32 votes

Just subscribed to Crunchyroll. What should I watch?

Hey guys,

I am kind of out of touch with the Anime scene these days, and as the title says... What should I watch on Crunchyroll?

All genres are a go, I will try anything, but I do tend to prefer your classic fantasy/sci-fi esque action types. I watched Claymore a few years ago and loved it, Hellsing, Tri-gun, Cowboy Bebop, etc.. So just drop some good recommendations if you don't mind.

Edit: Thank you to everyone posting suggestions! It is appreciated.

31 comments

  1. [3]
    moocow1452
    Link
    This looks like a job for the Ultimate Anime Recommendations Flowchart by /u/lukeatlook! It's a little out of date at this point, but it has a pretty good grasp on the staples. There is a newer...

    This looks like a job for the Ultimate Anime Recommendations Flowchart by /u/lukeatlook! It's a little out of date at this point, but it has a pretty good grasp on the staples. There is a newer chart by /u/fetchfrosh available here, but I think the older one is a little more digestible if you are just starting to branch out.

    19 votes
    1. Durinthal
      Link Parent
      I have an itch to revisit the second chart and revise parts of it but that's mostly because a couple of the romances were added by Fetch at the last minute and still bother me since I didn't think...

      I have an itch to revisit the second chart and revise parts of it but that's mostly because a couple of the romances were added by Fetch at the last minute and still bother me since I didn't think they were worth including after watching them.

      These days I'd probably start with this other infographic which is both more descriptive of each anime and less meandering overall.

      8 votes
    2. arqalite
      Link Parent
      Somewhat unrelated but I need to throw this out there: I'm kinda pissed at how inconsistent all seasons of Yu-Gi-Oh! are; some parts of GX, 5D's, ZEXAL and ARC-V would absolutely fit in with the...

      Somewhat unrelated but I need to throw this out there:

      I'm kinda pissed at how inconsistent all seasons of Yu-Gi-Oh! are; some parts of GX, 5D's, ZEXAL and ARC-V would absolutely fit in with the other shows in these infographics, but then you have the watch the rest of the respective season and leave utterly disappointed. It doesn't help that they decided to focus on an even younger audience than usual with the last two seasons. :(

  2. [5]
    chromakode
    Link
    Spy Family Ranking of Kings Chainsaw Man

    Spy Family
    Ranking of Kings
    Chainsaw Man

    12 votes
    1. [4]
      GunnarRunnar
      Link Parent
      Those all are cool. I'm currently watching Ranking of Kings, it's pretty neat how much anime-emotion and twists they have packed in. And the art style is neat. (I really dislike what I guess you'd...

      Those all are cool. I'm currently watching Ranking of Kings, it's pretty neat how much anime-emotion and twists they have packed in. And the art style is neat. (I really dislike what I guess you'd call a standard anime look.)

      Oddtaxi is also very, very cool. It's only one season, so pretty easy choice. One Punch Man and Mob psycho 100, are good too, the latter also has an amazing art style.

      7 votes
      1. [3]
        Minori
        Link Parent
        If you like Oddtaxi and anime with non-traditional appearances, definitely give Beastars a try! Studio Orange is arguably the best anime studio when it comes to 3D animation.

        If you like Oddtaxi and anime with non-traditional appearances, definitely give Beastars a try! Studio Orange is arguably the best anime studio when it comes to 3D animation.

        2 votes
        1. [2]
          GunnarRunnar
          Link Parent
          Thanks for the recommendation. I think I did give it a try just after Oddtaxi but it wasn't really to my taste.

          Thanks for the recommendation. I think I did give it a try just after Oddtaxi but it wasn't really to my taste.

          1. Minori
            (edited )
            Link Parent
            If you liked the animation style of Beastars and just bounced off the plot, the same studio did Land of the Lustrous which is also praised for its use of 3D animation. It's a completely different...

            If you liked the animation style of Beastars and just bounced off the plot, the same studio did Land of the Lustrous which is also praised for its use of 3D animation. It's a completely different story that focuses a bit more on the action.

            2 votes
  3. [4]
    C-Cab
    (edited )
    Link
    This one is a bit of an oddball, but if you want something that is a bit more relaxing to get into I would recommend Mushishi. It's a slower paced anime and each episode has more of an individual...

    This one is a bit of an oddball, but if you want something that is a bit more relaxing to get into I would recommend Mushishi. It's a slower paced anime and each episode has more of an individual "case" feel to it, but it's essentially this man who studies these entities that make up the essence of life called "mushi". Often humans have unfortunate interactions with mushi, not because they are malicious, but because they have their own way of doing things that don't care for our well-being. I think it's a charming show that causes me to reflect on life. Also, it has an amazing score.

    I don't know about you, but I've been getting more into animes with tight stories that don't drag on and on. One that I liked which hits the scifi feel is Bokurano, which is about these middle schoolers that are sort of tricked into piloting a giant mech to save their world. It has an interesting twist and approaches how we deal with death.

    Another short anime (this one clocking in at just twelve episodes) is Puella Magi Madoka Magica. This is a deconstruction of the magic girl genre (think stuff like Sailor Moon), and has some heavy drama in it with some unique anime styles similar to the Dada art movement. It's a little cutesy at first but takes a dark turn in the 3rd episode, so I would at least give it till episode 4 before your put it down. It's definitely one of my all time favorite animes, especially with the way it deals with what it means to be a young girl and the struggles of growing up.

    The last one I'm going to recommend is Gurren Lagann. This is a great mech anime about the tenacity of human spirit with an amazing blend of humor and drama. It starts off with humans that are forced to live underground due to oppression from these weird, animal-like creatures with giant robots. Eventually, the humans rise up against them and claim their freedom. The second season takes a completely different take but still hits on some of the same themes.

    8 votes
    1. SlappinSalmonella
      Link Parent
      I remember Mushishi! I watched quite a few episodes years ago... that is a pretty cool one. I'll check the others out, thank you.

      I remember Mushishi! I watched quite a few episodes years ago... that is a pretty cool one. I'll check the others out, thank you.

      2 votes
    2. ACEmat
      Link Parent
      Seconding Gurren Lagann. I have rewatched this show over 30 times. It is hands down my favorite show of all time. It was the first anime I ever watched, and I watched it at probably one of the...

      Seconding Gurren Lagann.

      I have rewatched this show over 30 times. It is hands down my favorite show of all time. It was the first anime I ever watched, and I watched it at probably one of the darkest periods in my life.

      This is gonna sound super dramatic, but GL very likely saved my life. To say it shaped the person I am today is a severe understatement. I went from a scared, shy, abused kid, to today being a confident, outgoing, stand up for yourself guy, and I credit a lot of it to GL.

      The show starts a little slow, and I apologize for episode 4 in advance. The biggest forewarning I can say about the entire show is that it doesn't stick to any rules. It continues to get more and more ridiculous. If you like shows that are more grounded, this one ain't it, it's as over the top as a show gets, but by god I love it for that.

      EDIT I highly recommend the dubs, they are very good.

      2 votes
    3. Prairie_Skies
      Link Parent
      I had to log in just to upvote Mushishi. Simultaneously incredibly chill but still grabs your interest. It's a vibe for sure! I need to watch Season 2 but Season 1 is so perfect IMO that I'm hesitant.

      I had to log in just to upvote Mushishi. Simultaneously incredibly chill but still grabs your interest. It's a vibe for sure!

      I need to watch Season 2 but Season 1 is so perfect IMO that I'm hesitant.

      1 vote
  4. [4]
    sokopa
    Link
    In no particular order with a quick browsing on the popular titles available on crunchyroll, I'd look into: Death Parade Demon Slayer Attack on Titan Jujutsu Kaizen Vinland Saga Psycho-Pass It's a...

    In no particular order with a quick browsing on the popular titles available on crunchyroll, I'd look into:

    Death Parade
    Demon Slayer
    Attack on Titan
    Jujutsu Kaizen
    Vinland Saga
    Psycho-Pass

    It's a shame it doesn't have Fullmetal Alchemist and Steins;Gate

    7 votes
    1. SlappinSalmonella
      Link Parent
      I have seen fullmetal alchemist and Steins;Gate both! But I would definitely rewatch Steins;Gate... that was a good one. Thanks for suggestions

      I have seen fullmetal alchemist and Steins;Gate both! But I would definitely rewatch Steins;Gate... that was a good one. Thanks for suggestions

      1 vote
  5. [2]
    TheDiabeetle
    Link
    A lot of the good content has been posted already, so I'll mostly just re-enforce a few. Mushi-Shi Oddtaxi Keep Your Hands off Eizouken! Welcome to the N.H.K. Princess Jellyfish Asobi Asobase...

    A lot of the good content has been posted already, so I'll mostly just re-enforce a few.

    Mushi-Shi

    Oddtaxi

    Keep Your Hands off Eizouken!

    Welcome to the N.H.K.

    Princess Jellyfish

    Asobi Asobase

    Ranking of Kings (my favorite anime the year it came out)

    Mob Psycho 100

    Hunter x Hunter

    Mononoke (not to be confused with Princess Mononoke)

    Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood (watch the original first if you can, but I don't think it's on CR)

    Chainsaw Man

    7 votes
    1. SlappinSalmonella
      Link Parent
      Thank you for the suggestions! I will check them out.

      Thank you for the suggestions! I will check them out.

      2 votes
  6. Akir
    Link
    Just some random ones I enjoyed: To Your Eternity. Just go in blind. Watch the first episode and it will tell you everything you need to know about the series. It only gets more intense and...

    Just some random ones I enjoyed:

    To Your Eternity. Just go in blind. Watch the first episode and it will tell you everything you need to know about the series. It only gets more intense and emotional from that point. It's one of those shows that will stick with you long after you watch it. It's something that will make you really appreciate all the people in your life.

    Sarazanmai, a story about the struggle of making connections with people told in a very quirky, big, and very anime way. It's from the guy who made Revolutionary Girl Utena.

    Mob Psycho 100 is kind of the anti-isekai; it's got a hugely overpowered protagonist who's main goal is to become a better person and grow up.

    Mushoku Tensei is in the same kind of vein but it's a bit different because unlike Mob it's actually in another world. The main character is a NEET who gets reincarnated and uses his second childhood as a way to grow up, in a sense. It's got really good drama and some really incredible twists that change things quite a lot. But fair warning, the second season has been really slow compared to the first season.

    Do it Yourself! is a lighthearted slice of life kind of show about girls in a DIY club. It's worth watching just for the cute art.

    Dr. Stone is basically "what if Bill Nye was a teenaged supergenious and was put into a shonen series?" I really like the art in it and the science stuff makes it feel smart even when the plot gets contrived. It's just a fun show to watch.

    Keep Your Hands Off Eizoken! is an anime about animation from a director who very clearly loves animation, with lots of nods to the popular anime he grew up watching. It's filled with the optimism and determination of youth.

    Gundam. Just all the Gundam. The original is way better than anything that old has any right to be. Mobile Suit Gundam 00 is one of my personal favorites. There's so much to choose from, though, so take your pick.

    5 votes
  7. [3]
    Durinthal
    Link
    A few sci-fi series, though one of them's pretty old: Akudama Drive — A cyberpunk action series following a collection of criminals brought together for a job. Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded...

    A few sci-fi series, though one of them's pretty old:

    • Akudama Drive — A cyberpunk action series following a collection of criminals brought together for a job.

    • Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans — Child soldiers and slaves try to find freedom and forge their own path from a colonized Mars. Don't need to know anything else about the Gundam franchise for this, it's a standalone series.

    • Crest of the Stars — A noble in training joins an aspiring spacecraft pilot in the military on the way to the imperial capital until they get swept up in a war.

    3 votes
    1. [2]
      Akir
      Link Parent
      You are literally the only other person I've ever seen mention Crest of the Stars. If you like space operas, you'll probably also like Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These. Crunchyroll...

      You are literally the only other person I've ever seen mention Crest of the Stars.

      If you like space operas, you'll probably also like Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These. Crunchyroll used to have the original animated series as well, but it seems to have gone away along with others that I was trying to look up earlier.

      1 vote
  8. [2]
    Protected
    Link
    Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song .

    Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song .

    2 votes
    1. Akir
      Link Parent
      This is one of my favorites! I'm almost ashamed that I didn't mention it in my list. It has a really fantastic soundtrack and some really great animation.

      This is one of my favorites! I'm almost ashamed that I didn't mention it in my list. It has a really fantastic soundtrack and some really great animation.

      2 votes
  9. [3]
    Bullmaestro
    (edited )
    Link
    Recommendations based on the presumption that you're either based in the US or have a VPN. Tenchi Muyo: Very strange sci-fi series that was very popular in the nineties. It involves a boy called...

    Recommendations based on the presumption that you're either based in the US or have a VPN.

    Tenchi Muyo:

    Very strange sci-fi series that was very popular in the nineties. It involves a boy called Tenchi who inadvertently awakens a 700-year-old space pirate named Ryoko, and from that ends up attracting a harem of space ladies who want his D. I'd start with Ryo-Ohki if possible, otherwise go straight to Tenchi Universe, then watch Tenchi In Tokyo and GXP afterwards. Avoid Ai Tenchi Muyo.

    Full Metal Alchemist:

    Either the OG series or Brotherhood are fine. Do bear in mind that they heavily diverge after the third arc, with Brotherhood being far more faithful to the original manga. FMA ends on a bit of a cliffhanger which you'll have to watch an OVA to see the true conclusion of, whereas Brotherhood ends exactly as the manga does.

    Hunter x Hunter:

    Doesn't really need an introduction. I will say that this one is a slow burner and the first arc is a bit shit.

    Keijo:

    Basically, the author played Dead or Alive Xtreme 2, took the Butt Battle minigame from it, and turned it into a full blown sports series. Don't let the premise or the blatant amounts of fanservice dissuade you. This is a very competently made sports anime which sadly never got renewed for a second season, and even had its manga cancelled due to low viewership. It's one of those series that you'd expect to sell like hotcakes in Japan, but it never did well domestically.

    Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann:

    Probably the best mech anime to come out of Japan. Only 26 episodes (two of which are filler clip-shows recapping the first and second halves.)

    Sword Art Online:

    Sadly, SAO only has two arcs that are not complete dogshit, and these are Aincrad and Mother's Rosario. As for why the others are bad... Fairy Dance goes into a tasteless incestuous subplot, Phantom Bullet is incredibly dull, Calibur is three episodes of slice-of-life dogshit (not even the good kind of filler either), and Alicization is when Reki Kawahara truly lost the plot. I will however vouch for Something Witty Entertainment, the creators of an abridged parody series on YouTube that greatly surpasses the original (currently about two episodes away from finishing Fairy Dance.)

    Hajime no Ippo:

    Incredibly good and underrated boxing series where the author (George Morikawa) has really done his research. In chronological order, watch The Fighting first, then the Champion Road OVA, then New Challenger and finally Rising. Unfortunately, the anime series is almost a decade behind the manga because the anime was created by Madhouse, a studio very well-known for doing one very good season and then refusing to touch the series again with a barge pole. HNI is one of the rare times they did a second season, but MAPPA were the ones who did Season 3. Watch those three, and then start reading the manga.

    2 votes
    1. Akir
      Link Parent
      Alicization is kind of special to me. Not because it's good, of course, but because it's so insane I'm amazed that it ever got OKed. It's like the author was trying to discover what the upper...

      Alicization is kind of special to me. Not because it's good, of course, but because it's so insane I'm amazed that it ever got OKed. It's like the author was trying to discover what the upper limit of plot contrivances they could get away with, and eventually decided to just disregard the rules of the world that they invented earlier. It was the most enjoyable hate-watch I've ever done.

      1 vote
    2. Prairie_Skies
      Link Parent
      Your perspective on Sword Art lines up with my and my friend's/family's experience lol. Never seen Hajime no Ippo but it's legend precedes itself and I've only ever heard great things. I'll have...

      Your perspective on Sword Art lines up with my and my friend's/family's experience lol.

      Never seen Hajime no Ippo but it's legend precedes itself and I've only ever heard great things. I'll have to check it out!

  10. boxer_dogs_dance
    Link
    I had fun with Log Horizon and Sword Art Online, in both shows, modern people end up inside a fantasy role playing game and have to survive

    I had fun with Log Horizon and Sword Art Online, in both shows, modern people end up inside a fantasy role playing game and have to survive

    1 vote
  11. Clabsmodan
    Link
    I'm kinda in the same boat. Watched a few animes as a teen, but very, VERY casual with it. Picked up Crunchyroll on a whim last year, and have been enjoying finding gems among the mountains of...

    I'm kinda in the same boat. Watched a few animes as a teen, but very, VERY casual with it. Picked up Crunchyroll on a whim last year, and have been enjoying finding gems among the mountains of mediocrity. Okay, let's see...

    Darling in the Franxx is pretty good, though it is a little strange. A sci-fi that explores human sexuality and intimacy in a way that I found refreshingly smart for an anime. Good characters, too.

    I don't watch many long-form action animes anymore, but Yu Yu Hakusho remains my go-to for them. It helped define the modern shonen genre along with DBZ, but in a way that's more interesting than the latter. While there's plenty of punching and laser blasts to go around (coupled with stylish art), there's also a great coming-of-age story with some wonderful character moments.

    My Hero Academia is another one that's long-form, but keeps a good pace. And I also happen to think it's redefining the action shonen genre again -- in a very good way. Overall, lives up to the hype.

    Kill la Kill just oozes style. It's a very weird, very stereotypical anime premise -- girls fight using super-powered transforming school uniforms (that get very, uh, revealing) -- but it really shines in its unique art style and top-notch animation. It's odd, quirky, and takes risks that don't always pay off, but it's pretty damn cool.

    Horimiya. I'm a sucker for a good slice-of-life anime, and this one is full of warmth, love, and relatability. A girl and boy who go to the same school learn that their reputations are wildly different from their at-home personalities, and their mutual curiosity blossoms into a real relationship. Great character development and relatable stories in each episode.

  12. [2]
    Ttyybb
    Link
    A few I haven't seen recommended yet are: reincarnated as a slime (IMO it's the GOAT). So I'm a spider, so what. Reincarnated as a vending machine, overly cautious hero, shield hero, world...

    A few I haven't seen recommended yet are: reincarnated as a slime (IMO it's the GOAT). So I'm a spider, so what. Reincarnated as a vending machine, overly cautious hero, shield hero, world trigger, black clover, commonplace to world's strongest, and assassination classroom. Those are most of my standouts at least

    1. SlappinSalmonella
      Link Parent
      I did watch "that time I was reincarnated as a slime", and I will agree with you. That was a great show. Many a laugh to be had. So I'll definitely put the others on my list! Thanks

      I did watch "that time I was reincarnated as a slime", and I will agree with you. That was a great show. Many a laugh to be had.

      So I'll definitely put the others on my list!

      Thanks

      1 vote