10 Incredible Anime That Are Impossible To Stream In 2025

Watching anime is now more convenient than ever before. Streaming services have made it incredibly easy for fans to enjoy both the latest popular series and classic shows from previous years and decades. This increased accessibility has been key to anime’s growing importance in today’s pop culture.

It’s disappointing that not all anime are available on streaming services. There are actually quite a few classic and highly-regarded anime that are very difficult to watch legally. It’s strange that this is still happening in 2025, and it’s a real shame that so many people can’t easily access these great shows.

10) Yu-Gi-Oh! Season 0

I remember before Studio Gallop’s hugely popular Yu-Gi-Oh! debuted in 2000, Toei Animation actually released an anime series back in 1998. This earlier series covered the first seven volumes of the original manga, before the Duel Monsters storyline really took center stage. Because of this, a lot of fans affectionately call it “season 0”.

Although Yu-Gi-Oh! Season 0 differs greatly from the main series and the original manga, it’s interesting to see what Yu-Gi-Oh! was like when it focused on episodic horror rather than intense card gaming. Sadly, this version has never been officially released in English, meaning most fans probably won’t be able to watch it in the near future.

9) Little Witch Academia (Movies)

Prior to becoming a series in 2017, Studio Trigger’s Little Witch Academia began as two short films. The first film debuted in 2013 as the initial project from Yoh Yoshinari. Following a successful funding drive on Kickstarter, a sequel, Little Witch Academia: The Enchanted Parade, was released in 2015.

Although the Little Witch Academia movies aren’t quite like the anime series they eventually inspired, they still have the same delightful writing and appealing animation, making them enjoyable for any fan. However, it’s a bit disappointing that the films were taken off Netflix a while back, and it’s currently unclear if they’ll be available to stream again in the future.

8) Noragami

In Bones Film’s Noragami, Hiyori Ikki begins to experience a strange problem: her soul occasionally leaves her body after meeting the struggling god Yato. This quickly draws the notice of dangerous ayakashi. Hiyori understandably asks Yato to help her, but resolving the issue proves to be much more difficult than either of them anticipated.

For over ten years, Noragami has been a beloved show among fans, thanks to its exciting action and compelling mix of drama and emotion. Sadly, when Funimation and Crunchyroll combined, Noragami was among the titles that became unavailable. However, given its continued popularity, there’s hope it will be accessible again soon.

7) Outlaw Star

Sunrise’s Outlaw Star follows Gene Starwind, a young man who unexpectedly gains control of the Outlaw Star – the most powerful ship in the galaxy. He then embarks on a quest with a diverse and shifting team to find the Galactic Leyline, a mythical treasure hidden throughout the galaxy, hoping to discover it before anyone else does.

Although it’s not quite as famous as Cowboy Bebop, Outlaw Star successfully creates a really enjoyable and original spin on the Space Western style, and it remains impressive even after nearly 30 years. You can purchase Outlaw Star on Blu-ray, but it’s strangely not available on Crunchyroll or other streaming platforms, making it still somewhat difficult to watch.

6) Baccano!

Brain’s Base’s Baccano! is set in the 1920s during Prohibition, a time known for widespread gang warfare. Instead of following one main character, the story jumps between various people and time periods. However, all the events seem to connect to a group of alchemists who were attempting to make an immortality potion in 1930.

Thanks to its fantastic animation and storytelling, and the way the music and dialogue perfectly capture the 1930s vibe – particularly in the English dub – Baccano! is easily one of the best anime set in a specific historical period. It’s been difficult to find since Funimation no longer had the rights starting in 2016, but hopefully Crunchyroll will be able to acquire them again in the future.

5) The Tatami Galaxy

In Madhouse’s The Tatami Galaxy, the main character feels he’s squandered his life, remaining a solitary and shy person unable to express his feelings for someone he likes. He constantly questions what his life would be like if he’d made different choices, specifically if he hadn’t joined the tennis club. Each episode presents an alternate reality where the protagonist instead joins a different club.

Featuring dreamlike animation and unexpectedly deep exploration of the challenges faced by young adults, The Tatami Galaxy is widely considered a defining work by acclaimed anime director Masaaki Yuasa. It’s therefore frustrating that it isn’t currently available on any streaming services, particularly since its follow-up, The Tatami Time Machine Blues, can be found on both Hulu and Disney+.

4) Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha

Seven Arcs’ Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha is a popular series that follows the ongoing story of Nanoha Takamachi. As a young girl, Nanoha discovers she has magical powers, and she continues to use them as an adult to defend Earth and other worlds from danger. Throughout her adventures, she’s always supported by her close friend and teammate, Fate Testarossa.

Although Nanoha isn’t widely known outside of Japan, it’s a truly excellent magical girl anime thanks to its well-developed characters, exciting action sequences, and a clever mix of science fiction and fantasy elements. A new Nanoha anime is scheduled to come out in 2026, and hopefully, this will lead to the earlier seasons becoming available on streaming platforms.

3) JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure (OVA)

Prior to David Production’s JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure anime, the story was first adapted into an OVA (Original Video Animation) series by A.P.P.P. The first part was released in the early 1990s and covered the Egypt arc of Stardust Crusaders in a somewhat simplified way. The second part, which came out in the early 2000s, told a story that happened *before* the events of the main series, even though it had a very different visual style and animation quality.

Although the 2012 anime series brought JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure widespread popularity, the original OVAs are still worth watching due to their distinctive style, exciting action sequences, and how they uniquely interpret the story. Some fans even consider the OVAs superior to the anime, which makes it disappointing that they aren’t legally available to stream or purchase.

2) Fullmetal Alchemist (2003)

In 2003, Bones Film released the initial Fullmetal Alchemist anime. While the first episodes closely followed the manga, the anime soon diverged and created its own storyline. This happened because there wasn’t enough manga content available at the time. As a result, the anime introduced new characters and background details, altered existing characters’ personalities, and presented a generally more intense and somber story.

Because Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood closely follows the manga, many consider the first anime series to be unnecessary, leading to its removal from streaming services and home video releases. However, the original Fullmetal Alchemist anime remains a distinct and visually appealing experience, making its current inaccessibility unfortunate.

1) Zatch Bell!

In Toei Animation’s Zatch Bell!, Kiyo Takamine meets a strange boy named Zatch Bell and tries to help him make friends. However, things get much more complex when they discover Zatch is a demon fighting to become king of the demon world, and Kiyo is the human who can unleash Zatch’s lightning powers during battles.

Offering fantastic action, humor, and unexpectedly deep character development, Zatch Bell! is a truly exceptional anime that doesn’t get the recognition it deserves – it’s easily among the best shows to ever air on Toonami. Issues with obtaining the rights to distribute it prevent it from becoming widely known in Western anime fandom, but ironically, this just emphasizes how Zatch Bell! is an amazing anime that’s difficult to find streaming.

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2025-10-04 22:45