Top Funimation Anime Based on Popular Manga Series

For years, Funimation has stood as a premier destination for anime fans, offering a sprawling library of series that bring the most celebrated manga stories to life. The transition from printed page to animated screen is a delicate art, and when it works, it captures the imagination of millions. From adrenaline‑fueled shonen battles to dark, thought‑provoking sagas, the platform has consistently delivered high‑quality adaptations that honor their source material. While Funimation’s catalog has now merged into Crunchyroll, the spirit of curation remains, making these manga‑based anime more accessible than ever. Below, we explore the standouts that every fan should stream—series that not only topped manga sales charts but also earned critical acclaim for their animated counterparts.

Top Anime Series on Funimation

• My Hero Academia
• Attack on Titan
• One Piece
• Jujutsu Kaisen
• Black Clover
• Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
• Tokyo Revengers
• The Rising of the Shield Hero
• Dr. Stone
• Fairy Tail

My Hero Academia

Kohei Horikoshi’s My Hero Academia quickly became a modern shonen pillar after its manga debut in 2014, and the anime adaptation produced by Bones has only magnified its global reach. Set in a world where superpowers—called “Quirks”—are the norm, the story follows Izuku Midoriya, a Quirkless boy who inherits the power of the world’s greatest hero, All Might. All six seasons available on Crunchyroll faithfully adapt the U.A. High School training arcs, sports festival, and escalating villain conflicts. The series shines in its willingness to dilute pure power with emotional vulnerability; Midoriya’s growth from tearful underdog to strategic hero is painstakingly crafted. Funimation’s simuldub became a gold standard, capturing the earnestness of the original voicing while making the show immediately accessible to English‑speaking audiences. With a seventh season on the way, My Hero Academia continues to explore the grey areas of hero society, proving that the best manga adaptations don’t just animate panels—they deepen the source material’s themes of legacy, sacrifice, and what it truly means to be a hero.

Attack on Titan

Hajime Isayama’s Attack on Titan redefined dark fantasy manga, and the anime by Wit Studio (later MAPPA) amplified its narrative devastation. Set within walled cities that protect the last remnants of humanity from man‑eating Titans, the story begins as a survival horror and unfurls into a morally complex epic questioning freedom, oppression, and the cyclical nature of hatred. The complete series, including the unforgettable final season, is a masterclass in tension. Funimation’s decision to produce a broadcast dub for the entire run allowed Western fans to experience the trauma in real time. Visually, the anime’s use of aerial odm gear sequences and breathtaking Titan clashes set a new benchmark; the colossal Titan’s first appearance remains one of the most iconic moments in modern anime. Beyond the spectacle, the adaptation excels at translating Isayama’s intricate foreshadowing and character moral decay—Eren Jaeger’s transformation from vengeful boy to anti‑hero draws viewers into uncomfortable questions. Few manga‑to‑anime transitions have generated such cultural conversation, cementing Attack on Titan as an essential viewing experience that far surpasses a simple action series.

One Piece

Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece holds the Guinness World Record for the most copies published for the same comic book series by a single author, and its anime adaptation—having aired over 1,000 episodes—is a testament to enduring storytelling. The voyage of Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates in search of the legendary treasure blends high‑seas adventure, whimsical humor, and profound emotional beats. Funimation’s acquisition of the series and its subsequent uncut, faithfully translated dub helped revitalize Western interest during the late 2000s. While the anime’s pacing occasionally tests patience, the character arcs and world‑building remain unmatched. Arcs like Water 7, Enies Lobby, and Marineford demonstrate how a manga’s theatrical paneling can be expanded into sweeping, tear‑jerking animation. The sheer scope—introducing hundreds of distinctive characters and islands—mirrors the manga’s boundless imagination, and the soundtrack composed by Kohei Tanaka and Shiro Hamaguchi elevates every moment. For those daunted by the episode count, the series rewards long‑term investment: One Piece is not merely a story but a journey where friendship grows organically, making the eventual payoff feel deeply personal.

Jujutsu Kaisen

Gege Akutami’s Jujutsu Kaisen exploded onto the scene with a manga that pulls from occult horror and kinetic combat, and MAPPA’s adaptation catapulted it to instant phenomenon status. The premise—high schooler Yuji Itadori swallows a cursed finger, becomes host to the malevolent Sukuna, and trains as a jujutsu sorcerer—unfolds with breakneck pace. Funimation’s simuldub captured the series’ sharp dialogue and energetic tone, making it one of the platform’s most streamed titles. The adaptation excels in its choreography: fights are a fluid blend of hand‑to‑hand brawling and mystical techniques, often compared to the best of modern action cinema. Beyond the spectacle, the anime deepens Akutami’s meditation on death and the cost of power. The Shibuya Incident arc, in particular, pushes the boundaries of what shonen can achieve in terms of emotional brutality and stakes. Jujutsu Kaisen also benefits from a stellar supporting cast—characters like Gojo Satoru became cultural memes themselves—showing that even a manga with dense lore can be made fiercely accessible and visually unforgettable.

Black Clover

Yūki Tabata’s Black Clover arrived during a period when many believed the template of magic‑infused shonen had been exhausted, yet the anime defied expectations. Asta, a boy born without magic in a world where mana is everything, sets out to become the Wizard King alongside his rival Yuno. Studio Pierrot’s long‑running adaptation, which spanned 170 episodes, mirrored the manga’s rapid‑fire pacing and relentless optimism. While the initial voice acting and Asta’s shouting drew criticism, the series found its footing, delivering some of the best team‑based battles in recent memory. Funimation’s dub adjusted early concerns and helped the fantasy grow its loyal fanbase. The anime improved upon the manga’s early art by adding fluidity to the sword‑magic clashes and emphasizing the communal spirit of the Black Bull squad. By the time the Elf Reincarnation arc concluded, Black Clover had secured its place as a tale of perseverance that resonates deeply; it’s a story that insists hard work and unyielding determination can rival natural genius, a theme that echoes across both page and screen.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

Koyoharu Gotouge’s Demon Slayer became a cultural juggernaut after ufotable’s adaptation, blending period drama, sibling bonds, and jaw‑dropping swordplay. The manga’s poignant tale of Tanjiro Kamado, who joins the Demon Slayer Corps after his family is slaughtered and his sister Nezuko is turned into a demon, was already beloved, but the anime’s visual splendor—particularly the “Hinokami Kagura” sequences—elevated it to record‑breaking box office returns with Mugen Train. The series, available through Funimation’s library before the Crunchyroll merge, epitomizes how a faithful adaptation can amplify the source material’s emotional core. Every breath style is rendered with elaborate, watercolor‑inspired effects that make the kinetic panels of the manga feel like moving paintings. Beyond the visuals, the adaptation remains laser‑focused on family, grief, and humanity even within demons, ensuring that every confrontation carries weight. Demon Slayer proved that a tightly paced, exquisitely animated adaptation can turn an already popular manga into a worldwide sensation without losing the tenderness that made Gotouge’s vision so beloved.

Tokyo Revengers

Ken Wakui’s Tokyo Revengers stands apart from conventional battle shonen by centering on time travel and delinquent gang life, and Liden Films’ anime adaptation recreated the manga’s gritty, emotionally charged atmosphere. Protagonist Takemichi Hanagaki discovers he can leap back 12 years to save his middle‑school girlfriend and alter the fates of the Tokyo Manji Gang. Funimation’s simulcast brought this intense character drama to a Western audience that quickly latched onto the high‑stakes melodrama and sharply defined personalities. The anime captures Wakui’s ability to make every time leap feel like a fresh wound: each trip forces Takemichi to confront his own cowardice while navigating brutal gang conflicts. The adaptation’s sound design and voice acting—particularly in the original Japanese—convey the desperation of a young man aging in reverse, and the twist‑heavy plot maintains a speed that mirrors the manga’s weekly cliffhanger tension. Tokyo Revengers demonstrates that manga with a street‑level setting and no supernatural combat system can still deliver heart‑pounding conflict, as long as the adaptation respects the raw vulnerability of its cast.

The Rising of the Shield Hero

Aneko Yusagi’s light novel series was adapted into manga before becoming a hit anime, but the manga’s visual storytelling heavily influenced the direction of Kinema Citrus’s production of The Rising of the Shield Hero. Naofumi Iwatani is summoned to a fantasy world as the Shield Hero, immediately framed for a crime he didn’t commit, and left to survive with nothing but bitterness and a growing party of outcasts. The anime delves into themes of betrayal, redemption, and found family that echo across the manga’s panels. Funimation’s simuldub captured Naofumi’s slow evolution from cynical recluse to protective leader, making the emotional beats land with an international audience. The adaptation’s strength lies in its pacing; it allows the quiet moments of slave‑turned‑companion Raphtalia’s growth to breathe before launching into wave battles. While subsequent seasons have deviated slightly from the manga’s structure, the core arc of a hero shunned by society and forced to defy expectations remains a compelling watch. The series is a testament to how a well‑executed manga adaptation can add visual grandeur to a narrative already rich in psychological depth.

Dr. Stone

Riichiro Inagaki and Boichi’s Dr. Stone is a love letter to science wrapped in a post‑apocalyptic adventure, and TMS Entertainment’s adaptation brilliantly translates the manga’s intricate scientific concepts into entertaining, easy‑to‑follow sequences. When a mysterious light petrifies all humanity, genius Senku Ishigami awakens thousands of years later determined to rebuild civilization from scratch using the power of science. The anime, streamed on Funimation, faithfully replicates Boichi’s striking character designs while infusing the educational moments with humor and spectacle. What could be dry textbook material becomes riveting as Senku crafts everything from soap to cell phones, demonstrating that the real magic is human ingenuity. The voice acting, particularly in the simuldub, delivers the comedic timing essential to offset the exposition. Dr. Stone shows that a manga adaptation doesn’t need constant combat to succeed; it can rely on the thrill of discovery and the rivalry between science and brute force. The series remains one of the most faithful and creatively inventive translations from page to screen, proving that the best manga‑based anime can also inspire real‑world curiosity in fans.

Fairy Tail

Hiro Mashima’s Fairy Tail is a sprawling fantasy manga known for its emphasis on friendship and flashy magic battles, and the anime adaptation by A‑1 Pictures, Satelight, and later Bridge kept that heart on full display. Following the fire‑wielding wizard Natsu Dragneel and his guildmates, the series revels in over‑the‑top action and emotional moments that often hinge on the power of nakama—bonds stronger than blood. Funimation’s complete dub run allowed viewers to experience all 328 episodes, through multiple arcs and time skips, in a cohesive voice cast that brought warmth to the eccentric characters. While the manga’s fan service and resolution style sometimes divided critics, the anime’s vibrant color palette, rousing Celtic‑infused soundtrack, and energetic pacing make it an enduring comfort watch. The adaptation’s greatest achievement is capturing the found‑family atmosphere of the Fairy Tail guild hall: every victory and loss feels communal. For readers of the manga who wanted to see Erza’s requip magic or Gray’s ice‑make in motion, Fairy Tail delivered a visual feast that stayed true to Mashima’s vision of adventure as a profoundly personal, often ridiculous, journey with people who become home.

Why Manga‑Based Anime Thrive on Funimation

The enduring popularity of these series on Funimation (and now Crunchyroll) isn’t accidental. A strong manga provides a blueprint of tested story beats, character designs, and fan expectations that skilled animation studios can then elevate through motion, color, and sound. Adaptations like Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen demonstrate that when the production committee invests in top‑tier talent, the anime can surpass the manga in visual impact while remaining narratively loyal. Moreover, Funimation’s early focus on simuldubs and high‑quality English voice direction bridged the accessibility gap, allowing titles to gain traction outside Japan at unprecedented speed. The synergy between manga, anime, and streaming has created a feedback loop where successful adaptations boost manga sales, which in turn fuels more seasons. This ecosystem has made the platform a treasure trove for viewers eager to dive into expansive, character‑driven worlds that were first born on the page.

As the anime industry continues to evolve, the relationship between manga and its adaptations will only grow more sophisticated. These ten series represent the spectrum of what can be achieved: from the decades‑long odyssey of One Piece to the tightly plotted gut‑punch of Tokyo Revengers. Every title on this list not only respects its source material but also pushes the boundaries of what animation can communicate—raw emotion, intricate action, and the quiet power of hope. So whether you’re a longtime manga reader seeking to see your favorite panels in motion or a newcomer looking for the next binge‑worthy story, Funimation’s manga‑based catalog offers a gateway to some of the finest storytelling modern entertainment has to offer.