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As of 10 June 2021 AnimeLab has merged with Funimation in Australia and New Zealand. Existing AnimeLab customers should be able to login to Funimation with their existing account details. Funimation comes with a 14-day free trial for new users. For more information check out our extensive Funimation guide.
Gone are the days when you had to scour the Internet for illegal streams to get your anime fix. Nowadays, you can find a healthy dose of anime on popular streaming services like Netflix and Prime Video. But if you want to take your passion for anime to the next level, we recommend trying out the niche service that comes with a wide library of content, as well as features that are tailor-made for anime fans. Like AnimeLab.
AnimeLab is a legal anime streaming service available in Australia and New Zealand that launched in 2014. Since then, it has grown steadily to offer over 700 shows and movies, with thousands of anime episodes completely free to stream. AnimeLab is also simulcasting popular shows like One Punch Man, Dragon Ball Super or My Hero Academia.
Here's the good news: AnimeLab is completely free to use, with limitations. All you need to do is head to the website, create an account and start streaming.
If you want access to the platform's full library though, including movies and live simulcasts, you'll need to splurge on a paid subscription, which costs $7.95/month or $79.50/year.
The differences between a Basic and Premium AnimeLab subscription consist of the amount of content you'll be able to watch, as well as the extra features you can enjoy.
A Basic subscription to AnimeLab lets you stream a limited catalogue of content for free, subbed only and in standard definition. You'll also have to sit through pre- and mid-roll ads, and simulcasts are delayed one week. Moreover, you can't download content to watch offline.
A Premium subscription, on the other hand, removes ads and all other limitations. You get access to the entire AnimeLab catalogue (including movies), priority support and videos in HD quality. You can also stream dubbed content and enjoy simulcasts with no delay.
AnimeLab offers a solid library of content – and if you pay for your subscription, you can watch shows dubbed. Popular shows on the platform include One Punch Man, Attack on Titan, Demon Slayer, Fruits Basket, SK8 the Infinity, Naruto, Hunter x Hunter, The Promised Neverland, Tokyo Ghoul, Dragon Ball Super and Death Note, to only name a few.
If you want to expand your anime horizons, movies are also available, from Sailor Moon classics to more recent releases like Attack on Titan ~Chronicle~ or Free! -Road to the World- the Dream. According to AnimeLab, it hosts 751 shows and movies. You can browse the library before signing up to get a taste for what's in store once your account is up and running.
AnimeLab offers all episodes of popular series My Hero Academia, both with subtitles and dubbed. Moreover, the highly anticipated season five of the show will stream on AnimeLab as well, with the premiere scheduled for 27 March 2021.
If you're unfamiliar with My Hero Academia, it revolves around Izuku Midoriya, a boy born without superpowers who is training to become a hero. The show is a worldwide hit, has a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes and one of the most likeable protagonists of all time. Season five will include the iconic series' 100th episode.
If you're unsure about signing up for a Premium subscription to AnimeLab, you'll be happy to know that the service offers a generous 30-day free trial. That gives you a month to test everything the platform has to offer and decide if a paid subscription is right for you.
As we've already mentioned, plenty of titles on AnimeLab are available both in Japanese with subtitles and dubbed. You can seamlessly switch between languages when you watch. However, a free subscription only gets you access to subtitled content.
Also, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, sometimes there can be delays in how quickly dubs are available.
AnimeLab comes with impressive device compatibility, so there's a good chance you'll be able to watch on your favourite device. Here's the full list:
In Australia, AnimeLab and Funimation merged in 2020, so you'll find Funimation's catalogue available on AnimeLab now.
As for AnimeLab versus Crunchyroll, it all depends on what you want to watch – though it's important to note that some popular titles like My Hero Academia are available on both. Crunchyroll has a bigger library, but AnimeLab is better with dubbed content.
Crunchyroll plans start at $7.99 too; however, you'll have to pay $9.99/month for offline viewing and no ads. Premium plans include access to digital manga, something missing from AnimeLab.
At the end of the day, both services offer free plans and free trials, so you can sign up for both and see which one is better for you.
It all depends on your bandwidth and the quality of the video. Generally speaking, an hour of streaming videos in SD can use up to 0.7GB per hour, while HD can burn through up to 3GB per hour. If you're worried about using up mobile data, you can get a Premium AnimeLab plan for offline viewing.
You can cancel your Premium AnimeLab subscription by accessing the Profile menu and clicking on the Subscription tab. Once there, follow the on-screen prompts. If you purchased your subscription through a third-party service like iTunes or Google Play, you'll have to use that service to cancel.
Yes, you can download content on compatible iOS and Android mobile devices, but only if you treat yourself to a paid subscription.
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