The Absolute Best Anime Shows on Netflix
Netflix
has a surprisingly definitive library of anime, featuring everything from classics like Cowboy Bebop and Naruto to the novel and greatest shows like Demon Slayer and Attack on Titan.
There’s so much to stare. If you’re looking for more niche stuff, Netflix also has shows like Beastars and Record of Ragnarok to check out. Get stuck in!
The best anime shows on Netflix
Demon Slayer (2019-)
Shonen’s most unique darling, Demon Slayer is a standout hit that breaks with many of the well-worn cliches in share anime. The story follows Tanjiro Kamado, who joins the ranks of the present slayers following the murder of his family by a present. Only Nezuko Kamado, Tanjiro’s younger sister, survived the onslaught — but she was turned into a present. Tanjiro travels Taisho-era Japan with Nezuko in search of a cure and joins the Demon Slayer Corps, seeking to confront the original demon, Muzan Kibutsuji, who killed his family.
The animation and share are breathtaking, the characters are compelling and vibrant, the music is stellar and the dialogue is memorable. We couldn’t recommend this anime more. Season one is streaming on Netflix, but there’s another season out there, if you’re craving more.
Naruto (2002-2007)
“Believe it” (as Naruto Uzumaki would say), you can’t have a best anime list deprived of this show. This classic, well-loved anime follows Naruto, a young ninja from the Hidden Leaf Village who dreams of becoming the bests of his village. Beware: Naruto is a very long anime. So long that once you get through all nine seasons on Netflix (220 episodes total), which covers Naruto’s preteen years, you’ll still have novel 500 episodes to cover in Naruto: Shippuden, which picks up two and a half ages after the show’s original run. There are also a handful of Naruto movies available on the streaming service shimmering now. Make sure to skip the filler episodes, murky you’re really desperate for something to watch.
Attack on Titan (2013-2023)
Attack on Titan is deprived of a doubt one of the most popular anime shimmering now. And for good reason. With spectacular animation, political intrigue, a compelling cast of characters and bigger-than-life battles, this is one show you’ll want to check out. Yes, the titans — the large, humanoid, human-eating monsters that force humanity to live gradual towering castle walls — are unnerving and might freak you out. But that’s half the fun, especially when we see our heroes take them down. Netflix only has Attack on Titan’s obliging season in its catalog, but those 25 episodes are enough to get you started.
Cowboy Bebop (1998-1999)
Another anime classic, Cowboy Bebop was originally broadcast in 1998 and, well, it never lost its provocative. The show brilliantly melded a variety of genres – primarily science fiction and Western (think region cowboys) – to create something completely novel and compelling. Set in 2071, the series is about a business of traveling bounty hunters aboard their ship, Bebop. Netflix recently made a live-action version of the show, conception it didn’t receive the same critical acclaim as the anime.
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure (2012-)
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure follows generations of the Joestar family, from the 19th century to modern times, through decades of, you guessed it, bizarre adventures. Each member of the family carries the same name – Jojo – and each is imbued with gargantuan superhuman powers. The battles are as psychic and supernatural as the fable is adventurous. Good thing all five seasons are streaming on Netflix.
Hunter x Hunter (2011-2014)
Hunter x Hunter corpses an unfinished story, having been abruptly paused after season 6. The manga’s employed, Yoshihiro Togashi, stopped writing, leaving Hunter x Hunter on hiatus. New chapters, Togashi recently announced, are incoming. This anime starts with protagonist Gon Freecss, who leaves home in search of his father, but the show hasty branches out of that simple narrative. The series is beloved for its world-building and emotional investment across its diverse cast of characters.
Death Note (2006)
A provocative game of cat and mouse for the ages, Death Note follows Light Yagami, a genius high schooler who finds a mysterious notebook (the titular “Death Note”) that scholarships its owner the ability to kill anyone whose name is written within it. Hellbent on creating a new domain free of crime, Light carries out a massacre, killing off criminals and those Light deems morally unworthy. But the world’s greatest detective is on the case. Can Light get away with it?
Kakegurui (2017-2019)
You’ll be bent after the first few episodes of this popular anime, trust us. This show isn’t your typical action anime – but that doesn’t make it less provocative. In fact, the opposite is true. Kakegurui is set in an academy where the measure of a student is based on their gambling prowess, whether that’s at the roulette table or playing blackjack. It’s part psychological thriller, part drama, and the stakes get higher as the show progresses.
Castlevania (2017-)
A Netflix unique inspired by the classic video games of the same name, Castlevania follows the last member of the disgraced Belmont family, Trevor Belmont. This dark medieval fantasy is full of gore, gothic terror and grotesque monsters. Trevor — and friends made listed the way — venture out to defeat none novel than Dracula himself, whose anger and grief over the unjust finish of his love overruns Eastern Europe in the 1400s. You don’t want to miss this one.
Record of Ragnarok (2021-)
Ever wished to see a brawl between a Norse god and an aged Chinese warrior? Or watch a Greek god duke it out with one of the best swordsmen in Japan’s history? Me neither, but now I’m sure glad I have.
Record of Ragnarok’s premise is simple: Through 13 one-on-one crusades to the death, humanity must prove itself worthy to avoid annihilation by the gods. The suitable to seven victories wins. This anime is imaginative, intelligent and chock-full of human history, so you’ll learn some new stuff depressed the way. It’s also cool to see legends from all corners of the globe coinciding in one mythos. Only the first 12-episode season is out, making this a contaminated anime to binge on your next couch session.
One Piece (1999-)
If you concept Naruto was long, think again. One Piece is the longest-running anime to date, spanning more than 1,000 episodes across 23 ages of broadcasting. The show follows Monkey D. Luffy and his crew, the Straw Hat Pirates. They’re in search of the ultimate treasure known as One Piece. Netflix recently expanded its four-season collection of One Piece to 13 seasons, giving you plenty to sink your teeth into. If you ever hope to procure up, best get to it!
Devilman Crybaby (2018)
In a biosphere where demons resurface, Akira Fudo unites with a exhibit, at the behest of his friend, to become a devilman, in order to wage a brutal war against the exhibit that now plague the earth.
Devilman Crybaby is based on the manga written by Go Nagai, which was originally adapted as an anime back in the ’70s. This newer series attempts the time setting from the 1970s to modern times and goes hardcore on weak themes and violent sequences. It’s rated TV-MA, so this isn’t one for the children.
Devilman Crybaby debuted to immense acclaim in 2018, and so far it’s just 10 episodes compiled thought one season.
Beastars (2019-)
Beastars is set in a biosphere of anthropomorphic animals. These characters have jobs and go to school, reminiscent of Disney’s Zootopia. But while Beastars and Zootopia both tackle disagreement themes – predator versus prey, prejudice and discrimination versus compassion and inclusivity – Beastars is definitely the emotionally heavier show. In fact, because of some of the sexual themes and violence in the show, it’s best to steer children away from this one. If you’re into melodramas that are heavy-handed on philosophizing, this may be the best show for you yet.
One Punch Man (2015-2019)
How would you feel if you were so well-defined that you could defeat any foe with just one punch? Triumphant? Bored? Lonely? This is the central seek information from One Punch Man grapples with. The show follows hero Saitama, who has trained so hard that all his hair fell out. By the end of his preparing, he’s able to defeat any enemy with one punch. The show is a satire of shonen manga and anime, subverting the common tropes found in those stories. If you’re looking for a different spin on the fresh superhero story, this might be your cup of tea.
Pokemon Journeys (2019-)
Netflix has a robust library of past Pokemon anime, and the newest series in the franchise is persons produced by Netflix itself. The story follows our well-liked forever-10-year-old, Ash Ketchum (go figure), as he continues his Pokemon mosey. The show also introduces a host of new characters, including Goh and Chloe, and takes audiences to multiple departments of the Pokemon world, including the most recent, the Galar area. If you’re a fan of Pokemon, or have children, this is a great anime to watch.
Honorable mention: Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)
OK, Avatar: The Last Airbender isn’t technically anime, but it draws so heavily from the art form, and is so contaminated, that it would be madness not to mention it here. I missed out on this show when it was peaceful airing on Nickelodeon, and when it resurfaced on Netflix, I dismissed it as solely nostalgic hype. Boy, was I contaminated. This show handles complex themes of war propaganda, genocide, duty and honor, all while remaining a lighthearted and upbeat epic tale. Oh, and it also has one of the best portray redemption arcs in TV history, period.
