Anime opens the door to a vibrant world filled with high-energy adventure and deeply emotional drama. With the largest library of anime titles anywhere, Crunchyroll brings you the best of the genre—with many episodes available one hour after they air in Japan. Here’s your guide to some of the must-see genres and shows.
Start with shonen
If you’re looking for all the hallmarks of anime—action, adventure, epic journeys—dive into shonen. In My Hero Academia, a boy without superpowers learns to make his mark in a world where teleportation and other “quirks” are the norm. For something a bit darker, watch Attack on Titan, which follows humanity’s battle against humanoid robots.
Warm up to shojo
Shojo offers heartfelt stories about romance and personal growth. The Apothecary Diaries tells the tale of Maomao, a young maid in the emperor’s court who secretly practices medicine. Or take a tour of Japan’s scenic landscapes in Laid-Back Camp, in which Nadeshiko embarks on camping adventures with her high school friends.
Unravel a mystery
Anime knows a thing or two about suspenseful whodunits. In Owarimonogatari, a teen survives a vampire attack and finds himself helping others with their supernatural problems. And in Erased, a young manga artist gets sent back in time to change the future.
Meet the mecha
Yes, it’s about giant robots, but on a deeper level the mecha genre explores the impact of technology on war and society. A highlight is Full Metal Panic!, in which a covert military team must protect a teenage girl with special abilities. If you want to go retro, try Beast King GoLion, the predecessor to one of the all-time greats: Voltron.
Chuckle along with a comedy
Comedy is an underrated anime genre, but even the most serious shonen has a touch of comic relief. For shows with a higher laugh quotient try Asobi Asobase: Workshop of Fun, a surreal, slapstick slice-of-life comedy series about prank-happy junior high school girls; Great Teacher Onizuka, about a former motorcycle-gang member who teaches at an esteemed private school; and Konosuba, which serves up its laughs with a heavy dose of fantasy.
