With anime more baked into pop culture on an international scale and streaming being more prominent than ever, it isn't surprising to see that Amazon Prime Video has a strong catalog of TV anime series. The selection on hand is as diverse as fans would hope, and all of these series are included with Amazon Prime memberships.
They range in genre from colorful heist adventures like Lupin III to historical dramas and action series like Vinland Saga, with practically everything in between. Each of these series should no doubt find their audiences for prospective anime fans browsing on the streamer, and they all rank strongly on rating/review aggregator MyAnimeList.
Kazuhiko Katō's (A.K.A. Monkey Punch) Lupin the Third is an iconic mainstay in the manga and anime mediums. The series has received multiple anime adaptations across TV and film since its run began, with Lupin III having some of the most appealing visuals.
This world revolves around the titular Arsène Lupin as a "gentleman thief" taking part in swashbuckling adventures. Lupin's exploits in Part IV: The Italian Adventure takes place largely in Italy and San Marino, with some occasional Japanese and French settings. Given the main setting, Part IV even had its world premiere in Italy on August 31st, 2015, with the Japan premiere on October 1st.
Tethering things back down to a slice-of-life romance series, J.C.Staff's Toradora! anime adaptation of Yuyuko Takemiya's light novel should satisfy those looking for a sweet story of high school love. Romance is a difficult genre to pull off, regardless of the medium. It's easy to fall into the pitfalls of shallow character archetypes and played-out tropes.
Toradora! was well-received for navigating its story and characters well with a likable cast and down-to-earth story arc worth getting emotionally invested in. The story centers on Ryuuji Takasu, a mild-mannered boy despite his imposing appearance, who has a crush on his classmate, and the fiery Taiga Aisaka, who has a crush on Ryuuki's best friend.
The anime adaptation of Lupin III continued strong, with Part V: Misadventures in France having garnered an even stronger reception. Lupin's globetrotting adventures take him to France, where the thief and his supporting cast try to steal digital currency from a website on the dark web.
In addition, Part V adds a new character to the roster in the form of the teenage hacker Ami Enan. Even with the more upbeat atmosphere of the anime compared to Katō's more grounded source material, Part V of the anime still puts together an engaging and colorful story while still exploring the dynamic of its characters.
Animation studio White Fox's (of Steins;Gate fame) adaptation of Tsukumizu's Girls' Last Tour is a sweet and emotional spin on the post-apocalyptic trope. The manga is a brief six-volume series, with the anime largely adapting the first four.
Girls' Last Tour tells the story of two young girls -- the adventurous and clumsy Yuuri and the knowledgable and composed Chito -- who wander the lands after an unknown apocalyptic event as they simply look to survive their day-to-day lives that culminates in one of the best modern slice-of-life anime. Girls' Last Tour is a concise but satisfying watch across 12 episodes.
Attack on Titan and Jujutsu Kaisen animation studio MAPPA helmed the second anime series adaptation of Osamu Tezuka's classic Dororo manga. 2019 was packed with excellent anime shows and Dororo did well to hold its own among them. The story follows a straightforward, classical Japanese premise of a ronin named Hyakkimaru and his young orphaned companion Dororo.
However, the plot shines through its tragic and sympathetic protagonists. Dororo combines the Sengoku period of Japan with elements of dark fantasy, incorporating demons into the world while exploring themes of man's obsession with power, the aftermath of war, and the oppression of religious fanaticism.
Orange studio's anime of Land of the Lustrous is an admirable example of how CG animation can be at its best. The adaptation of Haruko Ichikawa's ongoing manga is a visually stunning seinen anime thanks to its vibrant world.
Taking place in the far future, the story revolves around the titular "Lustrous" species of humanoids desperately fighting off the threat of the Lunarians, which are a species determined to harvest the gemstone people as jewelry. On top of the beautifully unique CG art style and impressively executed action, Land of the Lustrous received high marks for its cast of characters and compelling worldbuilding.
Another work of MAPPA's, Banana Fish was a long-awaited anime adaptation of Akimi Yoshida's manga from the mid-1980s. The 2018 anime adaptation was acclaimed for how it adapted the source material's gripping and dense story, detailed character dialogue, and balancing of real-world social themes.
Banana Fish's protagonist, Ash Lynx, is a violent young gangster in line to succeed the mafia don who's groomed him, but he's resentful and angry over how cruel the world around him is. He later meets a Japanese photographer's assistant named Eiji Okumura, which inspires and changes the trajectory of his life. The compelling story and romance, characterizations, and grounded premise made it a groundbreaking series that appealed to both the shojo and shonen audiences.
2017's Made in Abyss adaptation was arguably one of the best series of that year. Its acclaim spawned anime movies on top of its TV series, with praises largely going to its impressive level of worldbuilding and adventurous tone. However, it was also lauded for balancing the latter atmosphere with intimate storytelling for protagonists Riko and her friend Reg.
Made in Abyss follows the aforementioned Riko as she strives to become a Cave Raider like her mother in exploring the mysterious and cursed Abyss. She discovers the humanoid robot and names him Reg, which sees the two bond and set off for a grand and perilous journey. Season 2 is set to debut this July and is one of the most exciting upcoming anime for 2022.
Great Teacher Onizuka by Tooru Fujisawa was an acclaimed drama with a deep exploration of morality. Animation studio Studio Pierrot adapted the manga source material not long after it began publishing, and the anime succeeded in living up to its high standard.
GTO follows Eikichi Onizuka -- a former biker gang leader -- as he becomes determined to become Japan's best teacher for the sleazy reason of fulfilling a revenge fantasy from when a teacher of his stole his date. But as unabashedly crude as the story begins, what follows is a genuinely heartfelt dramedy of redemption as Onizuka develops an admirable sense of morality and a pure motivation for teaching.
Wit Studio's adaptation of writer Makoto Yukimura's Vinland Saga is one of the best anime audiences can find on any streamer, with the series offering a gripping and emotionally profound Viking epic. Vinland Saga starts as a revenge story, but it gradually becomes much more layered.
Following Thorfinn's bloody quest for vengeance after the death of his father, the story unravels into an impressively introspective anime that touches on themes of growing from the past to live for the future and where peace can be found in a world hellbent on war and strife. Season 2 has been confirmed and is already one of the most highly-anticipated upcoming premieres.
