Crunchyroll is widely considered the top streaming service for anime fans. They consistently offer new episodes shortly after they air in Japan, and their extensive collection of classic shows, combined with their involvement in anime production, makes them a dominant force in the anime world.
Crunchyroll offers a huge library of anime to enjoy, including many fantastic shows that don’t require a big time commitment thanks to their shorter episode counts. Some of these shorter anime are truly exceptional and rank among the best available.
10) Zenshu
I recently watched MAPPA’s Zenshu, and it’s a really interesting story. It follows Natsuko Hirose, an animator who prefers to be alone. After she passes away, she finds herself inside the world of her favorite film, A Tale of Perishing. It turns out she can now make her drawings real, and she’s determined to use this ability to change the movie’s sad ending and give all the characters a happy one instead.
With its beautiful animation, heartfelt story, and clever insights about anime itself, Zenshu is a standout achievement for MAPPA. It excels in both visuals and storytelling throughout the entire series. This is particularly impressive for an original anime, and it’s easy to see why it was considered one of the best shows of winter 2025.
9) Odd Taxi
The anime Odd Taxi centers around Hiroshi Odokawa, a reclusive walrus taxi driver. When a local high school girl vanishes, Odokawa finds himself drawn into the investigation, needing to interact with his passengers to unravel a complex and ever-deepening mystery.
Even though the creators weren’t well-known, Odd Taxi quickly became popular with both viewers and critics thanks to its smart mystery and well-developed characters. It’s one of the best mystery anime available, and with just 13 episodes, it’s a quick and easy watch.
8) Zom 100: Bucket List Of The Dead
Akira Tendo is completely burned out after three years at a terrible job. But when a zombie apocalypse breaks out, instead of being scared, he feels liberated and decides to finally live life to the fullest, enjoying every moment before he inevitably joins the undead.
I really enjoyed watching Zom 100 from beginning to end. It was a fantastic anime with a funny and relatable story, and the visuals were really creative. I know the production had a lot of problems, which unfortunately slowed things down, but now that it’s finished, it’s a great series to binge-watch.
7) Takopi’s Original Sin
Enishiya’s Takopi’s Original Sin centers around Takopi, a cheerful, octopus-like alien who travels from Happy Planet to Earth with the goal of bringing joy to others. He starts by trying to help a young girl named Shizuka, but quickly realizes her issues are complex. Unfortunately, every time Takopi tries to assist, things end up going terribly wrong.
Despite its adorable appearance, Takopi’s Original Sin tackles difficult themes like abuse and depression. This surprisingly mature approach resulted in a powerful story about life and finding happiness. Many consider it the standout anime of Summer 2025, and it’s a strong candidate for anime of the year.
6) Nichijou
Kyoto Animation’s Nichijou follows the everyday lives of people in the town of Tokisadame, especially the friends Yuko Aioi, Mio Naganohara, and Mai Minakami. Everyone in town is delightfully quirky, and the show focuses on how they turn ordinary situations into hilariously absurd adventures.
I’m a huge fan of Nichijou – honestly, the animation is some of the best I’ve ever seen from Kyoto Animation, it’s so incredibly creative! But what really makes it special is how they blend that beautiful animation with absolutely hilarious, surreal comedy. It’s a bit of a longer series, clocking in at over 20 episodes, but trust me, the laughs are so worth it. You won’t regret spending time with this wonderfully weird anime!
5) Kill la Kill
Ryuko Matoi is a determined young woman on a mission: to find the person who killed her father. Her search leads her to Honnoji Academy, where she must battle her way through a wild student body led by the powerful and controlling Satsuki Kiryuin. Luckily, Ryuko has help from her friends and an unusual ally – a living school uniform named Senketsu. This is the story of Kill la Kill by Studio Trigger.
Kill la Kill is a bit longer than some anime, but it’s still a blast to watch thanks to its incredibly creative animation, memorable characters, and exciting action. It really put Studio Trigger on the map, and it’s clear why it remains popular even now.
4) Bocchi The Rock!
The anime Bocchi the Rock! follows Hitori Gotoh, a shy girl who starts learning guitar hoping to overcome her social anxiety and make friends. While her initial attempts don’t work, she eventually joins the band Kessoku Band and, after a while, finally begins to form friendships.
Though it initially appeared to be just another typical anime about adorable girls and everyday life, Bocchi the Rock! is actually a standout slice-of-life series. It’s incredibly well-made, boasting a fantastic soundtrack, beautiful and dreamlike animation, and a surprisingly insightful story about dealing with social anxiety. Many consider it one of the best anime in recent years, and with a second season already planned, fans have a lot to look forward to.
3) Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
In the anime Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day, a group of childhood friends are reunited five years after a tragic accident took the life of one of them. Jinta, one of the friends, is surprised to see the ghost of their lost friend, Menma, who needs his help. To help Menma find peace, Jinta must bring their group back together.
Anohana is a beautifully animated and scored drama that truly shines. Its emotionally powerful story and poignant ending make it a standout series. Anime is well-suited for heartfelt narratives, and Anohana delivers a remarkably moving experience in just a few episodes.
2) Puella Magi Madoka Magica
In Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Madoka Kaname unexpectedly learns about magic and is offered the chance to become a magical girl to fight evil Witches. However, as she considers the offer, she discovers the reality of being a magical girl is far darker and more difficult than she imagined.
Madoka Magica isn’t just visually beautiful with its amazing art and animation; its compelling characters and unique approach to storytelling make it one of the best anime series of the last ten years. It truly stands out from other anime, and with a new movie on the way, it promises to be even better.
1) Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
I recently watched Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, and it’s quite a ride. The story begins with humanity hiding underground, terrified of a powerful enemy known as the Spiral King and his Beastmen forces. But everything changes when a young digger named Simon stumbles upon an ancient robot. From there, he gradually takes the lead in a fight to liberate not just humanity, but the whole universe from those who want to control it.
With its fantastic story and wildly energetic animation and writing, Gurren Lagann is a truly impressive anime from beginning to end, and stands out as one of the best mecha series ever made. Even after nearly 20 years, it’s clear why Gurren Lagann is still so popular, and it’s easily the best concise anime you can find on Crunchyroll.
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2025-10-27 01:11