As Disney+ is about to launch, other streaming services will be challenged by the sheer number of Disney properties that attract fans to their site. With the company's acquisitions of Fox, Star Wars, and Marvel, it's hard to overlook just how impressive their media collection is. That said, there is one thing Disney lacks that other streaming services offer: anime.
Whether one enjoys high fantasy epics, giant mechs, or psychological thrillers, there is an anime series for everyone. Fans used to be limited by what they could watch on TV or rent at a video store, but streaming allows anime lovers to indulge in their favorite series at any time. Hulu in particular has acquired a huge anime collection.
Here are ten awesome series available on Hulu there right now!
10 Gundam Wing
One of the best mech anime ever made, Gundam Wing has a massive cult following. Set in a world where humanity has colonized space, the series opens as a war between Earth and the colonies seems inevitable. To prepare for this war, the colonies sent five mech pilots to Earth to attack strategic targets with their specialized Gundam mobile suits.
The protagonist, Heero Yuy, is among the most brooding and antisocial characters in anime (which is really saying something). Gradually, he discovers he was not the only pilot sent on the same cover mission. As Heero and the other pilots work to stop Earth-based organization OZ, they become entangled in plots as the war escalates into a conflict they can barely recognize!
9 My Hero Academia
Superheroes are generally considered more of a part of Western media, but this anime series does a great job of capturing the same superpowered drama most fans get from DC and Marvel. In a world where the majority of people have powers, the protagonist, Izuku Midoriya, is among the few who don't.
When Izuku is given powers by another hero, All Might, he begins to attend U.A. High School (which is basically Hogwarts for superheroes). Right now, this amazing action-packed series has the first three seasons available on Hulu. The fourth season of My Hero Academia only has a few episodes out so far, but those are also available on the streaming site!
8 Afro Samurai
Set in a futuristic feudal world where katanas and six shooters exist alongside cell phones, this visually stunning martial arts series takes inspiration from Westerns, hip hop, and classic samurai period dramas. The plot is centered around the titular Afro Samurai--a skilled swordsman who seeks to avenge the murder of his father against Justice, a man whose headband grants him the powers of a god.
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The fight scenes in this show are positively Kurosawa-esque with a muted color palate and creative scene construction enhancing the stylized movements of combatants. Plus, Samuel L. Jackson and Ron Perlman voice the leads in the English dub!
7 Fairy Tail
There is no shortage of fantasy anime, but while most series seem to focus on tales inspired by Japanese folklore or magic being used in modern-day Tokyo, Fairy Tail is among the few which capture the classic high fantasy motifs inspired by Western literary traditions.
This sprawling tale of magic, dragons, adventuring groups, and feudal kingdoms focuses on the wizard Natsu Dragneel, a pink-haired fire-mage who suffers from motion sickness and has enhanced senses. Right now, the first seven seasons are available to stream on Hulu. Watching it makes for a truly magical experience.
6 Tokyo Ghoul
This urban fantasy is the best vampire anime since Hellsing Ultimate came to an end. In this world, vampires are known as ghouls and Tokyo is suffering attacks from the blood-suckers. After the protagonist Kan Kaneki becomes a half-ghoul following a surgery, his life is cast into disarray as he's caught up in the conspiracies threatening the ghoul community.
Tokyo Ghoul replicates the stylings of the horror-tinged modern fantasies that rose to prominence in the 80s and 90s, its macabre carnage and grim depressing inevitability accented by philosophical musings and gothic aesthetics. Frankly, it's just a bloody good show.
5 Samurai Champloo
Samurai Champloo stands out as a masterpiece in the samurai genre of anime known as chambara, tales of sword-fighting adventure set in Japan's feudal past. This series has three protagonists: the ill-mannered brigand Mugen, the stiff disciplined samurai Jin, and the girl Fuu who travels with them seeking a samurai who smells like sunflowers.
The series was known for its creative and dynamic action scenes as well as its hip hop stylings, both credited to the visionary talent of director Shinichiro Watanabe. The only downside of this series is that it ended after a mere two seasons, leaving fans yearning for more.
4 Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebop is considered one of the best space westerns of all time, which should be no surprise since this anime was also directed by the creative genius Shinichiro Watanabe. The show took visual inspiration from classic martial arts and sci-fi cinema while using a soundtrack that mixed jazz and the blues.
The characters are bounty hunters traveling together through space, including the gifted martial artist Spike Spiegel, a stoic ex-cop with a cybernetic arm named Jet Black, the amnesiac Faye Valentine who awoke from cryo-sleep, and a kid called Ed. Hulu recently added an English dub so fans can watch it either in English or Japanese.
3 Dragon Ball
The origin of the whole Dragon Ball franchise, this series follows the young Saiyan Son Goku and the blue-haired human girl Bulma as they go about adventures together in search of the powerful Dragon Balls that--when brought together--summon the dragon Shenron who can grant a person's wish. While the sequel series Dragon Ball Z demonstrated a more mature adult Goku, the original Dragon Ball focused on him as a superhumanly strong child whose naive innocence and feral reactionary behavior provided plenty of humor.
While the English dub is still unavailable on Hulu, the original Japanese voice acting is incredibly well done. Watch to see how Son Goku became the legend fans know and love.
2 One-Punch Man
The antithesis of other action anime, One-Punch Man tells the story of Saitama, the most powerful man on Earth who can defeat his enemies with (wait for it!) just one punch. While the majority of anime with super strong protagonists focus on their battles to defeat even stronger opponents as they push themselves to overcome new challenges, the greatest threat to Saitama is succumbing to boredom and depression.
This deconstruction of anime tropes is constantly referencing other famous shows, but it holds up just fine on its own. Hulu has both seasons of this knockout shonen series.
1 Akira
To call Akira the greatest anime film ever made is not a controversial statement. Set in the dystopian future of Neo-Tokyo, the story examines civil unrest in a totalitarian state where human experimentation, biker gangs, and anti-government terrorism are just some of the threats facing society.
The animators employed new techniques to showcase the lights of the city and bring to life the movements of gangs racing their bikes through crowded streets. The bleak future dystopia with its corrupt regime is depicted as occurring in the distant year of 2019. Stream it now to enjoy the horrors of a future run amok in real time!