The Absolute Best Anime You Should Stream in April 2023 – CNET [CNET]

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Demon Slayer and Oshi no Ko made smash debuts this month, but there’s more to watch.

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kourtjackson-rv

Kourtnee covers TV streaming services and home entertainment news and reviews at CNET. She previously worked as an entertainment reporter at Showbiz Cheat Sheet where she wrote about film, television, music, celebrities, and streaming platforms.

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Spring anime season is on fire now that Oshi no Ko and Demon Slayer season 3 are here, but there’s more Ranking of Kings, and Hell’s Paradise dropped its premiere. If you spread your attention around, you’ll be able to catch comedies, dramas or romantic series on different platforms — and still have time to read manga.

Here’s a look at what to stream this month on Crunchyroll, Netflix and other streaming services. 

Read more: Best Anime Streaming Services for 2023

an eye peeks over the edge of a sword's shiny blade

Yuji Kaku/Mappa/Shueisha/Twin Engine

Adapted from Yuji Kaku’s manga, the story follows a group of misfits on a mission in old Japan. It’s described as a Suicide Squad-like setup — except it’s during the Edo period and sword blades are the punishment for anyone who veers off the path. Stream it exclusively on Crunchyroll.

Insomniacs After School

Based on the manga by Makoto Ojiro, the romance-themed series follows a high school kid named Ganta Nakami. He’s an astronomy geek who has insomnia and winds up bonding with a girl named Isaki Magari, who has the same condition. They bond over their sleep-deprived lives and a shared secret. Look out for the premiere on Hidive this month.

Vinland Saga season 2

Vinland Saga returned on Jan. 9 and is still airing — the series will have 24 episodes in this season. Follow Thorfinn on a new quest, where he seeks salvation and peace after Askeladd’s death. Praised for its dynamic characters and Viking-themed storytelling, the series streams new episodes on Netflix and Crunchyroll each Monday. 

Demon Slayer season 3

Tanjiro, Nezuko and their friends are due to encounter some new enemies in the Swordsmith Village Arc, but they’ll get a little help. Fans will get to see two new Hashira and a couple of formidable demons. Stream the show’s new season now, exclusively on Crunchyroll. 

The Quintessential Quintuplets Movie 

If you want to switch things up and watch an anime film, stream The Quintessential Quintuplets Movie on Crunchyroll on April 27. The Nakano sisters are crushing hard on their tutor Futaro, but who does he end up choosing to marry? Find out as the story unfolds with a small time jump. 

animated singer stands on stage facing the crowd

HiDive/Aka Akasaka/Mengo Yokoyari

A doctor is tasked with secretly delivering the babies of a superstar but he’s murdered the night of the births and is reincarnated as one of her twins. Sounds complicated, right? Mysterious murders, curious family dynamics and the entertainment industry take center stage in the Oshi no Ko. Stream the story about Ruby, Aquamarine and Ai Hoshino on Hidive when the first episode drops on April 12.

Ranking of Kings: The Treasure Chest of Courage

Your favorite king is back! Watch Bojji undergo new training while learning about the strange armored person he’s hanging around. Step back into Kage’s and Desha’s past in this special installment of the popular anime when it arrives on Crunchyroll on April 13. 

Dr. Stone: New World

Ready for some new science? Senku will dig deeper into the cause of the petrification in Dr. Stone: New World. He needs a captain for his ship as the team heads out on an exploratory mission, but they will end up fighting for what they need as they sail the ocean. The series debuted on April 6 and will air new episodes each Thursday on Crunchyroll. 

Bofuri: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, so I’ll Max Out My Defense

Season 2 has been in full swing since January, but after a break in February, new episodes began airing on March 8. Step into Maple’s virtual reality gaming shoes as a player in NewWorld for more points and exploits while streaming the series on Hulu or Crunchyroll. The finale aired on April 19. 

heavenly-delusion-hulu

Hulu/Masakazu Ishiguro/Production IG

Tengoku Daimakyo, also known as Heavenly Delusion, is an adaptation of Masakazu Ishiguro’s dystopian manga. The story drops us into a post-apocalyptic Japan where there are kids living an ideal life at school — behind a wall — safe from monsters and other frightening things. Outside the wall, Maru and Kiruko are on their own journey to find “Heaven,” but their paths are tied to one of the students, Tokio. There are 13 episodes of the series, which began streaming on Hulu on April 1.