Recently, Hulu announced it was launching a new sub brand for adult animation and Anime. Called “Animayhem,” it was done to acknowledge that adult animation is some of the most watched content on the service. Granted, it was also done ahead of the release of a new season of Futurama. With that in mind, I felt compelled to take the time list some of my personal favorite animated/anime series you can watch now on Hulu right now.
Futurama
Ahead of it’s return (for like the fifth time) it’s always worth reminding everyone of just how fun Futurama is. The chemistry between the characters – particularly Fry and Bender – always manages to bring a smile to fans. The initial will they/won’t they dynamic of Fry and Leela also feels so genuine. It’s all the more rewarding when it leads up to them finally getting together and even getting a happy ending.
Hulu currently has all previous seasons on their service so if you want to catch up or try the show for the first time now there’s perfect opportunity.
American Dad
American Dad has come a long way from initially being viewed as just a lesser Family Guy. The series has actually surpassed its spiritual predecessor in the eyes of many fans. The Smith family going through genuine change and growth unlike the Griffins from Family Guy. The characters never felt like they were sidelined for the sake of gags. The humor also fits with their personalities, and with a character like Roger you basically have an endless amount of content to mind. I don’t believe Hulu has every season currently but it’s worth checking out nonetheless.
Dragon Ball (1986)
Moving on to anime, I highly recommend the original 1986 Dragon Ball series. Obviously, I wouldn’t call it underrated. I mean Dragon Ball is one of the most popular anime franchises in the world. However, most attention is usually given to the sequel series Dragon Ball Z – and every subsequent series too. That’s because there’s much more focus on action and fights in them. Whereas the original series is more focused on humor and adventure. While it may not be as action-packed as later series, Dragon Ball is still a fun series and personally my favorite era of the franchise.
I’m more partial to the Kid Goku stories as I just find them more fun and it also may be more appropriate for kids than the other series. If you’re like my mother you’d probably prefer this show over Z out of fears your kids will start fighting each other. It should be noted that Hulu only has the original Japanese version and doesn’t currently have the English dub.
Sailor Moon (1992)
Unlike Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon wasn’t an anime I grew up with. Recently I got into the series after watching it with my niece and I think it makes for a fantastic show to watch with your kids. Especially if you have daughters, given there’s still a lack of female superhero content. That’s actually one of the groundbreaking things about Sailor Moon: being a female centric superhero series. The original 90s series was also pretty ahead of it’s time in LGBTQ+ representation. The humor between the characters and the chemistry with each other is always charming. Also, the English dub is very good, and the voice actors excel not just with the comedy but also the serious moments.
Samurai Champloo
The last series is one I’ve recently gotten into, Samurai Champloo. The show is somewhat a spiritual sequel to the iconic anime Cowboy Bebop. Created by Shinichiro Watanabe, Champloo sometimes gets overshadowed by Cowboy Bebop, but both are brilliant in their own ways.
Both series have a big focus on music, with Bebop using Jazz and Champloo using Hip Hop. The soundtracks are incredible and naturally flow into every scene especially the action sequences. It focuses on a trio searching for a samurai who smells like sunflowers. The way Watanabe described the series is “as a road trip story.” If you’re an a fan of Cowboy Bebop or anime in general, Samurai Champloo is one you should seek out when you get the chance. You might just wind up on your own journey.
