6 best anime streaming services of 2023 | EW.com
2023-03-21T21:32:00Z
HIDIVE: Best exclusives
2023-03-21T21:32:00Z
HIDIVE: Best exclusives
2023-03-27T05:00:00Z
March 29, 2023 at 12:01 PM
Winter is finally behind us, and that means blooming sakura blossoms, hot-blooded declarations of “the springtime of youth” and the start of a brand new anime season. Sign up for your FREE trial as soon as you can because HIDIVE has an assortment of anime simulcasts for you in Spring 2023, featuring the must-see Oshi no Ko !
alice gear aegis Expansion
Premiere Date and Time
Synopsis
Centuries ago, mankind abandoned planet Earth after the Vice, a race of mechanical aliens, drove them from their home into a life adrift in space. Now resigned to starships forged of pieces of Earth’s shattered moon, the final hope for humanity lies in the hands of Actresses, young women born with the ability to wield the only weapons that can harm the Vice: Alice Gears, mechanical suits that can finally turn the tide against the alien incursion.
The Dangers in My Heart (Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu)
Premiere Date and Time
Synopsis
Fascinated by murder and all things macabre, Kyotaro daydreams of acting out his twisted fantasies on his unsuspecting classmates — but an encounter with Anna Yamada, the gorgeous class idol, lights a spark in the darkness of his heart. It’s a classic tale of an antisocial boy falling for a popular girl, but neither are who they appear to be at first glance. Will Kyotaro and Anna defy their expectations of each other — and of themselves? Based on the shonen rom-com slice of life manga series by Norio Sakurai and serialized in Akita Shoten’s Manga Cross.
Premiere Date and Time
Synopsis
The scientists of the μ(Mew) Project use DNA of endangered species to create a team of heroines imbued with amazing abilities. Armed with the skills of an Iriomote cat, Ichigo must band together with other Mew Mew girls to repel an alien incursion.
Otaku Elf (Edomae Elf)
Premiere Date and Time
Synopsis
Takamimi Shrine has an unusual resident – Elda, an ancient elf who’s obsessed with video games! The shrine’s teenage attendant, Koito Koganei, keeps this reclusive otaku well supplied with energy drinks and junk food. Even though she loves 100%-ing her games, Elda has duties to attend to, and Koganei is bound and determined to make this otaku elf fulfill them! It’ll just take an offering or two to bribe—um, we mean convince Elda to put down her new game…
TOO CUTE CRISIS (Kawaisugi Crisis)
Premiere Date and Time
Synopsis
Invading alien Liza Luna wants nothing more than to destroy planet Earth… after she gets in a little sightseeing, first. But her travels soon take her into a cat café, where the furry felines inside invade her heart just as surely as Liza invaded Earth! Destroying the world won’t be so easy now that she’s discovered the joys of kitty cats…
Insomniacs after school (Kimi wa Houkago Insomnia)
Premiere Date and Time
Synopsis
Ganta Nakami is a high school student who suffers from insomnia. One day, he meets Isaki Magari, a girl with the same condition. A strange, but special relationship forms as they share a secret and catch up on their sleep in their school’s abandoned observatory…
[OSHI NO KO]
Premiere Date and Time
Synopsis
When a pregnant young starlet appears in Gorou Amemiya’s countryside medical clinic, the doctor takes it upon himself to safely (and secretly) deliver Ai Hoshino’s child so she can make a scandal-free return to the stage. But no good deed goes unpunished, and on the eve of her delivery, he finds himself slain at the hands of Ai’s deluded stalker — and subsequently reborn as Ai’s child, Aquamarine Hoshino! The glitz and glamor of showbiz hide the dark underbelly of the entertainment industry, threatening to dull the shine of his favorite star. Can he help his new mother rise to the top of the charts? And what will he do when unthinkable disaster strikes?
Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible (Kubo-san wa Mob wo Yurusanai)
Premiere Date and Time
Synopsis
Junta Shiraishi has one goal: to experience youth to the fullest! But that’s not easy when you’re a wallflower with the presence of wet paint. Junta is so invisible, people at school swear he skipped class even when he’s sitting right behind them. Life is boring when no one talks to you—but that changes when Junta meets Nagisa Kubo. She’s the only person who pays him any attention, and her constant teasing is sure to turn Junta’s quiet life upside down because Kubo won’t let him be invisible!
HIDIVE Industry Panel at Anime Boston
2023-04-07T05:00:00Z
Per email blast:
Dear Valued HIDIVE Member,
We’re constantly looking for ways to improve the HIDIVE experience and ensure that our policies explain how our services work. To that end, we have made a number of updates to our Terms of Use. Key updates are summarized below:
Please review the updated Terms of Use in its entirety. The updated Terms of Use are effective as of March 30, 2023.
If you have questions, please contact Customer Support at support@hidive.com
Thank you for being an HIDIVE customer.
The HIDIVE Team
May 17, 2023 at 12:00 PM
What is [OSHI NO KO] ? It’s the anime of the season, that’s what. It’s not “just an idol anime,” it’s a character-driven look at the dark underbelly of the entertainment industry and does not pull any punches with its social commentary as episode 6 just proved.
If you’ve been wondering where you can watch [OSHI NO KO], it’s on HIDIVE. Now, if your desire to watch the anime brought you here, you may be wondering why you have to pay a subscription just to watch one show. Good news: we’re here to tell you that HIDIVE has more anime than just the big hit of the Spring 2023 season. We’ve got plenty of other anime that you should seriously check out to make your subscription worth it.
We looked at the data (while expressing our condolences to our data analyst who had to revamp the reporting since [OSHI NO KO] shattered every record we had), and identified the top 5 anime to add to your watchlists if you enjoy watching [OSHI NO KO]. So, sign up today and discover your next favorite show!
(Click link to read more)
June 7, 2023 at 6:46 PM
Confession: The title of this blog is clickbait.
…sort of.
Truthfully, there are no other anime like Oshi no Ko. The series’ incredible premiere (dubbed a “90 minute magic trick” by Anime News Network) stunned audiences with its twists, turns, and stellar writing. When it comes to plot, no other series features anything REMOTELY similar to Aka Akasaka’s utterly unique, high-concept premise.
But that doesn’t mean other anime on HIDIVE can’t scratch the “I NEED MORE OSHI NO KO” itch.
The following series don’t necessarily share Oshi no Ko’s genre. They don’t always have similar characters. Heck, most aren’t even about the entertainment industry. But they have that undefinable je ne sais quoi — that unnameable something — that makes them truly special and unexpected… just like Oshi no Ko.
So if you came to HIDIVE to watch Oshi no Ko, and now you’re looking for more anime on HIDIVE to help you pass the time between episodes? Perhaps these “anime like Oshi no Ko” are where you should start!
They aren’t wrong.
2023-06-12T05:00:00Z
I thought O Maidens in Your Savage Season had je ne sais quoi.
More so than Akiba Maid War.
Streaming Licenses:
Dubs:
Streaming Date:
I was hoping for a bit more new acquisitions–like The Dreaming Boy Is A Realist and Blue Orchestra. Not that I’m disappointed at what they did announce… I just wanted a bit more.
Apparently this was announced and I didn’t see a tweet about it. Not surprising today.
I didn’t see a tweet, either.
July 20, 2023 at 3:00 PM
It’s that time of year again! As that thermostat inches higher and higher, our anticipation follows suit. From demon lords to a reformed villainess to hauntings galore, HIDIVE has some choice picks for you this time around.
Check out the following simulcast schedule and mark your calendars for a season of unforgettable adventures and spine-tingling thrills, HIDIVE viewers; you’re in for a wild ride this summer so sign up for your free trial today!
(Click link to read entire article)
A new anime season may have just begun, but it’s one of four simulcast seasons per year. That means there’s enough anime out there to make anyone’s watchlist overflow. New episodes are rolling out this summer, but let’s not forget about the seasoned veterans who came before. While you enjoy the fruits of the Summer 2023 season, why not check out the English subs and dubs of some old favorites on the following schedule that would complement the excitement of the new?
And who knows? Sign up for your free trial today and you may end up remembering why you fell in love with anime in the first place.
WATCH THE GARDEN OF WORDS NOW!
Synopsis: When Takao decides to skip school one day in favor of sketching in a rainy garden, he has no idea how much his life will change when he encounters Yukino. Older, but perhaps not much wiser, she seems adrift in the world. Despite the difference in their ages, they strike up an unusual relationship that always occurs in the same garden on each rainy day. But the rainy season is coming to a close, and there are so many things still left unsaid and undone between them.
Synopsis: Overseen by legendary director Katsuhiro Otomo, Short Peace is a 2013 omnibus film consisting of a collection of four shorts that explore different time periods in Japan. In Possessions, a lost samurai seeks shelter in a seemingly abandoned house. Two lovers attempt to reunite through a blazing fire in Combustible. A guardian bear and a horrific monster fight to the death in Gambo, and in A Farewell to Weapons, four men do battle with robotic tanks in a post-apocalyptic Tokyo.
Synopsis: If you have a problem at school and want help, you add it in the suggestion box. Student Council President Medaka Kurokami is about to learn that in her school, things don’t go that smoothly. A new entry in the box reveals a stunning secret, one that threatens to engulf Medaka and Hakoniwa Academy into its growing maelstrom. Along with her council members and their strange new found abilities, they’re in for a wild ride, because a slip of paper can mean a world of trouble in Medaka Box!
WATCH MEDAKA BOX ABNORMAL NOW!
Synopsis: After Medaka Kurokami defeats Myouri Unzen (the head of the disciplinary committee), she is recruited by the headmaster to join the “13 Party” - an elite and select group of 13 Abnormal students from Class 13. Medaka discovers that they are taking part in the Flask Plan, which aims to create perfect humans by sacrificing all the students in the school. It is up to Medaka and the rest of the student council to stop it.
Release Date and Time
Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 11:00 AM EDT (15:00 UTC)
Synopsis: A fresh retelling of the original TV series, told from the point of view of the Tyrant Eye herself. Chunibyo, an “ailment” of flights of fancy or perceived grandeur, can often strike Japanese youth in middle school, but for high-schooler Rikka Takanashi, her battles against supernatural forces are very real. In this retelling of the original TV series, the spunky and fearless (but often clueless) Rikka brings us her own spin on the saga between herself and the former “Dark Flame Master,” Yuta.
Release Date and Time
Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at 11:00 AM EDT (15:00 UTC)
Synopsis: A deadly new disease is ravaging the world, turning the populace into mindless zombies, and the number of infected is skyrocketing by the second. As their fellow classmates and teachers succumb to the infection around them, a small group of students at Fujimi High School are fighting for their lives after surviving the initial outbreak. It is up to Takashi Komuro to unite the group of weary survivors and try to escape the horrors that surround them in High School of the Dead!
Release Date and Time
Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at 11:00 AM EDT (15:00 UTC)
Synopsis: When the group of survivors leaves mainland Japan for a secluded island, they are beyond relieved to be free of bloodthirsty zombies. They finally feel like things are getting back to normal as they dress in skimpy swimsuits and try to forget what they’ve seen. But new adventures await them, and life on the island comes with its own brand of danger in High School of the Dead: Drifters of the Dead!
Release Date and Time
Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at 11:00 AM EDT (15:00 UTC)
Synopsis: Yuki’s high school has everything: solar power, a well-stocked school store, an amazing library, a garden on the roof, and the best friends she could ask for. She’s the most energetic member of the School Living Club, an exclusive club dedicated to fully integrating themselves within the school. They even live in it! Life couldn’t be more exciting for Yuki and her friends… except that their club holds a dark secret.
Release Date and Time
Saturday, July 29, 2023 at 11:00 AM EDT (15:00 UTC)
Synopsis: During their third year of high school, Yuta and Rikka might be forced to separate as Rikka’s family is moving to Italy for her sister’s job. The club suggests they run away and elope, setting the stage for this exciting drama.
Maybe in August, can we get TLR Darkness 2nd back? Please?
2023-08-17T05:00:00Z
On HIDIVE:
Streaming Premiere on September 2
Fresh from its spring premiere at Anime Boston, Re:Cycle of the Penguindrum arrives on HIDIVE this September. Commemorating the 10th anniversary of Penguindrum, this special film project reimagines the original 2011 TV series as a compilation of the 24-episode anime featuring all new sequences and a condensed run-time. This is a story of twin brothers, their sister, and a penguin that suddenly appeared. It’s a story about the past and future of this world. Is destiny a matter of chance or a matter of choice? All brothers Kanba and Shouma know is that to keep their terminally ill sister Himari alive they must find the mysterious Penguindrum. Re:Cycle of the Penguindrum is directed by Kunihiko Ikuhara, written by Takayo Ikami and produced by Lapin Track.
Streaming Re-release on September 27
Anime’s original hero team from the 1970’s iconic franchise Gatchaman returns to HIDIVE this September with the re-release of the classic 105-episode TV series and compilation movie. The International Science Organization and its elite five-person strike force, the Science Ninja Team, are in a fight to defeat the international terrorist organization GALACTOR and its horrific arsenal of mechanized weapons and endless army of henchmen. Can the Gatchaman overcome such overwhelming odds? Utilizing the incredible technology and fighting techniques created by Dr. Nambu together with the mighty ship the God Phoenix at their command, they just might!
Gatchaman is directed by Hisayuki Toriumi, written by Jinzo Toriumi and produced by Tatsunoko Productions.
English Dub Premiere on September 30
Fans of last fall’s heartfelt fantasy series Management of a Novice Alchemist can now enjoy it all over again in English dub – premiering this September exclusively on HIDIVE. Orphaned Sarasa just graduated from the Royal Alchemist Academy. As a graduation gift, her teacher gifts her a house to set up shop — but what’s a novice alchemist to do when they’re stuck in the middle of nowhere with a business to run and supplies to gather from a very dangerous natural world? Sarasa has her work cut out for her as she achieves her dream of becoming the greatest alchemist around! Management of a Novice Alchemist is directed by Hiroshi Ikehata, written by Shigeru Murakoshi and produced by Studio ENGI.
*Full HIDIVE programming schedule for September available HERE
The Fall 2023 anime season is nearly here and like all of you, we can hardly wait for hits like Ragna Crimson and the second season of The Eminence in Shadow! Unfortunately, the bad news is that the key word here is “nearly,” so we still need to count down the days. But the good news is that we’re rounding up some old favorites to tide all of you over in the meantime. Keep the following schedule handy!
Release Date and Time: Friday, September 1, 2023 at 11:00 AM EDT (15:00 UTC)
Number of Episodes: 12
Synopsis: The prestigious Areishia Spirit Academy has trained generation after generation of pure maidens in the art of spirit contracting. At this esteemed school, young ladies of noble birth gather to receive an education reserved for the most elite of students, and fulfill their dreams of earning the coveted position of elementalist. But this society of young elite ladies is soon turned on its head by the arrival of Kamito Kazehaya, the only male elementalist in the world!
Trailer: https://youtu.be/q1wrL3HvcG8
Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Supernatural
TV Rating: TV-14 (D, V)
Release Date and Time: Wednesday, September 6, 2023 at 11:00 AM EDT (15:00 UTC)
Number of Episodes: 12
Synopsis: Kanako is a sophomore who enrolls in all-girls school because she has a phobia of men and wants to find her destined yuri partner. She meets a captivating freshman named Mariya who fits her criteria—except her seemingly ideal mate happens to be a cross-dressing sadistic boy.
Trailer: https://youtu.be/69SzJNXrAvI
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, LGBTQ+
TV Rating: TV-14 (D)
Release Date and Time: Wednesday, September 6, 2023 at 11:00 AM EDT (15:00 UTC)
Number of Episodes: 12
Synopsis: The craziness continues in Maria Holic Alive!Kanako and Mariya are back, and up to their old tricks once again at the Ame no Kisaki school for girls.With Kanako’s penchant for breaking out in hives when a boy is near and Mariya’s sadistic nature (plus her love of torturing poor Kanako),there’s no telling what kind of trouble they’ll get into!
Trailer: https://youtu.be/FX6fus7S_U0
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, LGBTQ+
TV Rating: TV-14 (D)
Release Date and Time: Wednesday, September 13, 2023 at 11:00 AM EDT (15:00 UTC)
Number of Episodes: 12
Synopsis: Amidst the chaos of the times, a new generation of warriors will assert themselves and bare their naked fury in open rebellion! Queen Claudette holds all the cards, however, with her Amazonian ranks ready and waiting to meet the rebels in open combat. But the incredible wits and assets of the dazzling array of daring damsels willing to risk their gorgeous skins and put their lithesome bodies on line against her, might just expose a few unexpected weaknesses in the queen’s support!
Trailer: https://youtu.be/uap5C0I4P0A
Genres: Action and Adventure, Fantasy, Mature
TV Rating: TV-MA (D, S, V)
Release Date and Time: Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 11:00 AM EDT (15:00 UTC)
Number of Episodes: 13
Synopsis: Friends suck. That’s the lesson Mei learned after her heart was ripped out. But unlike so many, she found an easy solution: she never made any more friends. Until handsome, charming and annoyingly popular Yamato Kurosawa came along. Because, for some freakish reason, he seems to like Mei. He even gave her his phone number! As if she would ever call him. Except she did. But only because she needed help. Still, he came. He actually came. And now things are getting way too complicated.
Genres: Drama, Romance, Slice of Life
TV Rating: TV-14 (D, L)
Release Date and Time: Monday, September 25, 2023 at 11:00 AM EDT (15:00 UTC)
Number of Episodes: 12
Synopsis: A twist of fate puts ordinary high school student Kakeru Miwa on the front lines of the battle against the menacing Oni. With the help of a powerful battle suit, Kakeru joins an elite team that defends humanity from otherworldly threats. The team protects Oka Myojin, a shrine maiden prophesized to save the world by performing a sacred ritual within Shikizakura, the horizon that connects the spiritual and physical world that lies amid blooming cherry blossoms and colorful autumn leaves.
Trailer: https://youtu.be/so5IxAwfw9Y
Genres: Action and Adventure, Drama, Science Fiction, Supernatural
TV Rating: TV-14 (L, V)
Release Date and Time: Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 11:00 AM EDT (15:00 UTC)
Number of Episodes: 105
Synopsis: A new threat appears all over the world in the form of the terrorist group known as Galactor. To combat the forces of Galactor, well-renowned scientist Kouzaburou Nanbu unleashes the Science Ninja Team Gatchaman, a team of five young heroes skilled in the art of ninjutsu and dressed in unique bird-like costumes. In this classic anime, the Gatchaman battle technologically advanced villains to keep Earth preserved, clean, and free of the scum of the universe!
Trailer: https://youtu.be/1Sn1Y_BFfuI
Genres: Action and Adventure, Drama, Science Fiction
TV Rating: TV-PG (V)
Release Date and Time: Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 11:00 AM EDT (15:00 UTC)
Synopsis: Led by the sinister mutant Berg Katse, the international terrorist organization known as GALACTOR has launched its armies of henchmen and giant weapons of mass destruction against the entire planet. But the forces of evil are about to meet their match! Utilizing incredible fighting techniques, and with the mighty ship God Phoenix at their command, the Science Ninja Team stands ready to take the battle back to the bad guys and their evil alien overlords!
Trailer: https://youtu.be/CBk5ss2JEPA
Genres: Action and Adventure, Drama, Science Fiction
TV Rating: TV-PG (V)