There's never been a better time to be a fan of anime, as over the last decade, the gorgeous and trailblazing Japanese animation scene has become a global phenomenon, with even casual viewers now able to access the best of what Japan has to offer. No longer do we have to order four episodes of Sailor Moon on VHS from the back of a catalog, or struggle to find simulcasts for our newest favorite series.
Now, thanks to the ever-growing fandom and their passionate love of anime, pretty much every streamer is making sure they have an impressive array of offerings. Netflix – which has become one of the go-to spaces for brilliant new anime like Sakamoto Days, classic series like One Piece, and everything in between – has ensured that it remains part of the anime-centric conversation. That's why each month I'm here to recommend the best of what Netflix has to offer when it comes to the genre. From gangster slices of life to alien invasions, and campaign fantasies to viking sagas, there's a reason that Netflix is known as one of the best streaming services for anime lovers.
Note: This list applies to U.S. Netflix subscribers. Some titles may not currently be available on international platforms (yet). This list will also be periodically amended to remove series no longer available on Netflix, as well as add new anime shows available for streaming on the service.
Dan Da Dan Season 2
Yukinobu Tatsu's smash hit manga became one of the biggest anime releases of the year when it hit screens in 2024. The stunningly animated show has one of the most impressive and catchy openings we've seen in a while, and never takes its foot off the pedal when it comes to wild paranormal action. Momo believes in ghosts but not aliens, and Ken believes in aliens but not ghosts. When the two classmates' worlds collide, they're quickly swept up in a wild adventure that pits them against the creatures they've spent their lives obsessing over. The second season features a wild new foe and a controversial new theme tune, so catch up now!
Sakamoto Days
This hilarious slice-of-life story about a deadly assassin who falls in love and retires to run a convenience store is a charming watch that will leave you desperate for more. Mixing the domestic comedy of The Way of the Househusband with the action of One-Punch Man makes this an anime perfect for the kind of eclectic audiences who watch all their anime on Netflix. Silly, entertaining, and heartwarming, Sakamoto Days stands out among other crime anime, channeling contemporary series like Spy x Family far more than your serious classics like Golgo 13. Grab your fam and start your new favorite anime, and maybe even check out the surprisingly good American dub.
Demon Slayer
After Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle made $70 million in its opening weekend, the anime is once again on the lips of animation appreciators across the country. Luckily, Netflix has the entire series available to stream — minus the recent cinematic release — for those of you who have yet to dive into one of the biggest smash hits of the last decade. Based on the manga by Koyoharu Gotouge, the super popular shonen series follows Tanjiro Kamado, the only survivor of a demon massacre who decides to avenge his family and try to save his sister — who has been turned into a demon — by aligning himself with the powerful Demon Slayer Corps to do just what their name promises.
The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity
The highly-anticipated adaptation of the manga by Saka Mikami, The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity is the perfect romance to curl up with this Fall. When a young student from an elite girls' school named Kaoruko falls for a boy named Rintaro from her neighboring institute for badly behaved ruffians, it seems like it could be a match made in Heaven, if only they weren't students at rival schools that can't stand each other! If you've yet to venture into the romantic world of shojo anime, this is a great place to start, as this light and airy starcrossed romance is a wonderful entry point for the genre. It's currently releasing weekly.
Delicious in Dungeon
Delicious in Dungeon is as tasty as its title! Telling the story of a crew of dungeon explorers who can't afford to fund their next campaign, the story follows the adventurers as they decide to instead cook the monsters that they find on their ever more dangerous expedition. If you love Dungeons & Dragons or 'found family' stories, you're going to adore this series. Cute, cozy, and filled with brilliant and strange creatures and feasts, Studio Trigger's Delicious in Dungeon has become one of Netflix's most popular anime series. And, like some of our other series, Season 2 of Delicious in Dungeon will be hitting soon, so it's a great time to [dungeon] dive into this one.
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
One of the greatest anime sagas of all time is available to watch on Netflix, and honestly, whether you've seen it before or are completely new to the Joestars, it's a great time to revisit or discover the fan-fave series. Following those who hold the titular family name and have strange powers known as "Stands," this stylish and often outlandish series is an eclectic and wild ride through numerous timelines, supernatural adventures, and of course, fantastic outfits. With the newest season, Steel Ball Run, confirmed to be joining the streamer, there's never been a better time to join the wild world of JoJo.
Mashle
This cheeky take on the classic magic school trope is a total delight for both action and fantasy fans. Following the titular Mashle, a super-strong teen born without the magical powers that rule the society around him, as he embarks on an unexpected journey through the aforementioned academy for magical teens is a riot. Silly, self-aware, and extremely meta — if you ever loved a certain boy who lived, you'll find a lot of references here — this is one of the better new manga of the last decade, and its anime adaptation is no different. Now that Season 2 has arrived, you should add it to your watch list, and once that's done, you can catch up with the recently completed manga!
The Rose of Versailles
One of the most influential manga of the shojo genre, The Rose of Versailles has long been inspiring artists and romantics around the world; this long awaited Netflix and MAPPA movie adaptation looks more gorgeous than ever. If you’re new to this sweeping story, it centers on a young woman named Oscar François de Jarjayes, who is raised as a boy in order to follow in her father's footsteps as guard at the Royal Palace. This is a story of love, war, and revolution, and at less than two hours, the movie has to condense a lot of the story to fit in the major beats. That makes it a great jumping-on point for new viewers, and a fun, breezy watch that won't add months of TV to your watchlist.
Devil May Cry
This long-awaited adaptation of the smash hit Hideki Kamiya-created Capcom game is definitely worth the wait. The series follows a handsome and charming demon hunter named Dante (Johnny Yong Bosch) as he attempts to stop a mysterious villain dead set on opening the gates of Hell. “Our goal wasn’t just to pump out another animated show," showrunner and exec producer Adi Shankar told Netflix's Tudum website. "My goal is to make one of the best shows on the Netflix platform — period." With the series already renewed for a second season, it's the perfect time to dig into Netflix's latest big-budget dive into original anime.
Witch Watch
When the descendant of an ogre named Morihito befriends a young witch named Nico, both of their lives are changed forever. As a child, Nico’s magical powers are rough at best, but when she returns from the Witch's Holy Land as a talented teenage witch, Nico and Morihito suddenly find themselves living together. That's not all: Nico is aiming to make her friend magical familiar. This romantic comedy has gripped audiences around the world with its outrageous slapstick comedy and charming leading duo, who you end up rooting for through the madness and magic that surrounds them. Plus, there's a supernatural element which will engage those who enjoy diving into lore and mythology.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Reimagining the beloved manga — after the original adaptation changed numerous major plot points — for a new generation, this heart-wrenching series follows two brothers, Edward and Alphonse, whose alchemist father abandoned them long ago. His shadow looms heavily over the boys, especially after the loss of their mother, an event that sets them on a troubling and dangerous path that will change their lives forever. This is the kind of emotionally-forward adventure tale that will hook newcomers or die-hard anime fans alike. With a stunning soundtrack by Akira Senju, you can't go wrong with this 2009 family-centric fantasy classic that showcases the best of the shounen genre.
Vinland Saga
We voted the second season of this stunning Viking saga our best anime of 2023. This adaptation of Makoto Yukimura's fan-favorite manga pulls no punches in portraying the brutality of war and the Viking era. At its heart is Thorfinn, a man on a mission of vengeance after a tragic loss. What really makes this show stand out is how unafraid it is to change tone, shift the shape of the show, and explore the horrors of war from every side, leading to an intriguingly different Season 2. Mature, resonant, and often moving, this is the kind of series that could become a prestige TV lover's favorite anime. And if you're just here for the Viking drama, gore, and action, you'll be satisfied too.
The Apothecary Diaries
One of 2024's breakout series was this wonderful mystery, which takes the procedural crime of the week format and throws it back in time to Imperial China, where a young woman is swept up from the streets into the court intrigue of the palace. Luckily, thanks to her training as an apothecary, she's uniquely suited to surviving the dangerous corridors of power. With an enticing setup, a charming lead, and a gorgeously animated world to lose yourself in, this is a delightful surprise of an anime that will hook you instantly and keep your attention until the very last moment before the credits roll.
Thus Spoke Rohan Kishibe
If you're already caught up with the supremely popular adaptation of Hirohiko Araki's manga, then worry not, as you can also watch the creepy Rohan Kishibe spin-off mini-series, Thus Spoke Rohan Kishibe, on the streamer too. Essentially a horror-themed series inspired by the famed in-universe manga artist's supernatural adventures, this will work for you if you're a fan of The Conjuring or The X-Files and are looking for a fun and decidedly spooky anime series to sate that nee. And it's only four episodes long!
Pluto
Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki have long been one of the best collaborative forces in manga, and this adaptation of one of the story arcs from Pluto: Urasawa × Tezuka showcases why. Taking the sci-fi world of Astro Boy and melding it with a noir-hued murder mystery makes this a great jumping-on point for new viewers. The series follows a detective who must solve the killings of powerful robots. This release may have slipped under the radar when it hit in 2023, but it's still one of the best anime of the last few years, and at only eight episodes, it's an easy breezy watch compared to classic series like One Piece or Naruto, which are hundreds of episodes in already.
Rosie Knight is a contributing freelancer for IGN, covering everything from anime, comic books, kaiju, kids' movies, and horror flicks. She has over half a decade of experience in entertainment journalism, with bylines at Nerdist, Den of Geek, Polygon, and more.
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