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The 10 best anime shows to watch on Netflix right now
You may have noticed a large influx of anime on Netflix recently.
With Gucci using a One Piece character as its model in ads and Megan Thee Stallion‘s “anime verse,” anime has fully rooted itself in Western popular media.
With so many options, picking a new anime can be daunting. That’s why we’ve compiled a selection of the 10 best anime’s to watch on Netflix right now. Thus, check them out below and get ready to start binging!
Neon Genesis Evangelion (one season, 26 episodes)
Neon Genesis Evangelion is considered a classic for many reasons. The combination of massive humanoid, alien-esque robots and psychological interest in child soldiers, combined with a classic 90s aesthetic, this anime is a feast for both the eyes and the mind.
The anime is experimental and at times unsettling. This is all deliberate. Stuck in a postapocalyptic, interspecies war, life does not feel comfortable. Despite some of the controversy around Netflix’s release of the series (e.g. erasing a gay romance), it’s a must-watch.
This classic is also one of the best anime on Netflix right now.
Hunter X Hunter (four seasons, 75 episodes)
The main character Gon, a naïve but determined child, wants to follow into his father’s footsteps to become a hunter, even after his father abandoned him. Hunters are elite warriors tasked to find treasures, animals, and at times humans for bounty.
Hunter X Hunter offers a variety of action and humor and despite the first episode being slightly corny, the anime delves into mature and dark themes as it goes along. Contrary to most shounen anime, in Hunter X Hunter you won’t survive on the power of friendship alone, but you might on wit and determination.
Kakegurui (two seasons, 24 episodes)
Kakegurui is sexy and provocative. It’s an anime about compulsive gambling, elite private school teens with more money than they could ever spend, and mindboggling bets.
We follow new transfer student Jumeko Yabami who doesn’t care about the hierarchical structure of the school and is instead only interested in gambling with astronomically high bets (the higher, the better).
Visually bold, with crimson grins, ice blue hair, and expressions that go from demure to disturbing in a blink of an eye, Kakegurui is a fast-paced and spicy Netflix original, and one of the best anime on Netflix.
Ouran High School Host Club (one season, 26 episodes)
Ouran High School Host Club plays on the various classic Japanese otaku and host club tropes. After the main character, Haruhi Fuijoka is mistaken for a boy, she joins her school’s host club – an elite club in which a group of attractive boys entertains girls from the school – in the hope of paying off her massive debt.
The anime also plays on gender roles and embraces the fluidity of gender. Ouran High School Host Club is light, funny, and will make you (kiss kiss) fall in love with it.
Haikyu!! (two seasons, 50 episodes)
While there have been sports anime in the past, Haikyu!! is the first volleyball anime and with that already unique. It tells the story of two rivals, who in high school are placed on the same team and forced to come together.
This might seem like the premise for most anime but the passion the characters have for the sport and the masterful character development make this coming-of-age series special.
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K (one season, 50 episodes)
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K follows could-be typical high-school student Saiki Kusuo, if it wasn’t for him having literally every psychic ability imaginable. Despite him being an almost all-powerful being, he still manages to get himself into various awkward situations.
The anime parodies various archetypes of which Saiki himself, having the god-tier psychic powers, is highly aware of. The Disastrous Life of Saiki K is a brightly colored anime that doesn’t take itself to seriously and plays gags on all anime tropes.
Children of the Whales (one season, 12 episodes)
Children of the Whales is set in a postapocalyptic future in which a small part of humanity lives on an island, called the Mud Whale. This island floats on an endless sea of sand. The majority of the Whale’s inhabitants have developed supernatural abilities.
The anime explores what happens when the Mud Whale meets other islands. The shows stunning animation, earthy tones, and watercolor backgrounds support this tale of emotional intensity and slapstick humor.
Naruto (nine seasons, 156 episodes)
Naruto is impossible to ignore. Even if you’re unfamiliar with the anime, you’ve likely come across TikToks, memes, or other parts of pop-culture referencing it.
The anime follows Naruto, a new ninja, as he and his friends complete various missions and battle enemy ninjas. The anime is known for its sharp humor, strong writing, and long-term character development. Also, of course, the Naruto-run.
Devilman Crybaby (one season, 10 episodes)
Ultraviolent and hyper-sexual, there’s not more needed the describe the initial impression of this highly stylized anime. A Netflix original, it tells the story of Akira, a teen and crybaby turned devilman.
Instead of giving in to his devious carnal desires, Akira uses his newfound powers to try and save a world that has turned to hell.
Your Lie in April (one season, 22 episodes)
Your Lie in April follows young piano prodigy Kousei who loses his ability to hear music after his domineering mom passes away. His world changes when, years later, he falls in love with talented and joyful violinist Kaori who makes him want to play again.
This anime might leave you an emotional wreck, but it’ll do so delicately and with great introspection.