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Funimation Animation Free

The non-pirate's guide to free anime online

For this guide I will explain two completely different methods to obtain and watch anime for free, and legally. Legal is the key word here, because although I do watch fansubs, there are circumstances where getting the product legally is justified.

On that note, this guide will not concern itself with anime that hasn't been licensed in any countries other than Japan, so apart from living in Japan and learning their language, watching fansubs would be the only suitable way to watch this anime. This guide is about getting free anime that is already being distributed by a North American/European publisher, and without the aid of piracy.

1. Free anime on physical formats (DVD or Blu-Ray)

The first option for free anime is for people that prefer to own the DVD or Blu-Ray products. For the enthusiast, having a physical collection to view at home would be the ideal way to watch anime. Most might think that the only way to get these videos for free would be to sign up for a video club, that comes with a subscription fee (so therefore they're not completely free), or to get them as a gift.

However, there is a way that you can truly get these products for free just by using the internet. The only compromise is that you have to dedicate some time to earn the products, but this is the best option you have towards getting free anime you truly can own. If you live in the US, UK or Canada, sign up to a "Get Paid To" website such as Points2shop, and after confirming your real address and other info, you are ready to start completing free offers and surveys for points. Compared to other GPT sites, Points2shop has an easier learning curve to start, and the community is very helpful. You do have to watch out for spam, but the website gives you tips on how to handle this.

When you go searching for what you want to get, browse in the cheaper used products, so you can earn it sooner and get the most out of the website. You can order a used DVD that's worth just $10 plus shipping, all by completing free offers in a week or less. One thing to keep in mind, you need to sign up from your home computer.

You redeem your points from the prizes available directly through Amazon, so you know there is a large selection of anime products to choose from. These are the same products from the Amazon store that you'll be receiving. If you prefer to get your anime from other vendors, no problem. You also have the option to earn cash with offers, and you can withdraw to your PayPal account or have a check sent to you. You won't amass a large collection of anime quickly, but it is a great way to make extra purchases when you're on a budget. Plus you can brag to your friends about all the cool stuff you got for free!

This method can prove effective for people that don't mind taking some extra time to use the website. Searching and ordering your free stuff is a straightforward approach. Although it requires more patience to get it, I find it more rewarding in the end.

2. Digital Distribution / Free Downloads

The second option would be to view anime directly through the internet, or as a free download. This method is easier than the first, but your selection is much more limited. Free anime that is legal and direct to view on the internet is relatively hard to come by. The only guarantee of finding legal anime this way online is through the companies that own the anime themselves. Look through the official sites for deals or free digital distributions. Due to the nature of their sales, it is usually the older anime that will be available.

The better way to look for free digital distribution, however is through third parties that are sponsoring the distributors and promoting their products. I will be compiling a list of websites that provide legal anime that is free to watch. Although you may already be aware of the following websites, the point is to compare the sites and create awareness of them who may have overlooked them for one reason or another.

Hulu

If you've been putting off Hulu for quite some time, don't think it's just animated shows like Family Guy. Hulu in some ways is the unsung hero for free legal anime, because they tend to emphasize American shows when they advertise. But they do have free anime to watch there, and some very popular ones as well. Their collection is actually more varied than YouTube's legal offerings, and Hulu caters to a variety of tastes, from real vintage such as Speed Racer, to current, ongoing series like One Piece.

All their anime is lumped in together in one neat sub-category in the Animation channel. t's easy to "subscribe" to a particular series- just click on the button next to the show and you will be able to keep track of what you like.

As of this update, Hulu have over 180 different anime movies and series to watch. Their interface is clean and simple. No complicated navigation, no extra fluff content, just videos for your enjoyment. It's definitely the first site I recommend if you're going to stick around for a while.

YouTube

Sometimes older anime is available for free by its distributors on their official channels on YouTube. The reason I list YouTube after Hulu is because it doesn't actually have as great of a selection. The publishers do advertise a lot of anime on YouTube, but a considerable amount of stuff are previews only, or are digital rentals. Most of the companies' channels won't throw you a bone if you're looking for the new, current stuff. But this would be a great source for fans of retro anime that want to get a quick fix or relive their younger memories of the show.

You probably know how YouTube works, but since they pretty much have just about everything (aside from X-rated content), getting to the official anime channels really is like finding a needle in a haystack. Search YouTube for familiar companies such as Bandai or FUNimation for their channels, and a list of anime shows or movies that they have available. Don't forget to subscribe to them as well, so you would know when more shows or episodes are available to watch.

Here is a list of companies I know of that have an official presence on YouTube as sources for free anime:

• Bandai Entertainment
• FUNimation
• Anime Network
• MANGA Entertainment
• 4Kids TV

Other companies may be present on YouTube but I haven't found them yet, aside from a few select channels that are made for Japanese viewers only.

Crackle

Crackle.com serves up free movies and TV series, and that also includes some anime. It is a hub of entertainment that can also work with certain Sony devices if you own any of them. The anime is distributed and promoted in name of the publishers, which select certain shows to be available.

Getting to the free anime here also proved to be a bit tricky. To get a list of all anime titles, click on "Shows" in the top menu, and in the main Shows page, click on the "See All" link that's next to the Television section. From here, filter out the shows by genre, selecting "anime" out of the list.

Like YouTube, Crackle also provies you with recommendations along with the current show you are watching. Start off with Fist of the North Star or Samurai X, for instance, and you will get a list of other action-oriented anime. There may not be a lot of anime on Crackle right now, but they are active at updating and releasing more content to their website. Also, if you sign up for the Crackle insider newsletter you will get to know when new series or episodes are available.

Remember to support the studios!

If you feel compelled to support the producers and distributors by purchasing the anime, go ahead and do so. Maybe even use the method described in the free DVD / Blu-Ray section to get them, since the Amazon store would still technically be making sales this way!

 

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