Anime watchers have a lot of options these days. They have come a long way from the days of keeping track of fansubs to the present times when they can watch the latest episode mere hours after its release on Crunchyroll, Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime.
However, most of these services require a subscription whose costs can quickly add up. So, if you’re looking for a place to watch anime for free, your best bet is Tubi TV. Isn’t Tubi TV mainly for live-action movies and TV shows? Is there anime too on Tubi TV?
The answer is yes. Tubi TV has plenty to offer to viewers in terms of both dubbed and subbed anime. It has a surprisingly impressive collection that includes both anime movies and series.
The best part is that it is completely free and you only have to watch a few ads to stream your favorite anime.
Want to explore anime on Tubi TV? Then check out this list of the best anime on Tubi that includes recommendations for the best dubbed anime on Tubi, the best romance anime on Tubi, and the most popular anime on Tubi.
You can watch from a series of categories that include romance anime, detective anime, horror anime, samurai anime, masterpiece anime, action anime movies, sad anime movies, yuri anime, vampire anime, witch anime, vampire anime girl, and Dragon Anime
Contents
6 Best Anime Movies on Tubi
Millennium Actress
Japanese Title: Sennen Joyu
Studio: Madhouse
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Millennium Actress Review
Directed by the legendary Satoshi Kon, Millennium Actress is loosely based on the lives of Japanese actresses Setsuko Hara and Hideko Takamine. A pair of documentary filmmakers are investigating the life of a retired actress Chiyoko Fujiwara.
The distinction between cinema and reality then gradually begins to blur as she narrates her life story to them.
Millennium Actress is a unique glimpse into the history of Japan’s film industry. It is an emotionally rich story that wonders about the place of movies in people’s personal and collective subconsciousness.
Liz and the Blue Bird
Japanese Title: Rizu to Aoi Tori
Studio: Kyoto Animation, Bandai Namco Arts, Pony Canyon, Rakuonsha, Animation DO
IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
Liz and the Blue Bird Review
Two friends Mizore and Nozomi prepare for a concert with their high school’s wind instrument band. As their story plays out, various fairy tales on which their musical pieces are based are also depicted.
While Liz and the Blue Bird is a sequel to the Sound! Euphonium anime series, it works fine as a standalone movie as well. It has an amazing soundtrack and animation but the star here is the personalities and relationship between the main characters.
As the best friends Mizore and Nozomi grow distant because of their insecurities and jealousy, director Naoko Yamada skillfully explores the themes of loneliness, misperceptions of people and letting go of unrealistic dreams. Check out Liz and the Blue Bird on Tubi for its beautifully honest depiction of human insecurity and vulnerability and the importance of communication for healthy relationships.
Ghost in the Shell
Japanese Title: Kokaku Kidotai
Studio: Production I.G, Bandai Visual, Manga Entertainment
IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
Ghost in the Shell Review
Adapted from Masamune Shirow’s manga series, Ghost in the Shell is one of the most recognizable anime movies ever. The film takes place in 2029 Japan where technology has evolved enough to allow people to augment their bodies with cybernetics.
In this world, Major Motoko Kusanagi is a cyborg public security agent in Public Security Section 9. She takes on cases that threaten to tear apart the society including that of a mysterious hacker known as the Puppet Master.
As Motoko hunts the Puppet Master, she has to grapple with questions about what it means to be a human and the challenges of self-identity in a technologically advanced world.
Putting aside the thrilling story, Ghost in the Shell is a visual treat for anime fans. It has a thought-provoking and complex plot that combined with stunning animation and a haunting score creates an experience that has been matched by very few anime films.
In This Corner of the World
Japanese Title: Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni
Studio: MAPPA
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
In This Corner of the World Review
In This Corner of the World is a wartime drama film based on Fumiyo Kono’s manga series of the same. Set in the 1930s-40s Hiroshima and Kure in Japan, it deals with the lead-up to and the aftermath of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima.
The protagonist Suzu lives in a seaside town near Hiroshima whose life becomes increasingly strained as the threat of the Pacific War looms over her idyllic town. It is a story of death, loss and tragedy based on real incidents and facts of the lost townscape of pre-war Hiroshima.
In This Corner of the World is a poignant film that offers a ground-level perspective on one of the most horrifying events in the history of modern Japan. The film is often praised for its entrancing screenplay and beautiful hand-drawn animation style.
Penguin Highway
Japanese Title: Penguin Haiwei
Studio: Studio Colorido
IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
Penguin Highway Review
Aoyama is a young boy whose town is suddenly flooded with penguins. This species is known to follow a singular path called the “Penguin Highway”. Aoyama is determined to find out why the penguins are coming to his town and he is aided in this quest by a mysterious lady who seems to have some connection to the penguins.
The world of Penguin Highway is full of optimism as Aoyama ventures out to find the truth about the penguins. A coming-of-age tale with science fiction elements, it is a fresh story that treats its characters with empathy as they try to navigate a world that is not completely logical and where strange events like the appearance of penguins take place.
The Princess and the Pilot
Japanese Title: To Aru Hikushi e no Tsuiko
Studio: Madhouse, TMS Entertainment
IMDb Rating: 7.0/10
The Princess and the Pilot Review
The Princess and the Pilot is an adaptation of Koroku Inumura’s light novel of the same name. One of the best anime movies on Tubi, it revolves around mercenary aerial pilot Charles Karino who is tasked with flying Princess Juana del Moral over enemy waters so that she can reunite with her Prince.
Charles comes closer to Juana as he proceeds with the mission and they learn each other’s character and history. They form an emotional attachment while enduring hardships and trying to survive and defeat enemy attacks.
The Princess and the Pilot’s strength lies in its animation which maintains its beauty from the first to the last frame. It is a film perfect for fans of old-school adventure romances.
10 Best Anime Series on Tubi
Naruto
Japanese Title: Naruto
Studio: Pierrot
Number of Episodes: 220
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Naruto Review
Is there anyone who doesn’t know Naruto? After all, It was the gateway anime for a large part of the anime community and continues to be a beloved series even today.
An adaptation of Masashi Kishimoto’s manga of the same name, this iconic series follows a young ninja Naruto Uzumaki who dreams of becoming the leader or Hokage of his village and earning the recognition of his peers.
Sasuke Uchiha, a fellow Team 7 ninja, is his rival. The third member of their team is Sakura Haruno on whom Naruto has a crush.
Naruto takes place during the titular character’s pre-teen years while Naruto: Shippuden takes place during the trio’s teenage years.
It is a long-running anime that beautifully depicts Naruto and his peers’ journey as they mature and become better ninjas. The liberal references to Confucianism and Japanese mythology add more layers to the story. Spotting and decoding the references is itself a fun game.
While Naruto is a shounen anime, its themes of coming-of-age, friendship, dealing with tragedy and loss and moving on would appeal to people of all ages and not just pre-teens.
Also read: The best websites to watch Naruto
Cowboy Bebop
Japanese Title: Kauboi Bibappu
Studio: Sunrise
Number of Episodes: 26
IMDb Rating: 8.9/10
Cowboy Bebop Review
Cowboy Bebop is a one-of-a-kind anime that blends science fiction, space drama, noir and the Western genre in one series and somehow manages to make it cohesive.
In the year 2071, earth has become uninhabitable and humanity has colonized the moon and other rocky planets. The Inter Solar System Police(ISSP), in order to curb crime, sets up a legalized contract system allowing bounty hunters or cowboys to catch criminals and bring them back alive for a reward.
Enter a group of cowboys working from the spaceship Bebop. This includes the former hitman Spike Spiegel, an ex-ISSP officer Jet Black, an amnesiac con artist Faye Valentine, Edward who is a child skilled in hacking and a genetically-engineered dog Ein.
Cowboy Bebop is a beautifully crafted anime that works in various ways- as an episodic series, a meditation on characters haunted by their past and as a wider tale on morality. It is a classic series that has a strange movie-like quality, endearing characters, incredible writing and a memorable musical score.
Ouran High School Host Club
Japanese Title: Ouran Koukou Hosuto Kurabo
Studio: Bones
Number of Episodes: 26
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
Ouran High School Host Club Review
Do you like romantic comedies? Then you should definitely check out Ouran High School Host Club on Tubi. It is a manga adaptation that follows a scholarship student Haruhi Fujioka at the elite Ouran Academy.
One day, she stumbles upon an otherwise abandoned room while looking for a place to study. Turns out, that room is being used to run a host club by a group of six male students. Haruhi ends up dropping a valuable vase and now has to work at the host club to pay off the debt.
At this point, we have to mention that the other hosts think Haruhi is a boy because of her androgynous style. You bet that you’re going to witness some hilarious shenanigans.
Thus, Ouran High School Host Club is a treasure trove of all the romance tropes from mistaken gender identity to flower boys to reverse harem.
The series is entertaining and does not take itself too seriously. Tune in to Tubi TV to watch Ouran High School Host Club if you’re in the mood for a light-hearted watch.
One Piece
Japanese Title: Wan Pisu
Studio: Toei Animation
Number of Episodes: 1,085(as of November 2023)
IMDb Rating: 8.9/10
One Piece Review
Yes, Tubi TV carries the iconic anime One Piece that has been running since…well, forever. Created by Eiichiro Oda, it narrates the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates crew. He is searching for a mythical treasure called “One Piece” that will enable him to become the King of the Pirates.
As they set out to the sea, Luffy and his crew encounter other pirates, revolutionaries, bounty hunters, secret agents, scientists, soldiers of the World Government and other friends and foes during their journeys.
One Piece is a guarantee of fun times and will leave you wanting for more. It might be primarily a pirate adventure but Oda blends action, humor and heavy stuff in such a manner in his story that it never becomes overwhelming for the viewer.
Also read: The best websites to watch One Piece
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
Japanese Title: JoJo no Kimyo na Boken
Studio: David Production
Number of Episodes: 194
IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Review
Just like Naruto and One Piece, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is a beloved anime for a large section of anime fans. It is slightly different from other anime series in that it has not one but multiple protagonists all belonging to the Joestar family. Multiple members of this family discover at different periods of time that they are destined to eliminate supernatural creatures with their powers.
Each arc of the narrative focuses on a particular member of the Joestar family, all of whom have names that can be abbreviated to “JoJo.” JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, thus, narrates the tale of centuries of adventures of the Joestar family beginning at the end of the 19th century and going up to the modern times.
It is an entertaining series with a solid emotional background and nail-biting tension similar to some of the best horror and thriller films out there. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure might not have the best animation but it more than makes up for that with its good writing and pacing.
Whether you’re a seasoned anime watcher watching old series for nostalgia or a newbie anime watcher- you need to check out JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure on Tubi TV.
Toradora!
Japanese Title: Toradora!
Studio: J. C. Staff
Number of Episodes: 25
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
Toradora! Review
Toradora! is a delight for romance lovers. Who wouldn’t fall in love with this story of two polar opposite students who unexpectedly start falling for each other? Taiga Aisaka and Ryuji Takasu are, as we said, complete opposites of each other.
Ryuji is kind and selfless while Taiga is a tsundere who often snaps violently at people. These two end up forming an unlikely alliance in order to win over their respective crushes.
But, like always, things are not going to go the way our leads want. What if Taiga and Ryuji fall for each other while trying to impress the people they like? You will have to watch Toradora! on Tubi to find that out.
A charming love story, Toradora! is guaranteed to leave you all mushy with its happy ending
Attack on Titan
Japanese Title: Shingeko no Kyojin
Studio: Wit Studio, MAPPA
Number of Episodes: 94
IMDb Rating: 9.1/10
Attack on Titan Review
Attack on Titan is a must-watch anime that is pretty much considered to be a modern classic. In this universe, humanity is living in cities surrounded by massive walls because of the constant threat of gigantic man-eating humanoids known as the Titans. Eren Yeager is a young boy who vows revenge on the Titans after they destroy his hometown and cause the death of his mother.
He enlists in the military along with his childhood friends Mikasa Ackerman and Armin Arlert to achieve this goal. They face many challenges and hardships as the gang attempts to fight with Titans who are becoming increasingly dangerous.
Attack on Titan is an iconic anime with some badass characters such as Levi and Mikasa Ackerman. The plot is a coming-of-age story of both boys and girls in a perilous and hopeless society constantly threatened by monsters.
Hunter x Hunter
Japanese Title: Hanta x Hanta
Studio: Nippon Animation
Number of Episodes: 62
IMDb Rating: 9.0/10
Hunter x Hunter Review
Tubi TV has some great late ‘90s to early 2000s anime including Hunter x Hunter. The anime narrates the story of a boy Gon Freecss who discovers that his father is a famous Hunter. This means that he is a licensed professional who locates rare or unidentified animal species, surveys unexplored enclaves, looks for treasure and hunts down lawless people.
After this revelation, Gon decides to become a Hunter too and eventually find his father. He meets many other Hunters on his journey and also has encounters with paranormal beings.
Hunter x Hunter masterfully blends various genres and is unpredictable enough to hold your interest over the course of its run. The characters all have distinct personalities and traits and are markedly original. The art style is a combination of both traditional and CG animation which gives it a unique flavor.
One-Punch Man
Japanese Title: Wanpanman
Studio: Madhouse, J. C. Staff
Number of Episodes: 24+ 12 OVAs
IMDb Rating: 8.7/10
One-Punch Man Review
One-Punch Man is a superhero anime about Saitama who can defeat any opponent with a single punch. However, his unmatched strength has left him with no new challenges and he is bored. What does a man do now to relieve his ennui? Why, of course, become a mentor to a cyborg seeking revenge on another cyborg.
Saitama is quite a likeable protagonist and the series’ animation, atleast in season one, is top-notch. The anime is not afraid of poking fun at the shounen genre and has some amazing fight scenes. Watch One-Punch Man on Tubi TV for a different take on the superhero genre.
Space Dandy
Japanese Title: Supesu Dandi
Studio: Bones
Number of Episodes: 26
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Space Dandy Review
Space Dandy is certainly a breath of fresh air among a sea of anime series that are derivatives of each other. A comedic science fiction drama, it follows an incompetent alien hunter Dandy who chases undiscovered and rare aliens with his assistant QT and his talking cat friend named Meow.
Thus, each episode has Dandy and his crew going after new and different aliens for reporting and ending up in some sort of misfortune. Continuity is not a big deal in this anime. We see protagonists and antagonists dying, turning into zombies or getting trapped in a different dimension in one episode only to turn up normal in the next one.
If you don’t mind or might even jam with a juvenile sense of humor, then Space Dandy is the perfect anime for you. It is silly, surreal, over the top and absolutely hilarious.
Is There Any Good Anime on Tubi?
Yes, Tubi TV has a great anime catalog in a variety of genres. It has classic popular series like Naruto, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure and Cowboy Bebop as well as more experimental stuff like Space Dandy.
For romance fans, it offers anime like Toradora! And Ouran High School Host Club. Check out Attack on Titan for an anime in a post-apocalyptic society and One-Punch Man for its unique take on the superhero genre.
You can also watch anime movies on Tubi including those by renowned directors like Satoshi Kon. Ghost in the Shell, Millennium Actress and In This Corner of the World are all critically acclaimed anime movies that are available on Tubi TV.
Also read: The best Tubi TV alternatives
