If you're wanting to find the best anime shows on Netflix, you've got your work cut out for you: the streamer has loads of animated series and plenty of new ones being added all the time.
In fact, anime is one of Netflix's fastest-growing categories, with The Hollywood Reporter citing that over half the subscribers to the giant streaming service watch shows in this popular animation style. In Japan, anime refers to all animation, but outside, it refers to animation that is specifically produced there.
Netflix offers plenty of animation options for both adults and children, but if you want to broaden your horizons even further, there is also a huge anime selection. Ranging from classic existing properties — now with a new home on the streaming service — to brand new Netflix originals, there is something to enjoy whether you’re an anime newcomer or a fan looking for your next obsession.
Encompassing all genres — from teen high-school dramas to sci-fi epics, and even horror — there is an anime series for everyone, and these are some of the very best anime on Netflix that you can watch. And if you're looking for more recommendations, don't forget to check out our guide to the best Netflix shows you should be streaming right now.
The best anime series on Netflix — our picks
Eden
From Yasuhiro Irie — who also directed the excellent Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood — Eden is a short but sweet sci-fi adventure series with a strong conservational message and a warm heart. Set in the future, when all human life has disappeared from Earth, two maintenance robots happen upon a baby girl, Sara Grace. Having previously believed that humans were a myth, the two robots decide to raise the girl in secret outside of the city known as Eden 3.
With echoes of Pixar’s WALL-E, Eden is a lush, beautifully animated fable about identity and the importance of preserving the world we have. As she grows up, Sara has to reconcile with the past mistakes her race made, while also learning to deal with her desire for human companionship.
Useful info
Number of seasons: 1
Approximate episodes per season: 4
Average episode length: 25 minutes
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 88%
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Based on the hit video game Cyberpunk 2077 from CD Projekt Red, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners takes us into the seedy underworld of the futuristic Night City for another adventure.
Here, we follow David, a teenager from a poor background who's the top student at Arasaka Academy. Despite being academically gifted, he's bullied relentlessly by his fellow pupils who don't think he belongs at the school.
After a drive-by shooting in the crime-ridden metropolis robs him of everything he holds dear, David turns his back on academia and falls in with a gang of cybernetically-enhanced mercenaries — also known as edgerunners and cyberpunks — as he's forced to adapt to life on the streets.
Useful info
Number of seasons: 1
Approximate episodes per season: 10
Average episode length: 25-26 minutes
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 100%
Cowboy Bebop
From its funky soundtrack to its badass characters, there is an effortless cool to Cowboy Bebop that makes this legendary anime series infinitely watchable. Set in the year 2071 — with the majority of the planets in the solar system now inhabitable — the Inter Solar System Police recruit contracted bounty hunters to bring criminals to justice. One of these is hitman Spike Spiegel, who travels on a spaceship called “Bebop” with his gang, trailing the shadiest characters in the galaxy.
With inflections of westerns, science fiction, and noir, Cowboy Bebop is a genre-bending show that manages to balance space opera adventure elements with its themes of existentialism, loneliness, and being haunted by the past. The strength of the storytelling and the characters make this series a great starting point for anime newcomers.
Useful info
Number of seasons: 1
Approximate episodes per season: 26
Average episode length: 22-24 minutes
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 100%
Neon Genesis: Evangelion
Launching an entire franchise and several spin-off series and films, legendary anime Neon Genesis: Evangelion is considered one of the key cultural touchpoints, and one of the best examples of the “mecha anime” genre — so-called for being stories that focus on robots and machines.
Originally airing between 1995 and 1996, the series imagines a futuristic Tokyo in the year 2015, more than a decade after a cataclysmic world event. In this world, malevolent beings known as “Angels” threaten the future of humanity, with their eyes set on starting another apocalyptic event. The series centers around protagonist Shinji Ikari — a reluctant young man who is forced by his father to join the paramilitary force “Nerv” and pilot one of their giant Evangelion bio-machines. As well as incredible battle scenes, Neon Genesis Evangelion is rightly praised for its complex and layered characters and rich thematic texture.
Useful info
Number of seasons: 1
Approximate episodes per season: 26
Average episode length: 23-29 minutes
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 100%
Vinland Saga
Vinland Saga is a series based on multiple Viking tales and is a perfect watch for fans of The Northman or Vikings: Valhalla.
A revenge story at its core, the series follows Thorfinn, a young explorer who takes up with the mercenary band run by Askeladd. Askeladd is the man responsible for the murder of Thorfinn's father, so Thorfinn takes up in his ranks in order to challenge his father's murderer to a duel to the death so he can honor him. His revenge plot sees Thorfinn getting entangled in war.
The series packs in a host of complex characters who you'll enjoy seeing grow and change along with some exciting, brutal action that's brought to life with top-quality animation from Wit Studio.
US fans can stream Vinland Saga on Crunchyroll.
Useful info
Number of seasons: 2
Approximate episodes per season: 24
Average episode length: 26 minutes
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 100%
Beastars
Based on the manga series written and illustrated by Paru Itagaki, Beastars explores a world of anthropomorphic humanoid animals, where a great chasm exists between carnivores and herbivores. Set at a high school, the murder of an alpaca called Tem sends shockwaves through the classmates as a feeling of distrust between predators and prey emerges.
Meanwhile, Legoshi — a previously timid and quiet gray wolf — feels his predatory urges awaken as he deals with his complicated feelings towards Haru, a dwarf rabbit.
If the premise sounds a little like Disney’s Zootopia, that is where the similarities end, with Beastars exploring some very adult themes. Through the character of Legoshi, it sees the idea of bloodlust and lust clash and offers some very thought-provoking content in terms of sexual politics, power dynamics, and “animal” instincts.
Useful info
Number of seasons: 2
Approximate episodes per season: 12
Average episode length: 23-24 minutes
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 94%
Super Crooks
Super Crooks is one for anyone looking for a fresh super-powered fix.
Based on the comic book mini-series of the same name by Mark Millar and Leinil Francis Yu, this series introduces us to Johnny Bolt, an electrified man who decides to put his powers to use to become a superhero.
When his plan ends in disaster at a public pool, Bolt resolves that he's going to make his way in life by becoming a supervillain. Years down the line, he and his girlfriend Kasey assemble a team of superpowered criminals in order to pull off one daring heist that will enable them to retire comfortably.
Useful info
Number of seasons: 1
Approximate episodes per season: 13
Average episode length: 23-27 minutes
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 100%
Kakegurui
The stakes are high in more ways than one in this compulsive and addictive anime series. Events largely take place at Hyakkaou Private Academy — a prestigious school that rewards gambling prowess over academic achievements. Here, the students battle it out through various risky games in order to climb the social ladder.
At this school, the aim of the game is to cheat, manipulate, deceive, and essentially do whatever it takes to come out on top. Those who succeed enjoy immense power, money, and authority, while those lower down the chain — and often severely in debt — are called “pets,” and are forced to serve those who dominate. Exploring how money, power, and corruption go hand-in-hand, Kakegurui has a dangerous quality to it that will keep you coming back for more. There's also a spin-off prequel series called Kakegurui Twin you can stream, too.
Useful info
Number of seasons: 2
Approximate episodes per season: 12
Average episode length: 25 minutes
Carole & Tuesday
Carole and Tuesday may come from vastly different backgrounds, but when they cross paths in a chance meeting, they realize they have one thing that unifies them: music. While set on a partially terraformed Mars, Carole & Tuesday has a very real and relatable quality to it, with the show tackling some weighty and topical themes, including immigration and the treatment of women in the music industry.
Despite some of its heavier themes, Carole & Tuesday has an irresistible feel-good quality to it and some genuinely great music. Unlike a lot of other musical anime series, it also has a compelling story and well-developed characters with the desire for their music to say something and bring about genuine change.
Useful info
Number of seasons: 2
Approximate episodes per season: 12
Average episode length: 23 minutes
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 100%
Tokyo Ghoul
For fans of horror and the supernatural, Tokyo Ghoul may be the perfect show for you. Depicting a nightmarish vision of Tokyo — where ghouls with human forms feast on the flesh of its inhabitants — student Ken Kaneki finds himself torn between worlds when he is turned into a ghoul-human hybrid.
Feeling as though he doesn’t completely fit into the ghoul world, and struggling to keep his true identity a secret in the human world, Kaneki makes for a compelling protagonist, exploring some very real-world fears about identity and self-discovery through a supernatural lens. Tokyo Ghoul is incredibly gory and violent, and not always an easy watch, but the thrilling story and likable characters carry it through.
Useful info
Number of seasons: 3
Approximate episodes per season: 12/24
Average episode length: 24 minutes
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 100%
Komi Can't Communicate
When Shoko Komi arrives on the first day at high school, her fellow students are instantly captivated by her beauty and mystique. Joining the droves is Hitohito Tadano — a self-proclaimed distinctly average teen who prides himself on his ability to read a room. When he finally gets the chance to talk to the elusive Komi, he realizes she is not just painfully shy but suffers from a crippling communication disorder, rendering her unable to talk to her peers. After she expresses her desire to make 100 friends, Tadano makes it his high school mission to help Komi achieve her goal.
At times sweet and melancholic, and at others hilarious and exuberant, Komi Can’t Communicate is an accessible teen drama filled with big personalities and relatable concepts that is hard not to be charmed by.
Useful info
Number of seasons: 1
Approximate episodes per season: 24
Average episode length: 24-25 minutes
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 83%
Hi Score Girl
Perfectly tapping into nostalgia for retro 1990s video games, Hi Score Girl is a fun and light-hearted coming-of-age series that explores the awkwardness and joy of teen romances, gaming, and growing up. Haruo Yaguchi is an obsessive arcade gamer who makes up for his ineptitude at school with his prowess at Street Fighter. However, Haruo meets his match in Akira Ono — a popular and smart girl from his school who shares his love of gaming.
Something Hi Score Girl captures so beautifully is the wistful nostalgia and romanticism of this era of video games — with hordes of kids gathered around coin-operated machines instead of confined to their bedrooms. The relationship between Haruo and Akira is also one of the most genuine you’ll find, slowly blossoming from friends and gaming rivals to something more over time.
Useful info
Number of seasons: 2
Approximate episodes per season: 9-15
Average episode length: 24-25 minutes
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 74%
The Orbital Children
Set in 2045, three Earth-born children on a sponsored visit to a Japanese space station meet two children who were born on the moon. However, when a comet strikes the station, the five children find themselves stranded and relying on each other to survive.
Despite the sound of the initial premise, The Orbital Children is not particularly action-packed but it does boast a compelling story and some interesting themes, especially in the way it explores humans' relationship with artificial intelligence. The spectacular space scenery makes this a visually stunning anime series as well, and it strikes the perfect balance between depth and humor making it suitable for viewers of all ages.
Useful info
Number of seasons: 1
Approximate episodes per season: 6
Average episode length: 30-38 minutes
Aggretsuko
Even though she is a red panda, Retsuko is just like us. When she first gets a job in a trading company in Tokyo, she is full of wide-eyed optimism and believes it will be the thing that begins the rest of her life. Fast-forward a few years and she’s spending another hellish commute in someone’s armpit and struggling through an inane conversation with her annoying co-workers.
With a relatable concept and adorable character design, Aggretsuko is instantly likable, but the real joy comes through Retsuko’s darker side. While she may be cute and fluffy, her coping mechanism to get through the stress of the working day involves screaming along to death metal music. The surprising soundtrack might sound like it should be completely at odds with the light workplace comedy aspect, but Aggretsuko will make you wonder why they haven’t always gone together.
Useful info
Number of seasons: 5
Approximate episodes per season: 10
Average episode length: 14-27 minutes
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 96%
Kotaro Lives Alone
This charming series sees Kotaro — a polite and friendly 4-year-old boy — moving into a new apartment building by himself. With no parents or relatives to speak of, Kotaro quickly befriends his neighbors, including manga artist Shin Karino, the eccentric Isamu Tamaru, and a young woman named Mizuki Akitomo.
The great thing about anime is there is something for everyone, and if you’re looking for a more light-hearted, slice-of-life type series, Kotaro Lives Alone is a great option. While it does address the tragic circumstances that led up to Kotaro being alone — providing the bitter element of this bittersweet series — it has plenty of heartfelt moments as it explores the idea of choosing your own family and how friendships can help you overcome past traumas.
Useful info
Number of seasons: 1
Approximate episodes per season: 10
Average episode length: 26-27 minutes
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 100%
