If we are considering watching anime, one would not immediately think about Prime Video. However, Amazon Prime Video actually has a lot more to offer than you may think in the anime category. It’s not just ‘Downtown Abbey’ and ‘Doctor Who’, there are many quality anime shows on Prime Video that people often neglect to watch.
To those who are starting to watch anime, or even to the anime veterans, we have got some curated anime lists for you to watch on Prime Video. We can bet that there is clearly something to suit everyone’s taste, from old-school to new devotees. Here are the top 25 anime to watch on Prime Video.
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Top 25 Anime To Watch On Prime Video
1) Vinland Saga
If you are someone who is into mythology and Vikings, this would really entice you. ‘Vinland Saga’, pays tribute to Norse Mythology and Vikings by dramatizing two popular historical figures: Thorfinn Karlsefni and Cnut the Great. This anime is set in 1013 AD England, when the war between the Danes and England raged on. Thorn is on a quest to find paradise in a place called Vinland, although, that place only exists in myths. The show is focused on Thorfinn’s journey to Vinland and his quest for vengeance on the king who killed his father.
2) Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku
This anime is best for the working ones, especially office goers. ‘Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku’ is a romantic anime about two office workers. They both struggle to figure out the whole topic of romance. This is mainly because they believe they are both hopeless nerds. This self-imposition about oneself, makes it hard for their relationship to work. This is one of the anime that has adult characters. If you have grown out of teen love anime, then this would immediately draw you into another world.
3) Banana Fish
Here comes the gangster anime. Ash Lynx rules the streets of New York City as a 17-year-old gang leader. However, the mob boss, Dino Golzine still has him under his control. Ash finds a mysterious drug called ‘Banana Fish’ being carried by one of Dino’s men. This led him to the revelations that will help him get one step closer to finding out how his older brother was involved with the drug. Ash embarks on a dangerous journey to expose government secrets that are endangering their lives. With the help of his close friends and a Japanese photographer, Eiji, who is visiting the city, Ash sets on a quest to avenge his brother.
4) Kabaneri Of The Iron Fortress
‘Kabaneri Of The Iron Fortress’ is not as popular as ‘Attack on Titan’, however, this was also produced by Wit Studio. This anime has a lot in common with the story of Eren Jaeger and the Survey Corps. As we all know, Titans were depicted as man-eaters in AOT, in this anime, the casts of Kabaneri are attempting to evade Kabane – who are as terrifying as Titans (If you haven’t watched ‘Attack On Titans‘, then you should definitely watch that too!). These flesh-hungry creatures cannot be defeated unless their iron-coated hearts are pierced. If you have watched AOT, and want to watch something similar to that, then this is a perfect series.
5) Inuyashiki Last Hero
This is a totally new concept. If you are in for an absolutely crazy world in anime, pick this! Mr. Inuyashiki is an elderly man, who ran his life with the adequate salary he earned. However, life was not going the way he had hoped. His family is not appreciating him or respecting him, and above all this, he is diagnosed with cancer. Here is the big twist, things dramatically change, when he is abducted by aliens. His frail human body is exchanged with a powerful robotic weapon. Now, the metamorphosis of the elderly sentimental anime into an action-packed thriller is nothing like how one would imagine. Inuyashiki is worth watching for this very reason of having a unique protagonist and plot.
6) Toradora!
This is a classic romance anime. It follows the relationship of Ryuuji Takasu, a kind high school student, who could put any housewife to shame and her feisty classmate, Taiga Aisaka. If you are a hardcore anime fan, you would have probably been introduced to the word ‘tsundere’. Well, Taiga is the right amount of tsundere anyone could ask for. They both are friends, and they even try to be each other’s wingmen as they both have a crush on each other’s best friends. Eventually, their friendship evolves into something more over time.
7) Grimoire Of Zero
This is a fantasy anime with usual fantastical tropes. It revolves around Zero, a witch and her bodyguard, Mercenary. They set out on a journey to find the titular ‘Grimoire of Zero‘ – a spell book that possesses incredible power. The two agree to hunt down a magical tome together in exchange for Zero making Mercenary a full human. If you have an itch for fantasies, then this is your perfect itch guard.
8) Elfen Lied
This is a classic anime, with a horror show. Disclaimer: This anime is so not for the faint of hearts. It features a lot of gothic and horrifying violent scenes along with nudity. The story revolves around Lucy, a Diclonius with special abilities. She escaped from a research lab, and an agency is trying to recapture her. Duffer brothers have often spoken about how this anime was a major influence on the Netflix show ‘Stranger Things’. Not so worthy TMI, this anime is banned in China.
9) Avatar: The Last Airbender
Come on! You must have known about this, even if you are not an anime fan. This is by far one of the classic veterans of all the anime. It focuses on the story of Aang, who is encased in ice for 100 years before returning to a world ruled by the Fire Nation. Being a righteous dude, he collects some of his friends and puts an end to the wrong stuff that is happening in the world. It has great storytelling and mind-blowing visuals!
10) Dororo
This is one of the oldest anime to exist in this list. The manga was launched in the 1960s and the anime in the late 60s. Prime Video has the latest version of the classic anime ‘Dororo’. Ronin (a Samurai without a master), is born disfigured because his father had a deal with some demons. So, Dororo joins up and helps the ronin defeat more demons. This is a very dark fantasy with twists and turns at every nook.
11) Made In Abyss
‘Made In Abyss’ is a cute fantasy story. However, at the bottom of the mysterious abyss lies terrible secrets beyond the understanding of the groups of children who explore it daily. This anime is a whirlwind of an experience that would show you a range of emotions. The emotions with which you started would completely change whilst you are on the track. It will blow your mind by its charms and scar the hell out of your wits by the end. If you are looking for an anime that makes you feel like you are on a roller coaster, then this is It!
12) Iroduku: The World in Colors
Hitomi Tsukishiro’s life is a drab and filled with depressing colors. Although she lives in a world, filled with magic, her life doesn’t have even a bit of sparkle. One day, her grandmother uses a magic spell to send her backward in time to when she was a teenager in an attempt to make her life colorful. There, she meets Yuito Aoi, who might lead her to the answer. His beautiful drawings allow her to see the bright colors that she failed to notice in her world.
13) Land Of The Lustrous
This is one of the best ‘CGI’ anime to ever exist. Phosphophyllite is a humanoid gem who wants to help her friends fight the adversarial Lunarians. She is also tasked with creating an encyclopedia about her extraordinary world. During this process, she meets Cinnabar, a gem who exists outside society because she unintentionally exudes dangerous poison. The story then follows how the two outcasts struggle to find their place in the world.
14) Girls’ Last Tour
This is a dystopian and sci-fi anime. Chito and Yuuri are two little girls with very unusual lives. They are the last surviving humans after the end of the world. Survival is their main priority, as they wander in the remains of a former civilization. The contrast between a rough landscape and adorable little girls finds a balance in the overall state of this anime.
15) Grand Blue Dreaming
Many anime audiences have applauded this anime for its interesting and fun take on life. It revolves around Lori Kitahara, a mechanical engineering student who can’t swim. The story then follows the life of the protagonist and straddles between life and comedy. It’s the most comforting, and fun anime to watch if your life sucks!
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16) Re: Creators
This is one of the flagship original anime on Prime Video. This comes under the genre, ‘Isekai’, where characters are pulled into another world and live life there for at least a while. The protagonist launches into a mechan anime he was watching and the adventure begins from there. He eventually leaves the fictional world. However, the fictional characters are dragged into the real world with him.
17) Kokkoku
This drama might be chaotic but worth watching. It involves time and some incredibly stupid people. After failing 19 job interviews, Juri Yukawa’s dream of moving out of her parents’ home is utterly dug deep into the crevice. On a random day, her siblings are kidnapped by criminals, and have to pay them a high ransom within 30 minutes. During this tumultuous time, her grandfather discloses a high secret, wherein using a mystical stone time can be stopped. After offering blood to the stone, she enters into the world of ‘stasis’ only to encounter another bunch of people who can move in the timeless world. Thrilling is the word for this anime!
18) Blade Of The Immortal
Manji is known for slaying 100 innocent people. However, an 800-year-old nun fills his body with healing bloodworms and makes him a functional immortal. If Manji wants to undo the curse of immortality, he should radically change his life. In order to nullify the curse, he has to slay 1000 evil people. There is a lot more to this than meets the eye. You are in for an emotional ride, if you choose to watch this.
19) Love & Lies
This is a dystopian anime, wherein Japan uses a scientific program that matches couples they believe will have long-lasting marriages and lots of children to increase the birth rate of the nation. One couple is forced to submit to this narrative by their nation. The couple refuses to submit to the country’s system and in turn receives severe repercussions. Yuki Nejima is in a tough situation because of this nonsense system, after he falls in love with someone the system didn’t choose.
20) Babylon
If you are into investigative dramas, then you should give ‘Babylon’ a try. This anime focuses on a public prosecutor who investigates a pharmaceutical company along with his assistant officer. They investigate the company for providing false advertisements for a new drug the company produced. There is a lot more thrill involved in this anime. It is full of plot twists and mysteries. Government corruption is actually more horrifying to watch than horror. Fans of psychological thrillers and investigative dramas must watch this anime.
21) Princess Tutu
This is a fantasy-magical-girl anime. ‘Princess Tutu’ follows a girl named Ahiru who attends ballet school. She has an egg-shaped pendant with which she transforms into the magical Princess Tutu. This gives her the power she needs to restore the shards of Mytho’s shattered heart, which he lost while sealing an evil raven. It’s a highly recommended drama to watch with your fellow anime peers.
22) The Story Of Saiunkoku
‘The Story Of Saiunkoku’ is an underrated anime worth the watch. Shuurei Kou is a noblewoman from a noble family with a reputation but no wealth. She wants to bring changes to her country by joining the government. However, women are prohibited from such higher positions (even lower! Ugh! Patriarchy), and her dreams seemed far out of reach. Just when these horrible gender distinctions were noticed, she gets an unexpected offer to become the Emperor’s consort. The Emperor is a lazy dude who prefers the company of fellow men to the marriage his family is forcing on him. Shuurei has to transform this worthless person into a true leader. In the meantime, she also hopes to create change on her own terms. Where are all my feminists? Feminists Assemble! This is our show!
23) Happy Sugar Life
‘Happy Sugar Life’ is a love-psycho-horror story of a girl named Satou Matsuzaka. She is in love with another girl and thinks that she must be in love. Matsuzaka aims to protect that feeling of love, even if it means committing crimes or even killing people. If you are into LGBTQ anime or dramas, add this to your list.
24) After The Rain
This is one of the controversial, sketchy plots wherein a teenage girl falls in love with a 45-year-old manager. Akira Tachibana’s unreciprocated feelings are explored to find out what is missing in her life. Masami Kondo is depicted as a gentleman who wishes the best for the girl, rather than being exploitative or inappropriate. Both the characters eventually get on the right track to becoming better versions of themselves.
25) Welcome To The Ballroom
As the title suggests, this is an energetic anime that takes one into the world of competitive ballroom dancing. Tatara Fujita, is an aimless high schooler, who is recused from bullies by Kaname Sengoku. He then ends up at a dance studio. Eventually, the not-so-enthusiastic high schooler gets more and more excited about ballroom dancing. The show then focuses on how he catches up with his fellow dancers and how she stands out at the end from others.
