The anime library on Netlfix has exploded in recent years, now stocking a healthy mix of licensed and original titles. While viewers may have their preferred streaming sites and apps to watch their favorite shows, Netlfix undeniably offers a relatively easier and quicker way of discovering titles that might have slipped under their radar.
Titles like Violet Evergarden and Devilman Crybaby might be well-known by now. However, there's still a long list of Netlfix anime that deserve more love from long-time and newer anime fans alike. Some of these might not seem entirely unheard of, but they're sorely underrated. For fans on the lookout to binge their next favorite anime, there is no dearth of action, drama, comedy, and slice-of-life offerings from the streaming giant. Anime series not currently part of Netflix's US library were unfortunately not considered.
10 Children of the Whales (2017)
Chakuro is a young boy living on the Mud Whale, an island that sails on a sea of sand in a post-apocalyptic world. He's part of the inhabitants of an ancient town on the island, most of whom are 'Marked' with special abilities which come at the cost of a shortened lifespan. Chakuro spends his days discovering new islands they encounter while on their endless journey.
On one of these scouting missions, he encounters a young girl, a discovery that is both inexplicable and world-changing for the people inside the Mud Whale. A recent shojo anime from One Punch Man studio J.C.Staff, Children of the Whales will arrest your imagination with its fantasy setting, gorgeous visuals, and unique art style.
9 A.I.C.O.: Incarnation (2018)
Fans of sci-fi anime will like A.I.C.O.: Incarnation's 12-episode story revolving around a mysterious incident occurring in 2035, at a Japanese research facility. Aiko, the main character, is rescued from the 'Matter', a self-replicating and consuming entity that gets created due to the incident. During her strict medical supervision following her rescue, she comes into contact with transfer student Yuuya Kanzaki. Together, they discover that Aiko is in possession of certain supernatural abilities.
The show follows their journey into the heart of the conspiracy, as they battle rival factions, who're also hell-bent on discovering the secrets behind her abilities. Fans of titles like Neon Genesis Evangelion should check out this short but action-packed anime coming from Bones, the studio behind My Hero Academia and Fullmetal Alchemist.
8 Your Lie in April (2014)
Viewers who're in the mood for a tear-jerker should look no further than Your Lie in April. The show is a single-season drama about Kousei Arima, a young piano prodigy who is unable to hear the voice of his own music after a devastating tragedy strikes his life. Two years later, he meets Kaori, a beautiful and exuberant violinist, who helps him re-discover his tryst with music, urging him on a path to recovery.
Your Lie in April is hailed as one of the greatest musical anime ever. With its heart-rending soundtrack and relatable characters, it is one of those shows that transcend their medium and fill the viewer with a deluge of emotions. For anyone looking for a break from action and adventure anime, this is a must-watch title from A-1 Pictures, the creators of Sword Art Online and Fairy Tail.
7 Sirius the Jaeger (2018)
Anime about vampires and demons are a dime a dozen, but Sirius the Jaeger manages to do something different. A 12-episode arc centered around the conflict between vampires and Jaegers (vampire hunters), the show delivers a beautifully animated revenge story without skimping on the action. Both vampires and Jaegers are hunting a MacGuffin called 'Ark of Sirius', a mystical artifact capable of altering the fate of humanity.
Unlike many anime series, this one is not based on any manga. It's an original anime from P.A. Works, best known for the drama-comedy Angel Beats, the slice-of-life anime Charlotte and the horror title Another. A second season was slated to release in 2020 but has been pushed tentatively to late 2022.
6 Erased (2016)
Another A-1 Pictures title, Erased is a supernatural drama involving time travel and follows the character of Satoru, a 23-year old manga artist. He mysteriously gains the power to go back in time, always minutes before a tragic accident is about to occur. As he starts saving people from these tragic incidents, he is then wrongly accused of murder and finds himself transported back to1988, 18 years in the past.
The anime's 12 episodes then take the viewer through Satoru's re-living of the murder of his childhood classmate Kayo and how the incident might be related to the murder accusation he's facing in the present. He realizes he has a chance to prevent a tragedy that occurred in his childhood and save his friend from her fatal fate.
5 Dorohedoro (2020)
Dorohedoro is an action-comedy story about two realms - the Hole, a polluted slum inhabited by powerless humans, and the Sorcerers' world, a thriving land where magic users reside. Sorcerers freely travel to and from the Hole, killing and mutilating humans without a second thought. They use humans as test subjects for their amusement and experiments.
One such experiment transforms the protagonist Caiman, subjecting him to a reptilian appearance coupled with amnesia. Caiman is inexplicably immune to the sorcerers' magic and along with his friend Nikaidou, he's on the warpath to discover his true identity. The show's less-than-perfect art style doesn't hurt its masterful recipe of violent action and enjoyable comedy.
4 Cannon Busters (2019)
What do you get when you bring together a royal-class friendship droid (S.A.M.), a dangerous fugitive, and an abandoned maintenance robot? — A light-hearted comedy designed to maximize laughs per minute. The unlikely trio embarks on a series of eventful travels in search of S.A.M.'s best friend, who happens to be the prince of an embattled kingdom.
Cannon Busters is a Netflix original anime, based on a comic series of the same name. Viewers should check it out when they're looking for a no-nonsense, quick-to-watch, and easy-to-digest show.
3 Carole & Tuesday (2019)
Mankind has long since migrated to Mars. Five decades have passes and advancements in technology have turned people into passive consumers, with culture being created by AI. Two girls — struggling part-timer Carole and the rich runaway Tuesday — see their lives intertwined and decide to pursue their shared love for music together.
In a society dominated by AI singers and musicians, Carole and Tuesday want to convey a powerful message with their music and dream of creating the next big musical phenomenon. This musical drama is one of the best anime from the 2010s, and also happens to be a Bones production.
2 Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet (2013)
Set in the distant future, this anime recounts the story of Ledo, a member of the Galactic Alliance of Humanity, and his robot friend Chamber. Part of the war against a squid-like alien species, a mission gone wrong sees Ledo and Chamber crash-land on Earth, now covered with oceans. They are rescued by a group of primitive-looking humans aboard Gargantia, their enormous fleet of ships.
Unable to establish contact with the Alliance, Ledo finds himself awe-struck with Earth's beautiful vistas and finds a new purpose on the planet many considered a myth. Fans who appreciate extraordinary visuals will love the show's beautifully crafted utopia and its rendition of what a futuristic Earth could look like.
1 March Comes in Like a Lion (2016)
Dealing with the pressures of adulthood, this story follows Rei Kiriyama, one of the world's best Shogi (Japanese chess) players, as he faces enormous societal and family pressures. Moving away from his adoptive family and living alone in a Tokyo apartment, Rei soon grows into a recluse, straying further away from a healthy lifestyle.
When he meets the Kawamoto sisters and their grandfather who owns a wagashi (Japanese sweets) shop, he begins to discover the joys of familial bonds that he never had, owing to the demise of his family in his childhood. A seinen anime aimed at an older audience, the show successfully depicts a slice-of-life drama that will strike a chord with the viewers.