Best Anime on Netflix: A Complete Guide to What’s Actually Worth Watching

Netflix has hundreds of anime titles, but most aren’t worth your time. The best anime on Netflix right now includes Attack on Titan, Demon Slayer, Death Note, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, and Natsume’s Book of Friends. These stand out because they have strong storytelling, likable characters, and production quality that justifies the hours you’ll invest.

The real challenge isn’t finding anime on Netflix. It’s finding anime that matches what you actually want to watch. A show that’s perfect for someone who loves action might bore you if you prefer emotional drama. This guide helps you find what actually works for you.

Why Netflix’s Anime Selection Matters

Netflix changed anime in 2017 when they started investing heavily in the medium. They funded productions, licensed shows, and created originals. This means you can find complete seasons without hunting across five different websites.

The problem is discovery. Netflix’s algorithm doesn’t understand anime well. You might see the same five shows recommended everywhere while missing gems. This article fixes that problem by giving you honest recommendations based on what you’re actually looking for.

Best Anime on Netflix by Category

Action and Adventure Anime

Attack on Titan

This is the safest recommendation if you’ve never watched anime. The story is straightforward: humanity lives behind walls to escape giant monsters called Titans. When the walls break, a young soldier named Eren joins the military to fight back.

What makes it work:

• Each episode ends with a cliffhanger that makes you watch the next one
• The pacing rarely drags
• Characters actually develop and change
• Themes explore freedom, power, and sacrifice in real ways

Season one through three are excellent. Season four is longer and slower, but still worth watching. The complete series is available on Netflix.

Time commitment: About 25 minutes per episode across 4 seasons. You can finish in two weeks if you watch daily.

Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba)

Demon Slayer is the most popular anime currently on Netflix. The story follows Tanjiro, a boy whose family is killed by demons. His sister survives but becomes a demon herself, and Tanjiro becomes a demon slayer to find a cure.

Why people love it:

• The animation is genuinely stunning. Characters move smoothly and fight scenes are exciting
• The main character is kind but strong, which is refreshing
• Each arc introduces new characters that matter
• Emotional moments hit hard because the show earns them

The first season is perfect. The second season is slightly slower but builds important plot points. Both are on Netflix.

Time commitment: About 26 episodes total so far. Much shorter than Attack on Titan if you’re tight on time.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

This Netflix original follows Lucy and David, two people living in a dystopian city controlled by mega-corporations. They become involved with a mercenary group and everything spirals from there.

What’s different:

• It’s only 10 episodes, so it doesn’t waste time
• The animation style is unique and matches the cyberpunk setting
• It’s darker and more violent than typical anime
• The ending is meaningful and doesn’t feel like filler

This show is for adults. It has explicit content and deals with serious themes. If you like science fiction and don’t mind darker stories, watch this.

Time commitment: Less than 5 hours total. You can finish in one evening.

Supernatural and Mystery Anime

Death Note

Death Note is often the anime that gets people hooked on the medium. A high school student finds a notebook that kills anyone whose name is written in it. He decides to remake society by eliminating criminals.

Why it works:

• The central concept is genuinely creative
• Light, the main character, is smart but flawed, making you question his actions
• Plot twists actually surprise you
• Each episode moves the story forward without filler

The first half is better than the second half, but both are worth watching. The show doesn’t overstay its welcome at 37 episodes.

Time commitment: About 9-10 hours. Easily finished in a week.

Natsume’s Book of Friends

This is completely different from Death Note, but equally good. Natsume is a boy who can see spirits and ghosts that most people ignore. He discovers his grandmother’s book containing the names of spirits she controlled. He decides to return their names and free them.

What makes it special:

• Each episode is emotionally intelligent without being heavy-handed
• The main character grows naturally over the series
• Stories about individual spirits are touching and sometimes funny
• You can watch episodes in any order if needed

This is slower paced than action anime, but deeply satisfying. The animation is simple but effective. Six seasons are available on Netflix.

Time commitment: About 24-26 minutes per episode. Good for watching one or two per week if you want something relaxing.

Comedy and Slice of Life Anime

Kaguya-sama: Love Is War

Two brilliant students at an elite high school are in love with each other but refuse to confess. Each episode is them trying to make the other person admit their feelings first while maintaining their perfect image.

Why it’s excellent:

• The comedy is intelligent. You laugh because the situations are clever, not because something is loud
• Both main characters are equally interesting
• Voice acting (especially in the English dub) carries the humor well
• Romantic tension actually builds episode by episode

This show is lighter in tone but keeps you engaged. Three seasons are available on Netflix.

Time commitment: About 24 minutes per episode. Perfect if you want something entertaining but not heavy.

A Place Further Than the Universe

Four high school girls decide to travel to Antarctica together. That’s the entire premise. It’s about friendship, growing up, and chasing dreams.

What’s great:

• The characters feel like real people with real problems
• You care about them by episode two
• The humor comes from genuine situations
• It’s genuinely uplifting without being fake

This is one of the shortest anime on Netflix at 13 episodes. If you want a complete story that won’t drain 50 hours from your life, this is it.

Time commitment: About 5-6 hours total.

Fantasy and Story-Driven Anime

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Two brothers use alchemy to try bringing their mother back to life. The experiment goes wrong. One loses his body, one loses his limbs. The series follows them trying to fix what they broke.

Why this matters:

• It’s one of the best anime ever made by most standards
• The plot connects back to the beginning by the end
• Side characters have real depth
• Themes about equivalent exchange and the cost of desire feel meaningful

This is 64 episodes, so it’s a real time investment. But nearly every episode matters. There’s minimal filler.

Time commitment: About 32 hours. Spread it across a month and it’s manageable.

The Ancient Magus’ Bride

A young girl is bought at an auction by a mysterious magus. Instead of what she expects, he offers her a choice: be his assistant and learn magic. The series follows her learning magic and the world of sorcerers.

What works:

• The animation is beautiful
• The relationship between the main characters develops slowly and genuinely
• Magic has real consequences
• The pacing lets you absorb the world

This is ongoing, so new seasons may arrive. What’s available is worth watching even if you don’t get closure immediately.

Time commitment: About 24 minutes per episode. Two seasons available.

Comparison Table of Best Anime on Netflix

Title	Genre	Episodes	Pacing	Best For	Time
Attack on Titan	Action	75+	Fast	Action fans	30 hours
Demon Slayer	Action	26+	Fast	Visual spectacle	11 hours
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners	Sci-Fi	10	Very Fast	Cyberpunk fans	5 hours
Death Note	Mystery	37	Very Fast	Plot twists	9 hours
Natsume’s Book of Friends	Supernatural	70+	Slow	Emotional depth	28 hours
Kaguya-sama: Love Is War	Comedy	35+	Medium	Intelligent humor	14 hours
A Place Further Than the Universe	Slice of Life	13	Medium	Feel-good stories	6 hours
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood	Fantasy	64	Medium	Story investment	32 hours
The Ancient Magus’ Bride	Fantasy	24+	Slow	Beautiful visuals	10 hours

How to Choose What to Watch

The best anime for you depends on three things: how much time you have, what mood you’re in, and what you actually enjoy.

If you have less than 10 hours:

Watch Cyberpunk: Edgerunners or A Place Further Than the Universe. Both are complete stories that don’t leave you hanging. They won’t require research to understand.

If you want pure entertainment:

Start with Demon Slayer or Attack on Titan. Both grab your attention immediately and rarely let go. You won’t feel like you’re “studying” anime while watching.

If you want to understand why people love anime:

Death Note shows the medium’s strength for complex plots. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood shows its strength for emotional storytelling. Watching both gives you a real sense of what anime does well.

If you want something you can pause without losing interest:

Natsume’s Book of Friends or A Place Further Than the Universe work best. They have episode-level stories even if there’s a larger arc. You won’t feel obligated to binge.

If you want to look for deeper meaning:

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners both reward thinking about themes and symbolism. They’re not just surface-level entertainment.

Netflix Anime You Should Skip

Being honest, some popular anime on Netflix aren’t worth your time.

Sword Art Online has an interesting premise (players trapped in a game must clear it to escape), but the story falls apart after season one. Later seasons introduce plot points that contradict earlier ones. Your time is better spent elsewhere.

Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? is forgettable slice-of-life with minimal plot progression. It meanders without purpose.

Seven Deadly Sins starts strong but the animation quality drops significantly later. Final seasons look rough compared to early ones.

These aren’t terrible, but Netflix has genuinely better options. Don’t waste 20+ hours on these when other anime will hold your attention better.

Getting the Most Out of Netflix Anime

Use subtitles in English, not dubs

Most anime English dubs are made quickly and cheaply. Subtitles let you hear original voice acting, which is usually better. The exception is Kaguya-sama: Love Is War, where the English dub is genuinely excellent and sometimes funnier.

Don’t feel obligated to finish everything you start

If you’re five episodes into something and bored, stop. Anime is entertainment, not a chore. Your time matters more than completing something.

Check episode counts before starting

A 37-episode series is a very different time investment than a 13-episode one. Knowing this helps you choose based on available time.

Read the synopsis on Netflix, but ignore “trending” tags

Trending doesn’t mean good. It means new. Many trending shows are popular for one week then forgotten. Read actual episode summaries to understand what you’re getting.

Consider watching English dubs for lighter shows

Dubs work better for comedy anime because you can catch visual humor while listening. For dramatic moments, subtitles usually feel more natural.

What’s Coming to Netflix Anime

Netflix continues adding new anime every month. The service is investing in original anime productions specifically for their platform. If a show you want isn’t available now, it might arrive later.

Checking Netflix’s “Coming Soon” section helps you plan ahead. You can also search for specific anime titles you’re interested in, and Netflix will notify you when they’re added.

Conclusion: Your Next Steps

Start with one of these based on your situation:

If you want immediate gratification: Watch the first episode of Demon Slayer. If it grabs you, continue. Most people want to watch the next episode immediately.

If you want something that rewards investment: Start Attack on Titan episode one. The first episode is only 24 minutes. If you watch it and want more, you’re in for a great series.

If you want something short and complete: Watch all of A Place Further Than the Universe or Cyberpunk: Edgerunners this weekend. Both are under 10 hours and tell complete stories.

If you’re unsure: Start with Death Note. It’s genuinely the anime that got millions of people into the medium. If anime isn’t for you, you’ll know quickly. If it is, you’ll understand why.

The best anime on Netflix isn’t about critical scores or popularity. It’s about what actually keeps you interested for the hours you invest. The shows listed here do that consistently.

Start today. Pick one. Watch episode one. If you’re not interested, you’ve only lost 24 minutes. If you are interested, you’ve found entertainment that will keep you engaged for weeks.

FAQ

How do I know if I’ll like anime?

Start with Death Note or Demon Slayer. Both have simple premises (notebook that kills people, boy fights demons) that don’t require anime knowledge. If you watch five episodes and aren’t curious what happens next, anime probably isn’t for you. That’s completely fine. Not everything is for everyone.

Should I watch anime in Japanese with subtitles or English dub?

Japanese with subtitles is usually better for dramatic anime because original voice acting carries more emotion. English dubs work fine for comedy. The exception is Kaguya-sama: Love Is War where the English dub is genuinely excellent. Try subtitles first. You’ll adjust to reading within one episode.

Which anime should I watch first if I’ve never seen any?

Start with either Death Note (37 episodes, mystery) or Demon Slayer (26+ episodes, action). Both are short enough to finish in a few weeks, engaging enough to keep watching, and good representations of what anime does well. Avoid starting with Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood despite how good it is. 64 episodes is too long for a first anime if you’re unsure about the medium.

Can I skip anime seasons or watch them out of order?

No. Anime tells continuous stories season to season. Skipping seasons means missing important plot points. The exception is Natsume’s Book of Friends, where each episode can stand alone though larger arcs exist. For everything else, watch in order from season one, episode one.

Are there anime on Netflix I’m missing that are better than these?

Possibly. Netflix’s catalog changes by region and constantly updates. However, the anime listed here are consistently high quality and represent different genres. If you’ve watched all of these and want more, search Netflix for anime in genres you enjoyed. You’ll find solid recommendations. But these nine series will keep you entertained for months.