The 15 Best Anime TV Series on Hulu

As one of the most accessible streaming services in a sea of options, Hulu is the perfect pool to dip your toes into the world of anime. The streamer boasts a collection of diverse anime that spans the genres of action, drama, slice-of-life, romance, and just about anything else you can think of. Plus, with Disney+ and Hulu sharing many titles, you know the power of The Mouse ensures a variety of excellent old and new content for viewers.

So whether you're new to anime as a storytelling platform, or you're an old hat at the sweat marks and uwu faces, this list has something for everyone. Don't love fast-paced action scenes? Don't worry, we've got slow burn romances told in historic settings. Hate the humdrum of daily life? Well have I got the solution for you: Watch a self-insert anime about going to another world! We've got it all here on Hulu, so let's get this anime party started.

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Note: Definitions of "anime" differ. Some consider anime to be only animated shows made in Japan, but for the purposes of this list we are following the more general definition of anime as determined by a certain style of animation produced anywhere in the world.

Cowboy Bebop (1998)

This genre-defining series changed the way Americans viewed anime when it was first released in 2001 as part of the Adult Swim programming block. Although it hit TVs in Japan in 1998, Cowboy Bebop took a minute to reach Western audiences, and boy howdy, did it! The combination of space opera and Wild West tropes lend Cowboy Bebop to be accessible to even non-anime fans right away. The story follows bounty hunter Spike Spiegel (Koichi Yamadera in Japanese and Steve Blum in English) and his quirky crew of misfits, as they travel to different worlds in search of criminals, loot, adventure, and in the end, revenge and closure for the dark secrets of their past. A fun blend of comedy with slick action is animated in a neo-noir style by the outstanding Studio Sunrise. This series also sports a catchy jazz soundtrack by Yoko Kanno which will earworm its way onto your Spotify playlists for sure. This anime is a must-see for anyone wanting to know more about anime.

Bleach (2006) & Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War (2022)

"It's Soul Reapin' Time!" No, at no point does anyone say that line in the series Bleach, but someone should have. In classic anime form, this story starts out with an unsuspecting high schooler with brightly colored hair, Ichigo (Masakazu Morita in Japanese and Johnny Yong Bosch in English), who gains the powers of a Shinigami, aka a Soul Reaper, and must protect the living world from evil spirits called Hollows while guided by veteran Shinigami Rukia (Fumiko Orikasa in Japanese and Michelle Ruff in English). What starts as a fun romp destroying Hollows with a band of merry high school students turns into a story rich with political intrigue as the mysteries of the Soul Society, a group governing the Shinigami warriors, unravel. The original 2006 Bleach series has been a cornerstone of shonen (action stories aimed at boys) anime for decades, and returned in a well-received continuation 10 years later in 2022. You can watch the entire series on Hulu now, as well as Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War Seasons 1-3, with Season 4 coming sometime at the end of 2025. 

Attack on Titan (2013)

Strap on your Omni-Direction Mobility gear, y'all! WE'RE GOING TITAN HUNTING! Attack on Titan has been one of the top-viewed anime since its release in 2013 through its end in 2023. For as many funny memes and silly comments revolve around this series, the show itself is a dark anime set in a time where humanity is about to become extinct. Humans hide in walled cities that keep out the massive Titans, who eat every human they see in their path. The story begins with Eren Yeager (Yūki Kaji in Japanese and Bryce Papenbrook in English) and his two childhood friends, Mikasa (Yui Ishikawa in Japanese and Trina Nishimura in English) and Armin (Marina Inoue in Japanese and Jessie James Grelle in English), who suffer one tragedy after another as their hometown is invaded by Titans and their family and friends devoured. They vow to defeat the Titans one day, but as they join the military and journey into the world, they begin to unravel horrifying truths about their society and the Titans themselves. This series combines beautiful action animation along with tricky politics and shocking twists, making it one of the most talked-about anime series in decades. You can watch all four seasons of Attack on Titan on Hulu, but uh, seriously DO NOT SHOW THIS TO CHILDREN. It's violent as heck.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (2019)

A young boy named Tanjiro (Natsuki Hane in Japanese and Zach Aguilar in English) must learn secret sword techniques to defeat demons and find a way to help his sister Nezuko (Akari Kito in Japanese and Abby Trot in English) return to human form after being infected by a demon virus. This series follows the classic shonen tropes of levelling up to defeat one's enemies, but incorporates the beautiful scenery of Taisho-era Japan and compelling storytelling that makes you care for each character and their struggles. Expect dramatic swordsmanship, high stakes, VERY bloody battles, and comedic banter in this exciting series.

One Punch Man (2015)

I cannot get through even one episode of this anime without dissolving into tearful laughter. One Punch Man shows the comedic side of being superhero, as the protagonist Saitama (Makoto Furukawa in Japanese and Max Mittelman in English) discovers he is the most overpowered hero in the world due only to his simple strategy of working out every day: 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and a 10km (6.2 mile) run. In only 18 months of doing this routine, he is able to literally punch his way through any supervillain's nefarious machinations of taking over the world. Much to the annoyance of the Hero Association (who all have actual super powers), Saitama conquers villains even they can't defeat, even with his comical way of insisting he just wants to play video games and nap. Relatable. Come for the deadpan humor, and stay for the ridiculously beautiful action animation that Studio Madhouse serves up in the series. I promise you won't leave without a good chuckle.

Blue Lock (2022)

Sports anime is a THING. Think of any sport, and there are probably already multiple famous anime series about it. The newest sports kids on the block are in Blue Lock. The world of soccer (or football, depending where you're reading this), never looked so cool or cutthroat. In the series, after Japan's national team suffers a humiliating defeat, Coach Jinpachi Ego (Hiroshi Kamiya in Japanese and Derick Snow in English) launches Blue Lock, an unconventional (one might say "brutal") training program designed to create the world's ultimate striker. Enter Yoichi Isagi (Kazuki Ura in Japanese and Ricco Fajardo in English), a talented high school forward who joins Blue Lock after realizing his "team-first" mentality cost him a crucial match. Inside Blue Lock's prison-like facility, 300 elite strikers are pitted against each other in high-pressure drills and matches, where only the strongest players survive. I know you may have been expecting a "let's all support our teammates" kinda show, but Blue Lock takes a sharp turn out of the gate to let its viewers know they're about to go on a wild ride different from any sports anime they've seen before. The animation is hyper stylized, making it great eye candy to boot.

Star Wars Visions (2021)

The lore of the Star Wars universe is vast, with so many stories to tell in the rich world that's been developed over and over for film, TV, and animation over decades. Yet Star Wars: Visions tells completely new and imaginative stories set in that same universe, envisioned by mega-hit anime studios like Trigger, Production I.G., and Kamikaze Douga, resulting in some of the most unique and stylistically stunning takes on stories told in a galaxy far, far away. Each of the nine episodes was created by a different anime studio, and ranges from heartwarming tales ("T0-B1"), to tragic epics ("The Elder"), all while boasting extraordinary stylistic animation ("The Duel"). Star Wars fans won't want to miss this incredible series.

Fruits Basket (2019)

Fruits Basket is a heartfelt remake of the classic shojo (stories targeting young girls) anime from 2001, faithfully adapting Natsuki Takaya's beloved manga in its entirety. The story follows Tohru Honda (Manaka Iwami in Japanese and Laura Bailey in English), a high schooler who is orphaned, yet is still imbued with extraordinary kindness. She ends up living with the Sohma family, and quickly unravels their hereditary secret: Each member of the family is cursed to transform into animals of the Chinese zodiac when hugged by the opposite sex. The silly premise is quickly overshadowed by the trauma each of the Sohmas hold onto, and the way in which Tohru accepts each of them and helps them heal. This show also balances humor, romance, and drama, with a storyline that will leave you teary-eyed at every turn. You won't want to miss this coming-of-age tale with a fantasy twist.

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The Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime (2018)

In recent years, the trope of "oops, I'm a normal guy, but I got transported to a magical land, and I'm doing a lot better here! Wowee!," also known as "isekai" anime, has gotten much more popular. One of the standouts is The Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime (isekai titles are overlong, but then again, who are we to judge?). This popular anime follows Satoru (Takuma Terashima in Japanese and Jason Liebrecht in English), a middle-aged office worker who is reincarnated into a fantasy world as super powerful, shapeshifting slime. He starts on a quest to gain more power and magic, and vows to build a utopian society where humans and monsters can live in harmony. Yeah, that seems like it ramped up really quickly there, but don't worry, as soon as the show starts, you start to say things like, "Well if I were there, I would have done this." Yes, isekai anime are all about self-insertion and it's part of the fun! Follow along as Satoru makes friends, pummels his enemies, and slimes his way into your heart.

Go! Go! Loser Ranger! (2024)

We all know about the heroes of super sentai (fighting team) shows like The Power Rangers, but what about the villains who constantly get pulverized into bits by the heroes every week? Go! Go! Loser Ranger! is a dark comedy deconstruction of the super sentai genre, flipping the script by telling the story from the perspective of the villains' foot soldiers. The anime follows Fighter D (Yusuke Kobayashi in Japanese and Zeno Robinson in English), a low-ranking grunt from the Dynosaurs who is forced to participate in staged battles and get beaten to a pulp by the Dragon Keepers, this world's "super heroes," every week for the sake of public morale. In reality, the Dragon Keepers are government-backed celebrities who are enslaving the Dynosaurs. D is forced to take down the organization from the inside in this exciting twist on the sentai genre. Think The Boys meets Power Rangers, and you're ready to tune in.

Mashle: Magic and Muscles (2023)

This comedy anime is set in a fantasy world where everyone possesses magic. That is, except for our protagonist Mash Burnedead (Chiaki Kobayashi in Japanese and Aleks Le in English). Mashle blends the tropes of wizarding schools you may know of, with the slapstick comedy of an oblivious teenage boy who really can't read the room. Mash simply wants to live a peaceful life eating cream puffs, not saving the world from evil wizards, but of course he ends up forced to enroll at Easton Magic Academy. Without magic to depend on, Mash uses his super-powered muscles to defeat all problems, much to the chagrin of his classmates. He hides his magic-less self by pretending to cast spells and mimicking wand motions while using his brute strength at high speeds. This series parodies Harry Potter and shonen tropes, with Mash's absurd feats (like punching through spells or bench-pressing boulders) adding slapstick humor to the mix and over-the-top action. Get ready for giggles, magic, and muscles in this entertaining anime series.

Suicide Squad Isekai (2024)

Two isekai titles in one list? YEP! You're probably familiar with the DC team Suicide Squad from their movies and spinoff TV shows, but you've never seen them like this. The ragtag group of criminals that make up the Suicide Squad are forced to travel to a medieval fantasy world, which by itself is pure comedy. The gang at every turn is perplexed by how this realm of magic and monsters is supposed to operate, and instead befriends the monsters and defeats magic with, y'know, GUN and VIOLENCE. Tasked with overthrowing an evil empire in this other world in exchange for their freedom, the Squad soon learns that all is not as it seems. Favorites Harley Quinn (Anna Nagase in Japanese and Karli Hoch in English), Deadshot (Reigo Yamaguchi in Japanese and Jovan Jackson in English), Peacemaker (Takehito Koyasu in Japanese and Seán Patrick Judge in English), Clayface (Jun Fukuyama in Japanese and Brandon Hearnsberger in English), and King Shark (Subaru Kimura in Japanese and Andrew Love in English) all make their mark in this hilarious and action-heavy anime series.

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (2023)

Set in a medieval fantasy realm from long ago, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End is an emotional and beautiful fantasy story that follows Frieren (Atsumi Tanezaki in Japanese and Mallorie Rodak in English), an elven mage who once helped defeat the Demon King in a multi-year quest. However, with her near-immortal lifespan, she barely notices the passage of time, until her human comrades grow old and pass away. Haunted by regret for not understanding them better, Frieren embarks on a new journey to retrace her steps, this time with a younger generation of companions, seeking to comprehend human emotions, fleeting memories, and the meaning of a life well-lived. This melancholic series is the perfect slow burn for those looking for an emotional story.

The Apothecary Diaries (2023)

Mysteries, medical drama, a slow-burn romance, and a fun romp into Imperial China make The Apothecary Diaries a sure-fire hit with audiences. A dry-humored girl named Maomao (Aoi Yuuki in Japanese and Emi Lo in English) uses her knowledge of herbal medicine to solve mysteries and unexplained deaths around the Imperial Palace, where she's assisted by the beautiful eunuch Jinshi (Takeo Otsuka in Japanese and Kaiji Tang in English) who is also hiding a secret. The historical settings and costumes, blended with the drama and perplexities of palace life among the Emperor's concubines, makes this show a must-see for mystery lovers and history buffs alike.

My Hero Academia (2016)

My Hero Academia takes on western superhero tropes and brings them to anime in this series set in a world where nearly everyone has unique superpowers called "Quirks." The story follows Izuku Midoriya (Daiki Yamashita in Japanese and Justin Briner in English), a Quirkless boy who dreams of becoming a hero like his idol, All Might (Kenta Miyake in Japanese and Christopher Sabat in English). After a fateful encounter, Izuku inherits All Might's powerful Quirk, "One For All," and enrolls at U.A. High, an academy for aspiring young heroes, where he trains to master his abilities while facing off against dangerous villains. This show is packed with explosive battles, heartfelt moments, and explorations of what it truly means to be a hero.