While some television stations air anime -- Japanese animated television shows -- the selection is small and fans of anime are forced to go elsewhere for new shows. Purchasing DVDs of these imported cartoons can be expensive, but the Internet offers several resources for anime fans looking for new or classic shows.
Crunchyroll
Though they do offer paid premium memberships, Crunchyroll also gives users the option of watching anime online for free. The premium membership gives members the ability to watch episodes of shows currently airing in Japan, access to member-only episodes and no advertisements. Without a membership, viewers still have access to more than 150 shows, mostly animated but also live action shows from Japan. Non-members can watch delayed episodes, typically a week after the original television broadcast, and advertisements on the website.
Hulu
Owned by NBC Universal, Walt Disney and a handful of other companies, Hulu offers a variety of television shows from more than 225 companies like FOX, ABC and Warner Brothers for viewing on the computer and mobile devices. Hulu offers an animation and cartoons channel featuring major anime titles like "Naruto," "Bleach" and "Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood." Hulu offers both new and classic shows adding newer episodes seven days after their air date in Japan with brief commercial breaks.
Funimation
One of the big importers of anime, Funimation holds the rights to titles like "One Piece," "Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood" and "Soul Eater." Their website airs episodes with voice-overs recorded by Funimation's staff of voice actors or English subtitles available without membership. Funimation's website allows users to sort by rating and a wide list of genres that includes vampires, mech and harem. Funimation offers a small selection of episodes aired after their Japanese television airing and before release on DVD.
Anime Freak
Anime Freak is an indexing service that brings together episodes of anime from sites all over the Internet. Users search an index of shows and episodes, and the website airs the shows without forcing the user to leave the site. The site allows viewers to switch from subtitles to voice-overs, called dubs, on some episodes. Because the site doesn't host videos, they do not guarantee that all videos will work, and they encourage users to view the site with the Firefox browser. Anime Freak is free, and the site is supported by ads and donations. In addition to anime, they also offer manga and music from anime.
