Anime in German: 3 Top Resources

If you’re an anime fan and you’re learning German, there’s absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t combine these two interests, watching anime with German subtitles or anime dubbed in German.

In this post, we’ll go over three great resources where you can watch anime as a German language learning tool, and how to do this effectively of course. We’ll also go over some anime films that have German influences.

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Where to Watch Anime in German

When searching for German language anime, the dreaded phrae “dieses Video ist in deinem Land nicht verfügbar” (this video is not available in your country) warning flashes across your screen quite often, killing your dreams of a cozy German movie night.

So how do you find German anime resources available outside of Germany?

Here are three websites that will let you watch anime in German without having to make the trip:

1. Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll offers a wide selection of anime videos with an option to select the subtitle and website language, with German included. To change the language settings, scroll to the bottom of the homepage and find the “Language” category accompanied by a flag icon. Simply click “Deutsch” to change the website’s language settings, and that’s it!

Although you don’t need to sign in to watch most videos, an upgraded account will eliminate ads, be updated more often and unlock all the anime available on the site. A free account will still get you access to a ton of clips, so you can feel free to explore a bit before committing. There are definitely enough episodes available for free users to get a wealth of German language practice in.

For even more German practice, you can scroll down to other viewers’ comments and see what they thought of the episode.

Try watching: “Boruto: Naruto Next Generations” (option for German subtitles)

2. Netflix

If you already have a subscription, Netflix is a great resource for live-action movies, documentaries and, of course, anime.

Accessing Netflix videos in German isn’t as straightforward as changing the language settings, however. There are a couple different options you can use to access German language material, including filtering for videos with German subtitles or audio, or using a VPN to access German content. 

Even if you can’t or don’t want to use a VPN, though, you can still find some anime on US Netflix (and likely on Netflix for other countries) that’s available in German.

To find German language content (including anime) using search filters, just select “Audio and Subtitles” from the browse section and select German.

Even if your Netflix account’s default language is set to English (this can be changed in account settings), you’re able to switch between German audio and subtitles once the film starts to play. Look for a speech bubble within your video player to select languages.

Try watching: “Magi: Adventure of Sinbad” (options for German audio and English subtitles)

3. YouTube

This one is probably a no-brainer for anyone who’s been on the internet in the past 10 years. YouTube is a wonderful resource for free German tutorials and cartoons. Japanese anime in German is abundant as well, with opportunities to catch up on the latest dubbed episodes, opinionated reviews and trailers for the hottest new releases.

In addition to actual anime content, German YouTube channels like AnixAce and Kamula review and critique some of the internet’s hottest anime–in German, of course. Reviewers have a much faster talking speed than your typical anime episode, so they may not be the best place to start out for German beginners—more advanced learners, however, can gain a lot by listening.

To search for German anime content, try using key phrases such as “anime review deutsch” or enter a specific anime name plus “trailer deutsch” or “review deutsch” for a list of search results. To watch a specific anime series, type words like Folge (episode) and Staffel (season) into your search query.

Try watching: “Ouran Highschool Host Club” (German audio)

German Influences in Anime

If you’re an observant anime fan, you may have noticed that many series weave in German elements throughout the settings, character names and plots. Whether an anime takes place in a world suspiciously similar to World War II Germany, or blonde characters are named Heidi, there are definitely some parallels.

Below are a few beloved anime films that definitely have a thing or two to do with Germany and where you can find them:

• “Fullmetal Alchemist.” The fictitious world of “Fullmetal Alchemist” is reminiscent of Europe’s Industrial Revolution era. The highly militarized government, constant warfare and even uniforms hint not so subtly at the Weimar Republic in Germany. Names such as Hohenheim also carry a bit of deutscher Einfluss (German influence).

  Where to watch it: “Fullmetal Alchemist” in German isn’t super easy to find on the web because of licensing restrictions, but it’s available on German Netflix with an account.

• “Attack on Titan.” This anime features a fantasy world showcasing classic German architecture. A particularly unique characteristic of “Attack on Titan” is the theme songs. If you listen well, you can make out the German in the first line of the theme song, as well as the entirely German lyrics of the second theme song. Of course, names such as Ackerman, Leonhart, Karl Fritz, Reiss and so on also leave no question that Germany played a huge role in shaping this anime.

  Where to watch it: A ton of trailers, clips and the first episode of “Attack on Titan” are available with German audio on YouTube.

• “Bleach.” In this series, a character race called “Quincy” uses combat techniques with German names, such as Vollständig (complete), Blut (blood) and Auswählen (select). Many more references are made to the German language, like the Wandenreich region, which directly translates to “walled city.”
  
  Where to watch it: You can find a list of the over 350 episodes of “Bleach” with German subtitles on Anime4You. 
• “Elfen Lied.” “Elfenlied,” meaning “Elves’ Song,” is also an 18th-century German poem, and may be the inspiration of the title for this anime. Whether or not the German influence ends there is up to you to decide after watching.

  Where to watch it: Crunchyroll has the “Elfenlied” series.

Why Anime in German Is a Perfect Learning Tool

With anime, you also get the added benefit of sometimes having German subtitles and sometimes having German dubbing (and sometimes even both), which means you can improve both reading and listening comprehension. When learning German, it’s important to exercise both listening and reading skills, so you’re able to train your brain to absorb the language in a variety of forms.

Although learning German through subtitles isn’t exactly a revolutionary idea, many German-made shows floating around the internet may not pique your interest. It’s better to learn with something that truly interests and entertains you.

Plus, anime available outside of Japan is inherently geared toward an international viewership, so subtitles are more common.

Finally, as mentioned, multiple anime shows have incorporated elements of German culture, so you don’t have to miss out entirely on the German cultural angle while learning the language with anime.

Tips for Learning German Effectively Through Anime

Those hours spent enjoying German anime can be all for nothing if you’re not actively storing the new phrases and vocabulary you come across. Ensuring you’re not only enjoying what you watch but also benefiting from it in the long run can transform your anime binge-watching days into an incredibly educational language experience.

Beginners can use anime to start picking up on commonly used words and get used to hearing spoken German at full speed (if it’s dubbed). More advanced language learners can take the opportunity to test themselves on how much they can comprehend, adding unknown words and looking up new grammar along the way.

• Keep track of new words. Maintaining a list of new words with meanings either in the form of digital flashcards or a handwritten notebook will help make sure acquired vocabulary doesn’t get forgotten before an episode is over.
• Repeat episodes to improve listening comprehension. If you’re focusing so strongly on writing down every word and conjugation, it may get tough to actually enjoy the story line or know what’s going on at all. Try going through an episode passively first, while just watching and getting the gist of what’s going on, before spending another session dissecting the language.
• Pay attention to expressions and colloquialisms that are hard to translate. Watching anime in German is an opportunity to get insight into the world of German colloquialisms and informal speech.

 

As if learning German wasn’t exhilarating enough already! Throwing anime into the mix makes it effortlessly enjoyable.

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)