Last updated on January 4th, 2023 at 12:24 am
The current globalization of anime is nothing less than a dream come true for several OG Otakus. So, if you aren’t one and want to dive into the magical anime world, you’ve landed on the right article. We have prepared a list of the best and top 15+ must-watch anime on Crunchyroll. We have ranked them based on their IMDB rating in 2022. Let’s get right to it.
Table of Contents
16. Dr. Stone
Written by Riichiro Inagaki, the anime adaption aired in 2019, with the third season’s announcement in 2023. Dr. Stone is another sci-fi anime with a unique and fresh approach to shounen anime. Like many of the current gen anime, the anime features catchy OSTs, amazing animation, and a unique plot.
The plot narrates the adventure of a high school science genius, Senku Ishigami. One fine day the world is struck by a mysterious beam that turns the entire planet to stone. Senku manages to be the first human being to break out of his petrified state after 3,700 years.
Senku’s genius allowed him to keep counting every second to keep track of time while constantly struggling to remain conscious. Luckily, his best friend, Taiju Oki, also breaks out six months after him. He then vows to revive humanity and earth through his sheer knowledge of science and with the help of his best friend. But there’s more than meets the eyes.
IMDB ratings:Â 8.1/10
Number of episodes:Â 35 (2 seasons)
15. The Promised Neverland
Written by Shuhei Miyazaki, Promised Neverland is another dark fantasy anime to make it to our list. What makes it dark is most of the characters are children living in an orphanage. The story features supernatural, dark fantasy, thriller, and gore as the main genres.
The story focuses on an 11 years old girl, Emma living her happy life at her orphanage. A total of 38 children lived their happy lives in the orphanage until they witnessed the cruel murder of one of their fellow friends who was sent for adoption. But it wasn’t a human; a demon fed on their friend, and they discovered that they were being raised as food for demons.
Emma and her closest friend, Ray, decided to run away from the orphanage, leaving their younger siblings behind. But another set of dangers awaits them. They shockingly find out that the world they are living in is the demon world, where all kinds of demons exist.
Therefore, they then decide to head back and rescue the rest of the children at the orphanage. Watch a gut-wrenching and dark tale involving children fighting demons for survival.
IMDB ratings:Â 8.3/10
Number of episodes:Â 23
14. Black Clover
Black Clover is one of the best shounen anime if you love a blend of comedy and magic fantasy. Written by Yuki Tabata, the anime adaption began airing in 2017. The good news is that season 5 will begin airing in 2023. Therefore, if you haven’t watched it yet, go on and catch up.
The plot focuses on two friends, Asta and Yuno. However, in this world, everyone is born with magic, unlike the main protagonist, Asta. Yuno, on the other side, is born with overwhelming magic. Therefore, the two embark on a journey to become the Wizard King while a healthy rivalry between them develops. So to sum it up, if you love shounen anime like Naruto, Hunter x Hunter, MHA, etc., Black Clover is a must-watch anime on Crunchyroll.
IMDB ratings:Â 8.3/10
Number of episodes:Â 170 (4 seasons)
13. My Hero Academia
Written by Kohei Horikoshi, the anime debuted in 2016 and has five seasons so far. At the same time, a 6th season is scheduled to commence airing in October 2022. Therefore, if you haven’t watched it, begin now, and you will have to wait just a little for the newest season.
The plot is set in a world where 80% of the population has evolved to be born with a “quirk.” These quirks can be any sort of unique ability/abilities or a blend of characteristics of any other species. Therefore, the world is a place where Heroes and “Villains” exist. The story focuses on a quirk-less boy, Midoriya Izuku, who is approached by the Number 1 Hero to become his successor.
But his body is simply too weak to bear the quirk. Therefore, Midoriya must now train to sustain the quirk so that he can enroll in UA Academy to become a hero. However, too many mysteries and bizarre secrets await him once he bears one of the most powerful quirks, One For All.
IMDB ratings:Â 8.4/10
Number of episodes:Â 113 (5 seasons)
12. Mushi-Shi
Mushi-shi is one of the best anime of all time. The anime itself is nothing short of a therapeutic experience. If you love a rich plot encasing deep meaning and purpose in one’s life, this is a must-watch anime on Crunchyroll. The plot features a unique blend of genres such as historical, seinen, a slice of life, and supernatural.
The story revolves around Ginko, a young Mushishi who sets on a journey to find a Mushi. Mushi is supernatural entities that are only meant to just “exist.” They are free from the world, good and evil, and have no form.
They can appear as a disease, plants, wind, and simply a rainbow. Mushishi is those who seek a Mushi. Therefore, Ginko’s journey reveals various sides of humanity, the world, truth, and one’s purpose in life.
IMDB ratings:Â 8.5/10
Number of episodes:Â 26
11. Great Teacher Onizuka
Written by Tooru Fujisawa, GTO is another classic to make it to our list. The anime aired from 1999 to 2000 and features a plot filled with comedy and action. The vintage art style and character design itself make this anime a must-watch on Crunchyroll.
The story narrates the life of a young ex-gang member, Eikichi Onizuka. Thanks to one hilarious yet low-key dark incident, he decides to become a teacher so that he can get close to girls.
However, he soon learns that despite being an almost criminal, he has morals and conscience. He even ends up getting frustrated over the poor education system. Thereafter, he sets out to become the greatest teacher while teaching his students life lessons. The result of this is a story packed with hilarious incidents encasing some serious realities.
IMDB ratings:Â 8.5/10
Number of episodes:Â 43
10. Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisen is written by Gege Akutami and produced by Mappa Studio. The series quickly earned the title of the best current gen shounen anime with well-written characters. The series features stunning animation with shounen, sorcery, martial arts, and horror as its core genres. Jujutsu Kaisen is simply a must-watch anime on Crunchyroll. Just go watch it right now, and you’ll know what we mean.
The plot features a concept of curses manifesting around the world due to the accumulation of negativity. Jujutsu Sorcerers protect humans by exorcising them while hiding amongst humans. Itadori Yuji, a high school student, ends up dragging himself into the Jujutsu world by accidentally eating one of the cursed and indestructible fingers of the “King of Curses,” Ryomen Sukuna.
Itadori is now the vessel of the most powerful and evil sorcerer because he can somehow maintain his consciousness. Therefore, he is under Jujutsu High’s surveillance while training to become a Jujutsu Sorcerer, but things never go as planned, now do they?
IMDB ratings:Â 8.6/10
Number of episodes:Â 24 (1 season)
9. Naruto & Naruto Shippuden
Naruto is one of the best mainstream anime, and rightfully so. The series began in 1999 when Masashi Kishimoto began illustrating the manga. The story itself is a unique blend of martial arts and other concepts inspired by Indian & Japanese Mythology. The core genres are shounen, ninja, fantasy, and action.
The story features Uzumaki Naruto, an orphan living on his own in the Konoha Village. He aspires to become the best ninja and become the Hokage of his village. However, there are countless dark secrets and mysterious organizations, Akatsuki, that he must deal with on his journey to becoming a ninja.
With a nine-tailed beast, Kurama is sealed inside him to protect the world from it, and Naruto must constantly deal with this hindrance to fulfilling his missions. Watch him overcome life-threatening situations while protecting those he cares about as he learns his “Nindo.”
IMDB ratings:Â 8.4/10 + 8.7/10
Number of episodes:Â 220 (5 seasons) + 500 (21 seasons)
8. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Demon Slayer is the “it” anime for anyone new to anime. The series gathered millions of non-anime watchers and now has a massive fanbase. Written by Koyoharu Gotouge, the anime adaption was produced by Studio Ufotable. The highlighting feature of Demon Slayer is stunning animation, vibrant art style, OSTs, and unique plot. The dominating genres are shounen, supernatural, martial art, and fantasy.
As for the plot, the story tells us about the life of two orphaned siblings, Kamado Tanjiro and Kamado Nezuko. One snowy morning, Tanjiro finds out the gruesome scene of his entire family assassinated by a demon, Kibutsuji Muzan.
However, Nezuko is the only sibling to survive but at a shocking cost. Tanjiro must join the Demon Slayer Corps to become a Demon Slayer while also protecting his sister from the world as he discovers some of the darkest secrets.
IMDB ratings:Â 8.7/10
Number of episodes:Â 44 (2 seasons)
7. Code Geass
Code Geass is as legendary as Death Note is. The series features an incredibly written plot, concepts, and characters with themes such as military, mecha, supernatural, and thriller. Therefore, if you haven’t watched it, rush now and watch it.
The story narrates the life of two royal siblings, Lelouch vi Britannia and Nunnally vi Britannia. They were both ousted after the mysterious and tragic murder of their mother as their father turned a blind eye to all the politics.
However, as years pass by, the two siblings move to Japan as Britannia wins the war against it. The plot darkens when Lelouch encounters a mysterious being, CC, who grants him an ability called Geass in exchange for a contract.
Therefore, Lelouch’s Geass allows him to make anyone obey his command upon direct eye contact. With such a dangerous power, Lelouch uses his intelligence to find his mother’s murderer and destroy Britannia. However, in the process, he must maintain absolute willpower and sanity to not be overpowered by his Geass.
IMDB ratings:Â 8.7/10
Number of episodes:Â 50 (2 seasons)
6. Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bepop is a vintage classic created by Hajime Yatate and aired in 1998. The anime is still one of the best treats for anyone wanting to enjoy an action-packed thriller; hence it is a must-watch anime on Crunchyroll. The series features dystopian, Sci-fi, intergalactic, and hunters as its main themes.
The story follows the journey of a group of bounty hunters working from the spaceship, Bepop. The story is set in the year 2071, where the earth is inhabitable after a massive accident with the hyperspace gateway.
Therefore, countless criminal gangs and organizations are threatening whatever is left of the universe. The Inter Solar System Space Police legally hires these bounty hunters to catch criminals in exchange for rewards. So get on board for a hunting adventure filled with mystery, fun, action, and thriller.
IMDB ratings:Â 8.9/10
Number of episodes:Â 26
5. One Piece
One Piece is one of the longest ongoing series. Therefore, you absolutely cannot miss out on it, or Eiichiro Oda and One Piece fans will haunt you. Despite a large number of episodes, the anime is worth all your time. The basic genres are shounen, pirates, supernatural and adventure-comedy.
The story narrates the journey of Monkey D. Luffy, who accidentally ends up eating the Devil Fruit, which gives his body rubber-like properties. He then discovers the greatest treasure of all time- One Piece and decides to embark on a round-the-earth journey following the Grand Line to find it.
He gathers a bunch of misfit pirates along his way and forms his crew-Â Straw Hats Pirates. The Straw Hats then encounter mysterious islands, communities, and supernatural items on their journey. Watch an adventure packed with gold-like comedy, action, and suspense.
MDB ratings:Â 8.9/10
Number of episodes:Â 1032 (ongoing)
4. Hunter x Hunter
Hunter x Hunter is one of Shueisha’s best-selling series, written by Yoshihiro Togashi. The anime has two versions of the adaption with minor differences in the art style, character design, and story. Therefore, you can skip the older version, but HxH is must-watch anime on Crunchyroll. The anime features shounen, martial arts, thriller, and shounen as the core genres.
The MC, Gon Freecss, is a young boy who leaves his home in search of his father, whom he never met. He learns that he had taken the Hunter exam, and taking that as lead, Gon decides to attend it too. Throughout his journey, he befriends various mysterious people, of which Killua Zoldyck becomes his best friend.
The two get involved with various dangerous people and an organization with their own shady goals. However, Killua also has secrets of his own, and so do his other friends, Leorio and Kurapika.
You are bound to enjoy the exciting and interesting settings of the anime and some epic action with supernatural elements. One good news is that the mangaka has decided to continue writing the manga after a long hiatus. Therefore, there’s more to look forward to once you finish the anime.
IMDB ratings:Â 9/10
Number of episodes:Â 62 (Old version), 148 (new version)
3. Attack on Titan
Attack on Titan is one of the top dark fantasy anime featuring some of the goriest scenes. Written by Hajime Isayama, the anime began airing in 2013 and is produced by Wit and Mappa studios. The core genres are dystopian, dark fantasy, action, and thriller. Isayama is a genius mangaka, and this series is a testament to it. Therefore, AOT is a must-watch anime on Crunchyroll.
The plot focuses on the tragic life of an aspiring fighter, Eren Yeager, and his best friends, Mikasa Ackerman and Armin Arlett. In a world full of mysterious and grotesque human-eating titans, the people live within three thick concentric walls to remain alive. The Scout Regiment fights off Titans with the help of unique gear to protect whatever is left of humanity.
But there are too many dark and disturbing truths that the main protagonist finds out throughout his journey. For starters, he discovers that he can transform into a titan but how and why- he must find out.
IMDB ratings:Â 9/10
Number of episodes:Â 87 (4 seasons)
2. Death Note
Death Note is the legendary anime of all time, and absolutely no one will deny it. It is a must-watch anime on Crunchyroll, so look nowhere else and get right to it. Written by Tsugumi Ohba, the anime holds the title of the best anime of all time.
The story narrates the cat and mouse chase between two geniuses with an IQ out of this world. Light Yagami, a stoic teenager frustrated with the injustice and crimes of the world, finds a Death Note, a notebook that belongs to Ryuk, a shinigami (God of Death) who accidentally drops it in the human world for his amusement.
Death Note allows one to kill people by simply writing their names in it. However, several strict rules must be followed from the moment the user touches the notebook. Light conducts his plans until his pattern catches the attention of a genius detective, L Lawliet, and so begins the battle of desires, plotting and outsmarting one another.
IMDB ratings: 9/10
Number of episodes: 37
1. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
FMAB is one of the best shounen and legendary anime of all time. No person has watched it and didn’t recommend it to others. So it is a must-watch anime on Crunchyroll. The manga was created by Hiromu Arakawa and the anime adaption aired from 2009 to 2010. The dominating genres of the series are sci-fi, military, shounen, and supernatural, with a gut-wrenching plot. We advise you to keep lots of tissues handy.
The plot narrates the tragic life of two brothers, Alphonse Elric and Edward Elric. The two grew up learning and practicing alchemy- the ability to construct and de-construct matter. The concept of alchemy in the series is an intriguing blend of supernatural elements with science, such as transmutation circles, sigils, the truth, etc.
However, the two boys attempt Human Transmutation, a forbidden practice, to bring their deceased mother back right after her funeral. But they end up making her a miserable Homunculus, Alphonse losing his physical body, and Edward losing his right arm. The two then set on a journey to discover some of the darkest truths and find ways to set things right.
“Fullmetal Alchemist” is another version of the manga adaption. However, FMAB is the truest and closest adaption of the original source. Therefore, you can skip the former.
IMDB ratings:Â 9.1/10
Number of episodes:Â 64
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What is the most watched anime on Crunchyroll?
Answer: The most watched anime on Crunchyroll Japan is One Piece as of September 2022. The list also includes anime such as My Hero Academia, Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer, Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, and One Piece, as some of the most watched anime of all time on Crunchyroll.
2. How to watch anime on Crunchyroll?
Answer:Â Begin by opening the official site of Crunchyroll. If you wish to regularly receive updates and maintain a watch list, create an account on Crunchyroll, which requires a valid email and password. Thereafter, search for the anime you want to watch in the search bar; all of its content will appear in a list. Then, you can simply click on it and begin watching.
3. How to watch dub on Crunchyroll?
Answer:Â Crunchyroll doesn’t have a specific setting to change the audio to dub or sub. The dub and subversion of the anime are listed separately when you search for it on Crunchyroll. Therefore, click on whichever version you want to watch and start streaming it.
4. How to watch anime on Crunchyroll for free?
Answer:Â You can proceed by making a free account on Crunchyroll. Thereafter, search and check if the anime you want to watch falls under the free section. If yes, then you can simply click on it and start watching it. If not, you will have to subscribe to the premium package of Crunchyroll.
5. Can you watch Crunchyroll for free?
Answer:Â Crunchyroll has 3 tier subscription. Some of the series are available under the free and ad-supported section, while some fall under Premium and paid-version
We hope we answered most of your questions. Now you just have to watch these amazing and must-watch anime on Crunchyroll. For more such lists, check out some of the articles below. Enjoy!
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Starting off with love for medicine and plans for pursuing it, I found myself drawn to a mismatched career in Hospitality & Tourism. Little did I know that my passion and love for literature had always been by my side. Therefore, here I am now, sharing my words on multiple amazing platforms, one of which is Otakus Notes. What better way to put my abundance of love and knowledge of anime, manga, k-drama and webtoons, to use!
