Top 10 Roku channels for die-hard anime fans

It’s hard to believe now, but when anime was just catching on in the United States back in the 90’s, if you sought your favorite animated series and films from Japan, you’d have to search the far corners of the earth to find them.

Ok, well maybe more like the far corners of your local mall’s video store – but still, it wasn’t easy! And once you found what you were looking for, those pricy import VHS tapes could set you back a whole month’s allowance. Thankfully, these days all the weird, wild, and wonderful anime you could ever want is available to stream instantly on your Roku device!

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But now we have the opposite problem: with so many options, how do you decide what to watch? Don’t worry anime fans, we got you! Here’s our rundown of the 10 most essential anime channels on Roku for both classics and new releases!

Crunchyroll (14-day free trial, $7.99/month) – Crunchyroll is the internet’s top destination for streaming anime, boasting the largest library of classic and current titles. This is the place to watch Attack on Titan, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, and beloved classics like Naruto and Dragon Ball Z. Watch free with ads or join at one of their premium tiers that includes special benefits like access to digital manga and discounts through their webstore.

HIDIVE (14-day free trial, $4.99/month) – In 2017 the popular Anime Network consolidated its streaming service into HIDIVE, another great one-stop-shop for your favorite anime series and films. Their hefty selection of includes exclusive dubbed versions Lupin the 3^rd and Samurai Girls. They even have a selection of simulcasts and a detailed schedule of new releases.

FunimationNow – Funimation is one of the leading companies licensing Japanese animation for US audiences. So it goes without saying that their streaming service, FunimationNow, had one of the most impressive anime libraries, with over 10,000 episodes and movies including subs and dubs. However, soon they are merging their service with Crunchyroll, creating the largest anime streaming selection in the world. So why include it on this list? To let you know that if you’re currently a FunimationNow subscriber, you can get a special 60-day trial to Cunchyroll – now that’s a deal!

Hulu (30-day free trial, starts at $6.99/month) – Sure you know Hulu as one of the leading streaming services, but did you know that they’re also a great destination for popular anime titles like Naruto Shippuden, My Hero Academia, and One Piece? Well now you do!

Netflix (30-day free trial, starts at $9.99/month) – Like Hulu, the streaming giant Netflix also has a great selection of anime including popular titles like DEATH NOTE and Hunter X Hunter, not to mention an impressive array of Netflix exclusives like JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, BAKI, Castlevania, and Pokémon Journeys: The Series. 

Crackle (free) – While the ever-evolving lineup on this popular free streaming service has included many anime titles in the past, currently their only offering is the Digimon Adventure Tri movies. But keep checking because their library is always changing!

Pluto TV (free) – Another beloved free streaming platform, Pluto TV, has an entire anime channel called Anime All Day, featuring Megalobox, One-Punch Man, and Naruto – plus scheduled episodes of One Piece, Yu-Gi Oh!, and more.

Pokémon TV (free) – That’s right, arguably the world’s most popular anime, Pokémon is such a huge phenomenon that it even has its own streaming service, and it’s EPIC.

CONtv Anime (free) – In 2020, anime streaming destination became CONtv Anime with free (and ad-free for $6.99/month) streaming of anime hits like Mazinkaiser SKL, Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade, and Fist of the North Star.

Tubi TV (free) – Tubi TV has an impressive selection of anime series and films including Toradora!, Wicked City, Bleach, and Dante’s Inferno.  

All anime’d out? Check out what’s new on The Roku Channel this month!