If you like anime, there are classics you should try watching: “Cowboy Bebop,” “Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood,” “Black Butler,” “Gurren Lagann,” and more. But we’re not here to talk about the time-honored classics, or reminisce about old times (unless those times are still going) and walk down the winding road of nostalgia road. No…
We’re here to talk about what’s new!
Don’t get us twisted; the classics are great, and knowing them goes a long way to connecting with other folks at the next comic convention. However, there’s something fantastic about the experience of joining an anime fan community that’s vibrant, growing, and ongoing! If you’re excited about finding those fresh experiences, look no further. We’ve got a few awesome suggestions right here.
Why Crunchyroll is the best way to watch anime
read now ►7 ongoing animes you should be watching
Made in Abyss
There’s almost no community newer than “Made in Abyss.” With only one season currently available on Amazon Prime, there’s plenty of time to join!
From the mind of writer Akihito Tsukushi, “Made in Abyss” follows the epic journey of Riko and her cyborg companion Reg into a gaping crevasse called the Abyss, a powerful, supernatural canyon that defies human expansion and exploration, killing many who journey into its depths.
Riko’s journey to find her mother, the great explorer Liza the Annihilator, fills the story with touching emotional depths, which is complemented by her close companionship with Reg and the other characters they encounter. Also, the magnificent design and concept of the abyss, combined with grand music composed by Kevin Penkin, makes the story vast, beautiful, and mysterious.
There’s too much mystery to say much more, except… Made in Abyss won Crunchyroll’s coveted “Anime of the Year” award, beating out even “My Hero Academia.” It’s close, but we agree wholeheartedly with Crunchyroll. MiA is just that good!
Oh, and don’t be fooled by the almost-childish art style. This show gets REAL.
One Punch Man
ONE PUNCH!!!
“One Punch Man (OPM),” originally created by Yusuku Murata, has only one season out. We recommend watching it on Netflix or Hulu with a subscription
How to describe this show? OPM is just one of those shows: even if you haven’t watched it, you’ve probably heard of the anime and are tired of friends constantly regaling this show. And with good reason!
The story follows Saitama, a hero so powerful he destroys all enemies with a single punch, fighting enemies with his “disciple” Genos, a cyborg searching for his parents’ killer thanks to the help of the mechanical genius, Doctor Kuseno.
On a simple level, “One Punch Man” is just a trope inversion that makes fun of other action animes like “Dragon Ball Z,” with their hilarious overemphasis on convoluted backstories, dramatically overdone fight scenes, and laughable portrayals of buff, badass dudes and sleek, sensuous gals. Plan for epic hilarity as the main characters bash through some of the most memorable monsters in anime history, all the while featuring the perfect mix of Genos’s tryhard attitude and Saitama’s utter doofiness!
On a deeper level, “One Punch Man” is meant to examine Saitama’s journey to relate with other humans after his discovery of ungodly powers leaves him possibly lacking something “essential to being human.” Of course, that’s for Meaning Miners: if you’re looking for powerful, moving statements on human nature, this show has a surprising amount to offer.
Also, they have the best startup video. Seriously, the best. [Gore warning]
Haikyuu!!
Volleyball, heck yeah!
With three seasons out on Crunchyroll and more to come, Haikyuu arguably dominates the sports anime market. From the mind of Haruichi Furudate, this anime blends heart and humor perfectly, in a way that was perfectly joked about by YouTuber ProZD‘s video “before and after watching a sports anime”.
“Haikyuu” tells the tale of Karasuno High School’s volleyball team as they struggle to regain powerhouse status after falling from grace years before. We follow Shoyo Hinata, a friendly guy who loves who loves the game but lacks height. Planning to crush the odds in typical anime fashion, he joins the volleyball club at Karasuno, walking in the footsteps of an unusually short ace called the Little Giant. Shoyo, along with his nemesis/friend Tobio and a few other first-years, revitalize Karasuno’s team and together, the players buckle down and saddle up for a journey that will make you want to get on a volleyball court yourself!
If you enjoy getting to know characters, trust us: you’ll know and love every team, Karasuno and their opponents included! Everyone from Nekoma to Dateko to Aoba Johsai leaves a memorable mark on the story. “Haikyuu’s” well-rounded plot lacks nothing!
My Hero Academia
Another show your friends probably won’t shut up about!
“My Hero Academia,” from Kohei Horikoshi, can be found on Crunchyroll. Whereas “One Punch Man” makes fun of action tropes in anime, this show glorifies them and creates a modern, entertaining hero tale:
Imagine a world where X-Men pop up everywhere, and heroism has achieved career status. Pretty cool, right? Now, within that world, place a young boy named Izuku, who grew up idolizing heroes like the famous All Might, but realizes… he has no latent powers (called Quirks) whatsoever.
Until he runs into All-Might himself, and receives the most powerful Quirk known to mankind.
Then, while a dark organization plans to nip Izuku’s newfound ability in the bud and destroy all heroes, our main character does what any good anime kid should do when his life is threatened by powerful forces: he goes to school. Specifically U.A. High, a school for heroes such as himself (if that isn’t the most anime thing ever, I don’t know what is). There, he and his fellow students will battle for their lives and their futures as career heroes!
Attack on Titan
Let’s be honest. “Attack on Titan” is halfway to being a classic already.
For the newbies: this anime, created by Hajime Isayama, follows Eren Yeager as he attacks titans.
What?! You still need to know more? Fine:
Huge, fleshy monsters that devour humans for seemingly no reason. A gigantic nation composed of concentric, ringed walls that defend the last of humanity from the unknown world outside. New “deviant” titans finally breaching the enormous barriers which have protected humanity for so long. The destruction and loss of entire cities. Thousands fleeing to the inner circles for protection. Final, desperate battles to stem the tide of extinction. Ancient organizations and buried history turning survivors on each other, even as the world falls apart. A core group of characters standing arm in arm against armageddon.
There’s a lot to like.
Sword Art Online
No joke: there’s a season three announced!
Thanks to the hard work of Reki Kawahara, “Sword Art Online” represents the next best show birthed from the popular trope “people get stuck in video games.” Except this time, the adventure continues long after escaping the first game, and the theme of technological advancement continues to inspire new and fascinating worlds!
So join us as we follow Kirito, a hero who becomes trapped in the famous new MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online game) known as Sword Art Online, where dying in-game or attempting to escape means certain death in real life!
Like many anime heroes, Kirito’s not particularly charismatic or positive or kind or vivacious… but somehow we love him anyways! Because beneath the cold exterior, he possesses a heart of gold that reveals itself in his desire to help as many people survive the game as possible, even if that means trusting only himself to finish the job.
Don’t listen to the haters; Kirito’s alright.
Even since the Sword Art Online, Alfheim, and Gun Gale incidents have finished, we’re still looking forward to where this long and winding road goes next. And thanks to its popularity, you can find SAO pretty much anywhere: Netflix, Crunchyroll, Hulu, and Crackle!
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.
“Saiki K.,” from Shūichi Asō, is the most wonderfully eclectic clip show you could ask for, and can be watched easily with a Netflix subscription.
Picture a smarter, adult, anime version of Spongebob Squarepants, with extremely fast and funny episodes centered around a psychic student who just wants to blend in with the crowd and live a quiet life… which is constantly threatened by literally everything: sweet but silly parents, well-intentioned friends, bothersome animals, and the engrossing nature of Saiki’s own powers. It doesn’t currently have too much of an overarching storyline, but every episode engages you and leaves you wanting more.
We burned through the entire second season a day after it came out.
A Final Reiteration
That being said, remember to enjoy the benefits of newly released animes! If you don’t have fun with the wild speculation, community growth, and joyful anticipation of watching a show as it comes out season-by-season, aren’t you just making yourself wait? Take a leap and enjoy yourself! And of course: if we couldn’t mention an ongoing show you love, please let everyone know in the comments. We’ll give it a try!
And if you’re looking for more ways to watch anime online, head over to Softonic Solutions, where more than 3,000 people have suggested 22 great options!
