22 of the Best Anime TV Shows and Movies on Netflix
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Animation made in the United States like cartoons on Nickelodeon or Adult Swim are great, but it's nice to expand your repertoire to other countries as well — and anime is the perfect place to start. Anime refers to animated works created in Japan. These include movies made by Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, such as Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro, as well as hit '90s TV series like Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z.
There are tons of different types of anime so it's easy to find something for everyone. Plus, plenty of celebs are obsessed with anime, including Dylan Sprouse, Ariana Grande, and Billie Eilish.
In the mood for action-adventure? Check out the long-running series, One Piece, a show about a group of pirates in search of valuable treasure. Or maybe you're wanting to watch something more romantic? Check out the movies A Whisker Away or Bubble. But what about drama? Death Note is a dark series about a high schooler who tries to rid the world of criminals thanks to a magic notebook.
Whether you're an avid fan and are looking for your next binge session on Netflix or you're a newbie and are just looking to dip your toe into the genre, check out our list.
Naruto (2002-2007)
Naruto Uzumaki's (Junko Takeuchi) ultimate dream is to become the Hokage, aka the village's strongest ninja-slash-leader. Reaching that goal is anything but easy, but thankfully he has his spirit demon to guide him on his quest.
There are also several Naruto movies on Netflix.
Inuyasha (2000-2004)
Transported back to feudal Japan, teenage Kagome Higurashi (Satsuki Yukino) works to recover all the fragments of a powerful jewel before someone else can use that power for evil. Helping her on her journey is a half-demon named Inuyasha (Kappei Yamaguchi).
Bubble (2022)
When Tokyo gets cut off from the rest of the world by large, gravity-defying bubbles, the people still living there hold parkour tournaments to trade supplies.
However, when gifted parkourist Hibiki (Jun Shison) falls into the ocean, his last exhale caused the bubbles to mix together and create a girl.
One Piece (1999- )
Love treasure hunts? Then join Monkey D. Luffy (Mayumi Tanaka) and his pirate crew as they tirelessly search for Gold Roger's most coveted treasure, "One Piece."
Later this year, Netflix is debuting a live-action adaptation of the beloved series.
Blame! (2017)
This sci-fi anime will scare the sh*t out of you. Set in the distant future, robots hunt and kill humans, aka "illegal residents," but one man named Killy (Takahiro Sakurai) could be the hidden weapon to humanity's survival.
Toradora! (2008-2009)
Two teens form an unlikely friendship and help each other with their love lives in this romantic anime series.
Pokémon (1997-2023)
Join Ash Ketchum (Veronica Taylor), his Pokémon Pikachu (Ikue Ôtani), and their friends as Ash embarks on a journey to become the ultimate Pokémon master in this beloved, long-running series.
Besides the main show, Netflix also has several Pokémon movies available to stream.
Death Note (2006–2007)
If you found a notebook that would kill anyone whose name was written in it, what would you do? High school student Light (Mamoru Miyano), starts by knocking off criminals.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (2019- )
After a family is attacked by demons, leaving only two surviving members — a brother and sister named Tanjiro (Natsuki Hanae) and Nezuko (Akari Kitô), respectively — Tanjiro vows to avenge his family's death.
To add more stress to an already difficult situation, Nezuko is slowly turning into a demon herself, making Tanjiro work twice as hard to find a cure.
Attack on Titan (2013-2023)
Vengeance is Eren's (Yûki Kaji) goal after his hometown is obliterated and his mom is killed in the process. Eren decides to take on Titans, the villains responsible for destroying humanity.
The long-running show's final season will debut in 2023.
This show will be on Netflix until June 1, 2023.
Sailor Moon Crystal (2014-2016)
This reboot of the original Sailor Moon series, which ran from 1992-1997, follows Usagi (Kotono Mitsuishi) as she searches for the Silver Crystal before the planet is invaded by the villainous Dark Kingdom.
Usagi soon realizes she is Sailor Moon and must locate her fellow Sailor Guardians to help her along on her journey.
Mirai (2018)
Marty McFly had a DeLorean as a way to travel through time in Back to the Future, but Kun (Moka Kamishiraishi) has a magical garden. He uses the special place as a way to meet his relatives and learn more about his family history.
Cowboy Bebop (1998-1999)
Being a bounty hunter — aka a "Cowboy" — isn't all it's cracked up to be, especially for Spike (Kôichi Yamadera). Spike and his ragtag group of misfits go on wild adventures in this beloved series.
In 2021, Netflix released a live-action TV version of Cowboy Bebop, starring Star Trek actor John Cho as Spike.
Hunter X Hunter (2011-2014)
"Hunters" in this show's world are those who possess a special knack for finding both rare items and people who don't want to be found.
Gon's (Megumi Han) wants to become a Hunter, but first he has to pass a rigorous exam.
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (2012- )
Prepare to become obsessed with the Joestar family, a unit whose members have special powers that help them take down evil forces.
The Joestar family tree is big and the series follows individuals from different periods in time.
Fun fact: Back in 2019, fans thought Billie Eilish's style was inspired by this anime series.
A Silent Voice (2016)
A bully named Shôya (Miyu Irino) becomes the school outcast after his tormenting forces his deaf classmate, Shoko (Saori Hayami) to move away. Years later, the two reconnect and become friends as Shôya works on righting the wrongs from his past.
Devilman: Crybaby (2018)
This miniseries follows the exploits of Akira (Koki Uchiyama) and his friend, Ryo (Ayumu Murase), as they team up to help fight off demons who have awakened and are hellbent on destroying humanity.
Castlevania (2017–2021)
Based on the '80s Nintendo video game series of the same name, this show is perfect if you love vampire sagas.
Trevor (Richard Armitage), an outcast vampire hunter, is tasked with fighting off Dracula's (Graham McTavish) creatures that are attacking the land of Wallachia. A fun twist? Helping Trevor on his quest is Dracula's own human-vampire son, Alucard (James Callis).
Violet Evergarden (2018)
This mini series follows a former soldier named Violet (Yui Ishikawa) who, while trying to reenter civilian life, gets a job as a ghostwriter penning letters for clients.
A Whisker Away (2020)
Miyo (Mirai Shida) has a huge crush on Kento (Natsuki Hanae), so much so that she transforms herself into a cat to get close to him. Unfortunately, Miyo soon becomes trapped in her cat body and can't change back into a human.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (2022- )
In a futuristic city that thrives on crime, David (Kenichiro Ohashi), a street kid whose mother is just killed, chooses to become an "edgerunner," aka a "cyberpunk." Now operating on the other side of the law, David quickly gets caught up in wild adventures.
Drifting Home (2022)
This fantasy movie follows two friends who suddenly find themselves lost at sea after a storm sweeps a housing complex into the ocean.
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