Crunchyroll is one of the leading anime streamers, offering series from across the entire genre spectrum. But with such a massive catalog that spans decades of animation from Japan, Korea, and China, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out what to watch next. Luckily, there is a massive fan base eager to share what shows have the most hype and a website that will aggregate that consensus into a handy percentage. So, if you’re looking for your next binge that’s guaranteed to hit like you’re in my own personal Domain Expansion, then check out these titles.
For more recommendations, check out our list of 4 Anime Shows With a 100% Rotten Tomatoes Score on Prime Video Right Now and 8 Anime Shows With a 100% Rotten Tomatoes Score on Netflix Right Now.
Disclaimer: These titles are available in the US.
‘DanDaDan’ (2024 – Present)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 8.4/10
- Release Date
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September 13, 2024
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Natsuki Hanae
Ken Okarun Takakura
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Shion Wakayama
Momo Ayase
Starting with one of the biggest surprise hits of last year, DanDaDan has sprinted back into our lives with its limited theatrical run of the Evil Eye Arc, so season two will officially kick off soon. That makes this the perfect time to catch up on this perfect mix of paranormal sci-fi drama with a hint of slow-burn romance. If you’re not already on the hype train, well toot-toot — this is your chance to hop on and revel in the irreverent teen comedy following two high schoolers, Momo and Okarun, whose lives become intertwined on a fateful night where they encounter aliens and a ghostly grandma on the same night.
‘Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End’ (2023 – Present)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 8.9/10
This one’s for all the Dungeons & Dragons lovers out there! Anyone who’s played a long campaign and beaten the big bad knows the ache of letting go of your characters, then imagining all the ways the world would be shaped by their deeds and what they get up to long after your adventuring party has moved onto another campaign. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is exactly that exploration of how the world changes after the heroes save the day. Told from the perspective of the titular long-lived elf, series creator Kanehito Yamada tells a contemplative story about human connection, regret, and cherishing the little things. But make no mistake, just because the show has rich themes and a fantasy slice-of-life feel doesn’t mean it can’t kick major butt. With Madhouse providing the animation, you already know it’s going to take your breath away.
‘Solo Leveling’ (2024 – Present)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 8.6/10
- Release Date
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January 7, 2024
- Directors
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Shunsuke Nakashige
- Writers
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Noboru Kimura
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Taito Ban
Shun Mizushino (voice)
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Genta Nakamura
Kenta Morobishi (voice)
After winning Crunchyroll’s award for Anime of the Year, you already knew this was going to be on the list. As one of the most-talked-about adaptations of the last two years, Solo Leveling is a feast for the eyes with an extra level of care from the dubbing team, whose love of Chugong’s webnovel-turned-webtoon oozes from every line. (Shout out to main character VA Aleks Le and Dubbing Director Caitlin Glass for their dedication to preserving the heart of the characters.) Though there is a power fantasy element to this story about a man who gains the ability to grow stronger in a world where everyone has a ceiling on their magical potential, the standout aspect of the series is the way protagonist Sung Jin-woo uses his power to help the weak and protect his family, all while farming enough aura to fill an orchard.
‘Spy X Family’ (2022 – Present)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 8.3/10
- Release Date
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April 9, 2022
- Directors
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Kazuhiro Furuhashi, Takahiro Harada
- Writers
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Kazuhiro Furuhashi, Ichirō Ōkouchi
This comedy about a spy and an assassin pretending to be a family with an adorable psychic daughter is equal parts wholesome, romantic, and kick-ass. Tatsuya Endo creates a wonderful world of espionage that feels like it could only exist in a larger-than-life manga or anime that uses the main trio’s skills as a medium to explore the political landscape while turning the found family trope up to 11. Many Spy X Family fans talk about how they would die for Anya, the telepathic toddler, and that’s a given, but the will-they-won’t-they between the pretend parents is equally tantalizing as they dance around their secrets and budding feelings.
‘Cowboy Bebop’ (1998 – 1999)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 8.9/10
Speaking of great dubs, even in the trenches of the age-old Subs vs. Dubs debate, there is generally a consensus that the English dub of Cowboy Bebop is one of the best in the game. The iconic performances of Steve Blum, Wendee Lee, and Beau Billingslea live in the minds of many older anime fans as their first exposure to the depth and thoughtfulness of this space Western that cemented their love for complex animated storytelling. But even if you’re stubborn and prefer your rag-tag space bounty hunters lamenting about loneliness and trauma in the original Japanese, which also features amazing vocal performances, you have both options available on the platform. Either way, the soundtrack will still slap!
‘Trigun Stampede’ (2023)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 7.3/10
Similar to Bebop, Trigun Stampede is a sci-fi Western, but this reimagining of Yasuhiro Nightow’s manga smashes onto the scene with fresh 3D animation and a whole new world to explore. The original Trigun was a classic that many hold dear as their first foray into anime, so Director Kenji Mutō and studio Orange had some big shoes to fill, and luckily, they stepped up in a big way. The new animation style and emphasis on fantastical worldbuilding push the series into a new realm that complements the Western aesthetic by coupling it with futuristic technology while keeping true to the themes surrounding humanity and redemption. Plus, fans of the original series will be thrilled to hear Johnny Yong Bosch reprise his role as the Human Typhoon in the dub.
‘Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead’ (2024)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 7.3/10
Haro Aso’s post-apocalyptic zombie comedy feels like it captures the spirit of Gen Z and Millennials in a way that not a lot of media has. We’re all just waiting for the world to end so we don’t have to go to work the next day, and Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead gives us that catharsis through great characters and a delightful use of color and action. The way the world moves from the dreary, desaturated tones of living in a mundane world while enduring a toxic work environment to the hope of finally having time to pursue one’s dreams immediately injecting the world with a newfound vibrance is exactly what many of us long to feel, and it’s all there in 12 beautiful episodes.
‘Paranoia Agent’ (2004 – 2005)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 8.0/10
You know I have to wrap this up with the ultimate team-up between the late, great Satoshi Kon and studio Madhouse — two great flavors that taste great together. Paranoia Agent is a trip that is best taken more than once, as the mindbending story features a series of lightly connected vignettes tied together by two detectives investigating a mysterious assailant who is supposedly hitting citizens across Tokyo with a bent golden bat. But at the heart of each encounter is the exploration of mass hysteria, paranoia, and the ripple effects of a dangerous lie. Kon uses his signature style of storytelling that uses a mix of fluid and stylized animation to capture a sense of dread, fear, or sadness, all wrapped in a visually stunning package.