From being a niche interest, anime watching has now become a mainstream hobby. People are hungry for content and anime satisfies that thirst by offering unique stories in all sorts of genres. However, as the popularity of the medium has grown, the availability of series has become more and more fragmented.
One anime series might be on one streaming platform while others might be on another. Often, different seasons of a single anime are scattered across anime streaming sites. It is difficult for the average viewer to keep track of all the platforms hosting various series or to even pay for multiple subscriptions.
This is where good old YouTube comes in. YouTube is a treasure trove of content that fortunately also includes anime. That too for free! Yes, you can watch anime on YouTube for free. It also has anime with English dub and English subtitles.
Confused about which anime to watch on YouTube? Worry not because that is why we have compiled this list of the best anime to watch on YouTube. It includes recommendations for the best anime to watch on YouTube for free and includes information about anime available on YouTube with English subtitles.
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Contents
10 Best Anime Movies and Series on YouTube
Naruto
Japanese Title: Naruto
Studio: Pierrot
Number of Episodes: 220
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Naruto Review
Who doesn’t know Naruto? It was the gateway anime for many people and continues to be a beloved series even today. Based on Masashi Kishimoto’s manga of the same name, this classic follows a young ninja Naruto Uzumaki who dreams of becoming the leader or Hokage of his village and finally earning the recognition of his peers. His rival is a fellow ninja from Team 7 named Sasuke Uchiha. Naruto also has a crush on his team’s female member Sakura Haruno.
The Naruto series largely takes place in the ritual character Naruto’s pre-teen years while the Naruto: Shippuden sequel focuses on his teen years. It is the former that is available on YouTube.
As a long-running series, the anime beautifully depicts Naruto and his peers’ journey as they mature and become better ninjas. It heavily uses references from Confucianism and Japanese mythology to add further layers to the story. Spotting and decoding these references is quite a fun game on its own.
While Naruto is largely categorized as a coming-of-age story, its themes of growing up, friendship, loss of loved ones and moving on would appeal to people of all ages and not just pre-teens.
Sailor Moon
Japanese Title: Bishojo Senshi Seramun
Studio: Toei Animation
Number of Episodes: 200+3 TV Specials
IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
Sailor Moon Review
Yup, turns out you can watch one of the most famous shoujo series ever for free on YouTube. However, only the subbed version is available which may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Still, a classic 1990s anime being on YouTube with good audio and video quality is no joke.
Sailor Moon is about a schoolgirl Usagi Tsukino who transforms into Sailor Moon to look for a magical object called Legendary Silver Crystal. She also begins leading the Sailor Soldiers as they fight villains to protect the Silver Crystal and prevent the solar system from being destroyed.
The anime has great character development and balances comedy and tragedy quite well. It came out at a time when female superheroes were rare in all forms of media and this makes Sailor Moon all the more special.
Sherlock Hound
Japanese Title: Meitantei Homuzu
Studio: RAI, Tokyo Movie Shinsha
Number of Episodes: 26
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
Sherlock Hound Review
If the title isn’t a dead giveaway, then we would like to confirm that yes, this anime is based on Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes series. And yes, the characters here are all anthropomorphic dogs. To make it even more random, Sherlock Hound has a science-fiction atmosphere with all the steampunk technology that it features.
It is quite an old anime that aired in the 1980s and has been now remastered and made available on YouTube. The characters and their personalities correspond to their counterparts in Sir Doyle’s detective series. Sherlock Hound is a genius detective who has knowledge of multiple fields. Watson is a trained doctor and Hound’s loyal companion.
The idea of Sherlock Hound may be too out there for some people but it can be an entertaining detective anime once you get past the randomness of the premise.
Emma: A Victorian Romance
Japanese Title: Eikoku Koi Monogatari Emma
Studio: Pierrot
Number of Episodes: 12
IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
Emma: A Victorian Romance Review
In the mood for a romance anime? Do you like Jane Austen novels? Then YouTube has the perfect series for you in the form of Emma: A Victorian Romance. Set in Victorian England, it is like a Jane Austen book rendered in an animated format.
The titular character is Emma who works as a maid for a wealthy family. She falls in love with a member of the gentry called William Jones. How these two people of vastly different social standing face the hurdles to their relationship forms the crux of the story.
While it sounds like a typical “Us against the World” romance, Emma: A Victorian Romance surprisingly also delivers some thoughtful commentary on class, wealth, power and rigid social structures.
The leads are likeable and both Emma and William undergo some serious character development over the course of the series. Their romance is tender, mature and something that you will find yourself rooting for.
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 Sailor Moon, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is a beloved anime that generations have grown up watching. It has not one but multiple protagonists all belonging to the Joestar family. Various members of this family discover at different time periods that they are destined to take down supernatural enemies with their powers.
Each part of the story focuses on one particular member of the Joestar family, all of whom have names that can be abbreviated to “JoJo.” Thus, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure spans centuries of Joestar family adventures beginning at the end of the 19th century to the modern times.
It is an intensely fun series with a solid emotional background and the nail-biting tension of horror and thriller movies. The animation may not be the best but JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure balances that with its good writing and pacing.
Whether you’re a seasoned anime watcher looking for a nostalgia rewatch or a newbie anime watcher- you should check out JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure on YouTube.
Hunter x Hunter
Japanese Title: Hanta x Hanta
Studio: Nippon Animation
Number of Episodes: 62
IMDb Rating: 9.0/10
Hunter x Hunter Review
Adapted from Yoshihiro Togashi’s manga of the same name, Hunter x Hunter is another iconic late ‘90s to early 2000s anime. It is the story of a boy Gon Freecss who discovers that his father is a famous Hunter- a licensed professional who locates rare or unidentified animal species, surveys unexplored enclaves, looks for treasure and hunts down lawless people.
Thus, he decides to become a Hunter too and eventually find his father. On his journey, Gon meets many other Hunters and also has encounters with paranormal beings.
Hunter x Hunter is a blend of various genres and is unpredictable enough to hold your interest over the course of its run. The characters are remarkably original with distinct personalities and traits. The art style uses both traditional and CG animation to bring the anime to life.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
Japanese Title: Tensei Shitara Suraimu Datta Ken
Studio: Eight Bit
Number of Episodes: 56
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Review
Considering the popularity of Isekai anime and manga, it was only a matter of time before some such series became available on YouTube. However, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is no ordinary Isekai anime. It is instead a parody of the genre.
This quirky comedy follows an ordinary corporate worker in Tokyo named Satoru Mikami. He lives an average monotonous life but an incident leads to him being reincarnated as a slime in a different world.
With all the new-found skills Satoru acquires in his new form, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime pokes fun at all such stories where a boring main character ends up with a complete metamorphosis in a fantasy land.
Made in Abyss
Japanese Title: Meido in Abisu
Studio: Kinema Citrus
Number of Episodes: 13
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Made in Abyss Review
If you’re a fan of the dark fantasy genre, you will like Made in Abyss on YouTube. Do not be fooled by its vibrant and cute art design. This anime about an orphaned girl who befriends a half-robot boy and descends into the Abyss to find her mother is not for the faint-hearted.
The Abyss descends deep into the earth and holds remnants of civilizations long gone. Reaching it is an arduous journey and returning back is just as dangerous due to “the Curse of the Abyss”, a mysterious illness that manifests in people coming back from the hole.
As Riko and Reg go farther into the Abyss, they are faced with unknown dangers and perils. Made in Abyss seems simple on the surface but has quite a dark storyline and is not something to be watched in the hopes of finding a cute adventure story.
Chibi Maruko-chan
Japanese Title: Chibi Maruko-chan
Studio: Nippon Animation
Number of Episodes: 142(Series 1), 1359(Series 2)
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Chibi Maruko-chan Review
If slice-of-life is the genre of your choice, then there is nothing better than Chibi Maruko-chan. Running for ages, it depicts the everyday life of a young girl Momoko Sakura or Maruko who lives with her family in suburban Japan. Each episode recounts a problem in Maruko’s life and how she solves it with the help of her friends.
Chibi Maruko-chan is a nostalgic and honest portrayal of an ordinary family’s life in 1970s Japan. Its thoughtful tone and simple portrayal of a simple family make it popular among viewers. The hijinks in this anime are perfect for a wholesome family viewing.
Revolutionary Girl Utena
Japanese Title: Shoujo Kakumei Utena
Studio: J.C. Staff
Number of Episodes: 39
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Revolutionary Girl Utena Review
Revolutionary Girl Utena is a fan-favorite anime and for a good reason. Releasing at a time when the magical girl genre(ala Sailor Moon) was at the height of its popularity, it set itself apart from other similar series by making the young female protagonist want to be a prince instead of having one.
Utena Tenjou is a teenage girl who gets drawn into a sword dueling tournament to win the hand of the mysterious Anthy Himemiya or the “Rose Bride.” Utena ultimately wins the first duel and is now obliged to protect the Rose Bride who is said to have the power to revolutionize the world.
Far from being a simple shoujo anime, Revolutionary Girl Utena adopts an avant-garde and surrealist tone to deconstruct the fairytale and magical girl genres. Its commentary on the themes of gender, sexuality and coming-of-age is certainly praiseworthy.
Watch Revolutionary Girl Utena for its fantastic portrayal of adolescent life and LGBT themes.
Also read
Can I Watch Anime on YouTube?
Yes, you can easily watch anime on YouTube. There are lots of classic and newer series available on the platform- both subbed and dubbed. YouTube hosts some of the most popular anime like Naruto, Sailor Moon and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.
If you prefer something more slice-of-life, then Chibi Maruko-chan is a good choice while history nerds would delight in Emma: A Victorian Romance. To sum it up, YouTube hosts lots of good anime that you can easily watch for free on the platform.
