From twisty thrillers [1] to frothy rom-coms [2], Netflix really does have it all. In its ever-expanding library, you'll also find a category that encompasses both those genres and more: anime! If you're someone who appreciates cartoons that feel cinematic, Japanese animation has been on the cutting edge in this medium with gorgeous camera effects and stylish details for top-tier storytelling. While Netflix's collection isn't as extensive as Crunchyroll's, it still has an impressive bevy of today's most beloved anime series [3], which include classics like Neon Genesis Evangelion and recent favourites like Demon Slayer. Keep scrolling ahead to discover the best anime TV shows that you can stream on Netflix right now!
Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Don't let the cuteness of Madoka Magica fool you — it gets really, really dark. As the plot goes, a cat-like being called Kyubey goes about recruiting Magical Girls. After signing a contract, a Magical Girl gets powers and one wish for devoting her life to battling witches. But the life of a Magical Girl can be incredibly violent and traumatizing, and the granted wishes often cause things to go awry.
Watch Puella Magi Madoka Magica on Netflix. [4]
Neon Genesis Evangelion
It's a classic! In Neon Genesis Evangelion, Shinji Ikari tentatively gets on board with his father's team at NERV to become a mecha pilot battling Angels, evil monsters out to demolish humanity. There's a twist, however — the Evangelion bio-machines the pilots use seem to have minds of their own.
Watch Neon Genesis Evangelion on Netflix. [5]
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
When he returns home after working in town, Tanjiro finds that his entire family has been killed after a demon attack. His sister Nezuko survives, but it's clear that she's been changed.
Watch Demon Slayer on Netflix. [6]
Soul Eater
In Death City, there's a notorious Death Weapon Meister Academy that raises Death Scythes for Shinigami, aka Lord Death, to battle evil. The rub is, the Death Scythes are actually human hybrids who become Death Weapons after consuming the souls of 99 evil beings and one witch.
Watch Soul Eater on Netflix. [7]
Pokémon: Indigo League
The entire first season of Pokémon: Indigo League is on Netflix, so get to it — that's 50+ episodes of the OG series! Pokémon [8] needs no introduction, but in case you somehow haven't heard of it, it follows a 10-year-old boy named Ash Ketchum who goes on adventures with his electric mouse companion Pikachu to gear up for Pokémon competitions.
Watch Pokémon: Indigo League on Netflix. [9]
Parasyte
The horror sci-fi anime Parasyte follows high schooler Shinichi Izumi after an alien parasite named Migi takes over his right hand. With Migi's guidance, the young man has to figure out how to battle other parasites that are wreaking havoc on humanity.
Watch Parasyte on Netflix. [10]
Food Wars
A cult favourite, Food Wars is something of an acquired taste with all of its depictions of um, literal foodgasms. The series follows Yukihira Soma as he stops working at his dad's diner and enrolls at an elite culinary school where he often embarks on food war battles (wars) with other students.
Watch Food Wars on Netflix. [11]
Pop Team Epic
Follow the absurd adventures of 14-year-old BFFs Pipimi and Popuko in the very clever Pop Team Epic. Consisting of short sketches, the quirky show breaks the fourth wall and switches up the artwork often.
Watch Pop Team Epic on Netflix. [12]
The Promised Neverland
The Promised Neverland is reminiscent of The Handmaid's Tale [13] with its dark dystopian storyline. Basically, the horror anime follows a group of children at an orphanage who slowly learn that their cosy home is actually a farm to raise kids as food for demons — yikes!
Watch The Promised Neverland on Netflix. [14]
Erased
Got a true-crime TV show [15] obsession? In the thriller Erased, Satoru, a struggling mangaka, travels back in time and tries to crack a serial child abduction and murder case that directly impacted his classmates. The mystery is definitely intriguing, but the best part about Erased is how it carefully fleshes out each character.
Watch Erased on Netflix. [16]
Cells at Work
If you've ever watched Ozzy and Drix, the idea in Cells at Work is similar, except the cells actually look like humans! Each wholesome episode follows how the cells fight off attacks on the body such as pollen, food poisoning, and the flu.
Watch Cells at Work on Netflix. [17]
Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun
This one's for the rom-com [18] lovers! Chiyo has a huge crush on her classmate Nozaki. When she finally drums up the courage to tell him, Nozaki misinterprets her intentions and asks her to help him with his drawings for his famous manga.
Watch Monthly Girls' Nozaki-Kun on Netflix. [19]
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K
If you love offbeat, absurdist humour, you'll appreciate The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. Basically, Kusuo is a high school sophomore with powerful psychic abilities that he begrudgingly uses to get people out of his business — all the kid really wants is to sit down with some coffee jelly! The anime isn't really a serial, so you can just randomly tune into the episodes, which are collections of shorts themselves.
Watch The Disastrous Life of Saiki K on Netflix. [20]
Aggretsuko
Sanrio's Aggretsuko will strike a chord with 20-somethings, following a 25-year-old anthropomorphic red panda who works in accounting at a trading firm. When she's not keeping it together at work, Retsuko channels all of her rage into singing death metal songs at a karaoke bar. Relatable!
Watch Aggretsuko on Netflix. [21]
Violet Evergarden
This original Netflix series focuses on the life of Violet Evergarden, an Auto Memory Doll whose purpose is to ghostwrite letters for people. The show's not exactly all warm and fuzzy, though. Violet has a dark and violent past that's marked by being abandoned as a child and witnessing the horrors of war.
Watch Violet Evergarden on Netflix. [22]