Ask any dedicated anime fan in the West how people generally consume the medium and they'll likely name some of the most well-known streaming platforms out there: Crunchyroll and HIDIVE for anime-specific services, and world-renowned platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ and HBO Max for more general entertainment sites that still contain large numbers of anime titles.

These services primarily focus on contemporary series and movies, from major global hits of the post-2000s to the newest seasonal offerings released every quarter. However, this left room for a still far lesser-known streaming service to enter the Western anime market in early 2020: the Cinedigm-owned RetroCrush.

RELATED: Crunchyroll vs. HIDIVE: What's the Better Streaming Site – And Which Has the Best Anime?

What Anime Are on the RetroCrush Streaming Service?

Official image for the Great Teacher Onizuka anime, available on RetroCrush

As its name suggests, RetroCrush is an anime streaming service that focuses heavily on providing access to classic titles, mostly from the 1970s-1990s. The platform first became available on March 30, 2020, via apps on iOS, Android and other smart devices, soon followed by a web browser version. Launching with the likes of Galaxy Express 999 (1978-81), Space Adventure Cobra (1982), Golgo 13 (1983), Cat's Eye (1983) and Black Jack: The Movie (1996), among numerous other offerings, the service now has roughly 100 individual titles, nearly all available in their original Japanese (and sometimes English-dubbed as well) with optional English subtitles.

Some of these anime are exclusive to RetroCrush, while others are incredibly hard to find elsewhere in the West even in hard copy format, especially with high-quality visuals and subtitles. Unfortunately, the service is currently only accessible to those living in the U.S. and Canada (although other users may be able to get around this by way of a VPN). Those who do gain access are able to watch classic anime shows and movies such as the original Astro Boy and Urusei Yatsura, Angel Cop, City Hunter, Bubblegum Crisis, Blue Seed, Vampire Princess Miyu and Great Teacher Onizuka, to name only a few examples. Viewers can also expect to run across a few entries that, if perhaps not yet quite "vintage," are either extremely difficult to track down otherwise or were heavily inspired by previous works in terms of tone or aesthetic, such as 07-Ghost, Yu-Gi-Oh!, The Twelve Kingdoms and even some boys' love titles like Gravitation and Gakuen Heaven.

RELATED: Boys' Love vs. Shonen-Ai vs. Yaoi: What's Actually the Difference?

How Does RetroCrush Compare to Crunchyroll and HIDIVE?

RetroCrush logo advertising the anime streaming service's live TV feature.

With its approximately 100 titles, RetroCrush cannot hope to match up in sheer size to the only two major anime-specific streaming services still available in the West, Crunchyroll and HIDIVE, which offer access to over 1,000 and roughly 500 different anime respectively. However, where RetroCrush comes into its own, other than providing a veritable treasure trove of rare and iconic titles from yesteryear, is its pricing. Unlike either Crunchyroll or HIDIVE -- or indeed just about any other major streaming platform out there -- RetroCrush's first tier is completely free with ads (which, happily, aren't too frequent or annoying). There's also a paid Premium tier for $4.99/month, which removes the ads and unlocks a few exclusive and uncensored titles, although this tier isn't necessary in order to enjoy the bulk of the RetroCrush library.

Combined with its nifty "live TV" feed, which broadcasts the platform's content 24/7 -- much to the delight of fans who like to work from home or relax with something cool playing unattended in the background -- RetroCrush certainly fills a solid niche within the anime community. Its comparatively small and vintage-focused catalog means it's no replacement for those seeking a nigh-on limitless supply of contemporary and new-season shows, as Crunchyroll and HIDIVE can provide. However, anyone with a preference for legendary classics, or even just anything old-school or well off-the-beaten-path, will likely greatly appreciate what RetroCrush has to offer.