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HIDIVEmight not quite have the same presence as Crunchyroll, but the streaming service should be on the radar of most anime fans. The site has plenty of old and new shows, some of which cannot be found on any other platform. Nowadays, the service events gets a couple of seasonal exclusives, including the occasional big show that is a genuine subscription seller.
Comedies will not be included as they are covered in aseparate article. The seasonal recommendations are the only exception.
Updated Aug 05, 2025 by Mark Sammut:HIDIVE has not announced a lot of Summer 2025 anime, but the streaming service will be airing two shows. More might be announced, but this is it for now.
HIDIVE Summer 2025 Anime
The Summer 2025 anime season is almost here, and HDIVE does not seem to have a huge lineup of simulcast shows. That said, as always, the platform has a couple of exclusives that will hopefully set the world alight. One anime is also among the season’s biggest names.
Anadaptation of Takahiro’s mangawith the same name,Akame ga Kill!is all about revolution and taking down a corrupt government led by a sinister Prime Minister. Naturally, such a process involves a lot of sacrifices, blood, and cool weapons.
Akame ga Kill!revolves around the Night Raid, the Revolutionary Army’s assassination team that targets high-profile officials to undermine the power of the state. The anime has splendid action, likable characters, and a significant body count. Even though the anime is not considered a spot-on adaptation of the manga, when viewed on its own, the show is a blast.
On the surface,Beyond the Boundaryappears to be your run-of-the-millfantasy action animeabout a girl with a unique sword who fights wayward spirits. Technically, the anime is all of that, butBeyond the Boundaryis also deeply tragic, beautifully bittersweet, and refreshingly nuanced. This is also a character-driven anime, one that does not use its action as a substitute for strong writing.
Along with the series,theBeyond the Boundary: I’ll Be Here - Futuremovie is also on HIDIVE. Make sure to also watch that.
An all-time classic,Lupin the 3rdhas been a staple of the anime scene since the early ’70s. Over the decades, Arsene Lupin III and his ragtag crew have pulled off all sorts of legendary heists, driving Zenigata up the wall in the process. HIDIVE does not have all the franchise’s seasons, but the content it does have is pretty good:
Like any service specializing in Japanese animation,HIDIVE has plenty ofgreat isekai anime. Since releasing its only cour in 2014 and a prequel in 2017,No Game, No Life’s reputation has steadily declined as it became apparent that a continuation might not materialize. Consequently, the anime is not complete or fully satisfying.
That said,No Game, No Life’s strengths hold up well even after more than half a decade following the anime’s debut. Madhouse’s animation is top-notch, Sora and Shiro make for a charismatic pair of protagonists, and the high-stakes games they engage in are entertaining.The movie prequel,No Game, No Life Zero, is also available on HIDIVE.
If this anime proves anything, it is that there is no such thing as “too silly” of an idea. Named after a Chinese military strategist who lived during the Three Kingdoms era,Ya Boy Kongming!reincarnates the historical figure in modern Tokyo. So far, so isekai; however, things get stranger when the show throws Zhuge Kongming into the idol industry and he becomes the manager of a struggling performer.
Ya Boy Kongming!is more than just a gimmick. The anime treats its characters with respect, fleshing out their fears, dreams, and blind spots. Zhuge is not the story’s only great character either as Eiko Tsukimi, the hopeful idol, is just as important to its success. Idol anime can be hard sells, but this show is a fantastic entry point into the genre.
Technically,Ya Boy Kongming!is a reincarnation story and not isekai, but the themes share enough in common to justify the show’s inclusion.
Gambling anime are rare, but they tend to be a treat. As awesome asAkagiandOne Outsare,Kaijihas a slight edge over them in one specific area: intensity. Kaiji is very much a normal person who is forced into situations that go well beyond his expertise; regardless of the challenge being faced, the protagonist is constantly struggling to avoid drowning.
Kaiji is a masterpiece of suspense, and Madhouse’s anime is fantastic in both seasons. Each series is split into different arcs, all of which stand on their own while simultaneously building upon Kaiji’s character and this universe’s rules.
HIDIVE only has the first 12 episodes ofThe Promised Neverland, so fans will need to go elsewhere to watch the polarizing sequel. Although it ends on something of a cliffhanger, season 1 is nevertheless a satisfying solo sit, one that makes expert use of its confined setting to tell a suspenseful and unpredictable story.
The Promised Neverlandopens in an orphanage that sends children into the world when they hit a certain age. When a young girl is adopted, Emma and Norman decide to go after her so they can give her a toy she left behind. This excursion opens the kids' eyes to the horrors that await them.
A mix of sci-fi and horror,Parasyte: The Maximis about identity, a common theme in both genres. Shinichi Izumi is quite an unassuming teenager, but his life changes when his hand becomes infected by an alien parasite. As the intruder fails to take over the human’s brain, the two are left with no choice but to co-exist, a relationship that gradually morphs between both parties.
Parasyte: The Maximblends gory scenes with sharp writing and complex characterization to craft a story that gets under the viewer’s skin. While not necessarily scary, the anime is unsettling and discomforting.
Based on amanga by Aka Akasaka,Oshi no Kocan be funny, haunting, bleak, hopeful, and intense. The anime goes to some very dark places, but it balances these sequences with moments of levity and humanity. The “main” story revolves around Aqua, a reincarnated teenager who becomes obsessed with finding the person responsible for his mother’s death. This involves infiltrating the entertainment industry.
While the protagonist is driven by a desire to find the person responsible for Ai’s death,Oshi no Kois more interested in exploring different aspects of the entertainment industry, highlighting both the positives and negatives in the process. For example, season 2 presents a grounded depiction of creative forces butting heads as they try to make their voices heard, despite all ultimately wanting the same thing: to create the best project they can.
Nana Osaki and Nana Komatsu might share a name and an apartment but they are vastly different in basically every other way. By all “logic”, they should not get along, but the opposite somehow happens: they end up hitting it off like nobody’s business. More importantly, their relationship helps facilitate self-exploration for both characters.
Nana’s core dynamic is about as good as any you are likely to find in an anime. This relationship evolves organically throughout the show’s run, rarely ever seeming like it is being used to trigger cheap melodrama. Anyone seeking a mature drama anime needs to check outNana.
An original series created to celebrate Doga Kobo’s 50 years in the business,Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Nightwas an enigma before its debut, and the only surefire thing was stellar animation. As the title gives very little away, what exactly is this story about? Well,Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Nightfollows a group of artistic girls who come together to form a collective called JELEE.
Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Nighthas an incredible selection of main characters, with all four girls being a delight in their own right. While not dark, the anime is not afraid to touch upon realistic and even heavy themes, all the while maintaining a fairly lighthearted and fluffy tone. The show’s scope is small and intimate, focusing specifically on the girls' relationships and their passion for the arts without positioning them as all-time great talents. They are just good at what they do, and with the right support base, they can thrive.
Despite ending on a slightly underwhelming note, thisSpring 2024 anime was still great.
Made in Abyssis perhaps the greatest dark fantasy anime of all time, although some content is so uncomfortable that it can be difficult to outright recommend to anyone but the most seasoned of consumers. Still, if someone is searching for a soul-crushing adventure series that features beautiful animation, likable characters, and a contender for the most terrifying setting in anime, they must dedicate a few hours to sit through this disconcerting masterpiece.
Alongside Reg, a boy with robot parts, Riko heads into the Abyss, a dangerous chasm split into layers that have their own wonders and nightmares. Their aim is to reach the Abyss' bottom in search of Riko’s mother, although there is no guarantee they will get there in one piece.
Blending fairy tales withmagical girls,Princess Tutuis a classic that does not get enough love, perhaps due to its title putting off some people. Taking inspiration from ballets likeSwan Lake,Princess Tututells the story of a duck who transforms into a girl to heal the heart of a prince.
Princess Tutuis a thought-provoking anime that tackles themes about the nature of destiny and personal agency. The anime succeeds in crafting moments of unbridled whimsy and joy while also allowing for the exploration of mature ideas and the execution of heavy sequences. Do not be put off by its name,Princess Tutuis one of thebest anime on HIDIVE.
Horror anime are not easy to come by, and HIDIVE has a fairly small range of options. Shows likeParasyteandThe Promised Neverlandare primarily thrillers, andHigh School of the Deadis an action ecchi anime with zombies rather than horror. While not necessarily “scary,“Dark Gathering100% passes the threshold to be considered proper horror; more importantly, the 2023 series is comfortably among thegenre’s best representatives, at least when it comes to anime.
Due to being able to see ghosts, Keitarou Gentouga has spent years as a recluse. Fortunately, a close friend named Eiko not only manages to get him out of the house but also convinces him to tutor her niece, Yayoi. Unfortunately, the latter spends her time capturing youkai, and she plans to use Keitarou’s abilities to simplify the process. Reluctantly, Keitarou finds himself joining a rag-tag group of ghost hunters as they travel across Japan, seeking out powerful spirits in the hopes of building an army capable of taking down a god-like being.
Dark Gatheringis incredibly entertaining, and the show balances action, tension, and comedy well. Yayoi is the star of the show as she is arguably scarier than most of the youkai, which is saying something as the latter have consistently great designs.
Best entered blind,School-Live!is apsychological horror animedrenched in mystery. The show follows a group of school girls who are just trying to lead their best lives, which is easier said than done due to their circumstances. They are in a pretty tense situation, and they all deal with this issue in different ways. Some become leaders, others try to keep up morale, and one character embraces denial.
School-Live!is pretty slow-paced, which complements its atmosphere and setting. The characters are also fairly likable, and they play on the typical “cute girls doing cute things” archetypes.
One of thebest Winter 2024 anime,The Dangers in My Heartis one of the greatest romance anime of all time, something that seemed unlikely after the first episode. Building on decent opening season, the sequel pulled out all the stops as it gradually morphed from cute to nuanced and moving. Kyotaro and Anna’s friendship is a joy to watch, as is their individual growth. The two teenagers are willing to show their appreciation for each other, despite both of them struggling to put their exact feelings into words.
Now,The Dangers in My Heartprogresses at a fairly slow pace, with most episodes having an almost slice of life rhythm to them. The series seems happy to just quietly and steadily strengthen the main couple’s bond, while also allowing the secondary characters to comment on their growing dynamic.
Based on Kotoyama’s Shonen Sunday manga,Call of the Nightfollows Kou Yamori, a bored student who spends his nights exploring his city as a way to deal with his insomnia. During one particular stroll, Kou meets the enigmatic Nazuna Nanakusa, and the girl quickly reveals herself to be a vampire. Enamored by the freedom her life offers, Kou asks to be turned into a vampire, a process that requires a human to fall in love with his sire.
Call of the Nightcreates a dream-like atmosphere through its vibrant depictions of a moonlit city. Some of the show’s strongest moments simply involve Kou wandering around empty streets, almost as if he has been teleported to a whole new world.
A high school drama centering around aromance between two girls,Bloom Into Youcan be a hard sell to anyone who is not immediately onboard after reading that description. Anime has an uneven track record when it comes to yuri-themed stories, so this skepticism is not unfounded. However,Bloom Into Youis something special.
Although romance naturally plays a part,Bloom Into Youis closer to a coming-of-age drama that happens to use a blossoming relationship as a catalyst for its characters' development. Speaking of the characters, this anime is fantastic in this department; as the leads, Yuu Koito and Youko Nanami get the most attention, and they are both three-dimensional figures with clearly defined flaws and desires. They feel like real people rather than idolized versions of teenagers. The supporting cast is also incredibly strong.
A fewSpring 2023 anime had the power to make hearts flutter, and none more so thanInsomniacs After School. Suffering in silence, Ganta and Isaki both feel alienated due to their struggles with insomnia. While the latter is nevertheless outgoing, the former tends to come across as grumpy and unapproachable, which has made it difficult for him to connect with people.
One day, the two students accidentally meet at their school’s observatory, and they quickly come to realize they are both insomniacs. This encounter starts a friendship that helps both of them find peace of mind. Ganta and Isaki are not only adorable together, but they are also great individual characters in their own right. Both of them have fully fleshed-out personalities defined by their pasts, insecurities, fears, and dreams, and they are constantly changing through their relationship.
One of the low-key great anime of 2024,2.5 Dimensional Seductionmight seem like a bog-standard ecchi harem at first, but the series just goes from strength to strength. The basic idea is simple – Masamune is the only member of the Manga Research Club, and he tends to prefer 2D women to real girls out of fear of rejection. However, at the start of the new scholastic year, he meets Ririsa, a girl who loves cosplay and specifically enjoys dressing up as Masamune’s favorite character.
Sure, at first, this set-up mostly serves to throw out a plethora of fanservice scenes, with Ririsa eventually being joined by a few other girls. However,2.5 Dimensional Seductionshows areal appreciation for cosplayersand their willingness to reveal their passions to the world, even if they fear they might be met with ridicule. As the story progresses, the anime becomes something of a tournament shonen, all the while developing pretty likable relationships between the main characters.
To LOVE Ruis a very popular harem anime that will probably not click with most people who are not already big fans of the genre. The show was quite envelope-pushing in 2008, but it has not aged particularly well, nor is the anime a great adaptation of the source material. Still,To LOVE Ruis the most “harem"anime on HIDIVE, in the sense that it contains most of the stereotypes associated with these types of shows.
While that might not sound great, the show has a certain old-school charm that works well as a “turn off your brain”-type of entertainment. All four seasons are available on HIDIVE, andTo LOVE Ru Darknessimproves on the first series by quite a bit. Not amazing but enjoyable in the right frame of mind.
