My Hero Academia
Best Anime Shows on Hulu
A sure pick for any must watch Anime list, My Hero Academia has been an international smash hit. The story follows the young Izuku Midoriya, a boy who has wanted to be a superhero all his life. However, he was born without a Quirk, meaning he has no powers.
With the show in the beginning of its third season, there’s plenty of catching up to do if you’re interested in starting it. Watch out, though, Hulu hasn’t gotten their hands on the complete dubbed second season.
If you’re already a fan of the show, and if watching shows subbed isn’t a concern, then you’re in for even more luck. My Hero Academia is one of Hulu’s Simulcast Anime, so you can watch it as it airs in Japan!
This post was originally written by Tyler Krasnai.
Cowboy Bebop
Best Anime Shows on Hulu
A classic anime, Cowboy Bebop is considered a staple by many members of the community. Luckily, the show and its 2001 movie (Cowboy Bebop: The Movie) are available to stream on Hulu in its entirety. The story follows Spike Spiegel and his partner Jet Black on their journey as Cowboys – galactic, government-sanctioned Bounty Hunters aboard their ship, Bebop.
The show itself won several awards when it was released, and was the first anime to be broadcast on Adult Swim, the Late-Night, adult-oriented programming block of Cartoon Network, which is known for shows such as The Eric Andre Show and Rick and Morty.
Death Note
Best Anime Shows on Hulu
Death Note is often considered another staple, though it is not held in quite the same regard as Cowboy Bebop. Death Note follows the story of Light Yagami, a highly intelligent high school student who finds the Death Note, a notebook owned by the Shinigami Ryuk, which allows someone to kill any person, as long as they know their name and their face. The series follows Light as he goes on a crusade, using the Death Note to kill those who he believes are ruining society, such as criminals.
Death Note is a rather famous anime, but its reputation was tarnished by the Netflix live action adaptation of the series. If you’d much rather stick to the original anime, without even risking coming anywhere near the film, the show is available on Hulu, as well as most other popular streaming services.
Durarara!!
Best Anime Shows on Hulu
Durarara!! is an amazing show which has created a large community of its own. The series follows several main characters all living in Ikebukuro, a neighborhood in Japan. Each episode often switches the focus of the story. Some of the most important characters are Mikado Ryūgamine, a student from the country who wants to live in a big city, his childhood friend Masaomi Kida, a local urban legend, the Black Rider, and an Information Broker, Izaya Orihara.
The show, which is renowned for its incredible story and amazing characters, has many fans hoping for the release of a third season, a Durarara!!x3. Despite their hopes, and despite the continued sale of the Light Novel series, there has been no news about the future of the anime.
Assassination Classroom
Best Anime Shows on Hulu
The series Assassination Classroom is an unusual series that follows the students of class 3-E, who are tasked with killing their teacher Koro-sensei, an alien monster who destroyed most of earth’s moon, and will destroy Earth itself next if he cannot be killed before graduation.
Assassination Classroom’s excellent storytelling makes it a riveting story that people cannot stop watching. While some had doubts at first, it quickly became a fan favorite in the Funimation lineup.
The series was completed in 2016, so there’s no worry about needing to catch up before the release of any new content. All of the episodes are available on Hulu, both subbed and dubbed.
One-Punch Man
Best Anime Shows on Hulu
One-Punch Man is what many would consider an excellent blend of serious, dramatic action, and lighthearted comedy. The show follows Saitama, a 25-year old man who can defeat any opponent with a single punch. Saitama, who has seemingly no real super powers (he claims his power came from a daily training regimen of 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, a 10 km run, and a good diet.) is not even a registered Hero with the Hero Association.
The show was started after the viral web-comic of the same name, written by ONE, was picked up by the studio Madhouse. The web-comic has a digital manga recreation, and the English translation is being published by Viz Media in Weekly Shonen Jump, their flagship anime magazine.
The show is slated for a second season, but on Sept. 25, 2017, it was announced that they would be changing both its production company and director. This leaves the second season up in the air, but with the success of the series, as well as the success of ONE’s other title, Mob Psycho 100, it is incredibly unlikely that season two will be cancelled.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Best Anime Shows on Hulu
One of the most popular anime of all time, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is actually a remake of the earlier Fullmetal Alchemist. While the initial series was still met with much acclaim, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood was praised for sticking much closer to the manga as the source material. The series has been over for quite some time, and if you haven’t seen it you are missing out on one of the pinnacle pieces that prove Anime as an art form.
Kill la Kill
Best Anime Shows on Hulu
While the premise of the show seems bizarre at first, Kill la Kill is a fan-favorite for a lot more than just its conveniently plot-relevant fan service. The show follows Ryuko Matoi, a displaced young girl on the search for her father’s killer. Her journey takes her to Honnouji Academy, where she butts heads with Student Council President Satsuki Kiryuin. The show was made by Trigger, and it was their first original anime. The writer, Kazuki Nakashima, and the director, Hiroyuki Imaishi, both worked on another popular show, Gurren Lagan.
Chivalry of a Failed Knight
Best Anime Shows on Hulu
While the show Chivalry of a Failed Knight, an adaptation of one of the top selling light novel series of May 2016, had a rocky start, by the end of its first season it was receiving critical acclaim for its character building and world creation.
The show was simulcast exclusively by Hulu when it first aired, and remains exclusively streamed by the service today, as many fans quietly hope that they will announce a second season or a sequel.
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations
Best Anime Shows on Hulu
The sequel to the Naruto series, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations follows Naruto’s son, Boruto Uzamaki and his Ninja team, Sadara Uchiha and Mitsuki, as well as their leader, Konohamaru Sarutobi. The series takes place several years after the conclusion of The Last: Naruto The Movie, the conclusion to the initial Naruto series.
While the show has a much lighter tone in its initial episodes than its predecessor, events hint at much darker, more sinister things coming for Boruto and his friends. If you’re interested in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, now is your chance to catch up, before more content is released.
Log Horizon
Best Anime Shows on Hulu
A show with a similar premise to Sword Art Online, Log Horizon follows a group of people who wake up inside of the MMO Elder Tales as their in-game avatars. The series follows Shiroe, Akatsuki, and Naotsugu, three friends who are among thousands transported into the game world upon the release of Elder Tales’ 12th expansion pack, Homesteading the Noosphere. The three friends face several hardships in their attempts to figure out how the world works.
While the series was not as popular as the smash hit Sword Art Online, there are many people who prefer Log Horizon, due to what they say are more compelling characters and a more interesting story.
If there’s any other anime on Hulu that you enjoyed, be sure to leave a comment about it.
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