surrogate brother for the revered title. Black Clover is an engaging and easy watch for fans simply looking for some bombastic shonen anime action. Aside from the shonen subgenre’s well-known tropes, fans can also expect an impressively fleshed-out high fantasy world to get immersed in.
Dragon Ball DAIMA (2024)
Across every streaming platform fans can get their hands on, Dragon Ball Daima is easily one of the fall season’s must-watch anime. The last piece of work from the late creator Akira Toriyama, Toei Animation’s series follows Goku and his companions who morph into childlike states.
The Saiyan and Supreme Kai travel to the dangerous Demon Realm to get to the route of this strange conspiracy. As fans would hope, Dragon Ball Daima feels like a love letter to what’s made this franchise such a staple in anime and manga. Charming art direction, slick animation, and exciting martial arts action ensure Daima will be a crowd-pleaser.
Ranma ½ (1989)
A classic shonen manga from the ‘80s, the first anime adaptation of Ranma ½ is well worth the watch today. After teenager Ranma Saotome and his father travel to China for a martial arts training journey, the former falls into an ancient spring.
The effects of the water leave him with the ability to turn into a girl when hit with cold water and back to a boy with hot water. The animation team at Studio Deen did a great job adapting Rumiko Takahashi’s Ranma ½ manga, bringing the story’s lighthearted nature to the screen. With a healthy mix of comedy, action, and romance, Ranma ½ holds up as an endearing anime adventure.
SAND LAND: THE SERIES (2024)
The late Akira Toriyama was beloved for his Dragon Ball franchise, but fans would do well to check out Sand Land. Studios Sunrise, Kamikaze Douga, and Anima adapt the creator’s series, telling the story of a world devastated by war and natural disasters.
The land’s water supply is in the vice grip of a selfish king, and his son Beelzebub and his assistant Thief are tasked with finding a long-lost lake. While it won’t surpass Dragon Ball’s legacy, Sand Land is an imaginative and refreshing change of pace from the late creator. The cast of characters is charming, and the world is as fleshed out as fans of Toriyama’s work would expect.
Bleach (2004)
8.2/10A remnant of Shonen Jump Magazine’s “Big Three,” fans can look forward to more Bleach in Thousand-Year Blood War. Adapted from Tite Kubo’s manga and animated by Pierrot Films, the series animates the story’s final arc.
Soul Reaper Ichigo Kurosaki’s job is to slay evil spirit entities, but he and his comrades’ lives are uprooted when a Quincy king threatens to reignite the age-old conflict between his people and the Soul Reaper’s society. Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War is a triumphant sequel to the original anime, praised for its epic scale and slick art direction. The series brings back the over-the-top action and stylish characters fans grew to love in the 2000s, now with the benefit of modern animation.
Your Lie in April (2014)
Hulu is home to more than just high-octane action anime, and Your Lie in April is an excellent example of this. Animation studio A-1 Pictures adapts the manga of the same name by Naoshi Arakawa, telling the emotional story of 14-year-old piano prodigy Kosei Arima.
Grappling with the death of his mother, Kosei finds himself thrust back on stage by violinist Kaori Miyazono. Your Lie in April has been praised for its moving story and sympathetic cast of characters. It combines the lighthearted fun of slice-of-life stories with sincere character dramas that audiences are sure to be invested in.
Bleach (2004)
8.2/10While it’s only now getting the ending it deserves, Bleach is still considered a 2000s anime icon. Adapted from creator Tite Kubo’s manga by animation studio Pierrot, the series follows high school student Ichigo Kurosaki’s dive into the supernatural world.
Ichigo gains the powers of a Soul Reaper, which is akin to the mythology of the Grim Reaper, and uses them to defend humanity from evil spirits dubbed Hollows. Bleach is a must-watch anime for the uninitiated fans wanting a taste of action-shounen series from that decade. The series is backed by intense, fast-paced action sequences and a cast full of stylish character designs.
Star Wars: Visions (2021)
While Lucasfilm’s Star Wars franchise is on hiatus from the big screen, the galaxy far, far away has been experimenting with TV. One of the studio’s most exciting efforts has been Star Wars: Visions, with season 1 now available on Hulu.
Long-time fans are likely used to The Clone Wars and Rebels when it comes to Star Wars animation, but Visions boldly takes an anime anthology route. In season 1, various Japanese animation studios tell one-off stories where creatives reinterpret the Star Wars universe in their image. From studio Trigger’s take on a post-Rise of Skywalker world to Kamikaze Douga’s feudal-inspired Jedi-Sith war, Star Wars: Visions is a visually stunning breath of fresh air.
Suicide Squad Isekai (2024)
As one of the “big two” comic book publishers, it’s no surprise that DC Comics toys with different mediums and genres. However, the reveal of the anime series Suicide Squad Isekai was still unexpected. The universe-hopping isekai genre is consistently popular in anime spaces, and Wit Studio’s Suicide Squad Isekai takes the titular team to a world of magic and supernatural creatures.
The team of rogues has to complete a mission for government agent Amanda Waller or risk having their implanted bombs detonate within their skulls. Suicide Squad Isekai is vibrantly animated and proves to be a fun diversion for fans of DC characters like Harley Quinn and the Joker.
Kill la Kill (2013)
7.9/10From beloved studio Trigger anime, Kill la Kill holds up even a decade after its premiere. The anime-original series focuses on transfer student Ryuuko Matoi at Honnouji Academy. The school is under the thumb of student council president Satsuki Kiryuin and her mother, Ragyo — the head of a fashion empire.
Ryuuko is hunting down her father’s killer, who wields the other half of her broken sword. Kill la Kill was one of the most praised anime originals of the 2010s, partly thanks to Trigger’s eye for visual flair. The over-the-top story, premise, and action were also well-received for how they gave the “magical girl anime” genre a high-octane spin.
Summer Time Rendering (2022)
Summer Time Rendering offers an exciting supernatural mystery for fans of thrillers. Adapted from Yasuki Tanaka’s manga of the same name, the plot centers around Shinpei Ajiro, a young man who returns to his hometown to attend the funeral of his childhood friend Ushio.
While the funeral goes routinely, something unsettling and otherworldly takes hold of the island town, with Shinpei being compelled to uncover the truth behind Ushio’s death. Summer Time Rendering garnered positive reviews for its riveting mystery and blend of horror, action, and science fiction. The plot is consistently tense and contrasts well with the striking art direction.
Fire Force (2019)
Atsushi Ohkubo’s Fire Force takes a wild spin on fire fighting as a profession. The story is set in modern-day Japan and shows Shinra Kusakabe, a third-generation pyrokinetic, joining the Special Fire Force Company 8.
Together, the group works tirelessly to protect the city from Infernals — violent, fiery creatures made from humans who suffer from Spontaneous Combustion. David Production’s Fire Force anime adaptation thrives in its bombastic world and premise. As absurd as it is on paper, Fire Force‘s supernatural and shounen spin on firefighting makes for an entertaining action series.
FLCL (2000)
An anime-original show created and directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki and written by Yōji Enokido, FLCL is a highly unconventional series. Co-animated by studios Gainax and Production I.G, it tells the story of middle schooler Naota Nandaba’s mundane life in an uneventful town that’s suddenly upended.
When a bass-playing rocker named Haruko Haruhara hits the boy in a motor scooter accident, it somehow spirals into Naota getting entangled in the arrival of a powerful galactic being. FLCL is a wonderfully bizarre experience, blending comedy, action, sci-fi, and rock-and-roll. The six-episode miniseries has an atmosphere unlike anything else anime fans have seen, with its alternative rock soundtrack bolstering the zany plot.
Naruto (2002)
Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto was a blockbuster in the shounen space. That popularity translated into the anime adaptation by studio Pierrot. The series focuses on young Naruto Uzumaki, a ninja from the Hidden Leaf Village, who’s treated as an outcast when a catastrophe from years ago led to a demon being sealed inside him.
Joined by Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno under Kakashi Hatake’s leadership, the team encounters many deadly foes on their missions. Naruto was beloved as a shounen juggernaut alongside One Piece and Bleach. The series garnered a massive fanbase thanks to its colorful cast of characters and a memorable fantasy world worth being immersed in. Like its contemporaries, it heavily features over-the-top action and an elaborate power system.
Naruto Shippūden (2007)
Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto manga spanned 72 volumes and 700 chapters, but the anime adaptation split them into two series. Again produced by animators Studio Pierrot, Naruto Shippūden is set two-and-a-half years after the original anime.
After training with his sensei Jiraiya, the eponymous hero returns to the Hidden Leaf Village, now facing an emboldened ninja cabal dubbed the Akatsuki. Naruto Shippūden was praised as a satisfying sequel series that builds on its predecessor’s scope. With more dramatic storytelling, improved animation quality, and larger-than-life action sequences, Shippūden will surely satisfy invested fans of the original.
Gintama (2006)
As with other series like One Piece, writer and illustrator Hideaki Sorachi’s Gintama has been acclaimed as one of the best long-form shounen in manga and anime. Animated by studios Sunrise and Bandai Namco, the story begins in an alternate Edo-era Japan where humanity was forced to surrender to an alien invasion and form an uneasy alliance, leading to the samurai creed and swords being banned.
However, Gintoki Sakata refuses to give up the lifestyle, going with his companions on a series of odd jobs that lead to even stranger misadventures. It’s a massive undertaking, but Gintama is a wildly entertaining and rewarding anime series to get invested in. The series’ anachronistic blend of sci-fi with 1800s Japan makes for a creative setting, and its use of action and comedy is consistently witty.
Assassination Classroom (2015)
Writer and illustrator Yusei Matsui’s Assassination Classroom is one of the more bombastic action comedy series, and that applies to its anime adaptation. Animated by studio Lerche, the story focuses on a group of middle school delinquents and dropouts who have been looked down upon as lost causes.
However, events wildly change course for these kids as the government tasks them with defeating an octopus-like being — who’s also their teacher — threatening to destroy the planet within the year. Assassination Classroom satisfies when it embraces the sheer over-the-top nature of its premise and characters. If fans can get behind its brand of action and comedy, this series makes for an entertaining ride.
Tengoku Daimakyo (2023)
While it wasn’t one of the most prolific mainstream anime series of 2023, Tengoku Daimakyo — also known by its English title Heavenly Delusion — is a worthwhile dystopia tale. The series is an adaptation of writer and illustrator Masakazu Ishuguro’s manga of the same name and tells parallel stories. In a world where a disaster fractured Japan and left man-eating monsters in its wake, one story follows a group of children in a nursery who gradually learn the horrifying reality that lurks outside their haven’s walls.
Meanwhile, two teenagers named Maru and Kiruko team up to find a supposed place called Heaven for unique reasons, with elements of their pasts gradually coming to light. Heavenly Delusion makes the sci-fi dystopia premise stand out thanks to its combination of character-driven storytelling and enticing mystery elements at its core. The series also manages to tackle elements of societal and gender disparities with sincerity and nuance.
Fate/Zero (2011)
8.2/10The Fate franchise is one of the most lucrative multimedia endeavors in Japan, with the Fate/Zero TV series being one of its highlights in the anime genre. Adapted from Gen Urobuchi and Takashi Takeuchi’s light novel of the same name, studio Ufotable’s anime chronicles the story of the tournament dubbed the Fourth Holy Grail War, where seven mages summon various heroes from across human history to represent them.
The winner earns the Holy Grail, a magic chalice capable of granting the owner’s wishes. Fate/Zero was widely praised for its deep worldbuilding and diverse cast of characters. As expected from a studio like Ufotable, the anime series also featured some exhilarating action sequences.
Inuyasha (2000)
Combining fantasy, comedy, action, and romance, writer and artist Rumiko Takahashi’s Inuyasha is a manga classic that ran from the mid ’90s to the late ’00s. Animation studio Sunrise’s adaptation did the source material justice, adapting teenage protagonist Kagome Higurashi’s story as she travels back in time to feudal Japan to help the young half-demon boy Inuyasha recover the fragments of the ancient Shikon Jewel before they fall into nefarious hands and threaten the world.
Inuyasha has been beloved as an icon of the shounen anime and manga genres, tastefully capturing a sense of colorful adventure and supernatural intrigue. The period-piece approach with the feudal Japan setting also proves to be a great way to experiment with historical fantasy.
SPY x FAMILY (2022)
8.6/10Animation studios Wit and CloverWorks’ adaptation of Tatsuya Endo’s Spy x Family has become one of the biggest contemporary shounen hits. Follow along with Loid Forger — aka Agent Twilight — as he embarks on a covert mission to quell a potential international disaster. The show then morphs into a touching, fun, and humorous story about the “found family” theme, which has been a refreshing change of pace.
The rest of the cast comprised of Anya, Yor, and their dog, Bond Forger, complete this delightful anime rendition of sitcom tropes. And season 2 of Spy x Family has more than kept up the pace from its debut. Its episodic structure with an overarching plot sprinkled in makes the series easy to engage with.
Undead Unluck (2023)
David Production, the animation studio behind the beloved JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure adaptation, has brought Yoshifumi Tozuka’s Undead Unluck to the screen. Cursed with a mysterious ability that causes tragic death to anyone who touches her, Fuuko Izumo welcomes her death.
But just as she’s about to die, a strange man touches her, causing him to fall in front of an oncoming train — but he begins to regenerate and is revealed to be immortal. Fuuko dubs him Andy and teams up with him to give his life one last hurrah, but the duo faces the threat of a shadowy group trying to exploit their powers.
Tokyo Revengers (2021)
One of the more recent shounen anime adaptations, studio LIDENFILMS’ take on Ken Wakui’s Tokyo Revengers is a middle-school-themed gangster series. A grown down-on-his-luck Takemichi Hanagaki struggles in his career and social life, later learning that his girlfriend from middle school — Hinata Tachibana — had been murdered by a vicious local gang.
It seems his life is about to take a dark and abrupt end when he’s accidentally pushed in front of an oncoming train, but shockingly flashes back to his life 12 years ago. From there, Takemichi sets out to course-correct his life and save Hinanta from her future death by joining the ranks of his school’s gang.
The Tatami Time Machine Blues (2022)
Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead (2023)
Dragon Ball Z Kai (2009)
Trigun: Badlands Rumble (2011)
Trigun Stampede has proven to be an imaginative reboot of Yasuhiro Nightow’s classic manga, but 2010’s Trigun: Badlands Rumble is just as good. Directed by Satoshi Nishimura and once again produced by veteran animation studio Madhouse, Badlands Rumble tells an original story set sometime between episodes 10 and 12 of the ’90s anime adaptation.
Vash the Stampede travels to Macca City and is quickly caught in the crossfire of a massive gang war. Former gang leader Gasback Gallon Getaway returns to get revenge on the crew there that backstabbed him 20 years prior.
Trigun Stampede (2023)
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.
Gurren Lagann (2007)
8.3/10My Hero Academia (2016)
8.4/10Mob Psycho 100 (2016)
Hunter x Hunter (2011)
9/10Attack on Titan (2013)
9.1/10Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (2019)
8.7/10Yu Yu Hakusho (1992)
8.4/10Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009)
9.1/10One Piece (1999)
8.8/10Cowboy Bebop (1998)
8.9/10One-Punch Man (2015)
8.8/10Death Note (2006)
9.0/10Samurai Champloo (2004)
8.5/10
