Anime’s global popularity has never been higher, with 2025 marking a historic, record-breaking year as anime dominated the box office and solidified its status as a growing force in the entertainment industry. Yet despite its rising popularity, some titles are quietly vanishing from streaming libraries without warning.
As platforms rotate licenses and prioritize new releases, many past hits have been overlooked, making it practically impossible to legally watch without a physical or digital copy. Many of these titles had significant viewership and dedicated fan bases, making their departure from official streaming platforms both concerning and frustrating for viewers.
Hotarubi no Mori e
Hotarubi no Mori e, also known as Into the Forest of Fireflies’ Light, is a 45-minute film that follows Hotaru, a young girl who becomes lost in a mountain and meets Gin, a mysterious masked spirit. Gin is bound by a single rule to never have physical contact with a human, as any touch could make him disappear.
Hotaru and Gin’s relationship unfolds across multiple summers, creating a memorable, heartfelt story about first love and restraint. The film is known for its beautiful storytelling and gentle pacing, making it one of the best short anime films, and it’s devastating that it can’t be easily accessed on any streaming platform.
91 Days
91 Days follows Angelo Lagusa, a young man who survived a Prohibition-era mafia massacre that killed his parents. When he returns to his hometown under a new name, he begins to systematically eliminate the family responsible for his family’s death by befriending the Vanettis’ son, Nero.
91 Days is a dark, gritty anime that explores revenge, the cycle of hatred, and morality. The series is grounded and filled with psychological tension. While it explores revenge, it never romanticizes it, making it atmospheric and heavy in a way few anime can match, and its limited availability feels like a true loss for anime fans.
Noragami
Noragami follows Yato, a minor, forgotten god who is scraping by on odd jobs as he attempts to make a name for himself as a Delivery God. After a schoolgirl named Hiyori Iki saves him from a car accident, she becomes caught between the human and spirit worlds, leading to an unlikely partnership.
Many fans praised Noragami for its blend of humor, action, and mythology. The characters have complex backstories, allowing for thrilling storylines that viewers couldn’t get enough of. It had rewarding arcs, compelling mysteries, and excelled in both tone and pacing. Losing access to Noragami sparked concern among anime fans because of its significant popularity.
The Big O
The Big O takes place in Paradigm City, where citizens lost all their memories forty years earlier and rebuilt society around that absence. Following Roger Smith, a negotiator who pilots a massive robot called Big O to battle monsters and confront threats, the series is a psychological thriller set in a post-apocalyptic world.
The series is best known for its strong noir atmosphere and mecha elements. With its action and gothic aesthetic, The Big O has a unique visual identity that enhances the viewing experience, and many fans consider it a must-watch classic. Unfortunately, the series is unavailable on streaming platforms, making it nearly impossible to enjoy the show.
Claymore
Claymore takes place in a medieval world plagued by Yoma, shape-shifting demons that feed on humans. The story follows a young woman named Clare, a part-human, part-Yoma Claymore, who hunts down these creatures as she seeks vengeance on her mentor Teresa.
Claymore is a dark fantasy series that doesn’t hesitate to explore a bleak universe. Paired with its all-female cast of superhuman warriors, the show is unlike many others, making it not only unique, but influential and memorable. Its lack of availability is devastating, with many fans calling it a lost classic.
Rurouni Kenshin (1996)
Rurouni Kenshin follows Himura Kenshin, a former assassin known as Hitokiri Battōsai, who has vowed to never kill again. As he wanders through Japan in the Meiji-era, he forges new bonds and confronts the remnants of his violent past while saving others to atone for his violent past.
The lack of availability of the original series is a loss of the show’s retro style and filler content that expanded on the characters and universe.
While the series remake is easily accessible on streaming platforms, the original 1996 version of the series is nearly impossible to watch. As a timeless 1990s classic, the lack of availability of the original series is a loss of the show’s retro style and filler content that expanded on the characters and universe.
Death Parade
Death Parade is set in a mysterious bar where Decim, a bartender in the afterlife, must judge the souls of those who have recently died. These souls arrive at his bar, Quindecim, where they must engage in high-stakes games that are designed to reveal their true nature.
Each story brings new backstories to light, revealing who the characters were in life, turning many of the episodes into a thrilling character study. It explores morality and the nature of humanity in ways that keep viewers hooked from start to finish. With the series no longer available on streaming, anime fans have lost access to a great series.
Fullmetal Alchemist centers on brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric, whose attempt at human transmutation to resurrect their mother ends in devastation. Edward loses an arm and a leg, while his brother loses his entire body, leaving just his soul bound to a suit of armor. As they seek the Philosopher’s Stone to restore themselves, they uncover a deeper conspiracy.
While the remake series Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is widely available, the original 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist is nearly impossible to watch as it’s not on streaming platforms. While the series may not be as popular as its successor, it delivered a thrilling, bold story that was unafraid to lean into darker themes.
Darker Than Black
Darker Than Black centers on Hei, a mysterious contractor with superhuman abilities as he navigates a world shaped by the sudden appearance of Heaven’s Gate and Hell’s Gate, where people can gain powers at the cost of their humanity.
The series excels through its atmospheric, noir-inspired backdrop and thought-provoking ethical dilemmas. Paired with its intense action and unique power systems, Darker Than Black stands out as a thrilling series that many anime watchers unfortunately no longer have access to.
Baccano!
Baccano! takes place during the Prohibition era in the United States and features a non-linear storyline that explores the lives of immortals, gangsters, and con artists across seemingly disconnected events. It’s known for its intense action and intertwined storylines, with many fans considering it an anime masterpiece.
Made by the same creator as Durarara!!, Baccano! has dynamic storytelling and powerful energy. Its licensing rights have expired, making it one of the most difficult anime to stream or buy legally, as physical formats are limited and have been discontinued.
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
