Best Anime Series on Netflix that You Should Stream Right Now

From live-action adaptations to ventures inspired by manga, Netflix is leaving no stone unturned to become the one-stop-shop for the best anime series of all time. The streamer covers all the top genres like action, romance, fantasy and horror, providing a colourful variety for anime aficionados and beginners alike.

The streaming giant’s anime library is dynamic with many anime series getting added each month. There are also many evergreen series to choose from. It’s easy to experience decision fatigue.

To help you with it, we have curated a list of 11 best anime series — including popular titles like Bleach, Kotaro Lives Alone, and Pluto — that you can binge-watch on Netflix.

From light-hearted romance to heart-thumping action, this list covers all the genres across the board. The anime series listed below are best known for their impeccable narration, strong characters, and visually stunning scenes.

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11 best anime series on Netflix, arranged according to IMDb ratings

1. Cowboy Bebop (1998)

IMDb rating: 8.9
Inspired by manga: No
Japanese title: Kaubōi Bibappu
Voice cast: Kôichi Yamadera, Unshô Ishizuka and Megumi Hayashibara
Directed by: Shinichirō Watanabe

Any anime enthusiast would agree that Cowboy Bebop is a legendary and iconic anime series. It is set in the futuristic, western universe where “Cowboys” chase criminals across the solar system. Sounds fun, doesn’t it?

It is one of the best sci-fi anime series to watch on Netflix. It incorporates thrilling chasing scenes and deep character backstories that add an emotional depth to it. The moody jazz soundtracks accompanying you throughout the scenes are the highlight of the series.

Cowboy Bebop will take you on an other-worldly experience to make you realise that anime is more than just stories about ninjas and magic girls. The series’ timeless style and genre-defying narration will keep you hooked.

2. Haikyu!! (2014)

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IMDb rating: 8.7
Inspired by manga: Yes
Voice cast: Ayumu Murase, Kaito Ishikawa and Yu Hayashi
Directed by: Susumu Mitsunaka and Masako Satō

Love watching Sports and anime? Haikyu!! is a unique blend of both categories and centres around volleyball. The high-energy series follows the Shoyo Hinata who wishes to become the greatest volleyball player.

However, he lacks the prerequisite of being a tall guy. Despite the challenges, Hinata proves everyone wrong with his grit, perseverance and raw talent. The series explores the intense training of high school volleyball players. The intense matches, rivalries and Hinata’s personal journey make the series engaging.

3. Kotaro Lives Alone (2022)

IMDb rating: 8.4
Inspired by manga: Yes
Japanese title: Kotarou wa Hitorigurashi
Voice cast: Rie Kugimiya, Cherami Leigh and Kayleigh McKee
Directed by: Tomoe Makino

Ever wondered how a toddler can survive living alone? Kotaro Lives Alone, just like the title suggests, centres around a four-year-old Kotaro moving into an apartment alone. Don’t be fooled by the colourful packaging that promises a slice-of-life anime series.

The series tackles many serious themes like domestic violence, child neglect and the impact of broken families on kids. However, it has a gentle approach towards the heavy subjects. Although there are many tear-jerking moments, the series balances it out with humour.

Some of the characters in the series like the struggling manga artist, the hostess and a lawyer will become your favourites instantly.

The series was criticised for its unusual premise. The quality of animation might not be everyone’s cup of tea, however, the pacing and unique storytelling will keep you engaged.

4. Violet Evergarden (2018)

IMDb rating: 8.4
Inspired by manga: Yes
Japanese title: Vaioretto Evāgāden
Voice cast: Yui Ishikawa, Erika Harlacher and Raissa Bueno
Directed by: Taichi Ishidate and Haruka Fujita

The series centres around a former child soldier named Violet who now works as an Auto Momery Doll. As a ghostwriter, she helps others express their feelings through letters whilst struggling with her own emotions. The series beautifully explores the poignant blend of post-war effects and grief.

It also reminds us of the immense power words hold to either heal or destroy somebody. The rich European-inspired setting brought to life by stunning animation will keep you hooked on the series. Violet Evergarden is one of the most critically acclaimed anime series. It earned praise for its artistic storytelling, emotional depth and stunning visuals.

5. Chainsaw Man (2022)

 

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IMDb rating: 8.4
Inspired by manga: Yes
Japanese title: Chensō Man
Voice cast: Kikunosuke Toya, Ryan Colt Levy and Tomori Kusunoki
Directed by: Ryū Nakayama

Chainsaw Man is filled with unpredictable storylines and intense battles that will have you biting your nails. It follows a young man named Denji with a debt-ridden life working as a devil hunter. He is accompanied by his Pet devil Pochita.

They both emerge to become Chainsaw Man which gives Denji the ability to transform his body parts into chainsaws. The series offers a mix of humour and horror as Denji navigates through the dangerous world with his other mates. Interestingly, he has a unique goal and wants to live a stress-free life.

6. Bleach (2004)

IMDb rating: 8.2
Inspired by manga: Yes
Japanese title: Burīchi
Voice cast: Masakazu Morita, Fumiko Orikasa, Yuki Matsuoka and Noriaki Sugiyama
Director: Noriyuki Abe

Ichigo Kurosaki is a normal teenager except for his eerie ability to see ghosts. This lands him with the title of a Soul Reaper — a supernatural warrior tasked with protecting the world from evil spirits called Hollows. Along with his giant sword and quirky friends, Ichigo needs to save the world.

Bleach is one of the most famous anime series in the world. It is counted among the “Big Three” anime which includes Naruto (2002) and One Piece (1999) (Both are available on Netflix). Bleach incorporates stunning visuals of Samurai-inspired sword fights and employs compelling villains to engage the audience.

It successfully explores the themes of duty, identity and protecting the significant things in life. It is a classic blend of action and humour with a side of soul that will teach you meaningful lessons about life.

7. Pluto (2023)

IMDb rating: 8.1
Inspired by manga: Yes
Voice cast: Shinshû Fuji, Yôko Hikasa and Rachel Slotky
Directed by: Toshio Kawaguchi, Yasutomo Okamoto, Fumihiro Yoshimura and more

Pluto is a reinterpretation of the popular manga series, Astro Boy written and illustrated by Osamu Tezuka. The eight-episode series is set in a futuristic world where robots co-exist with humans. It follows the story of Gesicht who goes on a quest to solve Mysterious murders of robots.

The series explores heavy themes like violence, man vs. machine, revenge and discrimination. The narration is elevated through dynamic characters and emotional depth that makes it stand out among other sci-fi thrillers. It is thought-provoking and one of the best anime series to binge-watch on Netflix if you do not wish to commit to a series with multiple seasons.

8. Delicious in Dungeon (2024)

IMDb rating: 8
Inspired by manga: Yes
Japanese title: Dungeon Meshi
Voice cast: Kentarô Kumagai, Sayaka Senbongi and Asuna Tomari
Written by: Kimiko Ueno

The fun anime series follows Laios whose sister, Falin, gets eaten by a dragon. Along with his party, Laios embarks on a quest to explore the treacherous dungeon to rescue his sister. Funnily, they not only slay the monsters but also eat them as they run out of food.

The series is a delightful, light-hearted mix of adventure and humour with a yummy serving of monster meals. It is perfect for anime lovers who love to watch visuals of food being cooked and prepared. Except this time, they can also enjoy a quick action trope involving dragons. Skipping Delicious In Dungeon would be like saying no to dessert at a five-course meal.

9. Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World (2016)

IMDb rating: 8
Inspired by manga: Yes
Japanese title: Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu
Voice cast: Yûsuke Kobayashi, Sean Chiplock and Kayli Mills
Directed by: Masaharu Watanabe

Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World centres around Subaru Natsuki who can return from death but has to die first to use the ability. Although this may sound obvious, the twist is that Subaru resets to an earlier point and is forced to relive his failures.

The series explores intense psychological themes with classic fantasy tropes. It also has innovative action scenes to depict painful deaths and the harrowing process of the reset. One of the biggest highlights of the series is that it does not shy away from exploring the harsh realities of death and failure.

It is one of the best anime series on Netflix for people who fancy a mind-bending story with dark adventures.

10. My Happy Marriage (2023)

IMDb rating: 7.7
Inspired by manga: Yes
Japanese title: Watashi no Shiawase na Kekkon
Voice cast: Reina Ueda, Kaito Ishikawa and Damien C. Haas
Directed by: Takehiro Kubota

Did you love the Cinderella story but are also an avid fan of fantasy in anime? My Happy Marriage will satisfy your unique taste buds by offering a blend of drama and supernatural elements.

It follows the story of Miyo Saimori who gets trapped in a seemingly miserable arranged marriage with Kiyoka Kudo. Miyo comes from an abusive family while Kudo has the horrific reputation of being cold. However, they both complement each other and start building a Healthy bond together overcoming their flaws.

Apart from the emotionally driven plot, the series also offers stunning visuals of stylish action scenes. The character developments in the series will keep you engaged. It was also adapted into a 2023 film directed by Ayuko Tsukahara, which is called My Blissful Marriage.

11. Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead (2023)

IMDb rating: 7.4
Inspired by manga: Yes
Japanese title: Zon 100 ~Zonbi ni Naru Made ni Shitai 100 no Koto
Voice cast: Shuichiro Umeda, Zeno Robinson and Bill Millsap
Directed by: Yûsuke Ishida

Imagine living such a miserable life that you wish a zombie apocalypse upon the world so you don’t have to go to work tomorrow.

Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead is a unique anime series based on a zombie apocalypse. It follows the story of a burned-out corporate worker, Akira Tendo, who finds himself stuck in a world filled with zombies. However, he has never felt more alive. So he decided to make a bucket list of 100 things he wanted to do before turning into a flesh-eating monster.

Zom 100 offers a unique premise that will definitely resonate with the millennials stuck at their desk job. It also has an undertone of meaningful social commentary explored beautifully with a vibrant animation style. It is oddly heartwarming but at the same time, horrific.

(Hero and feature image credit: Kotaro Lives Alone and Chainsaw Man/IMDb)

This story first appeared on Augustman Hong Kong