Let’s have a look at the best anime on HBO Max! The streaming service has over 70 million subscribers signed up by January 2022. HBO Max has a variety of television series and movies, including anime, that compete with Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, and Disney Plus.
It has become increasingly popular for streaming services that are not dedicated to anime, such as HBO Max and Netflix, to include a library of Japanese animation as they continue to grow. In addition to great movies, HBO Max offers several great Japanese shows. But what are the best anime shows on HBO Max?
Despite HBO Max’s lack of specific anime titles, the streaming service is not lacking when it comes to anime. In between watching Euphoria and West Side Story, HBO Max is for people interested in dipping their toes into Japanese animation in between crunching through Crunchyroll or maybe HIDIVE for their anime fix.
The list of the best anime shows from the entire bunch on HBO Max has been mentioned below.
20. Jujutsu Kaisen
- Director: Gege Akutami
- Cast: Junya Enoki, Adam McArthur
- IMDb Ratings: 8.7
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100
- Streaming Platform: HBO max
Yuuji Itadori, a high school student and member of the Occult Club, is the protagonist of the anime. The two of them stumble upon a cursed object that triggers the supernatural. The demons he meets from here on out are born from negative emotions.
Sukuna Ryoumen ends up consuming Itadori’s finger as a means of becoming a Jujustu sorcerer at Tokyo Metropolitan Jujustsu Technical High School.
19. Your Lie In April
- Director: Takehiko Shinjō
- Writer: Yukari Tatsui
- Cast: Suzu Hirose, Anna Ishii
- IMDb Ratings: 6.9
- Rotten Tomatoes Score:
- Streaming Platform: HBO max
In this anime, Kousei Arima and Kaori Miyazono tell a heartbreaking love story. Kaori, a violist, shows Kousei the way to music again after he loses his sound in piano playing when his mother dies.
It takes place within the walls of his high school, with his friends Tsubaki Sawabe and Ryouta Watari accompanying him. Those in need of a good cry should watch Your Lie In April, an anime on HBO that is melodrama done right.
18. Bungo Stray Dogs
- Director: Takuya Igarashi
- Writer: Yōji Enokido
- Cast: Mamoru Miyano, Max Mittelman
- IMDb Ratings: 7.8
- Rotten Tomatoes Score:
- Streaming Platform: HBO max
A group of people with supernatural powers have stepped in to act like a detective agency to solve cases that the police or military cannot solve for their reasons, giving them a distinct advantage.
17. Erased
- Director: Tomohiko Itō
- Writer: Taku Kishimoto
- Cast: Tomoka Kurotani, Brenda Joan
- IMDb Ratings: 7.8
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 80
- Streaming Platform: HBO max
The premise of Erased is immediately captivating. When Satoru Fujinuma suffers a personal tragedy, he is transported back to when he is a child, when he has the unique ability to change his destiny.
As it uses time-travel as a gimmick, Erased explores themes of abuse while telling a deeply human story. It takes some time to sit through, and the ending has been polarizing, but Erased is a great movie for about 95% of its run.
16. Hunter X Hunter
- Director: Yoshihiro Togashi
- Cast: Megumi Han, Cristina Valenzuela
- IMDb Ratings: 9
- Rotten Tomatoes Score:
- Streaming Platform: HBO max
Hunters have the goal of finding lost treasures and defeating criminals in the world of this anime. There is a Hunter in the group named Gon Freecss, who is instead looking for his father (also a Hunter). Killua, Leorio, and Kurapika become his great friends.
On their quest to become Hunters, they are attacked and/or obstructed by numerous monsters (and other characters) who appear out of nowhere and this leads them on various adventures.
15. Food Wars! The Fourth Plate & The Fifth Plate
- Director: Yoshitomo Yonetani.
- Cast: Takumi Aldini, Satoshi Isshiki
- IMDb Ratings: 8.2
- Rotten Tomatoes Score:
- Streaming Platform: HBO max
Food Wars! There’s nothing wrong with this recommendation, but there is a huge catch:
J.C. Staff’s show is only available through HBO Max for the last two seasons. Food Wars is generally regarded as one of the weaker anime series, so this entry would not be a great place to start for first-timers as it has some likable characters!
14. To Your Eternity
- Director: Yoshitoki Ōima
- Writer: Yoshitoki Ōima
- Cast: Jacob Hopkins, Reiji Kawashima
- IMDb Ratings: 8.7
- Rotten Tomatoes Score:
- Streaming Platform: HBO max
Featuring growth, friendship, and self-discovery, To Your Eternity premieres in the Spring 2021 anime season. Throughout the story, a mysterious Orb appears that can take the form of anything that touches it, including rocks, wolves, and humans.
In morphing, the Orb develops its understanding of the world and discovers new emotional expressions and perspectives.
13. Re: ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- (Director’s Cut)
- Director: Naoko Takeichi
- Writer:
- Cast: Rie Takahashi, Sean Chiplock
- IMDb Ratings: 8.2
- Rotten Tomatoes Score:
- Streaming Platform: HBO max
In Re: ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-, one of the best isekai anime of all time, the series quickly distinguishes itself from others. While returning from a convenience store, he meets a girl almost immediately after he teleports to another world, with whom he falls in love. Shortly afterward, he loses his life, although he later recovers.
Subaru’s initially offputting personality is shattered in this series, which is more of a character study than an action series.
12. Grave of the Fireflies
- Director: Isao Takahata
- Writer: Isao Takahata
- Cast: Ayano Shiraishi, Akemi Yamaguchi
- IMDb Ratings: 8.5
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100
- Streaming Platform: HBO max
Setsuko and Seita are separated from their parents at the end of World War II in Japan, and their story is heartwarming. To survive the most gruesome American invasion in history, they can only lean on each other and support each other through tough times. Fans go through different emotions while watching the show.
11. Mob Psycho 100
- Director: Yuzuru Tachikawa
- Writer: Hiroshi Seko
- Cast: Takahiro Sakurai, Akio Ôtsuka
- IMDb Ratings: 8.6
- Rotten Tomatoes Score:
- Streaming Platform: HBO max
‘Mob Psycho 100′ got produced by Bones and released in Spring 2016. He struggles to control his psychic abilities, making him potentially dangerous. Shigeo Kageyama, also known as “Mob,” is an eighth-grader.
Initially, Mob uses the book to impress his crush, Tsubomi Takane, but later aspires to become a con artist under Arataka Eigen. He is now forced to exorcise evil spirits and remain vigilant to maintain himself and those around him from unleashing a global cataclysm of demonic energy. In addition to the fantastic animation, Mob Psycho 100 has a powerful story. Make sure to watch this anime.
10. Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress
- Director: Tetsurō Araki
- Writer: Ichirō Ōkouchi
- Cast: Roger Craig Smith, Robbie Daymond, Colleen O’Shaughnessey
- IMDb Ratings: 7.2
- Rotten Tomatoes Score:
- Streaming Platform: HBO max
A monster known as Kabane has ravaged mankind during the Industrial Revolution by turning them into indeed with his bite. Ikoma lives in a turbulent time. A thin layer of iron protects and guards his sincerely protected heart, which can only be broken if an iron plate penetrates through it. It is one of the best anime on HBO.
9. The Promised Neverland
- Director: Mamoru Kanbe
- Writer:
- Cast: Sumire Morohoshi, Mariya Ise, Shinei Ueki
- IMDb Ratings: 8.4
- Rotten Tomatoes Score:
- Streaming Platform: HBO max
A group of orphans living at the Grace Field House is the center of this anime about a messed-up world. The children of this orphanage aren’t allowed to leave because their “Mama” Isabella says they’re not allowed to leave the orphanage. But sometimes a child will be adopted and never seen again.
As I mentioned above, the three oldest orphans eventually come to suspect that something is amiss and find out where the adopted kids are going and what the world outside the Grace Field House is like. Only though, the first season is available of the show on this streaming platform.
8. Rurouni Kenshin
- Director: Kazuhiro Furuhashi
- Writer: Michiru Shimada
- Cast: Mayo Suzukaze, Dorothy Elias-Fahn, Richard Cansino
- IMDb Ratings: 8.4
- Rotten Tomatoes Score:
- Streaming Platform: HBO max
As he wanders through different parts of Japan with the promise of protecting others no matter what, a former assassin transforms into a lost samurai after having committed sins against others. In recent years, many adaptations of the franchise have been created in the Samurai anime genre. Fans of Rurouni Kenshin have known the anime since its debut in 1996. Make sure to watch this anime
7. Princess Mononoke
- Director: Hayao Miyazaki
- Writer: Hayao Miyazaki
- Cast: Yōji Matsuda, Yuriko Ishida, Yūko Tanaka
- IMDb Ratings: 8.4
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93
- Streaming Platform: HBO max
Humans, animals, and gods began to live in harmony during the 14th century. A deer-like god named Shishigami promises a cure to Ashitaka after he has been bitten by an animal. The wolf god Moro and the human Princess Mononoke are affected by humans’ ravages of the earth as they travel.
From the best titles to the best animation, a collection of movies and TV shows from the Studio Ghibli collection. Based in Japan, Studio Ghibli was established by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, Toshio Suzuki, Yasuyoshi Tokuma, and others and has without a doubt some of the most memorable characters present in anime like- Kiki’s Delivery Service, Ponyo, Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Princess Mononoke.
6. Death Note
- Director: Tetsurō Araki
- Writer: Toshiki Inoue
- Cast: Mamoru Miyano, Aya Hirano
- IMDb Ratings: 9
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100
- Streaming Platform: HBO max
It was produced by Madhouse and released in Fall 2006. In particular, its first 25 episodes are regarded as one of the best intros in anime history.
There is a book, the Death Note that kills anyone with their name on it. Death gods, called shinigami, perform the actual act. A high schooler Ryuk gets a death note by Light Yagami. While he uses Death Note to catch criminals, the seductive power of the book quickly tests his “noble” intentions. As a result of Light’s murders, the mysterious L leads the investigation. Fans also believe it is the best introductory anime
5. Kill La Kill
- Director: Hiroyuki Imaishi
- Writer: Kazuki Nakashima
- Cast: Erica Mendez, Carrie Keranen
- IMDb Ratings: 7.9
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 79
- Streaming Platform: HBO max
This 2013 album was produced by Trigger and was released in the Fall of 2013. The story revolves around Ryuuko Matoi’s quest for the truth about who killed her father. Her investigation led her to Honnōji Academy, where she found half of the Scissor Blade.
Satsuki Kiryuuin, the student council president, and the Elite Four, wearing “Goku Uniforms” rule the district. Ryuuko, however, has her means of getting dressed, thanks to Senketsu, a sentient “Kamui”. She fights them with the Scissor Blade and Senketsu. Make sure to watch this anime.
4.KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!
- Director: Kanyasaki Takaomi
- Writer: Natsume Akatsuki
- Cast: Sora Amamiya, Rie Takahashi
- IMDb Ratings: 7.9
- Rotten Tomatoes Score:
- Streaming Platform: HBO max
Kazuma Sat, a reclusive Japanese teenager dies of shock in KonoSuba, a 2016 film. She believes that a truck ran over her. KonoSuba falls into a rare third category neither belonging to either mainstream or niche, but one that is brilliantly stupid and refreshingly irreverent.
A hysterical goddess named Aqua sends Kazuma to another fantasy world in comedic fashion. A decision that haunts Kazuma and his sister is to take with him the deity.
3. Spirited Away
- Director: Hayao Miyazaki
- Writer: Hayao Miyazaki
- Cast: Daveigh Chase, Suzanne Pleshette
- IMDb Ratings: 8.6
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97
- Streaming Platform: HBO max
A cult favorite of all time, Spirited Away is one of the most popular anime on HBO Max. To save her parents, who have turned into fat pigs and will be slaughtered at any moment, Chihiro, a young girl, must try hard to work in the supernatural resort to free them from the supernatural resort. However, it surely is one of the best anime on HBO max.
2. Berserk
- Director: Shin Itagaki
- Writer: Makoto Fukami
- Cast: Hiroaki Iwanaga, Takahiro Sakurai
- IMDb Ratings: 6.8
- Rotten Tomatoes Score:
- Streaming Platform: HBO max
It revolves around Guts, a talented swordsman who was raised by mercenaries. Berserk is based on Kentaro Miura’s manga of the same name. And Also! Beserk centers on Guts, also known as The Black Swordsman, who is a former mercenary. Then, he’s forced to flee after a mishap and, years later, he joins a group of fighters who gain their victory as a result of winning a 100-year-old battle.
1. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
- Director: Yasuhiro Irie
- Writer: Hiroshi Ōnogi
- Cast: Romi Park, Rie Kugimiya
- IMDb Ratings: 9.1
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100
- Streaming Platform: HBO max
In the wake of a failed attempt to bring their mother back to life, two brothers, the Elric Brothers, set out to search for a philosopher’s stone that will restore them to their original forms. Also! As well as many other anime series are currently available on HBO Max, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is the best anime series currently available on the service. Make sure to watch this anime on HBO max!
