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Novella Poinsett
Netflix has added some incredible titles to its anime library in recent years. In addition to quintessential series, there is also a substantial amount of originals that are holding their own against titles already well established in the canon. The streaming service took care to introduce a variety of genres: there are plenty of action, comedy, and romance series to choose from. If you are ready to explore even the weirdest corners of Netflix to find binge-worthy content (and you should be), we are here for you.
Below, the Paste writers have catalogued the best anime series on Netflix (starting with our favorites) that are sure to hold the attention of both experienced weeaboos and anime first-timers alike.
By now, most people have at least a cursory awareness of Neon Genesis Evangelion, whether it be from the overwhelming amount of branded merchandise or the consistent references in popular media. But for a show as ingrained in the animation canon as Evangelion, how we discuss it is in constant flux. Initially touted as a meaningful deconstruction of the mecha popularized by Gundam and Macross, the franchise later became bloated and rife with superfluous content much like the melodramas-as-merchandise they lampooned years before.
The best anime on Netflix features some of the richest, most addictive shows in the streamer's library. From heart-wrenching love tales to sci-fi classics, there's plenty to enjoy, no matter your tastes.
For more from the world of anime, including the ongoing Delicious in Dungeon, check out our guide to new anime. Then take a larger look at the medium with the best anime to watch in 2024 and the latest on Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 and One-Punch Man season 3.
Set in the League of Legends universe, Arcane follows the heart-wrenching tale of sisters Vi (Hailee Steinfeld) and Jinx (Ella Purnell) as they get caught in a war between the haves and have-nots: elite society Piltover and the underground dwellers in Zaun.
The series is bolstered with terrific world-building, gorgeous art, well-rounded characters, and emotional beats that land again and again. Arcane is the gold standard on what can be achieved when that horrid phrase - IP - is tossed aside in favor of complex, mature storytelling. For that reason, Arcane is rightly held aloft as one of Netflix's finest original anime.
While not technically an 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.
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 is the definitive take on some of the iconic characters you've spent decades with.
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.
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.
What follows is an uber-cool, action-packed series filled with the explosive sort of kinetic energy that audiences rightfully lapped up back in 2022. You don't even need to be a fan of the franchise to plug in, either; Cyberpunk: Edgerunners has charisma in spades, is equipped with a killer soundtrack and - at the heart of it all - a love story that will make even the most stone-hearted of chooms weepy by the time the series is over. And if you are a fan of Cyberpunk 2077? This will undoubtedly enrich your next playthrough.
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.
The D&D-style band of misfits punctuate their journey with a series of hair-rising adventures - with a twist: they usually cook and eat their creepy, crawly foes in a banquet of (weirdly) tasty offerings.
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.
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.
2023 saw two incredible older anime shows make their way to Netflix: Monster (which features further down on this list) and Hajime no Ippo. It's about time you gave them a try, especially as the algorithm might not always showcase their obvious talents.
Centred on the world of boxing, the sports anime is 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.
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 stop another half demon from harnessing its powers.
It lacks a little of the polish that anime would get into the 2010s, but you'll still feel right at home in the 16th Century with its triumphant tale of friendship wrapped up in cathartic character development and a satisfying ending.
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.
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.
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