The Best Anime on Netflix You Can Watch Right Now
There's so much to watch. If you're looking for more niche stuff, Netflix also has Beastars and Record of Ragnarok to check out. Get stuck in!
The best anime shows on Netflix
Shogakukan Shueisha Productions/MAPPA/Ranma 1/2 Production Committee
Ranma 1/2 (2024)
Prefer comedy? This beloved manga was adapted by MAPPA studios for a new anime release that arrived last October. Ranma Saotome and his father were cursed when they fell into springs, with Ranma transforming into a girl whenever he touches cold water. The gifted martial artist is set up in an arranged marriage to Akane to keep the family dojo business going. But the school-age couple encounters all sorts of problems.
Hyuganatsu/Imagica Infos/The Apothecary Diaries Project
The Apothecary Diaries (2023- )
There are 24 episodes of The Apothecary Diaries available to stream on Netflix, which will bring you up to speed on the first two seasons of the show. Maomao's life is upended when she's sold to the imperial family, separating her from her father and the apothecary practices she grew up with.
Though she's not on board with the change, when members of the royal family get sick, her knowledge and skills help cure them. Her efforts get her noticed, and she's soon promoted, sending her on a path to investigate and heal medical issues. If you like mystery, drama and a little romance, this is the perfect binge.
Yukinobu Tatsu/Shueisha/Dandadan Production Committee
Dandadan (2024- )
Fan-favorite manga Dandadan (also spelled Dan da dan) can be streamed on Netflix, Crunchyroll and Hulu, so take your pick. Once Momo and Okarun become friends, they find common ground about their beliefs -- and disbeliefs -- about the unexplainable. In this case, it's ghosts and extraterrestrials. The pair learn to tap into their own super-abilities to fight supernatural threats.
Netflix
Devil May Cry (2025- )
Love the video game? Netflix brought its anime adaptation of Devil May Cry to screen, giving life to mercenary demon hunter Dante. Armed with superhuman strength, a smart mouth and cutthroat gun skills, he's got to fight a vengeful villain named the White Rabbit while ducking a government organization called DARKCOM. Season 1 is up now, and the series has recently been renewed for season 2.
Viz Media
Demon Slayer (2019-)
Shonen's standout hit, Demon Slayer, breaks with many of the well-worn cliches in action anime. The story follows Tanjiro Kamado, who joins the ranks of the demon slayers, following the murder of his family by a demon. Only Nezuko Kamado, Tanjiro's younger sister, survived the onslaught — but she was turned into a demon. Tanjiro travels Taisho-era Japan with Nezuko in search of a cure and joins the Demon Slayer Corps, seeking to confront the original demon, Muzan Kibutsuji, who killed his family.
The animation and action are breathtaking, the characters are compelling and vibrant, the music is stellar and the dialogue is memorable. We couldn't recommend this anime more. All seasons through the Hashira Training arc are streaming on Netflix now, along with seven episodes covering the events of the Mugen Train film that was released in theaters.
Viz Media
Naruto (2002-2007)
"Believe it" (as Naruto Uzumaki would say), you can't have a best anime list without this show. This classic, well-loved anime follows Naruto, a young ninja from the Hidden Leaf Village who dreams of becoming the leader of the village. Beware: Naruto is a very long anime. So long, in fact, that once you get through all nine seasons on Netflix (220 episodes total), which covers Naruto's preteen years, you'll still have another 500 episodes to cover in Naruto: Shippuden, which picks up two and a half years after the show's original run. You'll have to look elsewhere for the follow-up series, though, as Shippuden isn't currently streaming on Netflix. But Netflix does carry plenty of the Naruto movies, if you're after more adventures from the Hidden Leaf ninjas. Just make sure to skip the filler episodes, unless you're really desperate for something to watch.
Netflix The Summer Hikaru Died (2025- )
Mokumokuren's debut manga, The Summer Hikaru Died, has been adapted for the small screen, bringing its haunting and sometimes tragic storytelling to Netflix in 2025. Yoshiki and Hikaru are best friends who grew up together in a small town. Yoshiki's home life isn't the most peaceful, and he has inner struggles as a teen, which are made more complicated when his friend disappears and mysteriously comes back "different."
Horror, suspense and fantasy blend in this story about grief, friendship and... monsters. See at Netflix
Netflix Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (2022)
Stylish and dynamic, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners will pull you in with its characters, vibrant animation, high-octane action and engaging story. The Netflix original is a collaboration between the streamer, CD Projekt Red and Japanese animation house, Trigger.
A dystopian tale pitting rival corporations -- and rival gangs -- against each other while people are trying to survive their corruption, the series centers on teen David Martinez, a brilliant but impoverished kid who gets sucked into the criminal underworld. There's drama, high stakes and violence. If you haven't watched it yet, don't rely on your feelings about the Cyberpunk 2077 video game to define the experience for you. Welcome to Night City, and follow David's path as an edgerunner. See at Netflix
Sunrise
Cowboy Bebop (1998-1999)
Another anime classic, Cowboy Bebop was originally broadcast in 1998 and, well, it never lost its appeal. The show brilliantly melded a variety of genres – primarily science fiction and Western (think space cowboys) – to create something completely novel and compelling. Set in 2071, the series is about a group of traveling bounty hunters aboard their ship, Bebop. Netflix recently made a live-action version of the show, though it didn't receive the same critical acclaim as the anime.
Viz Media
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure (2012-)
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure follows generations of the Joestar family, from the 19th century to modern times, through decades of, you guessed it, bizarre adventures. Each member of the family carries the same name – Jojo – and each is imbued with great superhuman powers. The battles are as psychic and supernatural as the narrative is adventurous. Good thing all five seasons are streaming on Netflix.
VIZ Media
Hunter x Hunter (2011-2014)
Hunter x Hunter remains an unfinished story, having been abruptly paused after season 6. The manga's author, Yoshihiro Togashi, stopped writing, leaving Hunter x Hunter on hiatus. New chapters, Togashi recently announced, are incoming. This anime starts with protagonist Gon Freecss, who leaves home in search of his father, but the show quickly branches out of that simple narrative. The series is beloved for its world-building and emotional investment across its diverse cast of characters.
Viz Media
Death Note (2006)
A gripping game of cat and mouse for the ages, Death Note follows Light Yagami, a genius high schooler who finds a mysterious notebook (the titular "Death Note") that gives its owner the ability to kill anyone whose name is written within it. Hellbent on creating a new world free of crime, Light carries out a massacre, killing off criminals and those Light deems morally unworthy. But the world's greatest detective is on the case. Can Light get away with it?
Yen Press
Kakegurui (2017-2019)
You'll be hooked after the first few episodes of this popular anime, trust us. This show isn't your typical action anime – but that doesn't make it less enthralling. In fact, the opposite is true. Kakegurui is set in an academy where the measure of a student is based on their gambling prowess, whether that's at the roulette table or playing blackjack. It's part psychological thriller, part drama, and the stakes get higher as the show progresses.
Netflix
Castlevania (2017-2021)
A Netflix original inspired by the classic video games of the same name, Castlevania follows the last member of the disgraced Belmont family, Trevor Belmont. This dark medieval fantasy is full of gore, gothic horror and grotesque monsters. Trevor -- and friends made along the way -- venture out to defeat none other than Dracula himself, whose anger and grief over the unjust death of his love overruns Eastern Europe in the 1400s. You don't want to miss this one.
Viz Media
Record of Ragnarok (2021-)
Ever wanted to see a brawl between a Norse god and an ancient Chinese warrior? Or watch a Greek god duke it out with one of the best swordsmen in Japan's history? Me neither, but now I'm sure glad I have.
Record of Ragnarok's premise is simple: Through 13 one-on-one battles to the death, humanity must prove itself worthy to avoid annihilation by the gods. The first to seven victories wins. This anime is imaginative, entertaining and chock-full of human history, so you'll learn some new stuff along the way. It's also cool to see legends from all corners of the globe coinciding in one mythos. There are two seasons, totaling 22 episodes, streaming on Netflix now, making this a perfect anime to binge on your next couch session.
Viz Media
One Piece (1999-)
If you thought Naruto was long, you haven't seen anything yet. One Piece is the longest-running anime to date, spanning more than 1,000 episodes across 23 years of broadcasting. The show follows Monkey D. Luffy and his crew, the Straw Hat Pirates. They're in search of the ultimate treasure known as One Piece. Netflix recently expanded its four-season collection of One Piece to 13 seasons, giving you plenty to sink your teeth into. If you ever hope to catch up, best get to it!
Netflix
Devilman Crybaby (2018)
In a world where demons resurface, Akira Fudo unites with a demon, at the behest of his friend, to become a devilman, in order to wage a brutal war against the demons that now plague the earth.
Devilman Crybaby is based on the manga written by Go Nagai, which was originally adapted as an anime back in the '70s. This newer series moves the time setting from the 1970s to modern times and goes hardcore on mature themes and violent sequences. It's rated TV-MA, so this isn't one for the children.
Devilman Crybaby debuted to great acclaim in 2018, with ten episodes total in the limited series.
Netflix
Beastars (2019-)
Beastars is set in a world of anthropomorphic animals. These characters have jobs and go to school, reminiscent of Disney's Zootopia. But while Beastars and Zootopia both tackle similar themes – predator versus prey, prejudice and discrimination versus compassion and inclusivity – Beastars is definitely the emotionally heavier show. In fact, because of some of the sexual themes and violence in the show, it's best to steer children away from this one. If you're into melodramas that are heavy-handed on philosophizing, this may be the best show for you yet.
Nickelodeon
Honorable mention: Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)
OK, Avatar: The Last Airbender isn't technically anime, but it draws so heavily from the art form, and is so perfect, that it would be madness not to mention it here. I missed out on this show when it was still airing on Nickelodeon, and when it resurfaced on Netflix, I dismissed it as solely nostalgic hype. Boy, was I wrong. This show handles complex themes of war propaganda, genocide, duty and honor, all while remaining a lighthearted and upbeat epic tale. Oh, and it also has one of the best character redemption arcs in TV history, period.
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