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What's the better streaming service for the anime fan: Hulu or Netflix?


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ghettoninja23



Joined: 18 Dec 2006
Posts: 10
PostPosted: Fri Dec 30, 2011 4:22 pm Reply with quote
When I say 'better', I mean in terms of selection and availability. Thanks!
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dtm42



Joined: 05 Feb 2008
Posts: 14084
Location: currently stalking my waifu
PostPosted: Fri Dec 30, 2011 5:52 pm Reply with quote
Well, both are unavailable to me in New Zealand. Netflix has said recently that they won't expand here (for the forseeable future), so come on Hulu, make my day and branch out to Australasia.
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Kruszer



Joined: 19 Nov 2004
Posts: 7995
Location: Minnesota, USA
PostPosted: Fri Dec 30, 2011 5:58 pm Reply with quote
Netflix, because there aren't any commercials. As far as selection goes I don't know, I never could stand Hulu. I do know that if you want simulcasts Hulu would be better though, as Netflix does not stream current, airing-in-Japan-right-now, anime.
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the Rancorous



Joined: 08 Feb 2006
Posts: 2248
Location: Sac, Ca USA
PostPosted: Fri Dec 30, 2011 6:28 pm Reply with quote
I don't know if you're a sub or dub or either kind of person, but Neflix is pretty much strictly dubs with few exceptions; Hulu is where you'll likely find the option for either language tracks for the shows they have. And I imagine their selection is more than Netflix. Both have their downsides and advantages. Basically, I guess it depends on the individual.
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EricJ



Joined: 03 Sep 2009
Posts: 876
PostPosted: Fri Dec 30, 2011 6:52 pm Reply with quote
ghettoninja23 wrote:
When I say 'better', I mean in terms of selection and availability. Thanks!


Either way, you're stuck with Funimation, Viz's InuBleach reruns and a handful of Manga, so it's a moot question. Razz
(At least with Netflix airing StarzPlay's Disney catalogue for the moment, you can rent the Ponyo, Howl's, and Earthsea dubs.)

I suppose Hulu has a few of the streaming-onlies (like Galaxy Express 999), whereas Netflix usually insists on a disk-available title--But it comes down to whether you want to spend the rest of your subscription money watching movies, or "Office" reruns. Hulu isn't exactly strong on movies, now that they've been pushing the "Network TV substitute" angle as their main corporate draw.


Last edited by EricJ on Sat Dec 31, 2011 1:12 am; edited 1 time in total
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rinmackie



Joined: 05 Aug 2006
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Location: in a van! down by the river!
PostPosted: Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:29 pm Reply with quote
It's pretty much Netflix streaming for me! I like dubs and I don't have to watch the latest anime. We tried a trail version of Hulu Plus on our PS3 and the buffering was awful!
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EricDent



Joined: 28 May 2008
Posts: 997
Location: Georgetown, TX
PostPosted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 4:46 am Reply with quote
With Netflix you can always add on the DVD portion as well, so you can get 100s of more anime titles, several of which are way out of print.
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PetrifiedJello



Joined: 11 Mar 2009
Posts: 3782
PostPosted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 10:01 am Reply with quote
Neither. That honor goes to Crunchyroll who leads in both the number of titles available and more recent titles to watch.

Netflix hosts most of its anime from FUNimation, which is a blessing in disguise if you want to preview before you buy. Viz has titles available as well, but only subtitled.

Given this, I've dropped my subscription to Netflix. It's nothing more than Hulu, moreso if they truly lose Starz (the only movies worth watching).

I wouldn't put stock in the anime DVD option from Netflix, either. Not too many fans are appreciative of this service, especially for OOP disks.

I'm currently on CR now, but will be signing up to test drive FUNimation's services with its 30 day trial. I haven't set it up yet because I'm too busy playing Obvlivion. Razz

I may also invest in TAN's Premium services, starting off with a two-week trial.

As an anime fan, Netflix and Hulu shouldn't be considerations, but that's just my opinion.

Hope this info helps. Smile
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Joe Carpenter



Joined: 29 Oct 2011
Posts: 503
PostPosted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 4:54 pm Reply with quote
in my experience, the picture quality of Netflix streaming is not so great (of course keep in my mind, I've only ever tried to watch on my computer), but more importantly Netflix is just too damn expensive, I was forced to cancel my subscription when they went up in price

and Hulu is ruined by all the ads, I wouldn't mind ads at the beginning or end of videos, but to have ads play constantly throughout the videos and have it be THE SAME DAMN ADS played over and over and over and over, I just can't take it
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Amorok



Joined: 18 Dec 2011
Posts: 21
PostPosted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 8:14 pm Reply with quote
Netflix's selection is atrocious, if you sign up exclusively for their streaming service. And I mean HORRIBLE. There mail-in service is much more impressive.

So if you want to stick solely to streaming, go with Hulu. You'll have to suffer through ads, but the selection makes it worth it.
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james d



Joined: 28 Nov 2010
Posts: 27
Location: South Carolina
PostPosted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 8:41 pm Reply with quote
I'm not sure if anyone else besides me has noticed this but, Hulu just recently removed a large portion of their anime titles from their site. I wonder if it had anything to do with Funimation recently deciding that people had to sign up with their site in order to view their titles? I don't watch Netflix. So, it looks like Crunchyroll is going to be my only avenue for watching anime.
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Kruszer



Joined: 19 Nov 2004
Posts: 7995
Location: Minnesota, USA
PostPosted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 8:59 pm Reply with quote
Probably. Funi used to host lots of stuff on Hulu, but ever since they bought themselves back from Navarie they began changing their website and making moves to stream things themselves from their own website rather than have other places host it.
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Mad_Scientist
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Joined: 08 Apr 2008
Posts: 3013
PostPosted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 9:31 pm Reply with quote
I think most, if not all of the "missing" anime from Hulu is simply no longer listed under anime for some reason. You can still find it under the general listing of Animation and Cartoons.
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james d



Joined: 28 Nov 2010
Posts: 27
Location: South Carolina
PostPosted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 6:56 am Reply with quote
You are right Mad Scientist. Thanks for the info. However, I find it a bit annoying having to scan through all the non-anime titles to find things.
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yuna49



Joined: 27 Aug 2008
Posts: 3804
PostPosted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 1:32 pm Reply with quote
EricJ wrote:
Either way, you're stuck with Funimation, Viz's InuBleach reruns and a handful of Manga, so it's a moot question.


I don't know about Netflix, but Hulu has a lot of content from Media Blasters, Manga Entertainment, and VIZ. I do wish all the shows would be made available with subtitles, though. Every time I hear the Noein dub, my ears bleed.
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