Anime is still popular all over the world. A big reason for that is the ability to stream an array of classic and new anime from the comfort of one’s home. One of the best streaming services to get your anime fix is Amazon Prime. While both Netflix and Hulu have a great selection of anime, Amazon Prime has a combination of exclusive titles and classics ready to stream. Home to an impressive library of both movies and anime series, Amazon Prime is an excellent choice for any anime fan. Here are the seven best anime on Amazon Prime.
Elfen Lied (2004)
1 Season
Genre
Action & Adventure, Animation, Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Stars
Chihiro Suzuki, Sanae Kobayashi, Emiko Hagiwara
Created by
Lynn Okamoto
Watch on Amazon
Because of its cute animation style, it’s easy to let your guard down when watching Elfen Lied. However, this anime is dark, with jarring scenes of shocking, brutal violence. The story centers on Lucy, a seemingly normal girl who is actually a Diclonius — a human with short horns and invisible telekinetic hands, the result of secret government experiments. At the start of the story, Lucy escapes captivity from the government lab but suffers a terrible head injury in the process, turning her into a harmless girl with no memory of her past. She is rescued by two college students who are unaware of her true nature. The show takes a lot of twists and turns, each filled with adrenaline-pumping action.
Blade of the Immortal (2019)
1 Season
Genre
Animation, Drama, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Stars
Houko Kuwashima, Ayane Sakura, Kenjiro Tsuda
Watch on Amazon
This Amazon Prime anime is a fun watch for any fan of samurai or sword-fighting movies. While Blade of the Immortal has plenty of sword fights, it also includes a dark supernatural element. This anime is very adult, with lots of graphic imagery and menacing, if not downright insane villains. The story follows a ronin (a leaderless warrior) named Manji, the immortal “Hundred Man Killer” as he navigates feudal Japan. He teams up with Rin Asano, a 16-year-old girl on a revenge quest against a group of master swordsmen who murdered her family.
Memories (1995)
113m
Genre
Fantasy, Animation, Science Fiction
Stars
Tsutomu Isobe, Koichi Yamadera, Shozo Iizuka
Directed by
Tensai Okamura, Katsuhiro Otomo, Koji Morimoto
Watch on Amazon
This beautiful and cerebral 1995 anime film gives off classic Blade Runner and cyberpunk vibes. Based on three manga stories from legendary artist and director Katsuhiro Otomo (creator of Akira), this movie is a collection of three short films. Intricately animated, each short film is unique in both presentation and story, swaying, at times, from the haunting to the darkly comical. You’ll find yourself creeped out and laughing throughout this film, a great sign of how diverse this movie is. This film is a must-watch for anyone craving a slice of classic, hand-drawn, 1990s anime.
Vinland Saga (2019)
For those fans of History Channel’s Vikings, Vinland Saga is its anime twin. Based on the best-selling manga, Vinland Saga is filled with medieval action, intrigue, and drama. From dazzling battles to intense duels, Vinland Saga has enough combat to satisfy any action junkie. But this epic anime is also a story of growing up, with a memorable cast of characters that don’t fit neatly into standard anime tropes. The main character of Vinland Saga is Thorfinn, a young Viking warrior who goes on a journey to see the mystical land of Vinland — North America.
Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone (2007)
98m
Genre
Animation, Science Fiction, Action, Drama
Stars
Megumi Ogata, Megumi Hayashibara, Kotono Mitsuishi
Directed by
Hideaki Anno, Kazuya Tsurumaki, Masayuki, Hiroshi Haraguchi
Watch on Amazon
Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone is an anime film and the first entry in the Rebuild of Evangelion tetralogy. It’s a retelling of the classic anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion, but with some twists and updated animation. The story takes place in the futuristic Tokyo-3, 15 years after a global catastrophe called the Second Impact. Humanity is under attack by monstrous beings known as Angels. NERV, a special agency, relies on giant robots called Evangelion (EVA) units piloted by teenagers to combat the Angels. Shinji Ikari, a withdrawn young man, is recruited by NERV to pilot EVA-01, one of these giant machines, and fight the Angels. The title “You Are Not Alone” reflects the themes of isolation and connection that are central to the story. Shinji struggles with loneliness, but he also finds a sense of belonging through piloting the EVA and interacting with others.
GoShogun: The Time Étranger (1985)
90m
Genre
Action, Animation, Science Fiction, Horror
Stars
Kaneto Shiozawa, Daisuke Gori, Shôjirô Kihara
Directed by
Kunihiko Yuyama
Watch on Amazon
GoShogun: The Time Étranger is a science-fiction anime film with a twist on reality and a focus on enduring friendships. The story revolves around Remy Shimada, a former pilot of the giant robot GoShogun, who once saved the world. Decades later, Remy is an elderly woman living a reclusive life. While on her way to reunite with her old teammates, Remy gets into a car accident and ends up critically ill. As Remy fights for her life, she experiences a strange dream world. In this dream, she finds herself young again, reunited with her teammates in a mysterious and hostile city. The dream takes a dark turn when they each receive letters predicting their gruesome deaths within two days. Remy must navigate this surreal dream city while relying on the memories of her past camaraderie to find a way out, both within the dream and potentially back to the real world.
Girls' Last Tour (2017)
1 Season
Genre
Mystery, Action & Adventure, Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Stars
Yurika Kubo, Inori Minase, Akira Ishida
Created by
Tsukumizu, Takaharu Ozaki
Watch on Amazon
This anime series takes place in a desolate post-apocalyptic world where civilization has seemingly crumbled. The exact cause of this apocalypse remains a mystery throughout the story. The narrative of Girls’ Last Tour centers on two young girls, Chito and Yuuri, who travel the ruins on a half-tracked motorcycle called a Kettenkrad. Their main goals are simple: survival and finding their next meal, fuel, and shelter. While the world is bleak, the story focuses on Chito and Yuuri’s day-to-day experiences. They explore abandoned structures, encounter the remnants of the past civilization, and contemplate its demise. Despite the desolate setting, the series often has lighthearted and humorous moments. The girls find joy in simple things like reading scavenged books, brewing coffee, or sharing a meal together.
