When it comes to anime goodness, streaming services such as Crunchyroll and HIDIVE tend to dominate the discussion. After all, they provide the most content for their price tag. In recent years, other streaming platforms have jumped onto the anime bandwagon, expanding their libraries to include both classic and new shows. Amazon Prime Video might not get as much attention as Netflix or Hulu, but it has an impressive collection of anime, some of which can only be found on the platform.
Therefore, the next time someone subscribes to Amazon's premium service and finds themselves yearning to watch some Japanese animation, they should make sure to check out the best anime on Amazon Prime Video. The library covers a good spectrum of genres, so there should be something for just about everyone.
Only shows that are natively on Prime Video will be included, so none of the channels or series that require Crunchyroll or HIDIVE subscriptions. The only exception is Freevee since that just adds ads rather than a heightened price.
Updated on May 11, 2025 by Mark Sammut: Amazon Prime Video's Spring 2025 anime lineup is quite good. Let's highlight the service's two best currently-airing shows.
Best Spring 2025 Anime On Amazon Prime Video
While never coming close to matching platforms like Crunchyroll in terms of numbers, Amazon Prime Video tends to have a few seasonal exclusives. Compared to previous quarters, the service has a more impressive Spring 2025 lineup than normal, one that offers both quality and relative quantity.
Spring 2025 Anime Lineup: Where To Watch Every Series
My Hero Academia, Fire Force, and Wind Breaker are a few Spring 2025 anime airing on Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, Netflix, or other streaming services.
Now, the season still has a ways to go, with most series airing only about 5 or 6 episodes. As such, it is still too early to definitively say which will be Amazon Prime Video's best anime of Spring 2025. That said, two standouts deserve to be highlighted.
Mobile Suit Gundam: GQuuuuuuX is also great, but it is a bit more of an acquired taste than the other two. Set in an alternate reality based on the original 1979 anime, the story envisions what could have been if Zeon had won the original war. A group of rebels find a Gundam and start to change things.
Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray
Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- April 6, 2025
- Studio
- CygamesPictures
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator(s)
- Masafumi Sugiura
- Streaming Service(s)
- Amazon Prime Video
One of the absolute best anime of Spring 2025, Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray can seem a bit inaccessible. For one, it is the fourth season in the series, and that does not even take into account a spin-off ONA entry. Secondly, and more importantly, the story revolves around horsegirls. Also, there is a gacha game. These elements combine to create a show that might appear unapproachable, but that is not truly the case.
Putting aside some horse ears and tails, Cinderella Gray is, ultimately, a sports anime that deals with runners who are trying to be the best in their nation. It is a fairly conventional entry in that genre, albeit with a slightly more mature tone than average due to being an adaptation of a seinen manga. What about the previous cours? Fortunately, Cinderella Gray tells a standalone story that barely ties into Pretty Derby's three seasons, so newcomers can simply jump into the Amazon Prime Video anime without worrying about anything that came before.
The story follows Oguri Cap, a unique runner who joins a challenging school and quickly establishes herself as a horsegirl to keep an eye on. She makes a friend, finds a sponsor, and sparks an intense rivalry.
15 Best Spring 2025 Anime, Ranked (So Far)
Fire Force, Lazarus, MHA, and Wind Breaker are just a few of the best anime of Spring 2025.
From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman
From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- April 5, 2025
- Network
- tv asahi, ABC TV, Nagoya TV, HTB, Kyushu Asahi Broadcasting, NCC, Niigata Television Network 21, khb, KFB, HOME, KSB, Kagoshima Broadcasting, Oita Asahi Broadcasting, Asahi Broadcasting Aomori, Iwate Asahi TV, Akita Asahi Broadcasting, Yamagata Television System, Shizuoka Asahi TV, Asahi Broadcasting Nagano, Hokuriku Asahi Broadcasting, Ehime Asahi TV, Yamaguchi Asahi Broadcasting, Kumamoto Asahi Broadcasting, Ryu-Q Asahi Broadcasting
- Japanese Title
- Katainaka no Ossan, Kensei ni Naru
- Studio
- Passione, Hayabusa Film
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Creator(s)
- Shigeru Sagazaki
From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman is nothing that special in the grand scheme of things, but it excels in a few key areas. Beryl is a master swordsman who underestimates himself, and he is not sure that he has anything to teach the Liberion Order's knights when he is recruited by one of his former students. Still, he accepts the role and, before long, starts sharing his simple wisdom and incredible skills with some of the country's brightest soldiers, all the while reconnecting with many of his former pupils.
Beryl is one of the better protagonists of Spring 2025, and a mature lead who acts his age is refreshing. The supporting characters are mostly OK, although most of the female characters seem to exist primarily to talk about Beryl's brilliance. From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman's strongest element is its fight sequences, which are well-choreographed and try to be fairly realistic by fantasy standards.
1 Vinland Saga (Season 1)
MyAnimeList: 8.76
Vinland Saga
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2019 - 2023
WHERE TO WATCH
- Studio
- Wit Studio, MAPPA
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Makoto Yukimura
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix, Crunchyroll, Amazon Prime Video
Unfortunately, Amazon Prime Video does not have season 2 of Vinland Saga. Fortunately, season 1 is nothing short of fantastic and 100% worth a watch, even if viewers will want to consider seeking out the sequel after they are done. What is Vinland Saga about? At its heart, this is a revenge story set during the Viking era, with the young Thorfinn being consumed by hatred for Askeladd, the person who killed his father. He ends up joining Askeladd's crew, with years passing following that horrifying event.
Vinland Saga is an epic in every sense of the word. While Thorfinn is technically the protagonist, Askeladd carries the story forward during season 1, and he is a complex three-dimensional figure with ambiguous characterization that makes complete sense for the period. Blending action, world-building, and drama incredibly well, season 1 is all-around masterful.
2 Look Back
MyAnimeList: 8.69
- Runtime
- 58 Minutes
- Director
- Kiyotaka Oshiyama
Based on a manga by the same author behind Chainsaw Man, Look Back is a short hour-long movie that manages to squeeze in a lot of emotion while also taking things surprisingly slow, at least considering its runtime. Ultimately, this anime tells a fairly simple story about two young wannabe artists who become friends and bond over a love of drawing manga.
Fujino and Kyoumoto's friendship and passion for the arts serve as Look Back's beating heart, and they are both well-written and fully fleshed-out characters. While the latter is arguably more likable, the former goes through a more interesting arc; however, they are better as a unit than as individuals. Look Back is heavy, beautiful, and inspirational.
3 Rebuild Of Evangelion
MyAnimeList: 8 (Movie 1)
Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- September 1, 2007
- Director
- Hideaki Anno
- Studio
- Khara
Hideaki Anno's retelling of Neon Genesis Evangelion, all four movies in the Rebuild of Evangelion series are available on Amazon Prime Video. Initially sticking quite close to the '90s anime, these movies divert course towards the end of the second entry, with the final two sequels tackling largely new ground.
6 Unresolved Mysteries & Plot Holes In Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time
The latest (and possibly last) Evangelion film appears to have wrapped up the story, but a few lingering questions still remain.
Rebuild of Evangelion boasts stellar animation and intriguing themes, the latter of which are presented in a more digestible way than the original show. While not flawless, these movies are a fascinating alternate take on a classic anime.
4 Hunter X Hunter (2011)
MyAnimeList: 9.03
Hunter x Hunter
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2011 - 2014
WHERE TO WATCH
- Studio
- Madhouse
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Yoshihiro Togashi
A recent Amazon Prime anime addition, Hunter x Hunter is regarded as one of the best battle shonen series to ever grace the industry. Based on Yoshihiro Togashi's manga, the anime follows Gon, an optimistic child who decides to follow in his father's footsteps and become a hunter. This journey starts off with an exam and includes a trip into a game's world and a widespread conflict with sentient ants.
Hunter x Hunter has a fantastic power system and a well-rounded roster of characters, most of whom lead their own lives removed from the protagonist's existence. Boasting great animation by Madhouse and a story that is willing to go to places that most shonen series are reluctant to thread, this anime is an all-time great.
5 JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
MyAnimeList: 7.89 (Season 1)
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- October 6, 2012
- Japanese Title
- JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken
- Studio
- David Production
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Hirohiko Araki
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is a shonen manga classic that has been around since the late '80s. Save for an OVA, the series took a while to make the jump to anime, but the wait was worth it. David Production's adaptation captures the over-the-top magic of Hirohiko Araki's source material, delivering larger-than-life characters with big muscles and cool powers.
The story is divided into parts that revolve around different protagonists, all of which belong to the Joestar family. Each one establishes a unique setting, tone, and pacing, while still building upon what came before it. Amazon Prime Video has Phantom Blood, Battle Tendency, Stardust Crusaders, Diamond Is Unbreakable, and Golden Wind. Even though some parts are better than others, there is no such thing as a bad JoJo saga.
6 Banana Fish
MyAnimeList: 8.46
Banana Fish
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2018 - 2018
- Directors
- Hiroko Utsumi
- Writers
- Hiroshi Seko
- Studio
- MAPPA
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Akimi Yoshida
It took a long while for Akimi Yoshida's shoujo manga, Banana Fish, to receive an anime adaptation. Eventually, MAPPA took on the responsibility of bringing to life this challenging story about abuse, isolation, pain, and friendship. Only available on Amazon Prime Video, Banana Fish is one of the main reasons an anime fan should consider subscribing to the service, at least until they get through the show's 24 episodes.
Banana Fish revolves around Ash, a teenager who has been chosen to succeed the don of a mafia. Although ruthless and violent, Ash hates this world and has been subjected to unspeakable horrors for most of his life. When he meets Eiji, a Japanese photographer, a light finally enters Ash's life.
7 Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms
MyAnimeList: 8.39
Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- July 20, 2018
- Runtime
- 115 Minutes
- Director
- Mari Okada
- Studio
- P.A. Works
Honestly, Amazon Prime Video has amassed a pretty impressive range of anime movies, covering both classics and more modern releases. 2018's Maquia fits into the latter category but has the potential to be remembered as the former in a couple of decades. Set in a world where humans live in envy of the Iorph, a race of long-life beings, a member of the latter has to leave her home after the former unleashes a devastating and cruel attack.
Along the way, she saves a young human baby and essentially adopts him. Due to their age differences, Ariel quickly grows up to look older than his mother, which causes a rift between them. In the meantime, a war breaks out.
Maquia is a fantasy epic with grandiose battles and gorgeous visuals; however, it is also a personal drama about family, time, and death. These two aspects blend to create a powerful story that will linger in the mind long after the credits roll.
8 Ghost Stories
MyAnimeList: 7.75
Ghost Stories
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2000 - 2001
- Network
- Fuji TV
- Directors
- Johei Matsuura
- Japanese Title
- Gakkou no Kaidan
- Studio
- Pierrot
- Based On
- Novel
Ghost Stories is a unique case. The Japanese version is a straightforward horror series that is passable but largely forgettable. Rather than a standard translation, the English dub turns the series into a comedy, adding plenty of adult jokes while morphing the original's stereotypical children characters into irreverent idiots.
Prime Video has the English version of Ghost Stories, which represents the anime at its best and most memorable. In some ways, this series was a precursor to fan-made abridged series that became popular later in the 2000s. Although the irreverent humor can be corny and repetitive at times, the comedy holds up surprisingly well. Despite starting out as a horror series, Ghost Stories is one of the funniest anime on Amazon Prime Video.
9 Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku
MyAnimeList: 7.93
Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for an Otaku
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2018 - 2018-00-00
- Directors
- Yoshimasa Hiraike
- Writers
- Fujita
- Japanese Title
- Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii
- Studio
- A-1 Pictures
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Fujita
Love is not always simple. Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku revolves around a handful of couples that are in different stages of their relationships, with the central duo being Narumi and Hirotaka. Despite sharing an interest in otaku culture, Narumi and Hirotaka struggle to communicate, leading to frustration for the former and hilarity for the audience.
10 Hilarious Comedy Manga That Have No Anime
Looking for a good laugh? Then check out these fantasy comedy manga, all of which have no anime adaptations.
Although certainly not devoid of romantic moments, Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku is first and foremost a comedy, and it is a consistently hilarious one at that. Narumi's reactions are priceless, and the main characters are all likable.
10 Tomorrow's Joe 2
MyAnimeList: 8.72
Tomorrow's Joe 2
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- October 13, 1980
- Japanese Title
- Ashita no Joe 2
- Studio
- TMS Entertainment
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Asao Takamori
Tomorrow's Joe is a classic that should be watched by anyone remotely interested in sports anime (or sports stories in general). While the animation is naturally dated, particularly in season 1, the storytelling holds up remarkably well, especially in season 2.
Unfortunately, Amazon Prime Video only has the first half of Tomorrow's Joe 2, making it a less than exhaustive source to experience this iconic franchise. However, Prime Video is also the only streaming platform that has any part of this boxing anime in its library, and the episodes themselves are fantastic. Incomplete as this collection is, Tomorrow's Joe's quality nevertheless justifies a recommendation.