10 Fantastic Anime Series You Won’t Find on Crunchyroll or Netflix

 Crunchyroll has cemented itself as the premier destination for anime lovers in America, but it doesn't have every amazing anime series out there. While Netflix has a few problems (namely its issues with subtitling), it also has a catalog of hits.

Like Crunchyroll, Netflix can't claim to have every great anime series out there. There are a handful of top-tier anime that have eluded the two streaming giants, and these series are so good that people might need to add a third streaming service to their repertoire.

Almost every major franchise is on one of these two streaming platforms, but there are a few relatively smaller series that aren't on either Crunchyroll or Netflix. These series are exceptional for a number of reasons, making fans wonder how these two giants didn't get a hold of them in the first place.

City the Animation

Animated By Kyoto Animation, Based on the Manga By Keiichi Arawi

City the Animation is another series from Kyoto Animation and Keiichi Arawi. The pair is more famously known for bringing Nichijou to the screen, an anime series that has gone down as one of the funniest of all time. While it's a tall order to follow in Nichijou's footsteps, City the Animation serves as an amazing spiritual successor for the fever dream of an anime.

City the Animation has a lot of the same kinds of jokes as Nichijou in the best way possible. It's a fresh take steeped in Arawi's surreal style, making fans die laughing at some of the most inane jokes anime has ever put forward. Neither Netflix nor Crunchyroll has this series; instead, Amazon Prime currently holds exclusive rights to this modern masterpiece.

Dororo

Produced by Tezuka Productions, Animated By MAPPA, Based on the Manga By Osamu Tezuka

Dororo is a modern-day classic. It's a series based on one of the oldest manga series of the same name. The original Dororo was created by none other than Osamu Tezuka, the man who has come to be known as the "Godfather of Manga".

Dororo is one of the darkest anime ever made. It's a series that stars a young man named Hyakkimaru as he looks to get his body back from the demons that possess it. As he gets parts of his body back, the land that he comes from is slowly destroyed. It's a brutal, bleak series filled with twists and turns, and it can only be seen by Westerners on Hulu.

After the Rain

Animated By Wit Studio, Based on the Manga By Jun Mayuzuki

After the Rain is a complicated romance anime that does a great job telling a controversial story. The series is by Jun Mayuzuki, the same mangaka behind Kowloon Generic Romance, another romance series that is much more than it appears to be on its surface.

After the Rain is an Amazon Prime exclusive that tells the story of 17-year-old Akira Tachibana. After suffering a brutal injury, Akira takes time away from her life as a track star and begins working at a small diner where she falls in love with her much older boss. The series navigates their less than ideal romance maturely and succinctly.

Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku

Animated By A-1 Pictures, Based on the Manga By Fujita

Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku is a must-watch romance anime for any fan of the genre. It's one of the most adorable, heart-warming romance anime out there. Wotakoi is also one of the best anime to watch that's less than 15 episodes long.

Wotakoi stars two coworkers who are massive otakus. Narumi Momose hates the idea that her nerdy interests might be revealed to the public, but her love interest and coworker Hirotaka Nifuji couldn't care less. Their dynamic is only made better through their amazing friends. Amazon Prime is the only place to watch this jovial series.

Call of the Night

Animated By Liden Films, Based on the Manga By Kotoyama

Call of the Night is one of the biggest series out there that neither Netflix nor Crunchyroll have got their hands on. It won the 68th Shogakukan Manga Award in the shōnen category, which is one of the most prestigious awards any manga series can win.

Call of the Night stars Ko Yamori as a restless kid who runs into Nazuna Nanakusa, a vampire who shows Ko everything that he didn't know that he was looking for. This series is equal parts funny and action-packed, and it's easily one of the best series that streaming service HiDive has on offer.

No Game No Life

Animated By Madhouse, Based on the Light Novel By Yuu Kamiya

No Game No Life is the textbook definition of a cult-classic anime series. It's one of the biggest "what ifs" in the art form, as even a decade later, fans are waiting for a second season that will probably never come. No Game No Life was a popular isekai series before isekai was the fastest-growing genre in anime, and it's easy to see why.

No Game No Life stars step-siblings Shiro and Sora, two of the best gamers in anime. They're so smart that their intelligence has left them bored, as they have no real competition to cut their teeth against. That all changes when they're transported to the world of Disboard.

Made in Abyss

Animated By Kinema Citrus, Based on the Manga By Akihito Tsukushi

Made in Abyss is so much more than it appears to be. On its surface, it's a lovely series about a kid exploring, finding friends along the way. After a few episodes, however, it's easy to see just how dark this series can get. Made in Abyss isn't for the faint of heart, and that's exactly why this series is amazing.