5 great free anime to watch online

Funimation caused a wave of shock throughout the anime world when it was reported that the company has Acquire Crunchyroll at the end of 2021. Since then, a lot has changed – two companies have been merged like Crunchyroll, LLC, and the anime streaming landscape has changed dramatically.

There’s no reason to pay for a Sign up for Funimation Also, what happens to the service’s discontinuation of simulcast anime pre-shows (coming out on Crunchyroll from now on), while the return catalog of older Funimation licensed anime has slowly but surely begun head is moved to Crunchyroll’s library. Emphasis on “slowly.”

While the majority of popular titles of the service, such as seven dragon pearls, Yu Yu Hakushoand Trigun has switched to Crunchyroll since the merger was announced in March, not to mention the anime’s English dubs include Dr. Stone, Hunter x Hunterand Kaguya-sama: Love is war, there are still a few gems in the Funimation library that haven’t been implemented yet. Some of these anime can even be streamed for free with ads on the Funimation site, which means you can still enjoy them even if you don’t have a subscription.

If you are looking for some better, older anime to watch, from Escaflowne’s vision arrive Ping Pong the Animationthese are just a few of the best anime you can stream for free on Funimation right now.

Escaflowne’s vision

Image: Sunrise / Funimation

The brainchild of Macross co-creator Shōji Kawamori, Escaflowne’s vision is a fantasy romance isekai set in another dimension, where feudal kingdoms drive massive mechanized armors and the power of love can change the shape of destiny itself. fate. The series follows Hitomi, a Japanese high school student who is transported to the magical world of Gaea after being rescued from one by Van Fanel, the apparent heir to the Kingdom of Fanelia, the heir to the Kingdom of Fanelia. white dragon (see: Mecha). like Escaflowne.

Don’t be fooled by the series’ emphasis on action in the first few episodes; Escaflowne gradually turns into a suspenseful romance involving a love triangle between Hitomi, Van, chivalrous knight Allen Schezar, a headstrong princess, and Van’s childhood companion. Additionally, the main antagonist of the series is hinted at being an immortal Isaac Newton, who uses something called the “Fate-Changing Machine” to interfere with Hitomi’s love life. If you like big mechs, intense battles and big Emotions, Escaflowne’s vision is a must see.

Third Lupine: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine

Image: TMS / Po10tial / Funimation

Made to celebrate the first 40th anniversary Lupine the third anime (and manga’s 45th), Third Lupine: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine is an engaging and engaging origin story for the franchise’s iconic heroine. Do Sayo Yamamoto (Michiko & Hatchin, Yuri on Ice), the series follows Fujiko’s career as a seducer and thief as she encounters the likes of Lupine III, Daisuke Jigen, Goemon Ishikawa, and Inspector Zenigata for the first time, all of whom are thwarted. caught up in a sinister plot orchestrated by an owl-obsessed mad scientist. with supposed ties to her past.

With character designs by Takeshi Koike (Red line) and a great fun score curated by Cowboy Bebop director Shinichirō Watanabe, The woman called the Fujiko mine is a brilliant, suspenseful and gripping animated crime drama with lots of twists and turns to satisfy even the most religious of devotees. Lupine fans and newcomers alike.

Records of the Lodoss War

Image: Madhouse / Funimation

Before Legend of Vox Machinayes Records of the Lodoss War. Based on a series of light novels by author and game designer Ryo Mizuno, based on a transcript of a series of Dungeons & Dragons campaigns in which he was involved, both the 1990 episode 13 OVA (original video animation) and 27 -ep Chapter 1998 anime Chronicles of the Heroic Knights are appreciated not only for their role as milestones in the fantasy RPG anime genre, but also as significant breakthrough titles in the early stages of anime popularity in the West.

The film follows a young warrior named Parn, along with his group of companions (a sorcerer, a thief, an elf, and a dwarf), as they traverse the worthy island of Lodoss. cursed, wandering from battle to battle as the fate of the world hung in the balance. While a number of fantasy anime since then have continued to iterate and improve on the foundation the series laid, both Records of the Lodoss War The OVA and animated series are both highly entertaining and are sure to please any eager fantasy fan.

Serial test Lain

Image: Triangle Staff / Funimation

Ryūtarō Nakamura and Chiaki J. Konaka’s 1998 Serial test Lain is a hit blockbuster, a psychological drama, about a strange young girl who is coming of age in the information age. After the death of one of her classmates, Lain finds herself caught up in a puzzling conspiracy as she delves deeper into the worlds of online and computer hacking in search of answers not just for the case. classmate’s suicide but also about her own mysterious nature. Known for his pioneering animations and themes of consciousness, perception, identity and reality, Serial test Lain is the anime’s closest equivalent to a horror film by Kiyoshi Kurosawa: brainy, cold, and brutal in modern times.

Ping Pong the Animation

Image: Science Saru / Funimation

Based on the manga of the same name by Taiyo Matsumoto, 2014 anime by Masaaki Yuasa Ping pong is an engaging sports drama powered by interesting protagonists, an emotional story of personal growth in spite of setbacks, and a beautifully expressive art style that inspires unique and timeless in its appeal. The story follows two childhood friends and ping-pong prodigy, who are pushed beyond their limits as they mature into not only formidable tennis players, but also mature young men about emotional side. If you are a fan of sports anime à la Haikyuu!! and looking for something more eccentric and psychological, you can’t go wrong Ping pong.