Top 25 Anime Netflix Originals

Netflix offers a diverse range of original anime, from innovative new stories to adaptations of popular series, spanning genres like science fiction, fantasy, action, and quirky comedy. This guide highlights the best of these globally released shows, providing information on the animation studios, number of episodes, original source material (if any), and a brief overview of each series to help you find something you’ll enjoy.

‘Devilman Crybaby’ (2018)

This anime series is based on Go Nagai’s manga and created by the studio Science SARU, with direction by Masaaki Yuasa. It tells the story of Akira Fudo, who transforms into Devilman to fight demons secretly living among people. The show has ten episodes, is set in modern times, and offers a fresh take on the original story’s main ideas. It’s praised for its fast-paced animation, electronic music, and complete storyline within a single season.

‘Castlevania’ (2017–2021)

This animated series, created by Powerhouse Animation, is based on the popular Castlevania video game series. It centers on Trevor Belmont, Sypha Belnades, and Alucard as they fight Dracula’s army in Wallachia. The show has four seasons, and the story unfolds with connected plotlines. Viewers can anticipate a complex story, impressive action sequences, and a complete narrative from start to finish.

‘Castlevania: Nocturne’ (2023–2024)

Powerhouse Animation’s continuation of the series follows Richter Belmont during the French Revolution. The new season introduces characters—both allies and enemies—connected to the Belmont family history and the world of vampires. While the first season tells a complete story on its own, it also lays the groundwork for larger conflicts to come. It builds on the existing story with new settings, vampire groups, and a theme of responsibility passed down through generations.

‘Cyberpunk: Edgerunners’ (2022)

Studio Trigger has created a ten-episode anime series based on the video game’s world. The story follows David Martinez as he becomes a mercenary in Night City after experiencing a personal loss. The show expertly blends the game’s technology – like cyberware and its unique slang – into a compelling crime story. It features new characters, a fully resolved storyline, and music taken directly from the game.

‘Violet Evergarden’ (2018)

Kyoto Animation’s series follows Violet, a young woman who used to be a child soldier. Now, she works as an ‘Auto Memory Doll,’ writing letters for people. The story centers on her journey to find meaning in life and learn about feelings. It has thirteen episodes, plus extra content that reveals more about the characters and their pasts. The show is beautifully animated with detailed backgrounds, creating a calm and moving atmosphere.

‘Beastars’ (2019–2024)

I’m really excited about Studio Orange’s adaptation of Paru Itagaki’s ‘Beastars’! They’re using amazing CG animation to bring the story to life – it’s about a high school where carnivores and herbivores try to coexist, and things get complicated. The story mainly follows Legoshi and Haru as drama unfolds at Cherryton Academy. Each season dives deeper into the school’s power struggles, the conflicts between different species, and even some criminal underworld stuff. What I’ve noticed is how much detail they put into making the characters move and feel real, and the way they set up each scene is just brilliant.

‘Great Pretender’ (2020)

Okay, so I just finished watching this show, and it’s a really slick, stylish ride. It follows a pair of con artists – a newcomer named Makoto and a seasoned pro, Laurent – as they pull off elaborate heists all over the world. Each arc feels like a self-contained caper, and what I really loved was how the show wasn’t afraid to use multiple languages, adding to the international feel. Visually, it’s stunning – really colorful and dynamic. And thankfully, it wraps up the main storylines nicely by the end, which is always a plus. Definitely a fun watch if you’re into clever schemes and beautiful animation.

‘Dorohedoro’ (2020)

MAPPA’s anime adapts Q Hayashida’s unique and action-packed manga, which takes place in a bizarre world between the human realm and a land of sorcerers. The story follows Caiman, a man with amnesia who’s searching for the wizard who turned his head into that of a reptile, while other characters like Shin and Noi work to advance the goals of powerful sorcerers. This season covers the beginning of the manga and also includes some extra animated shorts. The animation, which uses computer-generated imagery, helps bring the complex world and fast-paced battles to life.

‘Baki’ (2018–2020)

TMS Entertainment has created an anime based on the popular fighting series, covering storylines like tournaments and prison battles. The show features Baki Hanma and a diverse group of martial artists competing with unique fighting styles. The series is divided into parts that follow the major story arcs from the original manga, with a focus on training sequences and detailed explanations of each fighter’s techniques.

‘Baki Hanma’ (2021–2023)

This season of Baki continues the story of Baki’s journey to challenge his father, Yujiro. The series builds towards major battles and a final showdown, adapting later parts of the manga with both familiar and new characters. It maintains the same visual style, storytelling approach, and fight presentation that fans have come to expect.

‘Kengan Ashura’ (2019–2024)

Larx Entertainment adapts Yabako Sandrovich’s manga into a series of intense corporate battles. In this world, employees and professional fighters compete in organized arenas representing their companies. The show follows the Kengan Annihilation Tournament, showcasing classic tournament brackets, exciting rematches, and a focus on skillful fighting techniques, strategic counters, and powerful finishing moves.

‘Kakegurui’ (2017–2019)

MAPPA has created an anime based on the thrilling manga about a private academy where students gamble to climb the social ladder. New student Yumeko Jabami arrives and immediately starts challenging the powerful student council through dangerous and exciting games. The two seasons of the anime show increasingly intense matches and the complicated power struggles within the school. Each story arc carefully explains the rules, bets, and consequences of these high-stakes games.

‘Kakegurui Twin’ (2022)

This series tells the story of Mary Saotome’s journey to power before the events of the main show. Animated by MAPPA, it’s a six-episode adaptation of a side story manga. It explores how the school’s power dynamics, gambling games, and Mary’s strategies worked when she was first navigating the student council. While maintaining the same style and feel as the original series, this one focuses on Mary as the central character.

‘Aggretsuko’ (2018–2023)

Fanworks is a series based on Sanrio’s red panda character, an office worker who relieves stress by singing death metal karaoke. Each season focuses on changes at work, the character’s side jobs, and how their relationships evolve. The episodes are short and fast-paced, but they gradually develop a memorable group of characters. Over five seasons, the characters grow and change in noticeable ways, with clear developments at the end of each season.

‘Pluto’ (2023)

This eight-episode series is inspired by a story arc from Osamu Tezuka’s ‘Astro Boy,’ reimagined by Naoki Urasawa. It centers around Gesicht as he investigates a series of murders targeting both robots and humans. Created with the cooperation of Tezuka Productions, the series carefully maintains the detail of the original manga. Each episode tells a self-contained story that contributes to an overarching mystery.

‘Onimusha’ (2023)

Sublimation reimagines Capcom’s classic action series using computer-generated animation. The story centers on Miyamoto Musashi, who fights demons with a special gauntlet. The first season has eight episodes, following Musashi’s journey and featuring spectacular battles. The character designs are inspired by the iconic actor Toshiro Mifune, giving the show a realistic historical feel.

‘Spriggan’ (2022)

David Production has created an anime based on the popular action manga featuring the artifact operatives of ARCAM. The story follows Yu Ominae as he stops various military organizations and dangerous groups from obtaining powerful, ancient devices. Each episode focuses on a new mission, blending classic action with modern technology and equipment. The anime features improved visuals and a sleek art style to appeal to today’s audiences.

‘Ultraman’ (2019–2023)

Sola Digital Arts and Production I.G have created a new series based on the continuation of the Ultraman manga. The story follows Shinjiro Hayata, who gains the Ultraman Factor and teams up with the SSSP to defend Earth from alien invaders. Over three seasons, the heroes gain new and improved suits, encounter different Ultramen, and battle increasingly organized enemy groups. The series brings the large-scale battles to life using motion capture and computer-generated suits.

‘Japan Sinks: 2020’ (2020)

Science SARU has created an animated series based on Sakyo Komatsu’s disaster novel, reimagined for today’s world. The story follows the Mutoh family as they struggle to survive after huge earthquakes devastate the country. Over ten episodes, the series depicts the challenges of finding food, shelter, and staying connected as society breaks down, and shows how different communities are affected by the crisis through shifts in location and time.

‘Yasuke’ (2021)

This animated series, created by LeSean Thomas and produced by MAPPA, reimagines the story of African samurai in a fantastical world. It centers on a young woman with hidden powers and the groups trying to control them. The six-episode season focuses on their central conflict, featuring a small but impactful cast, and boasts a unique soundscape crafted by Flying Lotus with LaKeith Stanfield as a key voice actor.

‘Scott Pilgrim Takes Off’ (2023)

Science SARU has created an animated series based on Bryan Lee O’Malley’s comic, bringing back the original live-action actors to provide voice work. The show revisits the story with a new look at Scott, Ramona, and the League of Evil Exes. Across eight episodes, it combines video game elements, a love story, and humor, all delivered with fast-paced action. Bryan Lee O’Malley was closely involved in the production, which also features a unique storytelling approach.

‘Exception’ (2022)

This science fiction horror show boasts character designs by the renowned Yoshitaka Amano. It follows a crew created using 3D printing technology for a mission to make a planet habitable, but things quickly go awry. Over eight episodes, the series delves into themes of cloning, what it means to be an individual, and the challenges of completing a dangerous mission. The show’s visuals are created with computer graphics, focusing on detailed lighting and textures, especially within the cramped spaces of the spacecraft.

‘Dragon’s Dogma’ (2020)

Sublimation retells the story of Capcom’s action RPG in a seven-part animated series. It follows Ethan and his companion as they battle monsters representing the seven deadly sins. Each episode is a self-contained quest that moves forward a larger story of revenge against a dragon, and the series features familiar locations and creatures from the game.

‘Thermae Romae Novae’ (2022)

This funny series is based on a manga and tells the story of a Roman bathhouse designer who somehow ends up in present-day Japan. Each episode looks at how bathing traditions and bathhouse designs have changed over time, comparing ancient Roman customs to modern Japanese ones. After each animated segment, the manga’s author appears in live-action to share more information, including historical details and specialized terms related to public baths.

‘Super Crooks’ (2021)

Studio Bones has created an anime based on Mark Millar’s comic about a team of superpowered criminals, set in the same world as ‘Jupiter’s Legacy’. The series follows Johnny Bolt as he assembles and trains his crew, leading them through increasingly ambitious heists. Over thirteen episodes, the show adapts the original comic and introduces new storylines, developing the characters further. The action is structured around well-defined stages of each operation, combining intense fights, clever schemes, and unexpected betrayals.

Let us know your favorite anime series created by Netflix! Also, if someone is new to anime, which one would you recommend they start with?

2025-10-20 03:48