The best anime to watch on Funimation before it shuts down consists of series from all genres, demographics, and types of thematic focuses. The long-time giant of the anime streaming industry is slated to have its servers shut down, and its catalog consolidated into Crunchyroll’s plan for anime streaming unification on April 4, 2024.
Although Crunchyroll is taking over Funimation’s licenses, the end of the platform leaves fans with one less place to find anime. Furthermore, any digital downloads on Funimation will be lost. As a result, even though titles are being transferred, it is not certain how Crunchyroll will handle licensing going into the future, especially with wonderful series like Violet Evergarden currently only available as a digital copy. Therefore, those with Funimation subscriptions should take the opportunity to watch the best anime on the platform while they can.
10 Best Anime on Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll has an abundance of noteworthy anime, but with so many options, deciding which are the best can be a difficult task for anime fans.
10 My Dress-Up Darling Offers a Fresh Perspective to Otaku Culture
Based on the manga by Fukuda Shinichi
Produced by CloverWorks, My Dress-Up Darling is a romance anime that takes an incredibly fresh perspective on the topics of beauty and innocence. The story follows Gojou Wakana, a high school student with an interesting hobby of sewing clothes for his Hina Dolls. Although such a hobby is not normally one to take notice of, the class beauty Kitagawa Marin, who wishes to do cosplay, seeks out Gojou to help with making her outfits.
Hesitant at first, Gojou eventually agrees to help, and the pair’s relationship develops further with every interaction, especially because it is necessary for Gojou to take Marin’s measurements to make clothes for her. As a result, Gojou innocently does his job, with constant blushing to boot, which in turn leads to Kitagawa falling for him, head-over-heels. Though she is shy about her feelings in front of Gojou, her honesty with the audience is an enthralling experience, as the relationship between Gojou and Kitagawa digs deeper into romance.
WATCH ON Funimation
9 Ping Pong the Animation Is Beautifully Rough in Depiction
Based on the manga by Matsumoto Taiyou
Ping Pong the Animation is an unorthodox sports anime produced by the small studio, Tatsunoko Production. The series follows the journey of the deuteragonists, Smile and Peco, as they take their own unique paths of discovering the sport of ping pong. Both are talented players, but Peco’s overconfidence is his downfall at the beginning of the series, whereas Smile has a tendency to let his opponents win as long as he has a good time.
Ping Pong the Animation takes the juxtaposition of these two characters to the next level, as Smile eventually embraces his talents and Peco loses his way. However, the story is not nearly so straightforward. Once Peco has regained his passion and Smile comes to express more of his feelings, a beautiful thematic arc unfolds meditating on the value of friendship and competition, the influence of talent, and much more.
WATCH ON Funimation
8 Your Lie in April Is a Narrative and Musical Masterpiece
Based on the manga by Arawaka Naoshi
Produced by the powerhouse studio A-1 Pictures, the studio responsible for series like Solo Leveling, Wotakoi, and more, Your Lie in April is a romance drama anime that is geared towards the shonen demographic. The story follows the lives of Arima Kosei, a pianist who has lost his purpose, and Miyazono Kaori, an eccentric violinist who drags Arima back into the classical music scene at all costs.
Your Lie in April shows the struggles of competition and striving for perfection while still being young. The children all wrestle with their own problems, leading to situations calling for much more maturity than they can handle. Consequently, everyone’s conflict comes to a boil in the midst of growth, romance, and tragedy backed by beautiful colors of classical music, which contribute to one of the best musical soundtracks in anime.
WATCH ON Funimation
7 Steins;Gate Is Science Fiction on Another Level
Based on the visual novel by Nitroplus
Produced by White Fox Studio, Steins;Gate is one of the greatest science fiction anime of all time, as it takes comedy to serious scientific development in narrative. The series follows mad scientist Okabe Rintarou, who dedicates most of his time and energy towards creating the wackiest inventions, from banana-melting microwaves to radioactive time machines.
The rest of Rintarou’s energy goes towards his eccentric personality, as he finds every opportunity to play his mad scientist role. Furthermore, Rintarou’s supporting characters go above and beyond in building a foundation for the anime’s plot to move forward and its humor to develop complexity that rivals that of its scientific renderings. As a result, Steins;Gate is not only one of the best science fiction anime on Funimation, but one of its best anime, period.
WATCH ON Funimation
6 March Comes In Like a Lion Tells Life Through Shogi
Based on the manga by Umino Chica
March Comes In Like a Lion is one of the best anime series produced by studio Shaft, as it leverages its versatility as part of the genres of slice-of-life, coming-of-age, sports, and drama, to weave a complex and touching story of a young shoji player. The series follows Kiriyama Rei, a high school boy who is a genius shoji player who has entered the professional world.
Forced to mature way faster than his peers, Rei struggles with finding familial solidarity, purpose, and joy. However, that all changes when he meets the loving sisters of the Kawamoto family. The three sisters of varying ages and experiences welcome Rei with caring arms, as the anime continues into avenues of both beauty and obligatory struggles of growth.
WATCH ON Funimation
5 Trigun Is a Timeless Western-Influenced anime
Based on the manga by Nightow Yasuhiro
Produced by one of the most well-known anime studios, Madhouse, Trigun is a classic series that masters the action shonen genre. The story follows Vash the Stampede, a legendary vagrant of a war-torn post-apocalyptic-esque country with a 60 billion double dollar bounty on his head. However, once he is introduced, it is clear that Vash’s alleged viciousness is nowhere to be found.
As Funimation is the original licensor of Trigun and championed its English dub, which is one of the best dubs available in anime, it is well worth it to revisit this classic series before Funimation fully consolidates with Crunchyroll. Not only does Vash lead the audience into thrilling adventures, he slowly uncovers the mysteries of the ruined world and his own tumultuous role in its history.
WATCH ON Funimation
4 Kaguya-sama: Love is War Is About More Than Love
Based on the manga by Akasaka Aka
Kaguya-sama: Love is War is a romance comedy anime produced by A-1 Pictures, the same studio as Solo Leveling. The story follows the refreshing relationship between student council president Shirogane Miyuki and student council vice president Shinomiya Kaguya. Though both have feelings for each other, they are reluctant to confess, leading to hilarious and suspenseful mind games and situations where each tries to force the other into confessing.
The relationship between Kaguya and Miyuki is the cutest thing that has come to rom-com anime, especially in episodes like when Kaguya catches a fever and loses all reason. Furthermore, the series boasts an indispensable supporting cast with characters such as Fujiwara Chika and Ishigami Yuu. All these aspects culminate into Kaguya-sama being the best rom-com on Funimation, and arguably the best of all time.
WATCH ON Funimation
3 Legend of the Galactic Heroes Is Space Exploration at Its Finest
Based on the novel by Tanaka Yoshiki, Katou Naoyuki, and Kamoshita Yukihisa
Legend of the Galactic Heroes is a science fiction anime that takes place in space, as the setting of the infinite universe is molded into dynasties, empires, and federations that bring modern war and politics to the anime sphere. The series follows the main characters, Reinhart and Yang, as they strive to impose their beliefs and dreams upon the universe, one intergalactic battle at a time.
Legend of the Galactic Heroes particularly excels at world-building, as the anime’s world is seemingly created from nothing. Although there is a science fiction influence, the series is way ahead of its time in carving out a unique space exploration route. Legend of the Galactic Heroes is one of the best anime that can be streamed on Funimation at the moment, and fans shouldn’t miss the opportunity to watch it now, since this series’ licensing is bound to become more complicated as an original video animation (OVA).
WATCH ON Funimation
10 Best Shonen Anime on Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll’s massive streaming library boasts a number of shonen series – whether they be classics or brand new series – for fans to enjoy.
2 Yu Yu Hakusho Is Funimation’s Best Shonen
Based on the manga by Togashi Yoshihiro
Produced by the forerunner of shonen anime production, Studio Pierrot, Yu Yu Hakusho joins the ranks of series like Bleach, Naruto, and more, arguably standing on top of these series. Yu Yu Hakusho follows a young boy named Urameshi Yusuke, who dies in the first episode, saving a child from a speeding car. However, due to complications in the afterlife, Yusuke is given the opportunity to revive and become a spirit detective, a person who regulates the ghosts, demons, and apparitions of the world.
Yu Yu Hakusho is an especially enthralling shonen anime due to this premise, as well as its tournament arcs, character development, and more. Wielding his iconic Spirit Gun, Yusuke joins the ranks of supporting characters like Kuwabara, Hiei, Kurama, and Botan, as the cast paints unforgettable scenes that transcend the genre of shonen. The anime series is typically quite accessible, but the sheer quality of Yu-Yu Hakusho warrants a last watch on Funimation’s platform.
WATCH ON Funimation
1 Akira Is One of the Greatest Anime Films of All Time
Based on the manga by Otomo Katsuhiro
Akira is an anime film that paved the way for not only the cyberpunk genre, but also the entirety of science fiction and post-war Japanese literature. The greatness of the technologically charged story of Kaneda and Tetsuo’s adventures through the streets of Neo-Tokyo is enough to leak past Akira’s die-hard fanbase and into the realm of academia, cementing the film’s place in anime history.
Akira offers riveting action among its deep themes and philosophical considerations, with epic bike battles on the street to apocalyptic war engagements. Aggregating these strengths of the film, it is no secret why Akira is arguably one of the greatest anime films of all time, making it a must-watch before Funimation shuts down, especially considering Akira’s volatile licensing situation going into the future.
WATCH ON Funimation
