The best anime to watch on Hulu (September 2023)

From Netflix to Crunchyroll and beyond, there’s a ton of different services to watch the latest and greatest in anime. Hulu is one of the best streaming services for anime. It offers a wide range of older titles, but also simulcasts newer releases licensed by Disney.

Hulu is a streaming service that offers some of your favorite anime movies and series. Cowboy Bebop, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, AkiraAnd more. For the purposes of the list, we’re going to emphasize the best anime on Hulu that aren’t available to watch on other services, like Netflix and Prime Video. We’ll update this list periodically to bring you the best recommendations possible, but for now, here is our list of the best anime to stream on Hulu.

Afro Samurai

There are 5 episodes (English dub).

Image: Gonzo/Crunchyroll

A Blaxploitation-infused, post-apocalyptic chanbara anime inspired by a love of hip-hop and soul music, Afro SamuraiThis is a fantastic action anime, with awesome fight sequences. Set in an anachronistic Japan, the series follows the story of a young samurai who embarks on a personal journey to avenge his father’s death at the hands of a ruthless gunslinger and claim the mythical No. 1 headband — an item thought to bestow godlike powers onto any person who possesses it.

At five episodes, Afro Samurai The film is short, to the point and weaves a violent and elaborate tale of revenge filled with bizarre characters and epic battles. Combine that with a score composed by RZA of Wu-Tang Clan fame, and you’ve got a certified banger. If you like Afro SamuraiThe 2009 sequel is a must-see. Afro Samurai : ResurrectionHulu is streaming the film. —The TE

Assassination Classroom

Episodes: 47 in English dub and sub.

Image: Lerche/Crunchyroll

If I ever grow up, my dream is to become an octopus-man who oscillates between the apocalyptic and compassionate threats for my troubled classroom students. Korosensei can be a great role model.

The following are some of the ways to get in touch with us Assassination ClassroomA smiling creature that looks like an Octopus punches through the moon, and threatens the destruction of the entire world until the misfit students can eliminate him by the end the year. He’ll teach the class assassination techniques (and many other things) along the way. It’s the perfect mix of silly hijinx and heartfelt character building — for such a ridiculous premise, Assassination Classroom It works because Korosensei cares deeply for his students and makes an effort to grow them into adults. —Pete Volk

Chainsaw Man

The number of episodes is 12 (in English sub-dubbed and dub).

Image: MAPPA/Crunchyroll

Chainsaw Man doesn’t just whip, it rips and tears.

The anime adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s acclaimed dark fantasy action manga follows Denji, a teenage orphan living in a world populated by supernatural monsters known as “Devils.” Working as a freelance Devil Hunter in order to pay off his deceased father’s debts, Denji is betrayed by his employers so they can gain the favor of a powerful Devil themselves. Denji is resurrected from the dead by Chainsaw Devil Pochita. He transforms into Chainsaw Man, a human-Devil hybrid who can summon chainsaws.

Director Ryū Nakayama’s anime perfectly captures the irreverent, hyper-violent frenzy of Fujimoto’s story, bringing one of the most idiosyncratic and popular ongoing manga series to life in faithful detail and with stunning execution. If you want to know what all the fuss is about, watch the anime’s first season and then jump into reading the manga while we patiently wait for more news on Chainsaw Man’s upcoming second season. —TE

Fullmetal alchemist: Brotherhood

The number of episodes is 64 (including English sub- and dub).

Image: Bones/Aniplex

If you’re looking for a show with complex female characters, gorgeous animation, monstrous adversaries, and smokin’-hot mentor figures (that is a pun), then Fullmetal alchemist: BrotherhoodIt is possible to scratch off all the itches.

The series follows alchemist prodigy Edward Elric and his brother Al, whose soul has been trapped in a suit of armor, as they look for a way to recover Al’s body. The series follows Edward Elric and his brother Al, who are both alchemists. As they search for a way to recover their brother’s body, the pair uncover darker secrets regarding the world of alchemy. Unlike a lot of shonen anime, which take viewers on a “Let’s learn about curses/demons/Nen along with the protagonist!” arc, Fullmetal alchemist: BrotherhoodIt starts without much introduction, and trusts the audience to understand. It allows for the show to start immediately and dive into the complex world building. It is a brilliantly executed plot, without ever sacrificing the development of the characters.

Warning: After watching this anime, all other shows you’ve watched will seem tame in comparison. I’m just stating that right away. —Petrana Radulovic

Gurren Lagann

The number of episodes is 27 (both English sub-dub and dub).

Image: Gainax/Aniplex

Studio Trigger’s productions have been heavily influenced, in some way, by previous anime. Gurren Lagann.

The 27-episode anime follows Simon, an 14-year old living in a post-apocalyptic underground village. It is directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi who will later co-found Trigger. He and his childhood pal Kamina discover a mysterious robotic head in the tunnels that have collapsed of their underground village, just as a group of Beastmen attack it.

The show then explodes in an action-packed adventure that defies expectations, filled with humor, drama, heartbreak and euphoric heights. The show is bursting with character and excitement. Gurren LagannThis is an anime that will appeal to all ages. Promare, Space Patrol LulucoIf you want to know more about. SSSS.Gridman. —TE

Mushi-Shi

There are 26 episodes (both in English dub and sub)

Image: Artland/Crunchyroll

Similar to 2007’s Mononoke, Mushi-shiThis is an anthology series that features a travelling exorcist with white hair who mediates between the humans and primitive life forms like bacteria.

Mushi-shiThe series is stunning: meditative in nature, ambient and full of captivating characters and stories. It’s a series that emphasizes the delicate and necessary balance between humanity and nature through its sophisticated tone, exquisite sound design, and sepia-infused color palette. If you’re looking for a few episodes to acclimate yourself to the series’ particular vibe, I recommend “Tender Horns” and “One-Eyed Fish.” —TE

Sonny Boy

The number of episodes is 12 (both English sub-dub and dub).

Image: Madhouse/Crunchyroll

He is best known for the first season of One-Punch Man and Shinichirō Watanabe’s Space Dandy Shingo Natsume then wrote and directed the first of his original animes: Sonny BoyThe best anime in 2021.

Sonny BoyThis story is about a bunch of students from high school who were enjoying their summer break when suddenly they are transported into an alternate universe. The students are trying to find a way back home when they discover that the strange properties of the new world have given them some extraordinary and unusual abilities. They then accidentally break through into another alternate universe.

The story is a coming of age allegory, wrapped in a sci-fi surreal survival plot. Sonny BoyThe book is an exciting and thought-provoking meditation about the challenges that come with growing up. It’s a reflection on letting go and moving forward, accepting uncertainty, but also the promise and comforts inherent in the present. —TE

Space Dandy

There are 26 episodes (english dub and sub)

Image: Bones/Crunchyroll

What is the best way to follow-up? Cowboy BebopYou can also find out more about the following: Samurai ChamplooTwo of the most celebrated anime genres ever are both known for an idiosyncratic mix of music and action? It’s simple: you make a comedy space opera anthology about a cute fuckwit who has all sorts of adventures in a world filled with freaky aliens.

Space Dandy didn’t quite leave an impact equivalent to Shinichirō Watanabe’s magnum opus, Cowboy BebopWhen it first premiered, in 2014. It’s a shame because Space DandIt is perhaps one of the most innovative and unexpected animes of the decade: A multiversal comedy about an alien hunter with pompadour hair who explores the galaxy in his Hawaiian themed starship, looking for the next great adventure.

The series’ loose continuity and strong emphasis on animated storytelling leaves the door wide open for a host of talented episode directors — including Sayo Yamamoto (Yuri on Ice), Eunyoung Choi (Tatami GalaxyMasaaki YoasaInu-Oh) — to riff on the initial premise of the series and shoot off into their own unique and memorable directions. Once the series gets going, it takes several episodes for things to get really interesting. Space DandyThis is a thrilling ride. —TE

Tengoku daimakyo

There are 13 episodes (both English dub and sub)

Image: Production I.G/Disney Platform Distribution

If you’re looking for an intriguing post-apocalyptic mystery anime that feels like a spiritual cousin to Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira, Heavenly DelusionThe perfect option for you is.

The story is set 15 years after a disaster that has destroyed modern society. Heavenly Delusion follows the story of Maru, a mysterious 15-year-old boy escorted by Kiruko, a courier and bodyguard, to a location known only as “Heaven.” They encounter several horrific mutated monsters on their journey, dispatching with these threats through a combination of Kiruko’s prowess as a marksman and a special ability Maru possesses that allows him to tap into the minds and biology of these fearsome creatures.

There’s more to the series than meets the eye, with the final episode of the first season all but necessitating a rewatch in order to understand the full chronology of events and the true identity of certain characters glimpsed throughout. It’s a genuinely terrific sci-fi mystery with beautiful animation, compelling characters, and a premise that touches on everything from generational division to gender identity. Don’t just take my word for it; watch Heavenly DelusionCheck out the hype and find out what’s all the fuss about. —TE