The best anime on Netflix right now

Blue Period (2021)

Genre

Animation, Drama

Cast

Hiromu Mineta, Yumiri Hanamori, Daiki Yamashita

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Taking a break from the high-octane action and bombast of other typical anime offerings, Blue Period is a refreshing and down-to-earth story. Fitting nicely within the slice-of-life anime subgenre, animation studio Seven Arcs’ Blue Period adapts Tsubasa Yamaguchi’s manga of the same name. Centering around the story of Yatora Yaguchi, the high-school delinquent with top-notch grades finds himself feeling empty by his life of keeping up with his schoolwork and hanging around a group of unambitious friends.

He finds his true passion in the arts — painting, to be specific. From there, Yatora embarks on a journey to enroll in the competitive Tokyo University of the Arts. Blue Period has been acclaimed for its investing cast of characters and coming-of-age-themed storytelling.

Great Pretender (2020)

Genre

Animation, Drama, Comedy, Action & Adventure

Cast

Chiaki Kobayashi, Junichi Suwabe, Mie Sonozaki

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A Netflix original story developed by famed animators Wit Studio (Vinland Saga season 1, Attack on Titan seasons 1-3), Great Pretender is a vibrant heist comedy. Starting with the petty ventures of a common thief named Makoto Edamura in Japan, the series expands onto a grander scale when he’s unwittingly recruited by a master con man and his colorful cast of colleagues.

Each story arc is cleverly separated into cases, with each detailing equal parts thrilling new capers and genuinely emotional character development of the main cast. Complemented by its stunning art direction, Great Pretender is easily one of Netflix’s greatest original anime series.

Super Crooks (2021)

Genre

Animation, Crime, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure

Cast

Kenjiro Tsuda, Maaya Sakamoto, Yasushi Kimura

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A Netflix anime original, veteran animation studio Bones’ Super Crooks is an adaptation of writer Mark Millar and artist Leinil Francis Yu’s Marvel Comics series of the same name. The series follows the exploits of a small-time crook named Johnny Bolt as he strings together one big heist to help the world’s most beloved “supercrook” out of a gambling jam.

Bolt forms a team of supervillains to pull off a massive heist, traveling to Spain and attempting to rob one of the most infamous supervillains of all time. It’s a fun twist on conventional superhero storytelling and utilizes anime format to excellent effect.

Dorohedoro (2020)

Genre

Animation, Comedy, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Soungdok, Reina Kondo, Wataru Takagi

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While animation studio MAPPA has garnered emphatic acclaim for its adaptations of the likes of Attack on Titan, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Vinland Saga, its take on Dorohedoro is also a worthy standout in its catalog. Taking place in a grimy world blending dark fantasy with science fiction, this adaptation of writer Q Hayashida’s manga captures all the morbid humor, bloody action, and inherent weirdness of the source material. Dorohedoro mainly focuses on an amnesiac, reptilian-headed man named Caiman and his friend Nikaido as they go on a mission to help recover his memories — and find out who gave him his scaly new appearance.

Devilman Crybaby (2018)

Genre

Animation, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Koki Uchiyama, Ayumu Murase, Megumi Han

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An adaptation of the cult-classic manga by writer Go Nagai, Devilman Crybaby is a thrilling Netflix-original anime for those with a craving for dark fantasy. Animated by studio Science SARU, Devilman Crybaby centers around two high school friends named Akira Fudo and Ryo Asuka, as the pair find themselves entangled in the grim world of demons. Akira accidentally merges with a demon, keeping his skittish personality along with the demon’s fearsome strength. It’s not for the faint of heart, but Devilman Crybaby is an exciting dark fantasy with impressively poignant, mature, coming-of-age themes.

Case Closed: The Culprit Hanzawa (2022)
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Genre

Animation, Comedy

Cast

Shouta Aoi, Inori Minase, Minami Takayama

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Though anime fans in the west might not know it, the long-running Detective Conan franchise is one of the most iconic and lucrative anime properties in Japan. The manga started running in 1994, and has a mainline anime series that’s gone on for nearly as long. And with Case Closed: The Culprit Hanzawa comes a Netflix-original anime series that serves as a spinoff to the flagship tale. The Culprit Hanzawa puts the silhouetted “criminal” that represents the mystery culprits in the role of the protagonist.

Record of Ragnarok (2021)
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Genre

Animation, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

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Once every millennia, the Gods’ Council convenes to decide the fate of humanity, which sees an over-the-top spectacle featuring iconic figures from legend and religion duking it out on their behalf. The Valkyrie Brunhilde decides to give humanity a chance by staging the Ragnarok tournament, and given this premise, it’s clear that Record of Ragnarok wears its bombastic nature on its sleeve. Season 1 received an admittedly mediocre critical reception, but season 2 puts a new animation studio at the helm. The 22-episode season premieres its first 10 episodes in January, with the remaining episodes to follow at a later date.

Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre (2023)
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Genre

Animation, Mystery

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In the printed medium of manga, writer Junji Ito established himself as an elite name in advancing the horror genre. Now, the mastermind creator’s various works are being adapted into the realm of anime as Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre. Studio Deen will be animating this venture, with the studio turning Ito’s horror stories into an anthology TV series exclusive to Netflix. This season will run for 18 episodes and span 20 of the writer’s grim and spine-chilling tales. Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre will premiere on Netflix on January 18th.

Monster (2004)
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Genre

Drama, Crime, Mystery, War & Politics, Animation

Cast

Mami Koyama, Mamiko Noto, Junko Takeuchi

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Naoki Urasawa’s source manga is commonly regarded as one of the greatest seinen series in the medium. Monster was widely acclaimed for its thoroughly gripping crime saga filled with dark psychological revelations, thrills, and drama. Veteran animation studio Madhouse adapted the full series into a 73-episode TV anime, which was arguably as well-received as the source material itself. Following the story of a Japanese former doctor living in Germany, Kenzo Tenma sees his life upended when a boy whose life he saved through brain surgery resurfaces as a deeply disturbed and elusive serial killer. It’s been a long time coming, but Monster is finally available on Netflix.

Vinland Saga (2019)
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Genre

Animation, Action & Adventure, Drama, War & Politics

Cast

Yuto Uemura, Shunsuke Takeuchi, Kensho Ono

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As far as contemporary seinen manga go, Makoto Yukimura’s Vinland Saga is around the same plane of reverence as the late Kentaro Miura’s Berserk and Takehiko Inoue’s Vagabond. And in 2019, the series’ early goings were adapted into an anime by the talented Wit Studio. MAPPA is now taking the reigns of season 2, but with essentially the same creative team as the debut season. This Viking epic was packed with thrilling action and intensely intimate and engaging character drama, and season 2 will follow Thorfinn Karlsefni’s next major milestone in growth and introspection.

The Seven Deadly Sins: Grudge of Edinburgh Part 1 (2022)

Genre

Animation, Fantasy, Adventure, Action

Directed by

Noriyuki Abe

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Writer Nakaba Suzuki’s The Seven Deadly Sins has been one of the more popular shounen manga, especially with the anime adaptation that began in 2014 with animation studio A-1 Pictures. The original series followed Meliodas and company as they band to find their former companions from the Seven Deadly Sins to clear their name and defeat the Holy Knights that have ironically plunged the land into tyranny.

Dragon Age: Absolution (2022)

Genre

Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Animation

Cast

Kimberly Brooks, Matthew Mercer, Ashly Burch

Created by

Mairghread Scott

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Though it’s not an anime in the strictest sense of the term, Netflix’s latest traditionally anime-inspired original in the form of Dragon Age: Absolution is set for an early December premiere. In the same vein as DOTA: Dragon’s Blood or Castlevania, this series is a stylized rendition of a beloved video game series. The world of BioWare’s fantasy RPG games comes to life in the form of an original story following an elf rogue named Miriam. Fleshed out by a wider supporting cast, Miriam joins a team of mercenaries as they attempt a heist against one of the most formidable mages in the Tevinter Imperium.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure (2012)

Genre

Animation, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Fairouz Ai, Daisuke Ono, Mutsumi Tamura

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Hirohiko Araki’s beloved JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure manga has become an anime juggernaut since its TV series adaptation in 2012 and arguably more so in its second season. Netflix made the bold move of obtaining the series for its platform, serving as the exclusive place to watch the latest season — Stone Ocean. The disjointed release schedule has understandably frustrated some longtime fans, but David Production’s adaptation of the story itself was been widely well-received. Jolyne Cujoh and company’s prison-breaking exploits have been entertainingly and faithfully adapted, with the final batch of episodes now available.

Berserk (1997)

Genre

Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Animation

Cast

Toshiyuki Morikawa, Nobutoshi Canna, Yuko Miyamura

Created by

Kentaro Miura

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The late Kentaro Miura left a massive legacy with his magnum opus manga Berserk. And while many fans are undoubtedly thrilled over its resuming publication and the ongoing Memorial Edition anime series, Netflix is finally set to get the series’ first anime adaptation. Produced by animation studio OLM, the 1997 series is a cult classic and engrossing dark fantasy drama. It’s a ruthless story with gory action that will understandably not be for everyone, and it’s a shame no other adaptation has effectively gone beyond the Golden Age Arc, but this anime is an excellent introduction to Berserk for those willing to take the plunge.

The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. (2016)

Genre

Animation, Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Hiroshi Kamiya, Ai Kayano, Maaya Uchida

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If you’re looking for laughs, The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. is one of the best anime series on Netflix. This supernatural-themed comedy follows the life of the titular psychic, Kusuo Saiki. While many might see his particular talents as a tantalizing advantage to have in life, Saiki sees them as an overwhelming burden. He tries his hardest to keep his x-ray vision, telepathy, and more a secret from everyone around him at school. But Saiki inadvertently keeps getting himself roped into annoying hijinks and bombastic characters. The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. has been well-received for being an inventive take on comedic anime.

The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.: Reawakened (2019)

Genre

Animation, Comedy

Cast

Hiroshi Kamiya, Ai Kayano, Daisuke Ono

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Finishing up the adaptation of writer Shuuichi Asou’s manga source material, The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.: Reawakened closes the anime on a strong note. Kusuo Saiki and his colorful and delightfully annoying supporting cast of friends return to make the protagonist’s life a tightrope walk. The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.: Reawakened sees Saiki’s life get more complicated, as he’s faced with the challenge of using his psychic powers to maintain that secret or cover for his father’s lackluster presence at work. Most of all, it challenges him with the idea that perhaps he could be using his psychic prowess for good.

Kengan Ashura (2019)

Genre

Animation, Action & Adventure

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Kengan Ashura takes a wild twist to how the corporate business world works. While most deals and disagreements are hashed out with meetings and contracts, in Kengan Ashura, they’re settled through intense contests of martial arts. Wealthy companies and merchants have indulged in the practice of hiring gladiators to settle their scores since the Edo period in Japan, and the story follows Ouma Tokita — also known as “The Ashura” — as he attempts to prove himself the strongest fighter in this dirty corporate world while having his matches facilitated by the Kengan Association. It’s a great anime series for fans of over-the-top martial arts action.

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (2006)

Genre

Action & Adventure, Animation, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Jun Fukuyama, Takahiro Sakurai, Yukana

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Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion is a widely praised anime original series. The show blends fantasy, sci-fi, and thrilling mecha action in a story of overthrowing a tyrannical regime. Prince Lelouch is granted the Power of Kings and, with it, puts together a group of allies to lead a rebellion against the invading Holy Britannian Empire. Code Geass is an engaging story of a grand scale with a similarly wide cast of characters, complete with a degree of melodrama that has its own brand of charm to go along with the visual spectacles.

Exception (2022)

Genre

Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Mystery

Cast

Chikahiro Kobayashi, Takahiro Sakurai, Yuko Kaida

Created by

Otsuichi

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In another original Netflix anime endeavor, Exception has an intriguing sci-fi horror premise. The series takes place in the far future when humanity has been forced to leave Earth and migrate out to the galaxy, where a team of spacefarers arrives on a spacecraft to a planet that’s meant to be terraformed. Each member of this space-traveling team is output by a 3D biological printer, and, as one might expect, all will not go as planned. Exception uses a unique CG animated art style, with character designs done by the revered Yoshitaka Amano, who is credited with various commissioned artwork for Square Enix’s iconic Final Fantasy JRPG series.

Pokémon Journeys (2019)

Genre

Animation, Comedy, Kids

Cast

Ikue Otani, Rica Matsumoto, Sarah Natochenny

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Pokémon has long since been an undeniable media giant, with the anime series being one part of the greater machine. Ultimate Journeys will be the 25th overall season of the long-running anime, further detailing the adventures of Ash, Pikachu, and Goh in the globetrotting quest to learn more about these colorful creatures. In the upcoming Netflix-exclusive season, Ash, Pikachu, and the rest of their Pokémon team will undergo intensive training for the World Coronation Series Tournament, while Goh trains to become a member of the ambitious Project Mew. Meanwhile, Chloe and her Eevee will learn about the various evolutionary paths the latter can take, with a decision about Eevee’s future teased.

Tiger & Bunny (2011)

Genre

Action & Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Hiroaki Hirata, Masakazu Morita, Go Inoue

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Animation studio Sunrise’s Tiger & Bunny is a colorfully vibrant take on the superhero genre. It’s an inventive premise despite using something so familiar by mixing both American and Japanese tropes used in superhero stories, with the series revolving around an alternate take on New York City called Stern Bild City, where superheroes are essentially corporate entities vying for sponsorships and making heroics a contest of who will be crowned the “King of Heroes.” Enter the superhero veteran known as “Wild Tiger,” whose seen his mainstream relevance wane due to his unwillingness to work with others and, after a poor season, is paired up with Barnaby Brooks Jr. Both characters are polar opposites, and they’ll have to learn to work together for the sake of their respective superhero careers.

Drifting Home (2022)

Genre

Animation, Drama, Mystery, Fantasy

Stars

Mutsumi Tamura, Asami Seto, Ayumu Murase

Directed by

Hiroyasu Ishida

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In the first of Netflix and animation studio Studio Colorido’s deal to co-produce three exclusive anime movies, Drifting Home is a touching smaller-scale story with fantasy elements. The movie follows two middle schoolers named Kousuke and Natsume, who have been friends since their early childhood days. However, they’ve become more distant, and their friendship strained over the years since. But the trajectory of their lives takes a shocking and fantastical turn. After visiting the old housing complex they grew up in before it’s set to be demolished, they get wrapped up in a mysterious phenomenon and wake up to discover the housing complex has drifted away at sea.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (2022)

Genre

Animation, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

KENN, Aoi Yuki, Hiroki Touchi

Created by

Rafał Jaki

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Animated by industry veterans and fan-favorite studio Studio Trigger (Promare, Kill la Kill) comes an original story set within video game developer CD Projekt Red’s world of Cyberpunk 2077. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners takes place in the same technologically-obsessed dystopia filled with cutthroat factions, following a young boy attempting to survive through it all. In order to have a fighting chance, the body-modified street kid joins the ranks of the titular mercenary Edgerunners also known as a Cyberpunk. The series is planned as a standalone 10-episode story, with expectations high that it will be a visually stunning and explosive series if Studio Trigger’s esteemed reputation is anything to go by.

Violet Evergarden: The Movie (2020)

Genre

Animation, Fantasy, Romance, Drama

Stars

Yui Ishikawa, Daisuke Namikawa, Takehito Koyasu

Directed by

Taichi Ishidate

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To help get the complete engrossing and deeply emotional story of Violet Evergarden, Violet Evergarden the Movie continues the titular war veteran’s heartfelt quest of understanding. Years after the Great War ended, technology continues to advance and makes the advent of telephones more relevant. This means that the need for Auto Memory Dolls is waning, but Violet’s fame for writing letters maintains even in this new technological age. She continues to learn about the meaning and concept of human emotion — love in particular — but she still longs to reunite with her long-lost commanding officer who first uttered those words to her years ago.

Spriggan (2022)

Genre

Animation, Action & Adventure, War & Politics, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Chiaki Kobayashi, Yohei Azakami, Kenji Hamada

Created by

Hiroshi Takashige, Ryoji Minagawa

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The secret organization of ARCAM has discovered what’s thought to be Noah’s Ark in the mountains of Turkey. However, a sinister organization from the U.S. Pentagon — known as the Machine Corps. — seeks to achieve world domination through its power. Enter special ARCAM operative Yu Ominae, a Spriggan, as he’s sent to combat against this threat that’s seeking worldwide supremacy. This sci-fi action series sees Yu team up with French Spriggan operative Jean-Jacques Mondo to lead the charge against the Machine Corps.

Komi Can’t Communicate (2021)

Genre

Animation, Comedy, Drama

Cast

Aoi Koga, Gakuto Kajiwara, Rie Murakawa

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In Komi Can’t Communicate, high school student Hitohito Tadano just wants to blend into his new surroundings and avoid any unwanted attention, but he eventually gets partially put into the spotlight by sitting next to the popular Shouko Komi. However, he finds out that Komi has a communication disorder and she wants him to help her learn how to socialize. From there, Tadano, Komi, and company make it their mission to help her make 100 friends.

One Piece (1999)

Genre

Action & Adventure, Comedy, Animation

Cast

Mayumi Tanaka, Kazuya Nakai, Akemi Okamura

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Years ago, when the legendary pirate Gol D. Roger was set for execution, his last words were a challenge to the world to find his titular treasure. In the present, young Monkey D. Luffy feels inspired to become a pirate and uncover the One Piece bounty. He then embarks on a globetrotting odyssey across the Grand Line with the other members of his Straw Hat crew in a myriad of adventures meeting a colorful and revolving cast of friends and villains.

7Seeds (2019)

Genre

Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama

Cast

Jun Fukuyama, Nao Toyama, Katsuyuki Konishi

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In 7Seeds, scientists take steps to prevent the potential extinction of humanity. Unfortunately, they neglected to tell Shy Natsu and other test subjects that their cryogenic sleep would propel them into a future unlike anything they could imagine. It’s been so long since the age of man that their home world is now more like an alien planet. And humanity isn’t on top of the food chain anymore. If the humans have a shot at survival, it will all come down on the shoulders of Shy and his new companions.

Death Note (2006)

Genre

Animation, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Mamoru Miyano, Noriko Hidaka, Nozomu Sasaki

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Death Note is one of the most popular manga and anime series in the world, perhaps because of its intriguing premise. Teenager Light Yagami comes across a supernatural notebook with a deadly power. If Light, or anyone else, writes a name in the notebook, the person they named will die. Unfortunately for Light, he becomes intoxicated with the power, and he resolves to remake the world by eliminating “bad people.” This captures the attention of the cops, including the mysterious Detective L. Light soon realizes that L might be able to deduce his identity, but he can’t be killed until Light discovers L’s real name.

Yasuke (2021)

Genre

Animation, Drama, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Lakeith Stanfield, Takehiro Hira, Maya Tanida

Created by

LeSean Thomas

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In Japanese history, Yasuke was the first and only African warrior to enter the service of Oda Nobunaga in the 16th century. The Yasuke anime takes several liberties with history by introducing magic and advanced tech to the mix. In the story, several years have passed since Yasuke left his life of violence behind. A singer named Ichika hires Yasuke to escort herself and her daughter, Saki, in order to save the young girl’s life. However, Ichika’s murder leaves Saki under Yasuke’s direct protection as their deadly journey begins.

Kotaro Lives Alone (2022)

Genre

Animation, Comedy

Cast

Rie Kugimiya, Toshiki Masuda, Junichi Suwabe

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Just as the title implies, Kotaro does live alone in Japan. However, Kotaro Lives Alone doesn’t disclose in the title that Kotaro is just 5 years old! And that seems like a pretty big omission of an important fact. Separated from his family, Kotaro has somehow managed to independently rent an apartment, much to the surprise and annoyance of his new neighbor, Shin Karino. Regardless, Karino and the other residents at the apartment complex soon take a liking to Kotaro, even if they don’t always understand him.

Pacific Rim: The Black (2021)

Genre

Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Animation, Action & Adventure

Cast

Gideon Adlon, Calum Worthy, Erica Lindbeck

Created by

Craig Kyle, Greg Johnson

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Although neither Pacific Rim movie is currently on Netflix, the streaming service produced the original anime series, Pacific Rim: The Black. This is a spinoff from the films that takes place after the second movie and focuses on two siblings, Taylor and Hayley Travis. The brother and sister have been trapped in Australia for five years after it was overrun by the otherworldly kaiju. But when the siblings discover a discarded Jaeger/giant robot, it gives them the chance to fight back and potentially find their long-missing parents. Unfortunately for Taylor and Hayley, having possession of a Jaeger also makes them a target for unscrupulous people who want the Jaeger’s power for themselves.

One-Punch Man (2015)

Genre

Action & Adventure, Animation, Comedy

Cast

Kazuhiro Yamaji, Yuichi Nakamura, Kenjiro Tsuda

Created by

ONE

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Imagine being so powerful that life as a superhero is boring. That’s the curse of One-Punch Man. Saitama’s inexplicable strength would be a great blessing if it also provided him with a challenge. Without that, Saitama’s passion for the heroic life has turned into depression. He doesn’t even get the credit he deserves! Regardless, there are still some enemies for Saitama to fight. And he’ll find that it can be difficult to be a One-Punch Man when he can’t even land a single blow on his opponent.

Hunter x Hunter (2011)

Genre

Action & Adventure, Animation, Drama

Cast

Megumi Han, Mariya Ise, Miyuki Sawashiro

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The word “hunter” doesn’t have its traditional meaning in the latest adaptation of Hunter x Hunter. In this world, Hunters are the adventurous men and women who can locate lost treasures, missing people, and find rare creatures. Very few Hunters are chosen, which is one of the reasons why a young boy named Gon is so obsessed with becoming a Hunter himself. Years ago, Gon’s father, Ging, abandoned the family to chase his dream of becoming a Hunter. Now, Gon is following in Ging’s footsteps, and he will face some incredibly difficult ordeals in order to earn his place among the Hunters.

Eden (2021)

Genre

Animation, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Koichi Yamadera, Kyoko Hikami, Marika Kouno

Created by

Justin Leach

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You may see some similarities between Eden and WALL-E, but trust us. This anime is pretty far from Pixar’s wonderland. In a far future where humanity is all but extinct, there is only Eden 3, a colony of sentient robots. When two agricultural robots, A37 and E92 accidentally revive a human child, Sara Grace, from stasis, they decide to raise her. While the robotic couple do a good job of keeping Sara safe, the secret of her existence can only be held for so long. And the vast majority of robots have no interest in keeping Sara alive. In fact, more than a few want her dead.

Cowboy Bebop (1998)

Genre

Action & Adventure, Animation, Crime, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Koichi Yamadera, Unsho Ishizuka, Megumi Hayashibara

Created by

Keiko Nobumoto

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Ahead of Netflix’s highly anticipated live-action Cowboy Bebop series, the streaming service has added the unforgettable anime classic that inspired it. This stylish neo-noir sci-fi western follows Spike Spiegel and the crew of the starship Bebop. In this vision of the future, bounty hunters are called cowboys, and Spike is one of the best. Alongside his teammates Jet Black, Faye Valentine, Edward, and Ein, Spike tries to find a place for himself in the universe. But when a woman from Spike’s past returns, all bets are off. And even Spike may not be able to defeat his old enemies in the end.

Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway (2021)

Genre

Animation, Action, Drama, Science Fiction

Stars

Kensho Ono, Reina Ueda, Junichi Suwabe

Directed by

Shuko Murase

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Based on the manga series by Yoshiyuki Tomino, Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway follows the devastating war between the Earth Federation and a terrorist group known as Mafty. Led by Hathaway Noa (Kensho Ono), Mafty aims to put an end to the vicious deportation strategies of the Federation, a mission carried out with great success until a chance meeting with an enemy officer and a strange woman spells disaster for Noa and his crew.

Flavors of Youth (2018)

Genre

Animation, Romance, Drama

Stars

Taito Ban, Mariya Ise, Minako Kotobuki

Directed by

Yoshitaka Takeuchi, Xiaoxing Yi, Li Haoling

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Flavors of Youth is a beautifully artistic rendition of a day-in-the-life in China, captured across three mesmerizing stories. The Rice Noodles explores one man’s nostalgia for the city and his grandmother through his love for San Xian noodles. A Little Fashion Show explores the frayed dynamic between two sisters and their affinity for high fashion — one a model, the other a designer. Love in Shanghai explores the blooming romance between two Shanghai students over the course of two decades.

Attack on Titan (2013)

Genre

Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Animation, Action & Adventure

Cast

Yuki Kaji, Yui Ishikawa, Marina Inoue

Created by

Hajime Isayama

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Adapted from the manga series of the same name, Attack on Titan finds humanity trapped behind towering walls in three cities. The reason for the partitions is a world overrun by monstrous humanoid creatures known as Titans. When one Titan manages to get over the walls of Eren Jaegar’s (Harume Miara) city, the creature wreaks havoc on the populace. Vowing revenge, Eren and his friends join up with the Scout Regiment to fight back against the Titan hordes.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (2019)

Genre

Animation, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Natsuki Hanae, Akari Kito, Hiro Shimono

Created by

Ufotable

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Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba has been one of the recent anime sensations on Netflix. This adaptation of the wildly popular manga chronicles the story of Tanjiro Kamado, a young man who narrowly survives a demon attack that claims the lives of most of his family. Tanjiro’s sister, Nezuko, also survives the attack, but she is transformed into a demon herself. To save his sister and avenge his family, Tanjiro joins the Demon Slayer Corps and trains for the final showdown. But if Tanjiro hopes to triumph over evil then he may have to give up more than just his life.

The Seven Deadly Sins (2014)

Genre

Action & Adventure, Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Yuki Kaji, Sora Amamiya, Tatsuhisa Suzuki

Created by

A-1 Pictures

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The titular stars of The Seven Deadly Sins aren’t just the embodiment of humanity’s famous vices. They were once respected knights in the fantasy land of Britannia … at least until they were framed for trying to overthrow the kingdom and forced to disband. A decade later, Princess Elizabeth Liones is deposed from the throne by the Holy Knights, which sends her on the run. She finds an ally in Meliodas, the leader of the Seven, and he agrees to bring his team back together. But Meliodas also has a secret connection to Elizabeth that may come back to doom them all.

Castlevania (2017)

Genre

Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Animation

Cast

Richard Armitage, James Callis, Alejandra Reynoso

Created by

Warren Ellis

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One of Netflix’s breakout anime series is based on the hit video games by Konami. Castlevania re-envisions Dracula (Graham McTavish) by giving him a legitimate grievance against humanity after his wife, Lisa, is executed by the church on trumped-up charges of heresy. Trevor Belmont (Richard Armitage), the last of a long line of vampire hunters, and Sypha Belnades (Alejandra Reynoso), a talented sorceress, may be all that stands in the way of humanity’s extinction. Surprisingly, their most valuable ally is Alucard (James Callis), the estranged son of Dracula and Lisa. This unlikely trio is ridiculously entertaining, and Castlevania finds its drama and action in unexpected ways.

Blood of Zeus (2020)

Genre

Animation, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Derek Phillips, Jason O’Mara, Jessica Henwick

Created by

Charley Parlapanides, Vlas Parlapanides

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Netflix’s original anime Blood of Zeus offers a fresh take on Greek mythology by introducing a new hero, Heron (Derek Phillips). Heron is quite literally the son of Zeus (Jason O’Mara), which makes him a demigod. Heron also has the destiny to save the world from demonic threats, even as Zeus’ wife, Hera (Claudia Christian), wants Heron’s head because of Zeus’ infidelity. Heron’s got his work cut out for him, and we’ve got a new favorite anime.

Ultraman (2019)

Genre

Animation, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Kaiji Soze, Ryohei Kimura, Takuya Eguchi

Created by

Eiji Tsuburaya

watch on Netflix

Ultraman is one of the original heroes of anime who dates back to 1966, so much so that he’s essentially the equivalent of Superman. Netflix’s Ultraman is not a reboot of the franchise. Instead, it’s a direct continuation that brings back Shin Hayata, the man behind Ultraman. Unfortunately, Shin no longer remembers that he was Japan’s greatest hero. Instead, the legacy is passed on to his son, Shinjiro. The new Ultraman has his hands full in the modern series, but his father’s legacy is in good hands.

Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005)

Genre

Animation, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Zach Tyler Eisen, Mako Iwamatsu, Mae Whitman

Created by

Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko

watch on Netflix

Potentially Nickelodeon’s most generation-spanning show other than Spongebob Squarepants, Avatar: The Last Airbender tells the story of Aang, the 12-year-old Avatar who has been awoken after a 100-year slumber to find the world at war. This world is divided into four nations: Earth, Air, Water, and Fire, each of which has a population of “benders,” people who can control the element that their nation is associated with. The Avatar is meant to be the master of all elements and tasked with maintaining peace and balance between the nations. But when Aang was frozen in ice, the Fire Nation was free to attempt to conquer the world. Now that the Avatar is back, he’ll have to rely on the help of his friends Katara, Sokka, and Toph to help him complete his training and take on the Fire Lord.

Japan Sinks: 2020 (2020)

Genre

Animation, Action & Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast

Taichi Takeda, Reina Ueda, Tomo Muranaka

Created by

Sakyo Komatsu (based on the novel by), Toshio Yoshitaka

watch on Netflix

Sakyo Komatsu’s bestselling 1973 sci-fi novel Japan Sinks tells the story of two children who must escape Tokyo after a major earthquake hits Japan, causing the entire island to sink. Now, Netflix has adapted the beloved novel with a modern spin, calling it Japan Sinks: 2020. This time, a series of natural disasters hit Japan, throwing the country into complete chaos. The story follows one ordinary family as they attempt to flee the island in chaotic, terrifying conditions.

Aggretsuko (2018)

Genre

Animation, Comedy

Cast

Rareko, Sohta Arai, Shingo Katou

Created by

Yeti and Rarecho

watch on Netflix

Retsuko is a hardworking 25-year-old Red Panda, commuting and living in Tokyo, Japan. All day, every day, she deals with her nasty boss, insincere supervisor, and less-than-stellar coworkers. Retsuko has a secret life, and when the rage of the day boils over, she heads into Japan’s famous karaoke bars, grabs a bottle of sake, holds on to a microphone, and screams death metal into the night. Aggretsuko can be described as Zootopia meets The Office, with a colorful cast of characters and a solid degree of witty humor for older audiences. Featuring a stellar voice cast, which includes Erica Mendez and Ben Dishkin, Aggretsuko is a quick but wonderfully crafted office comedy, where audiences connect with Retsuko and her pursuits, rocking out to death metal and learning new lessons about herself along the way.

BEASTARS (2019)

Genre

Animation, Drama

Cast

Chikahiro Kobayashi

Created by

Orange

watch on Netflix

If one could ever imagine Zootopia becoming an R-rated bloody murder mystery, it would likely be Beastars. In a world of anthropomorphic creatures, carnivores and herbivores of all species coexist and work together. That line of coexistence is shattered when a student is devoured by an unnamed and unknown carnivore. In the midst of the growing unease at the school, Legoshi, a timid and shy carnivorous wolf, has a dramatic encounter with a small rabbit who attends the school, Haru, an encounter that may affect the fate of Legoshi and the school. Beastars originally began as a manga, written by Paru Itagaki and Akita Shoten, released in 2016. The manga went on to win a multitude of awards, including the coveted Manga Taisho Award. With 20 volumes published so far, the manga remains ongoing. The manga went on to be licensed by Viz Media and released in the United States in 2019. The anime launched on Netflix on March 13, 2020, and features stunning animation by Studio Orange and a stellar English voice cast, which includes Jonah Scott as Legoshi and Lara Jill Miller as Haru.

Little Witch Academia (2017)

Genre

Animation, Kids, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Comedy, Action & Adventure

Cast

Megumi Han (Japanese), Franciska Friede (English)

Created by

Yoh Yoshinari

watch on Netflix

From legendary animation studio Trigger arrives a coming-of-age fantasy all about pursuing your dreams. In the journey of life, you never know who you will meet next, but the next person you see could be the very inspiration you need. When young Atsuko is inspired by her favorite witch, Shiny Chariot, she enrolls at the elite Luna Nova Magical Academy. The stacks are already against Atsuko. Many of the students enrolled at the academy have an established background in magic, but regrettably, Atsuko does not. Struggling, Atsuko stumbles upon a magical relic, Shiny Rod. Determined to pursue her dreams, she wields the relic and studies hard in her quest to become a witch and change the world. Little Witch Academia features top-notch animation and girl power, but also an incredibly heartfelt story that is perfect for all those aspiring to accomplish their dreams.

Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995)

Genre

Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Animation, Drama

Cast

Megumi Ogata, Kotono Mitsuishi, Megumi Hayashibara

Created by

Gainax

watch on Netflix

Giant robots fighting even bigger monsters is a common theme among anime series, but few have elevated the genre like Neon Genesis Evangelion. The series was set in the then far-off year of 2015, 15 years after the world was attacked by aliens that were known as “Angels.” The show follows Shinji Ikari, a shy and emotionally withdrawn teenager who is forced to become an Evangelion pilot by his manipulative father, Gendo. Shinji slowly rises to the occasion alongside his fellow pilots, Rei and Asuka. However, the Angels aren’t the only ones with secrets on this show. And Shinji will have to face unimaginable nightmares and traumas before he can ultimately confront his own inner demons.

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