The best anime with only one season to watch

It’s nothing new to note that there’s too much TV to watch, and this staggering wealth of options applies to anime too. With streaming services like Crunchyroll and Funimation making it easier than ever to keep up with seasonals, Netflix increasingly producing more original anime, and an abundance of classic series now available to watch without tracking down illegally ripped DVDs on eBay, it’s easy to get overwhelmed when deciding what to watch. Yes, marathoning a lengthy-running anime is possible. One PieceThe 1,000th episode of ‘The CW’ will air on Nov. 20, so you don’t need to make another streaming choice for too long. Long time. However, this also means you’ll have less time to explore the wide array of first-rate anime that are well worth your time.

That’s where the beauty of the one-season anime comes in. They’re quick, satisfying binges that you can watch start-to-finish in a single weekend. You can only watch one season of some of the most memorable anime ever made. Cowboy Bebop, Neon Genesis Evangelion, And Death Note. But the list of exceptional one-season series doesn’t end there. There’s a bounty of other fantastic one-season anime available to stream, like the sci-fi thriller Steins;GateThe ice skating romance Yuri on IceThe hilarious western space, Trigun.

So the next time you’re struggling with decision fatigue, queue up one of these one-season anime and enjoy the unparalleled gratification that comes with checking a show off your must-watch list in record time.

Steins;Gate

Numerous episodes 24

It is absurd to think that a cellphone could be connected to a microwave to transmit messages to the past. Steins;GateIt is definitely not a comedy show. It is a tightly-planned sci-fi drama. Steins;Gate follows Rintaro Okabe, an egotistical “mad scientist” who, along with his two friends and colleagues, unexpectedly discovers a way to send messages — and eventually memories — into the past. It’s an exceptional time travel story with a compelling cast of characters, thrilling mysteries, and edge-of-your-seat action.

Steins;Gate Available to stream online Crunchyroll, FunimationPlease see the following: Hulu.

Trigun

Numerous episodes 26

The 32nd Century saw the creation of a space west set. Trigun Vash, the Stampede is a pacifist gunslinger who has a 60 billion dollar bounty on his forehead for accidentally devastating a small town using his extraordinary abilities. Vash, his amnesia has left him with little to no memories of that incident and his childhood, which is why he wants Million Knives dead. As Vash travels the planet, he’s joined by Meryl Stryfe and Milly Thompson, two insurance agents whose duties involve evaluating claims caused by the damages Vash inadvertently causes while fighting off bounty hunters and assassins sent by his brother. As Vash’s history is explored through flashbacks, the truth about the town’s destruction and Knives’ vendetta comes to light in this high-energy adventure.

Trigun This stream is now available FunimationAnd Hulu.

Yuri on Ice

Numerous episodes 12

It’s pure serotonin. After Japanese figure skater Yuri Katsuki decides to go on a hiatus after a brutal competition loss, he’s shocked when his hero (and crush), Russian figure skating champ Victor Nikiforov, shows up at his doorstep offering to be his coach. It leads to a fierce rivalry between Victor and Yuri Plisetsky (a Russian figure skater Victor previously said he would coach). The skating animation in the series is absolutely breathtaking, but it’s the slow-burn romance between Yuri K. and Victor that will stay in your heart long after the finale credits roll.

Yuri on Ice You can stream it on Crunchyroll.

Erased

Numerous episodes: 12

Satoru Fujinuma is still haunted nearly 20 years later by Kayo Hinazuki’s disappearance. When his mother is murdered by an unknown assailant, Satoru discovers her death is somehow connected to Kayo’s abduction. Using his mysterious ability to travel back into the past, he becomes determined to save his mother and Kayo from their tragic fates and uncover the truth of who’s behind their deaths. Erased is an atmospheric, twisty, and gripping tale, so don’t surprised if it doesn’t even take a full weekend to get through it.

Erased You can stream it on Crunchyroll And Netflix.

Ouran Host Club

Numerous episodes 26

The most famous anime of all time is this comedic reverse harem. Joking about waiting for season two is practically a hobby of the shōjo community at this point. This series is about Haruhi, a scholarship student at Ouran Academy who breaks an expensive vase and finds herself indebted the Host Club. At first, Haruhi is supposed to only run errands for the club’s six wealthy male members, who entertain female clients in the school’s unused music room. But due to her natural rapport with the clients, Haruhi is promoted to a host-in-training, a role which requires her to disguise herself as a boy — and which leads to ample opportunities to winkingly poke fun at typical shōjo tropes.

Ouran Host Club You can stream it on Funimation, Netflix, HuluPlease see the following: Tubi.

Samurai Champloo

Numerous episodes 26

Shinichirō Watanabe’s directorial follow-up to Cowboy Bebop, Samurai ChamplooThis is an infused hip-hop story with contemporary elements set against historical background. As waitress Fuu, along with her hired bodyguards Mugen and Jin (samurai Mugen) set out to discover a mysterious Samurai from an alternate Edo period Japan. Samurai Champloo It is an episodic series that has some recurring episodes, but its charming momentum makes it ideal for binging. For fans of Cowboy Bebop’s referential storytelling, contemplative themes, and inclusive world-building will also find a lot to love in the series.

Samurai Champloo You can stream it on Funimation And Hulu.

Fruits Basket 2001

Numerous episodes 25

The Basket with fruitsIn 2019, manga was adapt for the second time. The new series lasted three seasons. However, if you’re in a rush, you still can’t go wrong with the original, single-season adaptation of the beloved story. Tohru, a high school student recently abandoned, moves in to Yuki Soma’s house. On her first day living there, she inadvertently discovers the family curse: twelve of the Soma family members are possessed by the spirits of the Chinese zodiac and transform into their animal when, among other things, they’re hugged by someone of the opposite gender. There’s something for everyone in this charming anime — particularly if you’re already a fan of Ranma ¹⁄_2. And though the manga’s author Natsuki Takaya notoriously disliked the original adaptation, the 2001 series remains a classic.

Basket with fruits You can stream it on FunimationAnd Hulu.

Gurren Lagann

Numerous episodes 27

Gurren Lagann The anime features mecha characters living underground and no clue about the rest of the world. When the young outcast and digger Simon discovers a drill-shaped key and the mecha that goes with it, he’s able to break through his subterranean village’s ceiling and reach the surface. There, Simon and his best friend Kamina discover that the surface-dwellers are under constant attack by the tyrannical king’s army, made up of humanoid creatures piloting mecha like the one Simon found. The adventure begins with Simon and Kamina launching a revolt against the King. It’s a modern classic that handles high-stakes, real-world issues with an energetic, light-hearted tone.

Gurren Lagann You can stream it on Crunchyroll, Funimation, NetflixPlease see the following: Hulu.

Kaiba

Numerous episodes 12

If you’re in the mood for something a bit different, Kaiba It is sci-fi anime of ethereal beauty that boasts a distinct visual style. Set in a dystopian world where memories can be digitally stored — and therefore stolen, sold, and exploited by the upper class — Kaiba The film’s titular protagonist wakes up and has no memory of what happened or who he is. Kaiba: Does There is a gap in his chest, and there’s a locket inside that has a photograph of an unidentified girl. Kaiba embarks on an interplanetary quest for self-discovery. This vivid and philosophical story about loss, longing, and human nature is told by Kaiba.

Kaiba You can stream it on Crunchyroll, PeacockPlease see the following: IMDb TV.

Devilman Crybaby

Numerous episodes 10

Akira’s kind-hearted friend Ryo lures evil demons into attacking him and his party to make sure he can capture them for proof. During the melee, a demon, Amon, attempts to possess Akira, but the high schooler’s good nature proves strong enough to overpower the creature. Akira is transformed into a Devilman but retains his humanity, which makes him an effective weapon in the battle between humans and demons. Devilman CrybabyThe show is graphically brutal, sexually explicit, and surreal. But the show isn’t lurid and shocking simply to get a rise out of viewers; it uses its unflinching storytelling and visuals to speak to modern-day bigotry and the needless cruelty of humans. And the way Akira’s relationships with Ryo and his two high school friends, Miki and Miko, develop provide just the right amount of gentle heart to counterbalance the show’s gratuitous brutality.

Devilman Crybaby Netflix has it available for streaming.

Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!

Numerous episodes 12

Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! is an endearing love letter to anime that follows three high schoolers who start their own anime club with the goal of creating the “ultimate world” from their own imaginations. Midori Asakusa, a passionate and energetic freshman who dreams of creating her own anime. When she discovers her classmate, amateur model Tsubame Mizusaki, shares her dream, the two decide to team up — a collaboration strongly egged on by Midori’s financially-focused best friend, Sayaka Kanamori, who sees this as a potential gold mine. Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! is utterly charming, and you don’t have to look further than the opening theme to get a sense of the show’s boundless kinetic joy.

Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! You can stream it on CrunchyrollAnd HBO Max.

Death Parade

Numerous episodes 12

You found yourself marathon-viewing Squid Game, you’ll want to queue up Death Parade next. Dark thriller in which the souls of those who have recently died are taken to a bar and forced to compete for their lives in Death Games. During the process of playing the games, which include everything from darts to bowling to Twister, the deceased’s memories return, revealing the choices they made and secrets they kept that led them to their deaths — and providing all the information the bartender, Decim, needs to determine the fate of the players’ souls.

Death Parade You can stream it on FunimationAnd Hulu.

The Slope for Kids

Numerous episodes 12

MAPPA, Tezuka Productions

Another standout series directed by Shinichirō Watanabe, The Slope for Kids follows Kaoru Nishimi, a high school student who’s struggled to make friends due to his family constantly moving. But when he transfers to his latest school, Kaoru develops an interest in studying jazz after meeting Sentarō Kawabuchi, a delinquent with a passion for the genre. Through their love of jazz, the pair quickly develop a deep connection — one that becomes slightly complicated by a love triangle between Kaoru, Sentarō, and Ritsuko Mukae, whose family owns the record shop where the boys hold their jam sessions. A poignant slice-of-life series, The Slope for KidsIt beautifully combines tender character development and rich animation with evocative music by composer Yoko Kanno who has previously collaborated on the film with Watanabe. Cowboy Bebop.

The Slope for Kids Available to stream online Crunchyroll.