Top 20 Best Anime on Netflix to Stream and Watch Right Now [2024]

Whether you’re an anime addict or someone who has never watched it before, Netflix is a great place to stream anime now.

The streaming company has gone completely mad on Japanese animations, going as far as to secure the rights to some and even produce their versions of anime.

This list will give you a taste of the best 20 anime series that are currently available on US Netflix.

Best Anime on Netflix

20. Aggretsuko

Aggretsuko came into our lives not that long ago. It’s the story of a red panda who works in an office and is pushed to work harder by her boss all the time.

A story many can empathize with, we’re sure. The show deals with some serious topics in a great way.

Restuko, the main character, gets rid of her stress by going to the same karaoke bar after work and singing.

But not pop songs or emotional songs, no – Restuko sings death metal. When this happens the animation style changes into something grungier and more hardcore.

19. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

If you haven’t seen Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood yet, we will assume that you’re either living under a rock or are someone who believes they’ve never watched anime and doesn’t realize they actually have (Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, Dragon Ball Z…).

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a classic. This one of the two FMA anime follows the manga a little closer, and the character development is much more filled out than in the other version of FMA. FMA is about two brothers trying to get their bodies back to normal after they attempted to bring their mom back to life and it went horribly, horribly wrong.

18. One-punch Man

One-Punch Man is a superhero story at its core, but it’s absolutely hilarious.

Saitama is a part-time hero will the most expressionless face you’ll likely ever come across. He’s almost too laid-back, even when he’s facing an opponent in an epic battle scene that makes him look out of place.

Any shounen fan should check out this anime, brought to you by the same person who worked on Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Yutaka Nakamura.

It’s the perfect anime to tide you over while you’re waiting for new superhero movies to be released.

17. Puellamagimadokamagica

More commonly known as “MadokaMagica” rather than by its full title, this anime is a sad story wrapped in a beautiful animation style.

If you’ve ever wanted to watch a magical girl anime but were put off by the overly cutesy atmosphere, then this darker part of the genre is for you.

MadokaMagica is a story of friendship and determination with a dash of regret and torment added into the mix.

A magical being starts off the story when he gives two of the main characters a chance to become magical girls. Later on, we meet the other main female characters, and truths are revealed that will completely shock you.

16. Your Lie in April

If emotional anime is something you seek out, Your Lie in April is an anime drama that you shouldn’t miss the chance to watch.

Kousei Arima is an abused prodigy pianist whose mother passes away, turning his life into complete silence and chaos.

Unable to hear his music any longer, he spirals and gives up. That is, until, he meets Kaori Miyazono – a violinist that takes his breath away and tries to help him restore what he has lost. But there is no happy ending here.

15. Mobile Suit Gundam UC

For those who have never watched a Mobile Suit Gundam anime, you might want to give this one a miss.

Though it’s a beautifully put together anime series, Mobile Suit Gundam UC includes a lot of the usual Gundam jargon, as well as an in-depth backstory that newcomers may find a little difficult to follow.

The story follows Banagher Links, a boy who lives in the space colonies. He meets a stowaway hiding on a ship going towards Industrial 7; a colony that is still under construction. Banagher is pulled into the conflict surrounding a mysterious box without realizing what’s happening.

14. A Silent Voice

Technically an anime movie, but definitely one we would recommend. A Silent Voice revolves around grade school student Shouko Nishimiya, a deaf transfer student.

At first, she is well-liked in her class, but as time passes, the other students begin to be cruel to her.

One student, Shouya Ishida, bullies her relentlessly. They meet again several years later and form a friendship after he apologies for all he did to her.

They begin the journey of falling in love through tragedy and hurtful memories. A warning to readers: There is a suicide attempt in this animation.

13. Violet Evergarden

Violet is a girl who does not know peace but must adjust to it. After a hellish few years as a child soldier that stunted her emotions and took her arms from her, Violet is thrust into a world where she feels helpless but apathetic towards her surroundings.

Her day to day life is spent writing letters with her new prosthetic hands, while she struggles to find meaning in her life and the things that have happened to her.

Violet Evergarden explores trauma in a way that you wouldn’t expect – through Violet, we learn that things don’t always affect us in the way we think they should.

12. Gurren Lagann

Gurren Lagann is about friendship and believing in yourself. Each character is invested in the people around them, pushing them to understand that they are supported, no matter what.

These heart-warming ideals are portrayed alongside over-the-top battles with robots.

Of course, like with most anime in the shonen genre, there’s a bit too much fan service and quite a few unrepentant stereotypes that we could do without.

That said, it’s still a great anime to watch, and as long as you can ignore those typical anime tropes, you’ll find that Gurren Lagann handles itself exceptionally well.

11. Dragon Pilot: Hisone and Masotan

Dragons are hidden within aircraft that are piloted by young women after they are swallowed by the dragon. A strange concept, but the dragons are absolutely adorable, and the character designs of this series are simple but refined.

The best part of Dragon Pilot: Hisone and Masotan are definitely the flight sequences that are animated in the show.

Each time a dragon takes off is as amazing as the last, and viewers can watch as the aircraft is disassembled, and a cuddly dragon emerges.

The artists behind this anime series should be incredibly proud of this light-hearted adventure. How to Train Your Dragon fans will love this series.

10. The Disastrous Life of Saiki K

Psychic powers and a pink-haired male main character. Saiki K is fairly standard; it’s about a boy who is trying to live his life and wants to be left alone to deal with his own business.

But having psychic powers was never going to let that happen, no matter how much Saiki wants it.

Like any teen, Saiki is moody, brash, and has an ever-going monologue that tells you exactly what he’s thinking about any given situation.

If you find some humor in deadpan delivery and shows that are from the slice of life genre but have a twist, then you’ll enjoy The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.

9. Soul Eater

To become stronger, to be noticed and known, the students of Death Weapon Meister Academy must claim 100 souls. 99 of these have to be those of evil and despicable humans, while just one should be that of a witch’s soul.

It’s a gothic-style story with playful action scenes and lovable characters. The series splits itself between three main teams who work together.

Each team has a humanoid-looking weapon meister and a weapon that can transform into a humanoid form.

This show brings in a fair bit of humor, alongside its adventuring and fight scenes. It’s an all-around good anime series to binge!

8. Death Note

The story of Light and L is well-known by all anime fans.

Death Note is one of those anime series that everyone has watched, and it’s typically an excellent way to introduce someone to anime without giving them something that’s hundreds of episodes long (looking at you Naruto, Bleach, and One Piece).

Light, a hardworking student, discovers a Death Note book one day. A Shinigami by the name of Ryuk follows him around, curious as to what this human would possibly do with a book that kills people.

As it turns out, Light has a few issues and takes to the book right away.

7. Devilman Crybaby

A massive warning to readers, DevilmanCrybaby is extremely violent, very sexual, and includes drug use.

Those are just a few of the warnings we’d like to send your way before you accidentally watch this one with your family or on public transport.

If you like horror or psychological themes, this adult anime series covers so many dark themes that it’s compelling plot doesn’t give you time to really consider what you just saw happen.

Akira, the main character of the series, is kind and uses his powers to combat a world gone completely to hell.

6. Rurouni Kenshin

Rurouni Kenshin is a classic anime. It’s serious but comical at the same time.

There are no real “cringey” moments in the humor of this anime, just well-timed gags, and great character interaction.

Follow Kenshin, a wandering swordsman with a past he’d rather forget than be reminded about. Unfortunately for our red-headed and scarred hero, he can’t walk by if someone else is in trouble.

Kenshin’s story is that of a kind-hearted man who tries to protect everyone he meets, usually at the cost of himself.

5. Pokémon

Many different Pokémon series are now available on Netflix – including the Indigo League, which was the very first season of Pokémon to come to our television screens.

Now, you can relive your childhood by watching Ash and Pikachu develop their friendship all over again.

Some of the newer seasons are available, as well, which means that you have hours of anime material to watch through.

Have a Pokémon marathon and enjoy the series with your friends! Children of the 90s and early 00s will experience a massive blast from the past.

4. The Irregular at Magic High School

A story of familial love that takes our two main characters through a special high school for those learning to control magic through technology.

Tatsuya and Miyuki are siblings (kind of) that are at opposite ends of the school. Miyuki is a high-ranking student known as a “Bloom,” while Tatsuya is a “Weed” on reserve, despite being one of the best students in the school.

The story follows Tatsuya as he tries to keep Miyuki safe and prove his abilities to the people around him.

3. Sword Art Online

Sword Art Online is a story of the future. Game-lovers from around the world log-in to play the new release of the virtual reality game Sword Art Online by using headsets that allow your consciousness to dive completely into the game.

The creator of the game is a madman who wanted to build and have control over his own world, so he traps the players there until someone can complete the game.

Beautiful animation and a well-done plot take you through this story, giving you a glimpse into the future of gaming while also showing how people come together in the most difficult of situations.

2. Knights of Sidonia

A sci-fi series that takes place thousands of years after the destruction of Earth.

Survivors from the planet live on a spaceship which has developed its own kind of culture as human beings try to regain what they lost and become stronger through genetic experimentation.

Of course, the aliens who destroyed the Earth aren’t done with the human race yet.

They go back looking to take out the last of the human race and end up with a fight on their hands.

1. Robotech

Robotech is a combination of three different series that were put together to create this wild plotline.

In this creation, Earth has developed technology that was based on the discovery of an alien starship which crashed on an island.

Like Gundam, it’s a series with mecha: giant robots that are controlled by humans to fight in battles that they wouldn’t stand a chance in otherwise.