Best Anime You Can Binge In One Day On Crunchyroll (2024)

While many of the most legendary anime series like Naruto and One Piece have anywhere from 500 to 1,000 episodes, there are plenty of amazing series that can impact the audience in 12 episodes or less. Unlike other series which take time to binge, fans can get through these shorter series in just a single day.

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Crunchyroll is home to thousands of amazing anime series, both extremely long and short but sweet. Whether fans are looking for a psychological thriller or an easygoing slice-of-life anime to watch on a day off, Crunchyroll has everything they're possibly looking for.

Updated on December 23rd, 2022 by Sarah Martin: Although there are lots of anime series with thousands of episodes, there are some great ones that tell an amazing story in less than 25. Since it seems like a lot of new anime are airing in 12-episode cours, we've added a few of them to this list as great choices to binge in Crunchyroll's vast library.

12 Yuri!!! On Ice (2013)

12 Episodes

Yuri!!! On Ice follows the titular Yuri Katsuki after he losing an important ice skating tournament. Devastated and confused, Yuri falls into a depressive spiral and ruminates on his loss. Just when he was at wit's end, a video of him recreating one of Victor Nikiforov's routines went viral. It even caught Victor's attention.

Victor immediately wanted to meet Yuri and take him under his wing. Hanging around Victor helps Yuri regain his confidence as a skater and eventually participated in tournaments again. Yuri!!! On Ice's flawless skating routines and beautiful soundtrack combined with such a dynamic leading duo will captivate viewers until the end.

11 Blue Lock (2022)

First Cour- 12 Episodes

Blue Lock will actually have 24 episodes, but they'll be split up into two cours of 12. New viewers could easily binge the first 12 episodes in a day and then wait for the rest of the episodes. Blue Lock follows Isagi Yoichi after a crucial mistake cost his high school soccer team a win at nationals. He, along with hundreds of other soccer players in Japan, are scouted for the Blue Lock Program.

The Blue Lock Program is like a death game where Japan's most talented players must compete for a shot on the national team. Only one player can make it through to the end, and everybody else's dreams will be crushed. Blue Lock is like an epic combination of Kuroko's Basketball, Haikyuu!, and every death game anime series imaginable.

10 Chainsaw Man (2022)

12 Episodes

Chainsaw Man was one of 2022's most anticipated releases, and it definitely didn't disappoint. Luckily, new viewers could binge all 12 episodes of this fast-paced gorefest in a single day. Animated by MAPPA, Chainsaw Man follows Denji after the yakuza tries to kill him for failing to repay his father's debts. On the brink of death, his pet and the Chainsaw Devil, Pochita, fused with his heart to heal him.

This caught the Public Safety Devil Hunters' attention, and Denji was recruited to their ranks. However, fans will soon see how messed up Denji's situation is, as Makima strings him along with promises of a potential relationship without revealing his sinister schemes. Packed with recognizable film references and a different ending theme for each episode, Chainsaw Man will definitely take over as one of shonen's greatest.

9 Paranoia Agent (2004)

13 Episodes

Paranoia Agent is an early 2000's psychological anime produced by Studio Madhouse. The anime tells the story of Lil' Slugger, a prolific serial killer whose unprecedented attacks throughout Musashino City are seemingly unrelated.

The case of Lil' Slugger is especially difficult to crack since the town's residents get carried away by their own paranoia. Instead of law enforcement conducting an investigation, they also fall prey to the reality-warping paranoia encompassing the city and its residents en masse. Paranoia Agent is a surrealist case study of not only the killer but the entire town he's terrorizing.

8 Death Parade (2015)

12 Episodes

Death Parade takes place in Quindecim, a bar that's basically like a purgatory between Heaven and Hell. Decim looks like the bartender, but he's actually responsible for judging whether or not someone's soul is worthy of Heaven or Hell.

He puts the recently deceased through a series of psychological tests disguised as bar games to make this decision. With just 12 episodes, Death Parade is surprisingly impactful with its tense plot and poignant, character-driven narrative. Death Parade doesn't just question the meaning of life, but also the posthumous definition of the human experience.

7 Shikimori's Not Just A Cutie (2022)

12 Episodes

Shikimori's Not Just A Cutie is about the titular Shikimori and her clumsy boyfriend, Izumi. While Shikimori is the ultimate cool girl who always carries herself with grace and confidence, making her the most popular girl in school. Meanwhile, Izumi just wants to make it through a single day without his hilariously bad luck catching up to him.

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Shikimori's Not Just A Cutie is a laid-back, easygoing slice-of-life series that's perfect for binge-watching on a day off or when viewers' minds need a break. The series also flips around typical expectations from a shojo series where the female lead is the damsel in distress. Izumi's streak of bad luck always puts him in a pinch, so Shikimori's always there to cover for him.

6 Given (2019)

12 Episodes

Given is an emotionally-driven romance that proves music can heal emotional wounds and bring people together. Ritsuka and Mafuyu are the leading pair in the anime. Ritsuka started to get bored of playing music until he met Mafuyu, a timid kid anxiously clutching his guitar and asking for lessons.

Mafuyu's a wickedly talented prodigy but didn't even realize it initially. Ritsuka and Mafuyu bonded over their love of music after joining the same band. Given is a romance at its core, but it's not a sickly sweet fluff-fest like other anime of its kind. Instead of relying on predictable tropes, Given allows the characters and their flaws to tell the story.

5 No Game No Life (2014)

12 Episodes

No Game No Life stars the NEET sibling duo of Sora and Shiro after they're suddenly teleported into the world of Disboard. In Disboard, everything is decided by playing games, and humanity can't really do anything about it.

Sora and Shiro's only way back to Earth is to defeat Tet, but they also have to defeat many other enemies before beating the final boss. Despite lacking a second season, No Game No Life garnered a dedicated fanbase. Fans love Sora and Shiro's dynamic, the gorgeous art style, and the sleek animation.

4 Sk8 The Infinity (2021)

12 Episodes

Sk8 The Infinity is a fast-paced, upbeat anime about skateboarding. Reki is passionate about all aspects of skateboarding, from dragging his wheels across the concrete to designing custom boards. Langa is a transfer student from Canada with a background in snowboarding.

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Together, they participate in "S" an underground, illegal race where anything goes- even physically harming their opponents. Sk8 The Infinity's second season was recently confirmed, but new viewers can watch the first season in one sitting. It's so fast-paced that viewers will feel like they watched all 12 episodes in an hour.

3 91 Days (2016)

13 Episodes

91 Days is a noir anime about Angelo Lagusa as he infiltrates the Vanetti family to avenge his family. The Vanettis tore his family apart when he was younger, so now he's out for their blood. 91 Days is an anime about the mafia that takes place during the Prohibition era. With themes of family ties and a focus on revenge, 91 Days immerses viewers in its atmospheric mystique. Dark, fast-paced, and immersive, 91 Days is the perfect mafia series to binge in a single day.

2 Horimiya (2021)

13 Episodes

Horimiya is one of the most entertaining modern romance anime series. Often mistaken for a shojo, Horimiya is a shonen romance that shows what happens after the confession and even fleshes out romantic ties between its side characters.

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Ditching the cliche "will-they-won't-they" dynamic that defines most romantic fictional works, Horimiya cuts to the chase, having Hori and Miyamura confess within the first few episodes. The rest of the anime shows them exploring what it means to be in a relationship on top of dealing with average teenage struggles.

1 My Dress-Up Darling (2022)

12 Episodes

My Dress-Up Darling stars Wakana Gojo and Marin Kitagawa. Gojo was constantly bullied over his passion for making hina dolls, but Marin takes a genuine interest in his hobby and asks him to help her make a cosplay. My Dress-Up Darling is an appreciation of cosplay culture, but it's also a seinen rom-com with lots of risque comedy for older audiences.

Gojo may be the protagonist, but Marin became the show's focal point with her magnetic personality, amazing cosplays, and proactive disposition that drives the story. My Dress-Up Darling is another romantic comedy that proves opposites attract, but it doesn't rely on the same old tropes.

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