Tech
Anime streaming: Which providers are there in Germany?
The anime genre features numerous detours into fantastical worlds inspired by Japanese culture and sagas. From the heartwarming films of Studio Ghibli to films and series from other studios that deal with many other subgenres such as romance, horror or sports, the selection is very large.
In Germany, the demand for anime has risen sharply in recent years, but the number of available streaming providers for Japanese films and series has hardly been. We take a look at the services currently offering streaming anime and compare them in terms of offerings, costs and benefits.
We took a closer look at the following providers:
- Crunchy roll
- Wakanim
- Akiba Pass TV
- Hidive
- Netflix
- DisneyPlus
- primevideo
- Joyn
© Crunchyroll
Crunchy roll
Price: 6.99 – 9.99 euros per month
Crunchyroll is the first port of call for many when it comes to anime. Because here the genre in all its facets is fully in focus. Crunchyroll probably offers that largest selection in well-known anime productions as well mangawhich are available online.
Over 1000 series should currently be available on the platform, including highlights such as Attack on Titan, Food Wars, Spy X Family, One Piece, My Hero Academia, Demon Slayer or Naruto. When it comes to films, the selection is similarly large, regardless of whether they are classics or more recent, international successes such as your name or Weathering With You are in.
The special thing is that the most popular series are often in the simulcast Tobe offered. The release in Germany takes place at the same time or a few hours later than the official launch in Japan. A little later, the content will also be available with subtitles, or at some point with German synchro.
Crunchyroll basically offers a lot of content for free so a subscription doesn’t have to cost anything. From 6.99 euros per month, however, there is no advertising and there is special premium content or streaming on several devices.
Wakanim
Price: 5 euros per month
Wakanim used to have a wide range of anime content, but it has dwindled over time. Because the platform, like Crunchyroll since 2021, belongs to Sony’s Funimation Group. Since then, Crunchyroll has been the “big platform” while Wakanim remains more on the bench.
However, there are still some interesting titles on Wakanim, such as Attack on Titan, Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen, Sword Art Online or Your Lie in April. simulcast was also offered, but only for VIP subscribers, who can also access more content.
The subscription costs 5 euros per month and is therefore quite affordable for regular streaming. However, keep in mind that most of it can also be found on Crunchyroll, which also gets all the new highlight productions. Unfortunately, Wakanim is left behind.
Akiba Pass TV
Price: 8 euros per month
Akiba Pass TV has recently also been available in Germany for streaming and buying anime films and series. The platform previously offered news and videos on the subject of anime, manga and Japan, which have been added since March over 500 series and films on call in addition.
Content includes series such as Steintor or The Seven Deadly Sins as well as new productions such as The Dangers in My Heart or Oshi No Ko – My Star. These should be available shortly after the Japanese premiere.
The subscription model ranges from a monthly Akiba Pass for 8 euros, in which all content and options are included, up to individual models based on your own use. If you only want to stream individual episodes or series, you have the option of paying only 2 euros per episode or 20 euros per season. For films, the price varies between 4 and 8 euros rental fee.
© Hidive
Hidive
Price: $4.99 per month
The streaming service Hidive is an American provider of anime, which has also been available legally in Germany since 2018. Numerous films and series are offered here, which are often also called simulcast be broadcast.
As a rule, there is content here in the original Japanese or with English dubbing, but more and more anime are also getting a German dub on Hidive. Basically, the offer is more niche, but sometimes you will also find something here if a series is not available on Crunchyroll and Co. The subscription also only costs 4.99 euros per month.
©Netflix
Netflix
Price: 4.99 – 17.99 euros
Netflix is not only the largest streaming service in general, but is also increasingly appearing as a supplier of anime films and series in Germany. New titles are added every month, and there are already a few highlights worth seeing in the catalogue.
In addition to those specially produced by Netflix Video Game Adaptations in anime form like Dota: Dragon’s Blood, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, Castlevania or The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf you will also find many classics from the company Ghibli.
There are also other film tips such as For a whisker or bubblesas well as anime series like JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Naturo, Boruto, Demon Slayer or Sword Art Online. So the selection is quite large, even if Netflix sometimes takes longer to deliver content. There is never a simulcast, and you often have to wait several months for a new season that Netflix has secured exclusively.
© Walt Disney
DisneyPlus
Price: 8.99 euros
Disney Plus seems to have gotten a taste for anime. The Selection has certainly grown in recent months, and anime is also playing an increasingly important role in marketing.
The content offered includes series such as Tokyo Revengers, Bleach or its continuation Bleach: A Thousand Year Blood War. Here it is praised that some top series can be seen exclusively on Disney Plus. And every now and then there are new episodes even in the simulcast – here you have learned from the competition and avoid the mistakes that Netflix makes when broadcasting popular series.
In general, if you’re a fan of good animation, you’ll find some content on Disney Plus. This includes not only the Disney animated films, but also series like Star Wars: Visions, presenting many anime-style episodes. The whole thing is available for 8.99 euros per month.
Amazon Prime Video
Price: 8.99 euros per month (+ 5.99 euros for Animax)
Unfortunately, there is not a lot of anime fare on offer on Amazon Prime Video. Lately, the competition seems to have picked up everything that seemed new and interesting. Nevertheless, you can still find some classics at Prime Video, for example Demon Slayer, Sword Art Online, Hunter x Hunter, Haikyu!!, Assassination Classroom or Pokemon.
Hardly anything is really exclusive, even though Amazon offers the streaming service animax absorbed in 2022. This can be booked as an extra channel for EUR 5.99 per month, in addition to the normal subscription costs of EUR 8.99. You have to decide on a case-by-case basis whether it’s really worth it; in any case, the potential seems to be little used.
Joyn
Price: 6.99 euros per month
The ProSieben/Sat1 Group’s streaming service called Joyn started in June 2019 and basically offers everything that is broadcast on its stations. There up ProSieben MAX there is a lot of anime running, so Joyn also has a lot of content about it.
However, it is mainly about classics like Dragon Ball, Naruto or detective conan, which are still very popular in Germany. You sometimes look in vain for new series, and there are hardly any films either. That’s what the offer is for for free, unless you want to get rid of the ads with Joyn Plus. That costs 6.99 euros per month.
