Most anime that come out these days get licensed nearly immediately. Movies are an exception, but even they hit legal streaming most of the time after airing in the theaters. However, for older series, this is not always the case.
Here are some examples of iconic anime series that you can’t currently stream legally in the USA. In the best-case scenario, you can still get your hands on BDs or DVDs, but even if those exist, they are quite rare.
The manga for Berserk has #1 spot on MyAnimeList in both score and popularity. The anime adaptations, though, are far more controversial: the only one that fans actually like is the 1997 anime, and that’s actually the one you can’t watch.
The movie remakes or their TV reimagining? Sure. The terrible CGI sequel is also available. However, the one Berserk anime that viewers consider well-made is not available for legal streaming.
A classic comedy fantasy adventure, Slayers was incredibly popular among older anime fans. And, until recent events, you could easily watch it on Funimation. However, when the service merged with Crunchyroll earlier in 2024, the franchise wasn’t transferred, leaving it in a legal void. And it’s not the only anime that suffered that fate.
Baccano! is not just set in the same universe as Durarara!! — they share the same author, and some characters of the former actually make cameo appearances in the latter.
Still, the anime is worth watching on its own — it’s a crazy mystery told in a non-linear fashion that ties the plot threads together near its end. And while it’s worth watching, it’s not available on legal streaming at this moment, unlike Durarara!!, which still remains on HIDIVE.
This is, without a doubt, the weirdest case of an anime license being lost in the Crunchyroll–Funimation merge. The original FLCL OVA has been called one of the most unique anime out there, and for a good reason.
It’s a coming-of-age story full of crazy symbolism and obscure references. For now, though, you can’t watch it anywhere — Crunchyroll only has its 2 spiritual successors.
One of the most disliked streaming service launches was Amazon’s Anime Strike. In fact, it was so disliked that it was scrapped in just a year, but not before the media giant acquired licenses for some anime series.
One of those series includes Re:Creators, which is considered one of the most unique takes on the reverse isekai genre. Until early 2024, it was still available on Prime, but since then, the license expired, and you can’t watch it there anymore.
Planetes
MyAnimeList score: 8.26
Planetes was written by Makoto Yukimura, who would later go on to write Vinland Saga. The author’s name alone should have been enough for some Western licensor to pick it up. The unique premise — it’s a story of workers who collect garbage in space — certainly helps.
However, Planetes was never licensed in the US — perhaps because the manga sales in North America were rather poor.
Katanagatari
MyAnimeList score: 8.31
You’d imagine that an anime series adapting a novel by a beloved author like Nisio Isin (Monogatari series) would be licensed. But no, despite its acclaim from both casual viewers and critics, Katanagatari has never been available for legal streaming in the USA.
There’s probably some complicated reason why that’s the case, as the anime is definitely popular enough to make licensing it profitable. Sadly, for now, you can only pirate it.
Serial Experiments Lain has had a certain kind of reputation since it first aired more than 20 years ago. The anime is prophetic, in a sense, predicting certain developments of the internet.
However, it’s also full of bizarre worldbuilding and complicated symbolism, and its fans have been making theories about it for decades now. For many, this is a classic that has to be experienced at least once — but, unfortunately, it wasn’t transferred from Funimation to Crunchyroll.
Rave Master
MyAnimeList score: 7.22
Fairy Tail, despite some harsh criticisms, is still an anime that was incredibly popular back in the 2010s. That makes the fact that Hiro Mashima’s earlier series, Rave Master (Groove Adventure Rave), is unavailable on streaming even more surprising.
It actually aired dubbed in the States, too — however, for now, the license seems to be in the void. It’s a shame, because many consider it actually superior to Fairy Tail.
Tomorrow's Joe
MyAnimeList score: 8.32
Arguably the most iconic sports anime of all time, Tomorrow’s Joe (Ashita no Joe) isn’t actually available on legal streaming. The second season was available on Crunchyroll in the past under the name “Champion Joe 2,” and the recap movie is on RetroCrush.
Still, at the moment, you can’t watch the first or the second season of this classic boxing series, though you can watch its spiritual successor, Megalobox.
Fans desperately need these to be licensed.
Most anime that come out these days get licensed nearly immediately. Movies are an exception, but even they hit legal streaming most of the time after airing in the theaters. However, for older series, this is not always the case.
Here are some examples of iconic anime series that you can’t currently stream legally in the USA. In the best-case scenario, you can still get your hands on BDs or DVDs, but even if those exist, they are quite rare.
The manga for Berserk has #1 spot on MyAnimeList in both score and popularity. The anime adaptations, though, are far more controversial: the only one that fans actually like is the 1997 anime, and that’s actually the one you can’t watch.
The movie remakes or their TV reimagining? Sure. The terrible CGI sequel is also available. However, the one Berserk anime that viewers consider well-made is not available for legal streaming.
A classic comedy fantasy adventure, Slayers was incredibly popular among older anime fans. And, until recent events, you could easily watch it on Funimation. However, when the service merged with Crunchyroll earlier in 2024, the franchise wasn’t transferred, leaving it in a legal void. And it’s not the only anime that suffered that fate.
Baccano! is not just set in the same universe as Durarara!! — they share the same author, and some characters of the former actually make cameo appearances in the latter.
Still, the anime is worth watching on its own — it’s a crazy mystery told in a non-linear fashion that ties the plot threads together near its end. And while it’s worth watching, it’s not available on legal streaming at this moment, unlike Durarara!!, which still remains on HIDIVE.
This is, without a doubt, the weirdest case of an anime license being lost in the Crunchyroll–Funimation merge. The original FLCL OVA has been called one of the most unique anime out there, and for a good reason.
It’s a coming-of-age story full of crazy symbolism and obscure references. For now, though, you can’t watch it anywhere — Crunchyroll only has its 2 spiritual successors.
One of the most disliked streaming service launches was Amazon’s Anime Strike. In fact, it was so disliked that it was scrapped in just a year, but not before the media giant acquired licenses for some anime series.
One of those series includes Re:Creators, which is considered one of the most unique takes on the reverse isekai genre. Until early 2024, it was still available on Prime, but since then, the license expired, and you can’t watch it there anymore.
Planetes
MyAnimeList score: 8.26
Planetes was written by Makoto Yukimura, who would later go on to write Vinland Saga. The author’s name alone should have been enough for some Western licensor to pick it up. The unique premise — it’s a story of workers who collect garbage in space — certainly helps.
However, Planetes was never licensed in the US — perhaps because the manga sales in North America were rather poor.
Katanagatari
MyAnimeList score: 8.31
You’d imagine that an anime series adapting a novel by a beloved author like Nisio Isin (Monogatari series) would be licensed. But no, despite its acclaim from both casual viewers and critics, Katanagatari has never been available for legal streaming in the USA.
There’s probably some complicated reason why that’s the case, as the anime is definitely popular enough to make licensing it profitable. Sadly, for now, you can only pirate it.
Serial Experiments Lain has had a certain kind of reputation since it first aired more than 20 years ago. The anime is prophetic, in a sense, predicting certain developments of the internet.
However, it’s also full of bizarre worldbuilding and complicated symbolism, and its fans have been making theories about it for decades now. For many, this is a classic that has to be experienced at least once — but, unfortunately, it wasn’t transferred from Funimation to Crunchyroll.
Rave Master
MyAnimeList score: 7.22
Fairy Tail, despite some harsh criticisms, is still an anime that was incredibly popular back in the 2010s. That makes the fact that Hiro Mashima’s earlier series, Rave Master (Groove Adventure Rave), is unavailable on streaming even more surprising.
It actually aired dubbed in the States, too — however, for now, the license seems to be in the void. It’s a shame, because many consider it actually superior to Fairy Tail.
Tomorrow's Joe
MyAnimeList score: 8.32
Arguably the most iconic sports anime of all time, Tomorrow’s Joe (Ashita no Joe) isn’t actually available on legal streaming. The second season was available on Crunchyroll in the past under the name “Champion Joe 2,” and the recap movie is on RetroCrush.
Still, at the moment, you can’t watch the first or the second season of this classic boxing series, though you can watch its spiritual successor, Megalobox.
