Netflix was founded in 1997. It started off as a DVD rental company, but it has since gone on to become the biggest streaming service in the world. The platform offers hundreds of TV shows, movies, and documentaries, and, over the last couple of years, it has been expanding its anime catalog.

The anime industry is filled with detailed stories that feature well-written characters and unique locations. Netflix has developed several of its own anime series, and, for the most part, they have been pretty good. Aside from its own original series, Netflix also offers well over a dozen pre-existing anime, and, although its catalog is vast, the best anime on Netflix stand above the rest in terms of quality and storytelling.

Updated on January 2, 2024, by George Voutiritsas: Netflix's winter anime season is in full swing, and it begins on January 1st with the addition of One Piece's 14th season. Fans can now see the Marinford Arc which focuses on the war between the Whitebeard Pirates and Marines. The first season of Delicious in Dungeon premieres on January 4th. It is a fantasy comedy series from Trigger Studio, and it follows guilds who raid dungeons in hopes of finding the Golden Kingdom treasure. The first season of The Seven Deadly Sins: Four Knights of the Apocalypse will debut on January 31st, and it is set to follow a group of knights who are prophesized to destroy the world. Two of these knights are Lancelot and Tristan - the sons of Ban and Meliodas from the original Seven Deadly Sins series. Maboroshi is an anime movie produced by Mappa - the studio behind Attack on Titan. It follows young students who disrupt the balance of the world by meeting a mysterious girl. It premieres on January 15th.

Links to the anime's Netflix pages have been added to their Japanese titles.

Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead (2023)

A Great Addition To The Zombie Anime Genre

The first season of Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead ended in December, and every episode is currently available on Netflix. The series centers around Akira Tendo - a man in his early 20s who feels overworked and underpaid. One day Akira wakes up and discovers that Tokyo has been hit by a sudden zombie apocalypse.

The world as he knew it has collapsed, but Akira loves not going to work and does his best to enjoy his newfound freedom. He even makes a bucket list of 100 things to do before he becomes a zombie. Zom 100 has a dark concept and plenty of horror moments, but it is a vibrant series with good action and characters.

Uncle From Another World (2022)

A Wholesome Series With Clean Animation

Uncle from Another World is set in modern-day Japan, and it follows Takafumi Takaoka - who goes to the hospital to pick up his uncle. The uncle was hit by a truck and spent the last 17 years in a coma. However, according to him, he was actually in another world where he learned how to use magic.

Takafumi agrees to let his uncle move in with him, and in doing so, he reconnects with his childhood friend, Sumika. The two friends help the uncle to adjust to modern society, and they get to watch his memories from the other world. Uncle from Another World is a fun Isekai anime with wholesome moments, and the animation is clean.

Blood Of Zeus (2020)

A Re-Imagining Of Ancient Greek Mythology

There are a number of anime that take inspiration from Greek mythology, and Blood of Zeus introduces a never-before-seen demigod. When the Gods defeated the last Titan, its blood gave birth to the giants, who rivaled the Gods in power. They were ultimately defeated and their souls were trapped in a cauldron.

The eight-episode series revolves around Heron, the son of Zeus, who spent most of his life believing he was human. Unfortunately, he ends up having to fight demons, and he is forced to save Olympus and Earth from the Giants and Hera's wrath. The series was produced by Powerhouse Animation Studios - the same studio behind Castlevania, which explains the bloody and well-animated action sequences.

Vinland Saga (2019)

An Amazing Historic Anime With Amazing Characters & Writing

Vinland Saga is animated by Wit Studio, the studio that animated the first three seasons of Attack on Titan. The story centers around Thorfinn, the son of a former Viking commander who wishes to see the paradise known as Vinland. One day, a Viking comes to their home and enlists Thorfinn's father, but the Viking's actual goal is to have his father killed.

Thorfinn sneaks onto his father's ship and watches his father die at the hands of Askeladd. He vows to avenge his father, and he wishes to do so by defeating Askeladd in a duel. The series has a good amount of action and bloodshed, and the animation is impressive. There is a good amount of politics in the series, and it shows how revenge can turn a sweet young boy into a rabid killing machine. The entire second season is now available on Netflix, and it features incredible character development for Thorfinn, who is now trying to live a normal life free of revenge.

B: The Beginning

A Fun Psychological Series With An Interesting Main Character

The first season of B: The Beginning premiered on Netflix in 201. It was created by Production IG, the same studio behind other supernatural series like Blood +, Noblesse, and Guilty Crown. The series takes place in the nation of Cremona, which is dealing with a very high crime rate despite being part of a technologically advanced world.

There is a vigilante serial killer on the loose, and a renowned investigator searches for him. The criminal organization that secretly runs Cremona also searches for him so that they can understand his powers. Koku is the main protagonist, and he is a demihuman who can morph parts of his body into wings and blades.

One-Punch Man

A Funny Action Series That Features The Strongest Anime Hero Alive

Anime fans have met plenty of strong protagonists over the years, but Saitama truly stands out. He is the main character of One-Punch Man and lives on a version of Earth with four moons and a supercontinent. Villains and monsters terrorize the world, and unlike other superheroes, Saitama performs heroic deeds as a hobby.

He has trained himself to the point that he can defeat almost anyone with a single punch, and he has dispatched a number of strong villains. The action scenes are at times over-the-top, but they are fun to watch, and Saitama's boredom and reluctance provide a great deal of comedy.

BASTARD‼ -Heavy Metal, Dark Fantasy-

A Great Mix Of Action, Comedy & Lewd Antics

Anyone who enjoys heavy metal music and Dungeons & Dragons will find BASTARD‼ entertaining, but it should be noted that the series includes scenes that are intended for older audiences. A powerful demon appeared centuries ago and caused a cataclysm that wiped out most of humanity, plunging the Earth into a new dark age.

The demon was ultimately defeated and sealed away, but an evil army wishes to awaken it once again. In order to combat this army, a priest tasks his daughter with breaking a seal to summon Dark Schneider, the dark wizard who originally founded the evil army for world domination. Dark Schneider loves the priest's daughter, and their relationship is amusing, to say the least. There are lewd moments, but there is plenty of action and comedy as well.

Beastars (2019)

A Fun Story That Deals With Cultural Divides

Beastars' first season debuted in February 2019, and it was adapted by Orange, a studio that specializes in 3DCG animation. It is set in a world filled with anthropomorphic animals, and it mainly focuses on a tall gray wolf named, Legoshi. He attends Cherryton Academy, and he stays in a dorm with other carnivores.

Things turn upside down when an alpaca named Tem is killed and eaten in the middle of the night. This obviously causes issues between the carnivores and herbivores. Legoshi is part of the drama club, and he takes it upon himself to solve Tem's death. He ends up meeting a rabbit named Haru along the way, and he develops feelings for her.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

Great Characters, Worldbuilding & Animation

It is true that Cyberpunk 2077 had a rocky launch, but it is now a well-made game set in a fun new world. Fans of the series returned to that world in September of 2022 with the premiere of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. The first season received a great deal of praise for its characters, animation, and worldbuilding.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners comes from Studio Trigger, which is responsible for series like Kill la Kill and Darling in the Franxx. It follows David Martinez, a young street kid who is just trying to live in a city obsessed with tech and body modifications. In doing so, he decides to become an outlaw mercenary. There won't be a second season because it was meant to be a standalone story.

SPRIGGAN (2022)

An Interesting Sci-Fi Series With Great Action

SPRIGGAN was released in June, and although it only has six episodes, it has done a great job of bringing Hiroshi Takashige's world to life with stellar animation. A long time ago, an ancient yet technologically advanced civilization ruled the world until they destroyed themselves.

They left messages for later generations on a series of indestructible plates, and they left powerful relics behind as well. Armies and private military forces are looking to acquire these relics for their own needs. The ARCAM Corporation is trying to stop these groups from destroying each other. The story focuses on Yu Ominae, a Spriggan, otherwise known as an ARCAM elite special agent.

Kakegurui (2017)

A Well Written Series That Delves Into The World Of Gambling

Kakegurui debuted on Netflix in 2017, and it focuses on an interesting high school girl named, Yumeko Jabami. She may not be a femme fatale, but Yumeko does have a trait that sets her apart from most female anime characters: she is a compulsive gambler.

The anime kicks off with Yumeko transferring to Hyakkaou Private Academy, a school with an elaborate gambling system. All the other students gamble to improve their social and economic status, and the losers become servants to the rest of the student body. Yumeko gambles for fun, and she doesn't worry about logic. Her keen observation skills allow her to identify gambling scams.

Death Note (2006)

One Of The Best Psychological & Supernatural Anime

There are multiple live-action adaptations of Death Note, but most fans consider the 37-episode anime to be the best adaptation of the story. It also happens to be one of the best anime on Netflix thanks to its unique premise. Light Yagami starts off as an ordinary high school student, but when he discovers a Death Note on the ground, his entire life changes.

When a person's name is written in the notebook, they will either die of a heart attack or from a specific cause which is also written down. Light uses this ability to kill criminals, and he does this to create a world without crime. These murders draw the attention of a world-renowned detective, and what follows is a spectacular game of cat and mouse.

Dota: Dragon's Blood (2021)

An Epic Tale Based On A Massively Successful Video Game

Dota 2 is one of the best free strategy games available on Steam, but Valve wanted to bring the franchise to a new platform, which is how Netflix's Dota: Dragon's Blood came to be. The story mainly focuses on Davion, a Dragon Knight who merges with Slyrak-one of the eight great Eldwurm dragons.

The show features plenty of action, and the visuals of certain battles are incredible because of the magic involved. Davion and Slyrak may be enemies, but they join forces to try and stop Terrorblade, a demon who wishes to remake the universe. Dota also follows a set of side characters who wish to save their respective people from war and destruction. Book 3 was set in an alternate timeline and included an epic battle between Terrorblade and the heroes.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (2012)

Focuses On A Family That Deals With Supernatural Threats

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure has a fairly unique art style that may not be appealing to everyone, but it is definitely a series that deserves a watch as it is one of the best anime on Netflix. The show does not center around one specific character, instead, it follows several members of the Joestar family. Their names can usually be abbreviated to "JoJo."

This universe mirrors the viewer's own, except for the fact that it is home to several supernatural beings and abilities. There have been eight JoJos in total, and each of them has led very different lives until the need to combat supernatural beings arises. So far, the anime has covered the first five parts, all of which are available on Netflix. More excitingly, The entire STONE OCEAN Arc, which features the first female JoJo is also available.

The Seven Deadly Sins (2014)

A Fun Action Series With Good Characters & Dark Themes

The Seven Deadly Sins are a group of Holy Knights who serve the Kingdom of Liones, and the anime's first season sees the majority of the group reassemble after being framed for an attempted coup a decade earlier. The series features gods, demons, angels, giants, and fairies.

The series spans 100 episodes, and it features multiple battles between very powerful characters. The fight scenes are entertaining, and there is a war near the end of the series that offers several surprises. Aside from the action, the series has a fair bit of comedy, and it doesn't shy away from darker themes either, which is good seeing as the series is essentially a love story.

Yasuke (2021)

A Thrilling Samurai Tale In Feudal Japan

Many anime take place in alternate realities, and Yasuke takes place in a version of 16th-century feudal Japan where advanced technology and magic exist. Yasuke is the main character, and he eventually becomes a warrior in Lord Oda Nobunaga's service after coming to Japan with Jesuit missionaries.

When Nobunaga and his forces are defeated by the demonic warlord, Yami no Daimyō, Yasuke decides to put his past behind him to become a simple boatman. Fate has other things in store for Yasuke though, as he ends up having to protect a singer and her magical daughter from the warlord's mercenaries.

Fate/Apocrypha (2017)

A Good Story With Battles That Feature Some Of History's Strongest Heroes

The Fate series revolves around various Holy Grail Wars. Each war features powerful mages who summon legendary heroes from history. These servants fight and kill each other until only one hero and master remains. The winners get their wishes granted by the Grail. Fate/Apocrypha is unique because it pits two warring mage factions against each other, and both sides get to summon seven heroic servants.

The mages can all use some level of magic, and every heroic spirit possesses magic and enchanted weapons of their own. Fate/Apocrypha features some of the strongest characters in the franchise, including Vlad the Impaler, Achilles, Atalanta, Frankenstien's Monster, Karna, and Mordred. The animation is superb, and several of the battles clearly had high production costs. The characters all benefit from being well-written too.

Record Of Ragnarok (2021)

A Tournament Between The Gods & Humanity

The anime world is filled with great underdogs, and in Record of Ragnarok, the underdog is the entire human race. This Netflix original series centers around a tournament to determine the fate of humanity, and it pits gods from various mythologies against human fighters from different time periods.

The gods possess immense physical strength, speed, reflexes, and durability, and they can use special abilities as well, which is why humans are allowed to use special weapons made from valkyries to even things out. The second season kicked off with Jack the Ripper fighting Hercules and Shiva then battling a renowned sumo wrestler, Buddha decided to fight for humanity, and he had an epic battle with Zerofuku - the God of Misfortune, and Hajun - the Demon Lord of the Sixth Heaven.

Shaman King (2021)

A Great Remake With Decent Characters & Action

The original Shaman King series became a popular kid's show in North America, but it didn't really follow the manga, which is where the 2021 reboot comes in. The series focuses on Yoh, a young shaman who is attempting to win a tournament that will determine the next Shaman King.

The King will be able to contact the Great Spirit, and doing this will allow them to reshape the world in their image. The main villain is Yoh's twin brother, who wishes to wipe out all of humanity in order to create a world for shamans. The story is well planned out, and the fight scenes are pretty decent, especially since every shaman fights with a spirit of their own. Every episode of the revived series is now on Netflix.

Baki (2018) + Baki Hanma (2021)

Features Over-The-Top Characters & Martial Arts

Baki the Grappler began its manga run in 1991, and in 2018 Netflix released an anime that covers the second half of the series. The story focuses on Baki Hanma, a young fighter who trains to become a powerful warrior like his father.

The series focuses on five inmates who break out of prison, and they all head to Japan to fight Baki in a series of no-rules hand-to-hand brawls. The animation is spectacular, and the action sequences are intense, especially since the fighters are capable of performing unnatural physical feats. The final season ended this past August, and it was just as over-the-top as the previous seasons.

Sword Art Online (2012)

A Character-Driven Series Set In Several VR Game Worlds

Of all the Isekai anime set in a game, Sword Art Online is one of the best. The first season deals with 10,000 players getting trapped inside a VR game, and if they die inside it, they die in real life too. Kirito is the main character, and he falls in love with another player named Asuna, whom he rescues in the second half of the season.

The second season deals with the remnants of a murderous group from the first game, and Asuna later meets a friend with a heartbreaking real-life disease. The third season has Kirito placed into a coma after an attack, and his consciousness is saved when it is placed into a new VR environment. All four seasons of Sword Art Online are now available on Netflix.

Violet Evergarden (2018)

A Character-Driven & Thought-Provoking Anime

Violet Evergarden is a 13-episode series, and it has since spawned two anime films. It focuses on an Auto Memory Doll named Violet who works as a ghostwriter for people who are physically unable to write or express themselves.

Prior to being a doll, Violet was an abandoned child who became a skilled soldier who fought in a large-scale war. Over the course of the series, Violet tries to reintegrate back into society, but viewers get to see just how hard such a task is for someone dealing with survivor's guilt.

Hunter X Hunter (2011)

An Entertaining Shonen Series With One Of Anime's Best Power Systems

Many consider Hunter x Hunter to be one of the best shonen anime of all time, and it certainly deserves to be on that list. The series follows a young Hunter named, Gon Freecss, who meets a lot of friends and villains while searching for his father, Ging. His best friend Killua was raised to be an assassin, and his friend Kurapika is out to destroy the criminal group that wiped out his clan.

The series has a lot of light-hearted moments, but it does become violent and dark when it needs to be. Most of the characters fight with Nen, which is basically their life energy, and it happens to be one of anime's more complex yet balanced powers.

Castlevania: Nocturne (2023)

Stunning Animation, Well Written Characters & Superb Action

Castlevania: Nocturne is set during the French Revolution - roughly 300 years after the events of Netflix's first Castlevania series. It follows Richter Belmont - who possesses Trevor's fighting skills and Sypha's magical abilities. He wishes to kill the vampire who killed his mother, but he ends up fighting a Vampire with god-like powers instead.

The animation is different, but it is still very high-quality, and it is just as dark and action-packed as its predecessor. The supporting characters are fleshed out and likable, and fan-favorite Alucard makes a spectacular return. Castlevania: Nocturne is based on Castlevania: Rondo of Blood and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night - two of the best games in the Castlevania franchise.

Castlevania (2017)

Deep Characters & A Well Written Story With Plenty Of Violent Action

Castlevania is a Netflix original series, and it is by far one of the best video game TV shows around as well as one of the best anime on Netflix. Well, technically it's not an anime, but Castlevania does take quite a few cues from the industry. The series starts off with Dracula falling in love with a human woman, and when she is killed after being branded a witch, the legendary vampire decides to go to war with humanity.

Trevor Belmont takes up arms against Dracula, and he is joined by a female magician named Sypha and Dracula's own son, Alucard. The trio takes on various demons and creatures, and they go toe-to-toe with Dracula and all of his generals. The series is pretty violent and bloody, so fans of the Castlevania games will absolutely love it. The series has now ended, but Netflix plans on revisiting the universe with a spin-off series that will follow Trevor's descendants.

Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995)

An Iconic & Critically Acclaimed Sci-Fi Series

Neon Genesis Evangelion is set fifteen years after a global cataclysm, and a teenager by the name of Shinji Ikari is forced to fight colossal monsters known as Angels. He uses a special bio-machine called Evangelion, and he encounters other pilots as well. He forms bonds with them, and secrets are eventually revealed.

Neon Genesis Evangelion is a critically acclaimed series that deals with human behavior and the dark aspects of the human mind. It also takes a great deal of imagery from cosmology and older interpretations of the Jewish and Christian faiths. The fights are good, and the character work is excellent, but more importantly, it is one of the best thought-provoking anime of all time.

Demon Slayer (2019)

Stunning Visuals & Action Scenes

Demon Slayer offers stunning visuals and great characters, which is why it took the anime world by storm in 2019. The story focuses on Tanjiro Kamado, a teenage boy who joins the Demon Slayer Corps in order to find a cure for his sister's demon curse. The series shows just how strong the bond between siblings really is, and it has quite a few action scenes.

The demons are humans who gave up their humanity in exchange for power and long life, but the series does a fantastic job of making audiences care about these villains, who are all tragic in some way. Demon Slayer's animation and fight scenes took a major leap forward in season two, and they have continued to improve with each additional season. The Hashira and Upper Moon Demons prove just how strong they are, and Muzan gets to demonstrate how terrifying he is. All four seasons are available on Netflix.

Monster (2004)

Arguably The Best Mystery Anime Of All Time

Monster is a psychological thriller that is considered to be one of the best anime of the mid-2000s. For many, it is also one of the best mystery anime of all time. The acclaimed series is set in the modern day, and it follows Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a young brain surgeon who loses his social standing when he saves a young boy instead of the local mayor.

A decade later, one of his former patients turns out to be a serial killer, and he takes it upon himself to stop the killings. Johan Liebert proves to be one of the most manipulative and sadistic villains in anime, and the voice acting is stellar. Monster may be dark, but it is a beautiful and complex series with great characters and fantastic pacing.

What's Coming To Netflix In 2024?

A new year means new anime projects for Netflix, and one of the most anticipated series is Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance. The new Gundam series will be produced by Sunrise - the studio that has handled previous Gundam projects, and it will take place during the events of the original Mobile Suit Gundam anime from 1979. The series is unique because it will be made with Unreal Engine 5 from Epic Games. It is set to premiere in October.

A new Devil May Cry anime is scheduled to premiere in 2024. It will consist of eight episodes, and it will follow Dante - the main character of Capcom's iconic video game franchise. Netflix will also release Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft sometime in 2024. It will seemingly follow the Lara Croft from the 2013 reboot, and Hailey Atwell is poised to voice her.

2024 will see the return of a few Netflix series as well. The third and final season of Beastars is set to debut sometime this year, and Orange Studio has promised a captivating conclusion. After more than three years, the highly anticipated second season of Blood Of Zeus will premiere on May 15th. The next chapter of Ultraman Rising will arrive on June 14th.

MORE: The Best Anime Movies On Netflix (January 2024)