HBO Max launched as a streaming service in May 2020; in 2023, Warner Bros rebranded the platform as simply Max. Although Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, and Disney Plus have much to offer as competitors, Max has its strengths too, particularly when it comes to HBO’s in-house projects and live-action movies. The latter are especially great, although the service is not lacking in animated goodness either. However, the same cannot be said for Max’s anime series. Frankly, the selection is so limited that these shows are barely worth noting when someone is considering whether the platform is for them. To be fair, Max’s anime movie selection is great, so it is not like the service has nothing to offer fans; however, the series are just something extra. Still, what are the best anime on Max? Updated on August 4, 2024 by Mark Sammut: At this point, enough episodes of Suicide Squad Isekai have come out to officially rank the series. Is it the best Max anime?
4 Housing Complex C
MyAnimeList: 5.39
Housing Complex C aired during the Fall 2022 anime season, lasting for four episodes. The series attracted attention due to the fact horror anime are exceptionally rare. If one were to rank the genre’s best offerings of 2022, Housing Complex C would crack the top three since its only competitors would be the forgettable Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai 10 and Berserk: The Golden Age Arc – Memorial Edition, the latter of which barely counts as horror. Despite running almost unopposed, Housing Complex C is not even the best horror anime of the year. Part of this has to do with the show debuting with an English dub that, while not awful, is just lackluster enough to strip most scenes of any tension. In a seaside town, a housing complex is subjected to unexplainable phenomena following the arrival of a group of foreigners who clash with the locals. These events center around a young girl named Kimi, and they also tie into this location’s supernatural-themed history. Housing Complex C’s premise has potential, but the anime’s rushed pacing causes most of its reveals to fall flat. The show also has way too big of a cast to properly cover in just four episodes, resulting in almost exclusively shallow characters. Although not classified as horror, Summer Time Rendering covers somewhat similar ground as Housing Complex C, and the former is one of 2022’s best anime.
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3 FLCL: Grunge & Shoegaze
MyAnimeList: 4.69 (Grunge); 6.18 (Shoegaze)
2000’s FLCL is a cult classic, and despite feeling like a product of its era, the anime holds up well due to its sheer creativity and kinetic energy. Even though its surface story is fairly unhinged and chaotic, the show’s coming-of-age themes are universal and timeless. Since 2018, the series has been receiving sequels that have almost all struggled to justify their existence, and the most recent additions (Grunge and Shoegaze) are no exception. Grunge acts as a prequel to the original OVA series, shining a light on Haruko’s history (along with exploring other characters). While not devoid of charm, the season’s three episodes are prone to retreading plot points that were handled much better in the original anime. Die-hard fans might get a kick out of some of Grunge’s content, but they should keep their expectations low. FLCL: Shoegaze is, overall, superior to Grunge, and it takes place roughly a decade after 2018’s Alternative. The season predominantly revolves around two teenagers who are desperately trying to strike a connection with the world, something they find in each other. They also try to blow up a building, which leads to the arrival of Alternative’s protagonist. Shoegaze would have benefited from a 6-episode run as the show rushes through its content, causing both of its leads to come across as shallow.
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2 Ninja Kamui
MyAnimeList: 6.82
Launching late into the Winter 2024 season, Ninja Kamui came out of nowhere and instantly left a great impression thanks to a stellar opening episode. Gorgeously animated and featuring gory and visceral fights reminiscent of classics like Ninja Scroll, E&H Production’s show felt like a breath of fresh air, and it managed to stand out in a season that contained plenty of fantastic action shows like Solo Leveling, Shangri-La Frontier, and Kingdom. As the season progressed, Ninja Kamui’s shine gradually dulled, to the point of the series
