Best anime on Netflix: 26 shows to watch right now
Jan. 30, 2024It’s time to discover the very best anime Netflix has to offer
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Whisper it quietly, but Netflix is slowly building one of the best anime libraries around. Filled with original series and cult classics alike, there’s plenty to dive into on the streaming service.
But if you’re anything like us, you might get struck down by a sudden bout of choice paralysis. To stop you scrolling through Netflix’s anime collection, we’ll instead guide you through our picks for 26 of the best anime shows on Netflix – including masterpieces, and some underappreciated gems that you should definitely add to your watchlist if you haven’t done already.
A quick note: Some shows may differ by region and may be removed at short notice – Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is just one of the more popular shows taken off Netflix in recent years. We also don’t have movies in this list, though we’d recommend pretty much all of thebest Studio Ghibli moviesif you were curious.
The best anime shows on Netflix
While nottechnicallyan anime by its traditional definition (it was developed by French studio Blue Spirit alongside creators Michael Green and Amber Noizumi), it’s to Blue Eye Samurai’s credit that it doesn’t feel out of place next to its peers out East.
Blue Eye Samurai has a killer premise and has its hooks in you from the get-go: it centres on Mizu’s quest for vengeance against one of the four men who could be her father. During her revenge tour of 17th Century Japan, she encounters the good, the bad, and the ugly of the Edo period - fleshed out admirably by a voice cast that includes George Takei, Randall Park, Kenneth Branagh, and Stephanie Hsu.
Anime doesn’t have to be all angst and action, you know. Step forward Carole & Tuesday, the fizzy, fun, and frenetic series based in the Cowboy Bebop universe that focuses on the eponymous singers who have naught but a dream to make it big.
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You’ll fall in love with the magnetic duo long before the curtain falls on their story, with the spotlight firmly shining on their musical talents, including dozens of songs you’ll be humming and toe-tapping along to throughout. If you’re looking for a different flavor of anime on Netflix, you could do a lot worse than tucking into this slice of life series with Carole & Tuesday.
It’s time to sink your fangs into something a little meatier. The Castlevania adaptation on Netflix is a sexy, sordid, and surprisingly brutal take on Trevor Belmont’s war against Dracula and his vampire army.
You don’t even need to be a fan of the source material to enjoy Castlevania, with its eye for action, engaging story, and an insatiable bloodlust coursing through the veins of each of its four seasons. And if you are? This isthedefinitive take on some of the iconic characters you’ve spent decades with.
If you’ve got a taste for it, there’s also the spin-offCastlevania Nocturneshould you wish to dive into more vampire-slaying adventures.
What more can be said about Cowboy Bebop? In short, this is a phenomenon that launched its own cottage industry in the West: without this show, there’s a good chance you would never have been into anime.
But this masterpiece is so much more than its trailblazer reputation suggests. Following the down-on-his-luck bounty hunter Spike Spiegel as he hunts some of the galaxy’s greatest criminals, this 26-episode series is a charming, creative monument to both creator Hajime Yatate’s storytelling prowess as well as composer Yoko Kanno’s effortlessly cool soundtrack.
Together, their collaboration is legendary: “The work, which becomes a new genre itself, will be called… Cowboy Bebop,” reads the opening titles. Some would write that off as arrogance. The show, which includes a colorful crew including the prickly Jet, feisty Fay, and wunderkind Ed, backs it up with gusto - from opening salvo to the cacophony of chaos that makes up its final act.
It’s a series operating on another level entirely to anything before or since and, yet, its greatest strength might be its malleability: it can make you laugh and cry in equal measure, while never losing its ability to entertain. Nobody has done it quite like Cowboy Bebop.
Set before the events ofCyberpunk 2077, Night City resident David finds himself on the rise in the dystopia’s criminal underworld after the death of his mother.
Along the way, he becomes romantically entangled with netrunner Lucy, who dreams of one day escaping her life and going to the moon, and starts tagging along with a motley crew of edgerunners and ne’er-do-wells.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners isn’t a mere additive toCD Projekt Red’s futuristic RPG, however. It’s so much more than that.
Even if you haven’t watched Death Note, you’ve probably heard of it, such is its near-ubiquitous status asthegateway drug for those wanting to get into anime.
That reputation is certainly warranted. Death Note, after all, revolves around the juiciest of premises: teenager Light Yagami comes into contact with the ‘Death Note’, a book that allows its user to kill anyone - just by writing their name down.
Egged on by creepy shinigami Ryuk, Light’s early good intentions soon turns into a lust for power - which catches the eye of detective L. The cat-and-mouse game that ensues is one for the ages and the suspense doesn’t let up throughout its 37-episode run. A true masterpiece, in every sense of the word - and the perfect first anime for newcomers.
Based on Ryōko Kui’s manga, Delicious in Dungeon follows the journey of a party of adventurers as they aim to save swordsman Laois' sister from being digested by a dungeon-dwelling dragon.
The D&D-style band of misfits punctuate their journey with a series of hair-raising adventures - with a twist: they usually cook and eat their creepy, crawly foes in a banquet of (weirdly) tasty offerings.
Often laugh-out-loud hilarious, Delicious in Dungeon shouldn’t be left to marinate on your Netflix watchlist for too long. It’s one to watch ASAP.
Probably the world’s most popular ongoing anime, Demon Slayer tells the tale of Tanjiro, a boy whose life is turned upside down after demons attack his family.
But it’s not all doom and gloom as Tanjiro trains his inherent breathing abilities to help take down the demon clan’s top dog Muzan Kibutsuji. Flanked by his friends – the boar-headed, hot-headed Inosuke and scaredy-cat horndog Zenitsu – Tanjiro and the show itself always blends the light with the dark, often dropping laugh-out-loud jokes and moments of levity shortly before shattering us with an emotional mic drop.
A word, too, for animation studio Ufotable. Arguably the best in the game right now, even Demon Slayer’s slower scenes are imbued with a combination of stunning visuals and muscular, yet fluid, action that makes it stand out from the pack.
Demon Slayer season 4has finished streaming, but likely won’t be available on Netflix for some time. A new movie trilogy,Demon Slayer Infinity Castle, is coming to cinemas at a later date.
Den-Noh Coil may have gone under the radar slightly during its 2007 release, but Netflix has given it a new lease on life almost two decades later.
The series follows Yasako as she acclimatises to life in the tech-heavy city of Daikoku. With kids going missing, she sets about discovering the mystery hiding at the centre of it all.
In truth, it feels like if the invention and whimsy of a Studio Ghibli movie was squeezed through an emotionally complex sci-fi world. Throw in a dash of commentary about technology and human connection and you won’t need to be wearing Den-noh glasses to see the obvious potential with this one.
Haikyu is a top-five anime for me and easily one of the best anime on Netflix. Even better: you don’t need to know your spike from your serve to step out onto the court with this volleyball series.
Haikyu follows Hinata, a diminutive high school player on his journey to the very top of the game.
As the series progresses, you’ll be all-in on the highs and lows of high school volleyball, including Karasuno’s tussles with rivals Nekoma and their various tournament arcs.
Only the first season is on Netflix, but more episodes will be added later this year.
Centred on the world of boxing, the sports anime begins as a mix of Rocky and The Karate Kid rolled into one, with enough of its own unique fighting spirit to really stand out from the gaggle of shows fighting for your attention. Simply put, you’ll be hooked on scrappy Ippo’s journey to the top, from opening bell to the final fight.
Supported by a killer one-two punch of excellent animation and an underdog you can’t help but root for, Hajime no Ippo is a worthy contender for the crown of the best sports anime on Netflix, if not one of the best anime around.
Hunter x Hunter focuses on - you guessed it - hunters: those on the prowl for treasures, creatures, or other humans. The protagonist, Gon, finds out his long-thought-dead father is actually a member of this elite club, and sets upon a path to take the Hunter Exam so he can be just like his pops.
Hunter x Hunter’s hype may have died down somewhat in recent years, but the shonen anime is primed and waiting for you on Netflix with its stellar world-building, fast-paced action, and endearing cast.
Anime does fish-out-of-water stories like no other. Case in point: InuYasha, the story of Kagome, a high school girl transported from modern-day Tokyo back to feudal Japan.
Along the way, she bumps into the half-demon Inuyasha. What transpires is an epic saga that sees the pair (and their accompanying band of allies) collecting fragments of the mystical Shikon Jewel to stopanotherhalf demon from harnessing its powers.
Bizarre doesn’t quite cover it. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure revels in its eccentricity, presenting a madcap anthology-like series that revolves around different members of the Joestars, a family equipped with supernatural powers (called Stands) in the war against series villain Dio and his clutch of nefarious underlings.
Viewers will never get bored, either. From its relatively low-key first series, through to Star Ocean, each new season has the feel of a brand new saga just waiting to be binged.
When you think of anime’s more peculiar excesses, there’s a chance you’re thinking of JoJo’s: it’s silly, weird, wonderful, and downright bonkers in places. And we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Talk about a slam dunk of an anime. Kuroko’s Basketball follows a pair of players at Seirin High on their path to becoming Japan’s best ballers. What comes next is a fist-pumping affair, featuring Kuroko and his team locking horns against fiercely competitive rivals.
It’s not all three-pointers and pick and rolls, though. The basketball anime - which requires only a passing knowledge of the sport - captures the imagination with its character drama and quieter moments. Of course, everything is left out on the court - but you might be surprised at just how emotionally affecting it can get down the stretch. Fans of Haikyuu will also be pleased to know that animation studio Production I.G., with its masterful handle on kinetic action, are behind this one too.
Another gem plucked from (relative) obscurity and thrust in front of a mainstream audience, Monster was all the rage for tape-traders and anime aficionados back in the day. It’s easy to see why.
Monster follows prodigious brain surgeon Tenma, whose life rapidly falls apart after performing a hospital procedure on a young boy instead of the city’s mayor. In a twist (the first of many in this gripping drama), Tenma is accused of murder after multiple people die in mysterious circumstances.
Years later, Tenma discovers that the boy whose life he saved is, in actuality, an inhuman serial killer. Monster, then, deals with Tenma attempting to overcome the fact he has created a monster - and the lengths he must go to stop him.
It’s a wildly complex narrative that brings in several new characters and viewpoints throughout its run as the walls close in on its major players. It’s frustrating, frenetic, and wildly ambitious - and is proof enough that anime can dip its toes into more mature, psychological storytelling without resorting to blood and gore.
You may not have tried romance anime before, but My Happy Marriage is a good a place to start as any.
Revolving around a girl named Miyo being paired off to the cold, calculating commander Kudou by her abusive stepmother, love eventually blossoms between the pair - and Miyo starts to come out of her shell in this life-affirming, sweet series.
A second season is on the way, too, for those holding out for more lovey-dovey adventures between the wholesome couple.
“Get in the damn robot.” Has there ever been a series reduced to one incredibly out of context line? In truth, Neon Genesis Evangelion, the brainchild of Hideaki Anno, is so much more than a mecha anime.
It centers around 14-year-old Shinji, a boy chosen to pilot an ‘Eva’ mech which will help save the world from certain destruction after several attacks from mysterious ‘Angels’.
Teeming with religious imagery, teenage angst, and incredible animation (until, infamously, the show transcends the boundaries of its medium final few episodes), Neon Genesis Evangelion belies its trad status by gifting us with an experimental, brave, and profound series all about growing up, one that has proved infinitely influential on the medium.
Once you’ve finished the series, be sure to pop on End of Evangelion to witness its breathtaking, unforgettable final act. You may need our guide on how to watchNeon Genesis Evangelion in orderfor that.
Over 1000 episodes later, One Piece is still going strong. What once revolved around the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy and his hunt for the mythical One Piece has sprawled out into a collection of colorful arcs, each bringing in more and more wacky heroes, villains, and Straw Hat members into its orbit.
While the show is accused - rightly, in some cases - of spinning its wheels and fleshing out its seasons with filler episodes, there’s enough charm and delightful antics to keep viewers engaged as the episode count ticks over into three figures.
Bundled with a relentless pace and action sharper than Musashi’s own blade, Onimusha is among the more overlooked anime currently on Netflix. It’s a looker, too, with its eye-catching visuals only strengthening the cause of this historical epic.
Zeroing in on what it means to be human is something anime always excels at. It’s none better than in Pluto, a sci-fi series that takes a well-worn narrative crux - the murder mystery - and emboldens it with a fresh spin: two robot detectives, Atom and Gesicht, who must uncover the murderer all while wrestling with themes of identity and connection.
It’s also one of the few shows where we’d actively recommend the English dub over the Japanese dub. Both have their own strengths, but it’s to the show’s credit that its English-language version is pitch perfect for the premise.
Cast those rose-tinted glasses to one side. Even today, amid all the nostalgia, Pokemon still holds up.
Charting the adventures of Pallet Town’s Ash Ketchum on his quest to become a Pokemon Master, this anime was likely among your first tentative steps in the medium.
To help relive your childhood, Netflix has the first 52 episodes as well as several more seasons on tap. It’s bursting with creativity and invention, with its trio of protagonists (or more, in some episodes) always entertaining foils for the likes of Team Rocket to go blasting off again. Pokemon quickly become a phenomenon in the late ’90s and, yes, the games were obviously huge - but the high bar set by the anime cemented its legacy forever with a certain generation of viewers
On top of that, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off veers in a shocking direction (one that we shan’t spoil here) that turns the animated series from a simple 1:1 recreation into something altogether more surprising and novel.
Like any good rom-com, Toradora first places its polar opposite leads - the fearsome Taiga and the affable Ryuji - in the most awkward of situations: trying to win the hearts of their opposing number’s friends. Over the course of the series, however, the pair find that their well-laid plans are getting in the way of feelings for each other. As the enemies-to-lovers trope goes, few pull it off as successfully as the slow-burn Toradora does over its 25 episodes.
Vinland Saga starts strong and, by its second season, heads into the stratosphere as a potential all-time classic.
The historical epic, set during the Vikings occupation of England in the 11th Century, follows the fledgling young warrior Thorfinn, who falls under the wing of his father’s murderer, Askeladd. As his group pillages its way across the country, the encroaching drama in the royal court proves to be a powder-keg-in-waiting that draws in Thorfinn, Askeladd, and a whole clutch of major players - each based on historical figures.
That’s just the first season. The second season, its diametric opposite, preaches pacificism and peace over endless bloodshed and political intrigue. Each has their fans but, as a whole, it presents another side to the story of conquest - that of its victims - which anime rarely addresses.
Fancy a cry? Violet Evergarden has you covered. Once you crack through its quaint, faintly twee exterior - the opening episodes might be too sickly-sweet for some - you’ll soon find a passionate (and passionately-told) love story. At the heart of it all is Violet, who must overcome her trauma and lost beau Gilbert in her new role as an Auto Memory Doll.
Her job, which tasks her with penning letters for those who can’t - or are unable to - express their feelings, slowly sees her reconnect with her humanity.
Its tenth episode, which deals with an ailing mother and her daughter, stands alone as one of anime’s greatest episodes of the past decade. It’s a masterpiece; a heart-wrenching look at parenting, love, and loss that you should go out of your way to see.
For more, check out thebest Netflix showsandbest Netflix moviesto add to your watchlist right now.
I’m the Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you’ll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.
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