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Available in the United States,VRVis a streaming service that combines different subscriptions: Crunchyroll, Mondo Media, and VRV Select. Out of those three, Crunchyroll’s library makes up the majority of VRV’s catalog, so anime fans are well served by the platform.
Costing $9.99 per month, VRV is certainly worth considering for those who have access to it or prefer its video player over Crunchyroll’s. Let’s take a look at some of thebest anime on VRVthat might not be as well-known as shows likeAttack on TitanorDemon Slayer.
To avoid overlap, this article excludes shows mentioned inthis collection covering the best anime on Crunchyroll. Please note that 99% of those series are on VRV. Conversely, the anime listed in this article are also on Crunchyroll.
Best Anime On VRV
Covering a wide spectrum of genres, VRV should have an anime to suit everyone’s needs. The service also has quite a few currently airing shows, but those will be omitted from this discussion.
Number of Episodes
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VRV has the entireA Certain Magical Indexfranchise, including the main series, its movie, Accelerator’s spin-off, andA Certain Scientific Railgun. Out of all those releases,Railgunis considered to be the strongest by quite a margin, particularly its sequel seasons. Revolving predominantly around Mikoto Misaka, the anime initially has a slice of life tone before it dives into pure sci-fi territory with arcs dealing with clones and identity. The Sisters Arc is a masterpiece.
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Familiarity withA Certain Magical Indexis not required to enjoyRailgunas the spin-off does a great job of re-establishing any recurring characters along with the franchise’s main setting, Academy City.
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Bunny Droptells the wholesome tale of a directionless adult adopting the illegitimate daughter of his grandfather. While their relationship gets off to a rocky start, Daikichi Kawachi and Rin Kaga quickly grow to love each other; in the meantime, they blossom as people.
Besides an uncomfortable but still fantastic pilot episode,Bunny Dropis relaxing and charming. Theslice of life animeis also firmly grounded in reality, both in the way the show presents its characters and its flashes of humor.
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Feel like watching a show about mahjong? Correction, feel like watching an extremely tense show about mahjong, life and death stakes, and an addiction to adrenaline?Akagiis named after its protagonist, a young gambler who cannot turn down a bet. Akagi also happens to be something of a genius when it comes to mahjong.
Similar to shows likeKaijiandOne Outs,Akagihas a seedy aesthetic that matches its suspenseful atmosphere. Animated by Madhouse, this anime grips viewers from the first second.
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Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuis arare breed of anime, one that covers a subject seldom touched upon by the industry. A single-person theatrical art, rakugo is on the decline in Japan, something Studio Deen explores through the experiences of its dual protagonists.
An ex-con, Yotaro is enamored by rakugo and asks Yakumo, a master, to take him on as an apprentice. Along with covering Yotaro’s growth as a person and performer,Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinjualso flashes back to reveal Yakumo’s history.
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Ecchi has a less-than-stellar reputation, being synonymous with low-effort shows that use fanservice as a crutch in lieu of interesting characters or engaging stories.Golden Boyis, in many ways, the quintessential ecchi anime, one that showcases nearly all the tropes associated with the genre. It is also a cult classic and one of the funniest series of the 1990s.
Kintaro travels across Japan seeking odd jobs and beautiful women, two avenues that simultaneously highlight the protagonist’s general incompetence and endearing charm.Golden Boyis still risky by today’s standards, but the show’s enduring legacy can be credited to its deft and diverse comedic touch.
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TheSpace Brothersin question as Mutta and Hibito, two siblings who made a promise to go to space. While the latter pursued this dream, the former dropped it somewhere along the way. When he loses his job, Mutta is encouraged by Hibito to once again aim for the stars.
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Space Brotherstakes a relatively realistic (and optimistic) look at the process of becoming an astronaut and space travel in general. Although quite slow-paced,Space Brothers' characters are very strong, particularly Mutta.
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After weathering an initial wave of criticism,Black Cloverquickly found its footing and developed into one of the better long-running battle shonen anime to debut in the 2010s. In a world that prioritizes magical prowess, Asta’s lack of magic appeared to doom him to a life defined by irrelevancy and powerlessness; however, this setback did nothing to discourage the orphan from pursuing his dream of becoming the Wizard King. Somehow, Asta receives a black grimoire despite his magical ineptitude, and he winds up joining the Magic Knight’s Black Bulls, a squad consisting of nothing but outcasts.
Black Cloverhas a great roster of characters, and the anime dedicates arcs to flesh out most of the Black Bulls. As the show progress, its storylines get progressively more ambitious and satisfying.
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A delightful twist on theshojo genre,My Love Story!!tells the heartwarming tale of Takeo Gouda and Rinko Yamato’s romance. Although he has a heart of gold, Takeo’s large frame tends to put girls off, most of whom usually feel attracted to his traditionally handsome friend, Makoto Sunakawa. Rinko is the exception.
My Love Story!!does not waste too much time in bringing Takeo and Rinko together, allowing the anime to explore their romantic relationship rather than just their journey toward one. They are also just adorable, and while their time together is not always smooth sailing, it is rarely stressful.
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The most classic of classic battle shonen anime,Fist of the North Star’s shadow washes over so many of the demographic’s greatest releases over the last three decades. Set in aMad Max-style post-apocalyptic world, the anime follows Kenshiro, a martial artist with strict rules and the ability to decimate people before they even know they have been hit.
Fist of the North Star’s animation is naturally dated since the show aired during the 1980s, but the anime’s storytelling holds up shockingly well, especially in the second half of its run. This series continues to bereferenced to this day for a reason– it is one of the all-time greats.
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Based on a manga by Atsushi Ookubo, the creator ofSoul Eater,Fire Forceis an action-packed shonen series that is likely to hit the mark for anyone fond of shows such asOne PieceandFairy Tail. In this universe, an event left most countries in flames and caused people to spontaneously combust, becoming Infernals in the process. Consequently, the Fire Force was created to stop these incidents.
Putting aside some polarizing comedy and fanservice,Fire Forceis mostly an easy watch. Theheroes are generally likable, while the villains are intimidating and interesting. The animation is also consistently good, particularly during the fight sequences.
From the same mind that blessed the world withOne-Punch MancomesMob Psycho 100, a series that expertly blends comedy, slice of life, action, and emotion. Shigeo Kageyama is an extremely powerful psychic who constantly pushes down his emotions to keep a lid on his abilities. With nobody to turn to for guidance, the soft-spoken teenager leads a life of solitude, at least until he finds a mentor in Reigen Arataka, a con artist pretending to be a spirit medium.
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Mob Psycho 100establishes a touching relationship between Shigeo and Reigen, one that permits both characters to flourish and grow. The action is also spectacular, although that is to be expected from an anime by Studio Bones.
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What would you give to receive a second chance at growing up?ReLIFEtakes this concept and runs with it. Set in a universe with de-aging technology, the directionless Arata Kaizaki is presented with the opportunity to return to high school as a student, all with the purpose that he uses this experience to properly contribute as an adult.
Wonderfully written and emotionally effective,ReLIFEuses its sci-fi premise as grounds to explore the psyches of not just Arata but also the anime’s secondary characters, particularly Chizuru Hishiro. Although comedic during its first few episodes,ReLIFEgradually shifts its focus to drama, and it handles both tones well.
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Full Metal Panic!comes in two forms: the primarily action-driven main series and theFumoffugag anime spin-off. Despite being very different beasts, both of these incarnations are stellar and do a great job of highlighting the strength ofFMP!’s characters.
Mecha fans should give the primary seasons a try, and the anime improves steadily as it goes along. For those who can take or leave the main show and are looking for a comedy similar tosomething likeGintama,Fumoffuis a must-watch.
to give them a specialized education, Japan assembles its best and brightest teenagers in a school that emphasizes autonomy and competitiveness. The academy puts its students through rigorous challenges, pitting classes against each other in physical and mental battles. Assigned to the worst class, Kiyotaka Ayanokouji is the definition of an average student, or at least that seems to be the case.
Classroom of the Eliteconsists of a series of mind-games, all of which present enthralling dilemmas that push the characters to their limit. The anime also loves a good twist and a lengthy monologue, and the writing is strong enough to make these scenes work. Season 3 has been announced for 2023, so this is the perfect time to binge the available episodes.
Based on a visual novel,The Fruit of Grisaiais aharem animefor those who do not like the genre’s typical releases. Yuuji Kazami transfers to a school that only has a couple of female students, and he quickly finds himself dealing with their issues.
RELATED:Best Harem Anime Of All Time
On the surface, that is a rather standard premise for a harem, however,The Fruit of Grisaiatakes its story to some dark and real places. A disconcerting sit at times,The Fruit of Grisaiais unsettling, complex, and suspenseful. The characters are all well-written, particularly the lead.
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Food Warswas hardly the first anime to take a shonen approach to the art of cooking, and some people might even argue thatYakitate!! Japandid it better. For all its exquisite cuisine, Japan cannot quite match some other countries when it comes to bread; at least, that’s until Kazuma Azuma shows up with hands seemingly designed by the gods to bake. The lovable protagonist joins Pantasia, a bakery, and sets out to change the bread game forever.
Yakitate!! Japanis absolutely hilarious, largely thanks to its fantastic roster of main characters. Azuma is a solid lead, but he is constantly overshadowed by the anime’s bigger personalities like Ken Matsushiro and Kyousuke Kawachi. Whether delivering a training arc or dropping the bakers in a tournament, this anime is just a joy to watch.
Best Non-Anime Series On VRV
A prequel to a French comic,Lastmanis a genre-bending adult cartoon that is packed to the brim with ’80s-esque action, twists, and clever writing. With each episode lasting 10 minutes,Lastmanmoves at a blistering but never overwhelming pace. Even as things go off the rails, the story still manages to make sense, even if things do not always work out well for the heroes. This is a mature series that is packed with violent scenes and also sexual content, so please keep that in mind before startingLastman.
Gary and His Demons
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A unique take on the Chosen One concept,Gary and His Demonsrefers to a hero who is long past his prime as a demon slayer. More than sick of this responsibility and feeling disconnected from his peers and the world he has dedicated decades to protecting, Gary’s “demons” are both literal and metaphorical. Created for the Mondo Media channel,Gary and His Demonsis only available on VRV, and it is one of the main reasons to pick up a subscription.
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Final Spaceis such a delight. Gary Goodspeed is a lovable idiot who winds up befriending an alien that can destroy planets, which unsurprisingly attracts quite a bit of danger. Funny, heartfelt, and filled with memorable twists,Final Spaceis a space opera that starts small and gradually expands to extraordinary lengths. Also, David Tennant voices the main villain, so that’s awesome. Unfortunately, VRV does not have season 3 of the show.
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A Canadian sci-fi series about three bounty hunters,Killjoysis simply a fun time. While not devoid of ideas that might inspire discussion, this show predominantly focuses on delivering entertaining action, witty dialogue, and fun characters. The leads are all charismatic and bounce off each other brilliantly, while the minor characters are generally memorable in their own right.Killjoysis the perfect series to throw on when someone wants to shut their brain off for a couple of hours.
TheSummer 2022 anime seasonhasFuuto Pi, a sequel to 2009’s live-actionKamen Rider W. These two shows are just a drop in the bucket that is this universe, one that has been around since 1971. Since then, there have been more than 30Kamen Ridertokusatsu series, along with dozens upon dozens of movies, specials, and games. The franchise, as a whole, can be overwhelming, but VRV does provide an entry point by containing three seasons in its ranks.
The streaming service has the originalKamen Rider, 2002’sKamen Rider Ryuki, and 2019’sKamen Rider Zero-One. All of these series highlight different eras in the franchise, and they serve as a solid introduction to this vast catalog of content.Zero-Oneis particularly great.
In the United States, people might be familiar withPower Rangers, a decades-long property featuring charmingly cheesy acting, mechas, and corny villains. That beloved series is based onSuper Sentai, withPower Rangers' fight sequences being derived from the iconic Japanese franchise. Debuting during the mid-1970s,Super Sentaiis currently on its 46th season, and the series has shown no indication that it plans to slow down anytime soon.
RELATED:Best Sentai Anime Ranked
VRV has most of the ’90s seasons, along with a few that spilled over into the early 2000s. While they do occasionally reference other eras, most seasons attempt to do their own thing in order to not put off newcomers. Also, just to be clear,Super Sentaiis notPower Rangers. The Japanese show has a considerably darker, more mature tone, making it arguably a better fit for older viewers.
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Arguably one of the most influential shows of all time,Mystery Science Theater 3000legacy can be seen inRifftraxand the myriad of YouTube channels dedicated to comedic commentary. In the grand scheme of things, VRV only has a small selection ofMST3Kgoodness, but each episode is 90 minutes long. Therefore, this is still a lot of material to get through, and it is all quality.
