While there are many popular series on Crunchyroll with amazing stories that fans faithfully follow with each new season, there are times when what viewers need is a good self-contained anime that doesn’t require as much dedication. However, among Crunchyroll’s extensive catalog, it’s not easy to distinguish which anime have fully concluded their story.
While it’s well known that fan-favorite series like Death Note and Fullmetal Alchemist are complete, these aren’t the only good anime whose plots are already wrapped up. Crunchyroll has a selection of great anime series that, while not too long, are well-rounded stories perfect for those who don’t want to wait until the next season to find out the ending.
ReLife
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While the rom-com genre is plagued by repetitive and dull anime, ReLife isn’t just another one in the crowd. The anime follows Arata, a 27-year-old man who feels like he’s failed in life, lacking motivation, direction, and a job. However, he’s offered the opportunity to enter the ReLIFE program and experience a year of high school as a 17-year-old.
The premise of ReLife isn’t particularly innovative or striking, as it represents a fairly common desire for many adults at some point in their lives. Yet, the anime succeeds in showing the development of the protagonist thanks to his desire to avoid making the same mistakes again and the emotional bonds he forms with other characters.
ReLife is a fun, heartwarming, and optimistic story about regrets and second chances in life that will delight fans of romance. Furthermore, its endearing characters and lighthearted tone make ReLife a fitting option for those looking for a satisfying story to binge-watch.
Shoshimin: How to Become Ordinary
While Shoshimin: How to Become Ordinary isn’t a series for those seeking intense action or a typical romance, it has become one of the greatest detective anime for the way it invites viewers to think. Shoshimin is a unique mystery anime, as the puzzles don’t aim to be particularly exciting or surprise viewers once the protagonist identifies the culprit.
Shoshimin shines especially through its interactions and stunning art, making use of subtle clues, thought-provoking conversations, and visual language to help the audience connect the dots and come to their own conclusions, unraveling the different mysteries alongside the protagonists.
Despite being a slice-of-life and sharing the same creator as Hyouka, Shoshimin focuses more on the characters’ psychology, introducing enigmatic protagonists whose actions and motivations are difficult to decipher but are slowly revealed. Additionally, Shoshimin has one of the most complex female leads in recent years that will surely captivate viewers.
Apocalypse Hotel
Hotel Apocalypse is one of the biggest surprises of 2025 that, unfortunately, didn’t receive the attention it deserved during its run. While the anime might appear to have as its sole appeal its post-apocalyptic setting and be nothing more than a slice-of-life about hospitality management, Apocalypse Hotel proved to be much more than that.
Apocalypse Hotel is set in a future where the Earth is desolate after humanity is forced to relocate to space. Despite resembling the plot of WALL-E by Pixar, the anime delivers a completely different perspective by showcasing the point of view of the robots who were left behind and continue their programmed tasks as part of a hotel staff.
With hilarious characters who quickly win over the audience and some intense action scenes that are a visual spectacle, Apocalypse Hotel is a surreal anime that introduces a unique and fascinating world. Apocalypse Hotel is an emotional story, filled with nostalgia and melancholy, with a message about hope, humanity, progress, and the passage of time that viewers shouldn’t miss.
ID: Invaded
ID: Invaded is one of the most underrated mystery anime, which features a switch from the typical figure of a hero of justice to a criminal. The anime tells the story of Akihito Narihisago, a former police officer and current convict, who works for a special team investigating cases of serial killers.
However, the police force possesses a technology that gives them direct access to people’s subconscious, allowing them to uncover and analyze the suspect’s darkest secrets. The unique sci-fi touch, as well as the intriguing past of Akihito, is the biggest appeal of ID: Invaded, with the anime slowly throwing clues at the viewers to keep them glued to their seats.
ID: Invaded has complex characters with many different facets that will be explored as the story progresses. ID: Invaded is also loaded with rawness and a high emotional charge, showcasing one of the most haunting backstories in anime and excelling at showing the protagonist’s suffering and development.
Astra Lost in Space
Astra Lost in Space is a hidden gem from the creator of Witch Watch and Sket Dance, which has become the perfect alternative for viewers looking for a short, self-contained story. Astra Lost in Space is more than a simple space adventure, breaking viewers’ expectations and becoming one of the best sci-fi shōnen series.
Following a group of high school students who want to participate in a space camp but are unexpectedly expelled into deep space, Astra Lost in Space starts with a shocking introduction and features endearing characters that have enough time to be developed, as the anime has several double-length episodes that allow the entire story to be adapted satisfactorily.
Even though Astra Lost in Space has plenty of comedy, it is not short on mystery, dramatic moments, and blooming romance, making it a must-watch anime for lovers of science fiction and adventure. However, its mind-blowing plot twists and cliffhangers are what make Astra Lost in Space an incredibly addictive story.
Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song
Even though it flew under the radar in 2021, Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song is one of the best sci-fi anime in Crunchyroll’s catalog. While the anime seems to follow the overused premise of a future where artificial intelligences develop their own consciousness, Vivy presents its story with almost technical perfection.
Vivy tells the story of an autonomous AI who works as an idol but is assigned a mission when the future of the world seems to be in danger. The anime masterfully transitions between different animation styles with gorgeous scenery as well as fluid action scenes and incredible battle choreography.
Additionally, Vivy has an upbeat and beautiful soundtrack, with every song being deeply connected to the narrative without feeling like a musical. Its short length also makes Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song a great anime to binge-watch, being an emotional ride due to its bittersweet and melancholic tone.
Akudama Drive
Akudama Drive is one of the best cyberpunk anime, delivering futuristic worlds as unique as Night City from Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. The anime depicts a dystopian future where delinquents are known as “akudamas,” showing how an ordinary girl is forced to work with several high-level criminals on a dangerous mission.
Akudama Drive is a chaotic anime with large doses of gore that doesn’t show all its cards at once and emulates the successful formula of dysfunctional teams integrated by villains such as Suicide Squad, taking advantage of the clash of personalities and contrasting visions to deliver hilarious situations full of dark humor.
With a colorful aesthetic and dazzling animation, Akudama Drive is a visual feast with great production quality that manages to create exciting fight scenes and a world that feels alive. Furthermore, Akudama Drive includes many homages to classic films and has a plot that intensifies over time and is unlike anything viewers can imagine.
Takopi’s Original Sin
A heartbreaking, profound, and raw story that hits viewers hard, despite its seemingly childish art style, Takopi’s Original Sin is a deceptive anime. Takopi’s Original Sin follows Takopi, an octopus-shaped being who comes to Earth to cheer people up using a series of magical artifacts, whose mission becomes to make the little Shizuka happy.
Although Takopi’s Original Sin is not suitable for those who are sensitive to topics such as bullying and child abuse or who are simply not in the right emotional state, it has been considered one of the masterpieces of modern anime due to the way it explores trauma and the consequences that simple actions can have on another person’s life.
Takopi is a short story with incredible plot twists and a powerful narrative that masterfully addresses themes such as empathy, broken families, loneliness, and friendship. Takopi’s Original Sin is much more than meets the eye and will leave a lasting impression on viewers, becoming the dark horse of Summer 2025 as one of the highest-rated anime.
Takopi’s Original Sin
- Release Date
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2025 – 2025-00-00
- Network
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Bandai Channel, Netflix, Prime Video, Niconico, ABEMA, Hulu, Disney+, FOD, d Anime Store, Anime Houdai, U-NEXT, TELASA, DMM TV, niconico Channel, Lemino, J:COM STREAM, milplus, WOWOW On Demand, Anime Times, Rakuten TV, VIDEX
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Kurumi Mamiya
Takopi (voice)
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Reina Ueda
Shizuka Kuze (voice)
