Although the platform is not immediately linked to the vehicle, Amazon Top Videos is available to stream some of the best anime ever made. While its selection isn’t as extensive as other streaming services like Crunchyroll or Funimation, it shouldn’t be discounted and it makes up for it in terms of quality.
Amazon Prime is streaming some of the most exciting anime available. From old classics to new hits, Amazon Prime’s anime library is extremely diverse. It includes both television series and feature films. The best part is, with any Prime account, you can instantly start exploring every anime series from A to Z.
10 Vinland Saga
As a child, Thorfinn witnessed his Viking father Thors being killed by the mercenary Askeladd. He grew up training and fighting alongside Askeladd and his warriors, determined to one day avenge his father in an honorable duel. But the angrier he got, the worse he became, until he realized he had to find another way forward.
One of the best historical fantasy anime, Vinland Saga instantly became popular for its dark and gritty tone, but its optimistic story at the same time gives the show real depth. In his youth, Thors was famous for his brutal strength but eventually devoted himself to peace. Now, through hardships, his son Thorfinn must learn the same lessons for himself and become the man he always wanted to be.
9 death notes
On the surface, Light Yagami is the ideal young man: polite, calm, and intelligent. However, just scratch that crust a little and you will see a brutal selfish person. When Light is given the power to kill at will through the Death Note, he quickly sets out to remake the world to his liking through mass murder, but soon realizes that he may have met his match. His rival is the equally genius detective, L.
Death Note remains a favorite anime for beginners and for good reason. The suspense and mystery elements of Light escalating his serial murder spree while dodging L’s professional pursuit of him make the film interesting. But the core of the story is that Light and L are mirror images of each other, and their ideals clash as each is determined to see his vision of justice prevail.
8 memories
Katsuhiro Otomo may be best known for the classic film Akira, but he also directed this anthology adaptation of his short stories. Also featuring the talents of Satoshi Kon, Kouji Morimoto and Tensai Okamura, Memories is a hidden gem of sci-fi anime. All three short films were praised for their complexity and creativity.
Magnetic Rose tells the dramatic story of the crew of a ship who discovers an abandoned space station. Stink Bomb is a chilling story about the rigors of biological warfare. Ultimately, Cannon Fodder is a short but effective film about the horrors of war. Together, all three paint a bleak picture of the future as technology advances.
7 chili powder
When Dr. Atsuko Chiba’s team invented a device that allowed them to view people’s dreams, she used it under the table to treat her mental patients. As her alter ego Paprika, she travels through their dreams in search of the root of their problems. But when the device is stolen, Chiba and her team must mobilize to recover it before using it to kill someone.
One of Satoshi Kon’s best films famous for its surreal story and imaginative animation. While some detractors found its plot difficult to follow, others liked it for its fluidity and ability to capture the feeling of being lost in a dream. The more the lines between dreams and reality blur, the harder Chiba and her companions must fight to keep their lives and identities.
6 In This Corner of the World
Based on the manga of the same name by Fumiyo Kouno, In This Corner of the World tells the story of Suzu Urano, a girl from Hiroshima, who moves south to Kure to be with her lover Shuusaku. Their married life begins simply and pleasantly, but in 1944, the shadow of World War II draws closer and closer. Not only does Suzu have to adapt to her new home and family, but she also has to face the hardships and tragedies of wartime.
Receiving rave reviews and numerous award nominations and wins, In This Corner of the World remains one of MAPPA’s best films. Its extended version continues to hold the record as the longest running animated film ever made. Unfortunately, only the original cut is available to watch on Amazon Prime.
5 guns
While the 2023 Trigun Stampede reboot is currently only streaming on Hulu and Crunchyroll, you can find the original 1998 series on Amazon Prime. On the desolate planet Gunsmoke, legends tell of a terrible force of destruction moving from town to town, and insurance agents Meryl Strife and Milly Thompson are on a mission to destroy it. But the notorious criminal Vash the Stampede turns out to be the goofy blonde guy they keep running into.
Trigun is more than just a classic because of its Wild West atmosphere and balance between comedy and action. Vash is an excellent protagonist who starts out fun and goofy, but as the film goes on, reveals the true depth of the pain and fear he’s trying to overcome. He loves humanity as much as they hate him, and he will do everything in his immense power to protect what he loves. Vash has also become one of the most iconic pacifist characters in anime, much like Thorfinn in the later Vinland Saga.
4 Your name
Tokyo boy Taki Tachibana and country girl Mitsuha Miyamizu both wish they could trade their lives for something completely different. When they wake up one day in each other’s bodies, they get their wish. As they grow closer, they not only begin to fall in love, but also realize that their connection is the key to preventing a terrible disaster.
Your Name not only boasts excellent animation (as expected from a Makoto Shinkai work) but also has a thrilling story. Taki and Mitsuha learn and grow from sharing their experiences and perspectives, and the harder their struggle to stay together, the more the audience roots for them. It may sound cliché, but their story is an emotional rollercoaster right to the very end.
3 Ouran High School Host Club
On her first day at the prestigious Ouran Academy, Haruhi Fujioka accidentally breaks a vase worth 8 million yen. To pay off her debt, she joins the school’s Host Club, where members organize events to entertain the female students. She is quickly drawn into the fun world of the five hosts and finds that she belongs there more than she expected.
Even seventeen years after the final episode aired, Ouran fans are still calling for a second season. This speaks to how much I love the show and how easy it is to bond with this cast. Its brilliant tone and fun character dynamics place it high in the ranks of romantic comedy anime.
2 Banana Fish
Aspiring photographer Eiji Okumura knew he was going to New York to take pictures of local street gangs, but had no idea how deeply entangled he would be. He was immediately impressed by Ash Lynx, who was famous throughout the underworld for his beauty and ferocious strength. Together, the two must solve the mystery of the “banana fish”, a devastating creature that threatens the city.
Banana Fish is notable not only for being one of the best anime about the mafia but also for the love story between Ash and Eiji. After experiencing a nightmarish childhood, Ash finds one of the first bright spots of his life in Eiji. However, despite Eiji’s willingness to face danger with him, Ash ultimately has to choose between protecting Eiji and being happy with him.
1 Princess Tutu
Newly transformed from a duck into a magical girl, Ahiru is determined to find a place in the human world and use her powers to free them from corruption. In a conventional fairy tale, her mission would be simple and easy. But as Ahiru and her new companions soon discover, their story is not so simple.
After one of the best episodes with plot twists in anime, Princess Tutu just keeps getting better and better. From Ahiru to the handsome prince Mytho to the dark and mysterious Fakir, each character fights against the fate that has been written for them. It’s not only a fun and complex deconstruction of the magical girl genre but also of classic archetypes in and of themselves.
Amazon Prime is a great place to stream anime. Whether you’re re-watching old favorites or looking for a new story to love, it has something for you. Fans should check it out Amazon Primeanime selection and discover some of the best action, fantasy and romance anime released in the past few decades.
