When it comes to streaming anime, viewers tend to stick to the more mainstream platforms. Though there are tons of titles on dedicated anime streaming services like Crunchyroll and Funimation — as well as platforms like Netflix, Hulu and even Prime Video — these aren't the only sources for great anime.
HIDIVE has a wide array of choices across multiple genres from yesteryear to more recent series, many of which are exclusive to the platform. From classic space operas and maid harems to human interest stories and mecha extravaganzas, there's something for everyone on HIDIVE.
Updated by Sage Ashford on March 29th, 2023: HIDIVE is mostly known for having classic anime from the '80s and '90s that people can't get anywhere else, like Patlabor or Aura Battler Dunbine. That said, there are also plenty of new seasonal and classic anime added that could appeal to hardcore fans too. Though they can't hope to compare to larger streaming services, we've added several more series to show off the newer anime fans can find on HIDIVE.
Tokyo Mew Mew New
2022
Tokyo Mew Mew New exists for the fans who think there haven’t been enough remakes in the magical girl genre. The series is set around Ichigo Momomiya, whose date with her crush Masaya gets ruined when a strange animal-like creature attacks.
Fortunately for Ichigo Momomiya, she’s been given powers to deal with the creature. Unfortunately for her, it means she’s in charge of gathering the other girls with similar powers so they can save the world! Tokyo Mew Mew New brings a familiar story to an all-new audience, hopefully with a bit more accuracy to the manga.
I'm Quitting Heroing
2022
I’m Quitting Heroing feels remarkably like it should be an isekai, but is a standard fantasy. The series takes place in a world where its protagonist Leo Demonheart helped humanity to defeat the Demon Queen and her army, only to be shunned after their victory.
With nowhere else to go, Leo seeks employment with the very demons he’d already defeated. Though he’s denied by their Queen, the Demon Queen’s generals, the Elite Four, allow Leo the opportunity to prove himself. A surprisingly solid comedy-action series, I’m Quitting Heroing has just enough twists and turns to keep fans hooked.
Urusei Yatsura
2022-Present
Urusei Yatsura was once one of the most popular anime on television. Yet another masterpiece from Rumiko Takahashi, the series follows protagonist Ataru Moroboshi after he’s asked to help save the world from an alien empire.
Ataru has one task: win a game of tag against the alien princess Lum. Though he succeeds, it creates a new problem for him: Lum now believes Ataru is her fiancee, which creates serious problems between Ataru and his actual girlfriend. David Production has given this classic exactly the love and care necessary to make it worth checking out for new and old fans alike.
Shine Post
2022
Though the quality isn’t always there, the idol genre continues to be a mainstay in anime. That said, Shine Post is one of the better additions to the genre. The series centers on an idol unit named TiNgS, a group close to being forced to disband thanks to their lack of popularity.
When the group is placed under the idol-loving manager Naoki Hinase though, they find themselves with their first chance at seeing actual success. Fans looking for a basic idol series might find themselves surprised though, as there’s plenty of backstory and character development packed into the series.
Saiyuki Reload Zeroin
2022
Saiyuki might be the most consistently inconsistent franchise out there. The series was a massive success during the 2000s, but made only sporadic appearances throughout the 2010s. Still, the series made a comeback with Saiyuki Reload: Zeroin at the start of 2022.
This time around, Sanzou and his friends run into a traveling priest with strange powers that allow him to bring back the dead. This series is largely going to appeal to the most hardcore Saiyuki fans, as it's a more faithful adaptation of a specific part of the manga. Hopefully, it means a return to adapting Saiyuki on a more consistent basis.
Sword Oratoria
2017
The DanMachi universe is one that's begging to be explored through more angles than just Bell Cranel and Hestia. So when J.C.Staff announced Sword Oratoria, it was easy to understand why. This time around, the story focuses on the Sword Princess herself, Aiz Wallenstein.
While Aiz is one of the most powerful members in the series normally, Sword Oratoria follows the Loki Familia on their journeys into the Dungeon. While Aiz aims to become a better sword fighter, the rest of the Loki Familia all have their own goals they're aiming toward, and working together has become the best way for them all to become successful.
Rin-Ne
2015-2017
Only a legend like Rumiko Takahashi could create so many iconic anime series and still have something left in the tank. Kyoukai no Rinne provides another twist on the Inuyasha formula of a magical guy paired with a girl who's not quite so magical but is "special" nonetheless. Unlike Inuyasha, though, Rin-ne is a more comedic series.
The protagonist of Rin-ne is Rinne Rokudou, a young man who always finds himself broke because he has to pay for all his exorcism equipment. Rinne's world changes when he meets Sakura Mamiya, a classmate who can see ghosts. Though Sakura initially believes Rinne is just another ghost since no one can see him, she realizes he's something completely different and gradually gets drawn into his world.
Real Girl
2018-2019
Real Girl is a cute romantic comedy following two teenagers who couldn't be any more different. First is Iroha Igarashi, a girl whose beauty has made her the envy of the other girls at school, causing them to spread nasty rumors about her. Then, there's Hikari Tsutsui, an otaku who spends most of his time caught up in manga and video games to avoid dealing with his classmates.
When Iroha and Hikari are forced to work together to clean the school pool, they find themselves coming closer than they thought possible. Though Real Girl's first season is a little weak, the second season makes up for it several times over, as they expand the characters involved and show how all the people wind up in committed relationships.
Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto
2016
Sakamoto is exactly the kind of ridiculous gag anime people need as a break from the more serious shows. Sakamoto is the perfect protagonist — literally. He's charismatic, smart, and good at school. His talents make him the subject of envy from all the boys there, who go out of their way to try to bring him down a peg.
Despite their best efforts, Sakamoto can't be broken. The pranks never work, and even the people who try to fight him just end up becoming friends with him. Though Sakamoto is a walking Gary Stu, the fact the series is completely self-aware keeps the series watchable. It also only runs for 12 episodes, meaning the show never has a chance to get stale.
You're Under Arrest
1996
You're Under Arrest was a popular '90s seinen series that became such a hit that it spawned multiple seasons, an OVA, and a live-action drama. It's not a complex series; it focuses on two policewomen operating out of the Bokuto Precinct.
Natsumi and Miyuki are supposed to just do the usual job for police at their level, writing tickets and making sure kids walk across crosswalks safely. However, their sense of justice is so strong they frequently get pulled into much bigger cases. You're Under Arrest is a slice-of-life series at heart, but it has plenty of action to keep anyone looking for more from ever getting bored.
Spy Classroom
2023-Present
One of the newer Winter series, Spy Classroom takes place in an alternate history timeline. There, society was nearly consumed by a massive war until governments decided to use spycraft in place of direct conflict. The series focuses on a young spy-in-training named Lily, who's close to flunking out of spy school.
However, Lily gets one last chance when she joins the team Lamplight. The team is given something known as an "Impossible Mission," where they're asked to infiltrate an enemy country after only a single month of training. Fortunately, they've got the best spy in the country to teach them. Unfortunately, he has no idea how to teach his own skills.
Sakura Wars
2000-2001
Sakura Wars is an adaptation of the popular SEGA franchise. The series follows Sakura, a country girl who travels to the city hoping to protect it from dangerous yokai. As a member of the Imperial Flower Division, Sakura gets her chance, but it turns out to be much harder than she ever dreamed.
It isn't enough to be a talented fighter — Sakura must learn to pilot a giant robot to protect the city. To do that, she has to become a member of the Flower Division's theater troupe, which means learning how to perform alongside her fellow allies. With strong characters and great mecha designs, Sakura Wars is a must-watch for mecha fans.
Call Of The Night
2022
Kou Yamori is a middle school student who struggles with insomnia. While traveling the streets, Kou meets a young woman named Nazuna. Nazuna immediately takes an interest in Kou, which seems strange until she reveals she's actually a vampire.
Curious about the life of a vampire, Kou decides he'd like to become one as well. However, in this world, becoming a vampire requires falling in love first. A beautifully animated series, Call of the Night is a cute shonen romance that any romance fan will want to try.
Hakkenden
2013
Hakkenden focuses on a trio of survivors of a destroyed village: Shino, Sosuke, and Hamaji. When Hamaji is kidnapped by the Imperial Church to force Shino to give up the cursed blade within his body, Shino and Sosuke are forced to go after her.
On their journey, the two of them are told it's their responsibility to track down six other people who each hold a powerful bead that had been used in the past to fight back in the time of darkness. A popular series that ran for two seasons, Hakkenden is yet more proof that shojo can be just as good with fantasy action as shonen.
Giant Beasts Of Ars
2023-Present
Giant Beasts of Ars is another newer television series, but one that's surprisingly good. In this alternate fantasy world, humanity struggles against massive beasts who lay waste to the lands with ease. Their only hope comes down to unions between human champions called nagimori and magical beings known a kannagi.
Giant Beasts of Ars begins when a Nagimori named Jiiro meets a new magic being named Kumi. Jiiro agrees to help Kumi escape from the lab where she was born, taking them on a journey across Ars. A rare case where a fantasy series is good at worldbuilding without being an isekai, Giant Beasts is exactly the kind of fresh approach to fantasy anime needs.
GetBackers
2002-2003
The GetBackers was a classic anime series from the early 2000s. The story followed Mido Ban and Amano Ginji, a group that was known as the Get Backers for their willingness to retrieve any item. Like any good protagonist group, the pair finds themselves struggling for money constantly, which pushes them to take on even the most dangerous quests.
Fortunately, they've got the experience and the powers to survive even in their dangerous city. GetBackers is basically Gangsta for shonen fans. It's got the same vibes and even more ridiculous powers to show off throughout the series.
Orguss
1983-1984
Super Dimension Century Orguss takes place in the near-future of 2062. There, a pilot named Kei Katsuragi activates a special super weapon that seems to have split reality, allowing several alternate dimensions and timelines to interact with their own. This is exactly the kind of weirdness that should be expected from early' 80s mecha anime series, so most fans should know what they're signing up for.
While this series isn't directly connected to Macross or even its creator, Shoji Kawamori, it is part of a group of "Superdimension" projects. All three projects — Macross, Orguss, and Southern Cross — featured similar themes and the same producer in Big West. This series didn't catch on as much as Macross, but it's still worth watching for mecha lovers.
Vinland Saga
2019-Present
By now, everyone should be aware of Vinland Saga. The popular series offers fans an epic storyline focused on a young man's quest for revenge. As a child, Thorfinn witnessed his father killed by the viking Askeladd. Now, Thorfinn vows to get revenge. However, without the strength to beat Askeladd, he's forced to travel with Askeladd and his mercenaries until he becomes strong enough to win.
Along the way, Thorfinn finds himself pulled into the affairs of the English and the Danes. With plenty of source material to draw on, viewers can feel positive about immersing themselves in this world, knowing it'll be a while before the story wraps up.
Ahiru No Sora
2019-2020
Ahiru No Sora follows Sora Kurumatani, a young man with a passion for basketball. He just has one problem: he's far too short to be taken seriously. Still, he continues to practice, improving his skills however he can. Transferring to Kuzuryu High School, Sora tries to join the basketball team, hoping to improve his skills further.
While joining the club, Sora learns that the basketball team seemingly has no interest in basketball. However, Sora refuses to give up, and his passion ignites something in the other players to convince them to play as well. While Ahiru No Sora is far from Kuroko no Basket, it's still a great show for sports fans.
Bodacious Space Pirates
2012
Bodacious Space Pirates has no business being as good as it is. The series focuses on a young girl named Marika Katou, who's a member of her town's space yacht club. However, when her dad passes, Marika learns that she's inherited something from him: a space pirate ship. Her father was a legendary space pirate, complete with his own dangerous crew and ship known as the Bentenmaru.
Though Marika doesn't yet have the skill of her dad, it doesn't stop her from attempting to learn more about him by leading this powerful crew. Bodacious Space Pirates could've easily been a boring show full of fan service. Instead, the writers turned it into a legitimate outer space adventure series.