10 Best Crunchyroll Original Anime Series

Crunchyroll is known for streaming anime to a global audience, but it also produces its own original anime series. Recent hits like Tower of God demonstrate that Crunchyroll’s original anime are definitely worth checking out.

Crunchyroll has created a wide variety of anime, from shows based on Korean comics (manhwa) to completely new stories. As a long-time leading platform for anime fans, they have a strong understanding of what viewers enjoy.

Meiji Gekken: 1874 Takes Place Six Years After the Era of Samurai

Meiji Gekken: 1874 is an action-packed anime taking place in 1874, immediately after the age of samurai ended. The series centers on Shizuma Orikasa, a former samurai, and his quest to find his missing fiancée. His search leads him into a web of political intrigue, wrongful accusations, and government conspiracies, eventually reaching the highest levels of the Imperial Force.

The anime faced some challenges during its creation. It initially started production at Crunchyroll Studio Tokyo, but after that studio closed, Tsumugi Akita Animation Lab took over. Despite these difficulties, Meiji Gekken: 1874 ended up being a standout anime release from Crunchyroll.

Onyx Equinox Is the First Anime Created From Crunchyroll Studios

Unlike many anime, Onyx Equinox truly stands out thanks to its deep roots in Aztec and Mesoamerican culture. The story centers on Izel, a young boy tasked by the gods with sealing five gateways to the underworld. As he travels through Mesoamerica, he encounters diverse characters and faces numerous threats, creating a grand and sweeping adventure.

Sofia Alexander created Onyx Equinox, a unique adult animated series and Crunchyroll Studios’ first original anime-style production. What makes it special is its use of Aztec, Maya, and Zapotec mythology – a relatively rare focus in animation – making it a must-see for fans of the genre.

Shenmue the Animation Is an Epic Revenge Story

Shenmue the Animation is an animated series based on the first two Shenmue video games. It tells the story of Ryo Hazuki, a young man who seeks to avenge his father’s murder by the powerful martial artist Lan Di. While initially focused on revenge, the story expands into something much larger and more complex.

Crunchyroll didn’t produce the series on its own; it was a partnership with Adult Swim. Telecom Animation Film handled the animation, and the show aired on Toonami and streamed on Crunchyroll. Adapting video games into animated series is often risky, but Shenmue the Animation proved to be a hit with fans of the Shenmue games.

Noblesse Was One of the First Manhwa To Turn Into an Anime

Noblesse is an anime about vampires, adapted from a popular Korean webcomic. The story centers on Raizel, an incredibly strong, ancient vampire who wakes up after sleeping for over 800 years. He finds himself in modern-day South Korea and quickly becomes involved in a dangerous battle between humans and other vampires.

This anime is based on a well-loved webcomic that originally came out in 2007. Before the main series debuted in 2020, a short animated film called Noblesse: Awakening was released in 2016. The animation was created by Production I.G, a renowned studio known for hits like Ghost in the Shell and Blood: The Last Vampire.

Dr. Ramune: Mysterious Disease Specialist Is a Crunchyroll Hidden Gem

Dr. Ramune is a Crunchyroll anime about a unique doctor who specializes in strange illnesses that stem from emotional pain. Instead of just looking at physical symptoms, Dr. Ramune focuses on the heart and mind, making the show a relatable and easy-to-understand exploration of mental health.

This anime is adapted from a manga that originally appeared in Monthly Shonen Sirius and later moved to Magazine Pocket. Platinum Vision produced the series. Fans outside of Japan could watch it on Crunchyroll, while viewers in some Asian countries accessed it through Muse Asia. It’s a great choice for anyone who enjoys…

The God of High School Features Some of the Best Fight Sequences

Recently adapted from a popular webcomic (manhwa), The God of High School generated a lot of buzz before its anime debut. Although some viewers feel the anime tries to cover too much ground too quickly, the action sequences are fantastic and a major highlight of the show.

I was so excited when I heard Studio MAPPA was animating The God of High School! They’re the team behind incredible shows like Attack on Titan and Jujutsu Kaisen, so I knew the action would be amazing. And it totally is! Crunchyroll helped out with the adaptation too, especially with getting the official English translation just right. Honestly, it’s during the fights that the show really comes alive – they’re so dynamic and look fantastic!

Tonikawa: Over the Moon for You Is Based On the Tale of Princess Kaguya

Tonikawa: Over the Moon for You is a charming love story about Nasa Yuzaki and Tsukasa. After Tsukasa saves Nasa’s life, he immediately falls in love and proposes. Tsukasa accepts, but with a surprising condition: they must get married first! The series then follows their sweet and endearing life as a newly married couple.

This anime first premiered as part of Crunchyroll’s original series lineup in 2020, and a second season followed in 2023. The animation for both seasons was done by Seven Arcs, and their work beautifully captures the series’ heartwarming and endearing love story.

In/Spectre Has a Rich World Filled With the Supernatural and Yokai

In/Spectre is an anime about the supernatural. It follows Kotoko Iwanaga, who is a goddess of wisdom for yokai – spirits and monsters. Kotoko works as a go-between for humans and yokai, solving mysteries that involve both worlds. She’s assisted by Kuro Sakuragawa, a mysterious and powerful man who is feared even by the yokai themselves.

I absolutely loved discovering In/Spectre! It first came out as an anime in 2020, and I was so glad they gave us a second season in 2023. What’s really cool is that it wasn’t originally an anime – it started as both a novel and a manga! It’s a fantastic series with a really unique blend of supernatural elements, compelling mysteries, and characters you can’t help but be drawn to. I was thrilled to be able to watch it all unfold on Crunchyroll as it was released.

So I’m a Spider, So What? Is a Reincarnated High School Girl in the Body of a Spider

Unlike many other ‘transported to another world’ anime, So I’m a Spider, So What? features a protagonist who is reborn as a spider. A former high school student finds herself in this new form and must fight to survive in a dangerous dungeon full of powerful monsters. She uses her wits and gradually gains new abilities, slowly revealing the mysteries of this strange world through constant battles for her life.

This anime is adapted from a well-known light novel and was created by Millepensee. Making the series wasn’t easy – some animation was done by outside studios, and a few episodes needed to be completely remade. Despite these difficulties, the anime still managed to become popular.

Tower of God Is an Anime Filled With Betrayal, Mystery and Magic

Tower of God is a hugely popular Korean webcomic, so fans were really excited when an anime version was announced. The story centers around a boy named Twenty-Fifth Bam who enters a mysterious Tower hoping to find Rachel. Legend says anyone who reaches the top gets their greatest wish fulfilled, but the journey is filled with dangerous challenges and difficult trials.

The first season of the anime was created by Telecom Animation Film, but Season 2 was handled by The Answer Studio. Despite this change, Tower of God successfully kept a similar look and feel, so it remains engaging for viewers.

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2026-04-19 22:45