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Anime has rapidly grown in popularity in recent years, and Crunchyroll remains the go-to streaming platform for many fans around the world. With an extensive catalog of titles ranging across a wide range of genres, Crunchyroll has something to offer every demographic, whether it's classic masterpieces from anime’s golden era or modern hits. In the past couple of years alone, there have been a variety of titles that prove anime is evolving and expanding. Through unforgettable characters, cinematic visuals, and compelling storylines, these new-generation anime are must-watch series for both newcomers to the medium and longtime fans. From slice-of-life to isekai to intense action, Crunchyroll has something for every viewer. Solo Leveling Solo Leveling follows Sung Jinwoo, an E-rank hunter who was known as “The Weakest Hunter of All Mankind.” Struggling to get by and provide for his family, Jinwoo took on low-level raids with his team until one disastrous mission changed everything. With half his team dead and the other half fleeing, Jinwoo found himself on the brink of death. However, he miraculously survives and finds that he has gained power from a mysterious System that refers to him as the Player. Through daily quests and defeating monsters, Jinwoo steadily begins to level up, ultimately leading to an immense increase in his power, turning him into one of the world’s most powerful hunters. Solo Leveling achieved widespread success overseas and became one of the most talked-about and most-rated series on Crunchyroll. It won Anime of the Year, beating out Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Kaiju No. 8, Dandadan, Delicious in Dungeon, and The Apothecary Diaries. Its fast-paced action and eye-catching battle sequences make it a thrilling experience. My Hero Academia: Vigilantes My Hero Academia: Vigilantes centers on Koichi Haimawari, a young man with no official hero license who takes up the role of a vigilante alongside his new friends Pop Step and Knuckleduster. The show is a spin-off of the original My Hero Academia and takes place about five years before the start of the main series. Vigilantes focus on smaller-scale, street-level crime that often gets overlooked by pro heroes. The series explores the underbelly of hero society and is often cited for its much darker, grittier tone compared to My Hero Academia. By focusing on ordinary people trying to make a difference, the spin-off effectively captures a bigger picture of Kohei Horikoshi’s world. My Status as an Assassin Obviously Exceeds the Hero's My Status as an Assassin Obviously Exceeds the Hero's follows Akira Oda, a high school student who is unexpectedly summoned to a fantasy world alongside his classmates. While others receive traditional roles, such as “hero,” Akira is assigned the role of an assassin. He quickly finds that his class surpasses everyone else, allowing him to investigate the suspicious kingdom. As he navigates this world, he uses his newfound skills to uncover conspiracies and the truth behind their summoning. The story follows a compelling anti-hero and subverts isekai tropes by allowing Akira to rank higher than the hero. My Status as an Assassin Obviously Exceeds the Hero’s is a new standout anime that some fans have compared to Solo Leveling. Zenshu Zenshu follows Natsuko Hirose, a young animator and director who skyrockets to fame after her first anime becomes an unexpected hit. Her next project, a romantic comedy about first love, quickly stalls, as Natsuko hits a wall due to never having experienced love herself and struggles to bring her story to life. Just as inspiration seems out of reach, she finds herself mysteriously transported into her favorite childhood anime film, a tragedy called A Tale of Perishing. There she discovers that she has the power to rewrite the story and save what’s left of the world from terrifying creatures known as Voids. The series is best known for its stunning animation and meta commentary on the animation industry. With its self-aware humor, romantic subplot, and high-stakes action, Zenshu is a fun, unforgettable anime that can easily be finished in one weekend. With a steady buildup and a satisfying conclusion, Zenshu is a must-watch. Clevatess Clevatess follows the powerful demon king Clevatess, who becomes the target of 13 heroes, including a young warrior named Alicia Glenfall. After Clevatess defeats the heroes and destroys the human capital in retribution. However, his path takes a drastic turn when one of the survivors hands him a baby and begs him to save and raise the child. Seeing an opportunity to understand humanity, he accepts the baby and adopts it, deciding to resurrect Alicia to help care for the child. Together, the three form an unlikely family dynamic, with Clevatess hiding his true nature to gain the knowledge and understanding of humanity he’s been seeking. Clevatess is a dark fantasy anime full of both humor and action. Lord of Mysteries Lord of Mysterious centers on Zhou Mingrui, a modern Chinese man reincarnated as Klein Moretti in a steampunk, Victorian-era world. Determined to uncover the circumstances surrounding his transmigration, Klein joins a secret society and gains the powers of a Beyonder, allowing him to grow stronger and better adapt to his new surroundings. The narrative blends action, cosmic horror, and mystery, standing out most for its complex world-building and stunning animation. Its unique magic system offers a fresh take on secret societies and powers, creating an immersive experience for viewers everywhere. Lord of Mysteries, a Chinese anime, better known as donghua, captured the attention of millions upon its debut. Gachiakuta Gachiakuta follows Rudo, an orphan boy living in the floating city called The Sphere, who is framed for his foster father’s murder. He is then exiled from the city into an abyss of discarded trash and outcasts. In order to survive, Rudo joins the Cleaners and must learn how to fight monsters. As he adapts to the harsh new environment, he uses his fighting skills to stay alive and seek vengeance against society for all its injustice. Gachiakuta is best known for its gritty action and social commentary, with strong themes that explore social class, revenge, and discrimination. The anime is both thrilling and thought-provoking, and no anime fan should miss it. To Be Hero X To Be Hero X follows several heroes in a world where power stems from public belief, quantified as Trust Values on one’s wrist. The story begins with Lin Ling, who, after witnessing the suicide of the hero Nice, is pushed to assume his identity and navigate his newfound powers, hero agencies, and public perceptions. Besides Lin Ling, the story focuses on 10 other heroes, exploring each individual's history and motivations before they participate in a tournament to determine who is the strongest and deserves the title X. The first season is an anthology featuring these heroes, delving into the universe, their unique powers, and hero organizations that operate behind the scenes. To Be Hero X stands out for its blend of 2D and 3D animation, exploration of heroism, and its groundbreaking interactive feature. This feature allowed fans to vote for their favorite heroes, affecting the Trust Values within their universe and determining who is the strongest, as well as which character will get the most screentime in the second season. With You and the Rain With You and the Rain centers on Fuji, a reclusive young woman whose life is unexpectedly brightened when she discovers a strange, dog-like creature in a cardboard box on a rainy day. This clever animal, a tanuki in disguise (a Japanese raccoon dog), persuades her to take it home through small yet charming gestures. Fuji adopts the creature and names it You, beginning a heartwarming and unusual companionship between the two. The story is a slow-paced, slice-of-life anime that focuses on their daily life together. It’s both heartwarming and full of quiet and tender moments of beauty, making it perfect for those who want a break from high-stakes fantasy and action stories. Takopi’s Original Sin Takopi’s Original Sin follows Takopi, a cheerful, squid-like alien from Planet Happy who comes to Earth with the mission of spreading happiness and joy. When Takopi discovers Shizuka, a lonely girl who names him and becomes his first friend, he does everything he can to brighten her day. However, he quickly finds her struggles are far deeper than he imagined. As Takopi becomes more involved in Shizuka’s life, he realizes that she faces abuse, bullying, and neglect. His well-intentioned interventions in her life then lead to disastrous consequences, forcing him to find a new way to fix what has been broken before more tragedies and consequences follow.
