With over 100 titles to choose from in a heterogeneous mix of subgenres including science fiction, fantasy, comedy of real life, mecha, action and more, the right anime for the right mood has never been more available and, at the same time, more difficult to find. We've put together a top list of the best anime to watch on Netflix right now. From classic series like Neon Gen Evangelion to Netflix originals like Devilman Crybaby.
We bring you the top of the best anime to watch on Netflix!
1. Beastars
Beastarstells the story of a wolf who wants to have intimate relationships with a rabbit, but worries he will devour it. This can be associated with a metaphor for puberty. Perhaps it is holding a magnifying glass up to sexual violence on campus. Or perhaps it's a coming-of-age story about a generation of young people disconnected from their parents by rapidly changing rules.
2. Devilman Crybaby
Based on the enormously influential manga byGo Nagaiand directed byMasaaki Yuasa,Devilman Crybabywas Netflix’s first original anime series and one of the most talked-about anime premieres of 2018. The series follows high school student Akira who, after meeting his childhood friend, Ryo, later learns of the existence of demons.
Convinced that the only way to push back against the demons and save humanity is to create a human-demon hybrid, the so-called devilman, Ryo volunteers to fuse with one of them. Known for its ruthless graphic action, ecstatic visual style, and emotionally gripping story, Devilman Crybaby is a phenomenal adaptation.
3. Violet Evergarden
The acclaimedKyoto Animationbrings to life the Netflix exclusive,Violet Evergarden, with the beautiful scenes you’d expect from the studio. The main character, who shares her name with the series, is a young woman previously used by the military as a killing machine during a war. After losing both of her arms and replacing them with metal prosthetics, she has to learn to reintegrate into society as an Auto-Memory Doll, which is essentially a trained ghostwriter for books and letters.
4. Neon Genesis Evangelion
The apocalyptic mecha drama from directorHideaki Anno,Neon Genesis Evangelion, is one of the undisputed titans of contemporary anime, commanding a passionate legion of fans since its premiere in 1995 and accumulating a reputation so reverential that it spawned a tetralogy of films.
Set 15 years after a global cataclysm, the original series centers on 14-year-old Shinji Ikari, who is recruited by his estranged father to pilot an enormous biological weapon known as Evangelion to combat a mysterious legion of creatures called Angels. Along with his fellow pilots Asuka Langley Soryu and Rei Ayanami, as well as his legal guardian/commander Misato Katsuragi, Shinji must grapple with the pains of growing up while defeating the Angels to save humanity.
5. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
The series centers on David Martinez, a sharp street kid growing up in the dystopian metropolis of Night City who, after losing his mother in a horrific accident and crossing paths with a beautiful and mysterious netrunner named Lucy, chooses to become a high-tech mercenary (or “Edgerunner”) to make a living and achieve his dream of becoming a “legend. WithHiroyuki Imaishiat the helm andYoh Yoshinarias animation director and character designer for the series,Cyberpunk: Edgerunnersquickly asserted itself not only as one of the most impressive video game anime adaptations in recent memory, but also as one of the most memorable creative endeavors fromStudio Triggerto date.
6. Great Pretender
Directed byHiro Kaburagiand produced byWit Studio, the Netflix original animeGreat Pretenderis a fun dramedy with equal parts style, intelligence and explosive action. Centered on the story of Makoto Edamura, a small-time Japanese con man who is taken under the wing of the handsome heist master Laurent Theirry, the series follows the intrepid band of thieves as they strut from one beautiful location to another in their campaign to swindle some of the most notorious criminals out of their ill-gotten gains.
7. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventureis pure spectacle. It's a series built around absurd confrontations where what's at stake isn't always clear and the rules might as well not exist, but it’s a joy to watch. Characters strut around in avant-garde, impractical outfits that adopt dramatic poses. Everyone has (seemingly arbitrary) names from classic rock musicians. It’s the kind of series that encourages you to keep watching, not with a compelling plot or great mystery, but just with the promise of seeing beautiful and strange men do things
8. The Orbital Children
Mitsuo Iso, the legendary animator known for his work on classic films likeEnd of EvangelionandGhost in the Shell, returned to directing with the 2022 original animeThe Orbital Children, produced 15 years after his first original work.
Centered on five children stranded aboard a commercial space station following an unforeseen disaster and subsequent terrorist attack, The Orbital Children is easily one of the most visually fascinating and conceptually progressive anime in recent times. While it’s true that the story can become a little difficult to handle in the second half of the series, Iso’s work as a whole proves to be a remarkable visual experience all the same.
As you've seen, we've put together a top list of the best anime to watch on Netflix that are sure to fascinate you. We recommend keeping an eye onKawaiimo,so you don’t miss out on these updates as we will be constantly sharing relevant information on topics for you.
