In no particular order, here are the best anime shows on Netflix.
Animation
Attack on Titan (2013-2023)
Attack on Titan is without a doubt one of the most popular anime right now. And for good reason. With spectacular animation, political intrigue, a compelling cast of characters and bigger-than-life battles, this is one show you'll want to check out. Yes, the titans -- the gigantic, humanoid, human-eating monsters that force humanity to live behind towering castle walls -- are unnerving and might freak you out. But that's half the fun, especially when we see our heroes take them down. Netflix only has Attack on Titan's first season in its catalog, but those 25 episodes are enough to get you started.
Hunter x Hunter (2011-2014)
Hunter x Hunter remains an unfinished story, having been abruptly paused after season 6. The manga's author, Yoshihide Togashi, stopped writing, leaving Hunter x Hunter on hiatus. New chapters, Togashi recently announced, are incoming. This anime starts with protagonist Go Freecss, who leaves home in search of his father, but the show quickly branches out of that simple narrative. The series is beloved for its world-building and emotional investment across its diverse cast of characters. Naruto (2002-2007)
"Believe it" (as Naruto Uzumaki would say), you can't have the best anime list without this show. This classic, well-loved anime follows Naruto, a young ninja from the Hidden Leaf Village who dreams of becoming the leader of his village. Beware: Naruto is a very long anime. So long that once you get through all nine seasons on Netflix (220 episodes total), which covers Naruto's preteen years, you'll still have another 500 episodes to cover in Naruto: Shippuden, which picks up two and a half years after the show's original run. There are also a handful of Naruto movies available on the streaming service right now. Make sure to skip the filler episodes, unless you're really desperate for something to watch.
Kakegurui (2017-2019)
You'll be hooked after the first few episodes of this popular anime, trust us. This show isn't your typical action anime – but that doesn't make it less enthralling. In fact, the opposite is true. Kakegurui is set in an academy where the measure of a student is based on their gambling prowess, whether that's at the roulette table or playing blackjack. It's part psychological thriller, part drama, and the stakes get higher as the show progresses Demon Slayer (2019-
Shonen's most recent darling, Demon Slayer is a standout hit that breaks with many of the well-worn cliches in action anime. The story follows Tanjiro Kamado, who joins the ranks of the demon slayers following the murder of his family by a demon. Only Nezuko Kamado, Tanjiro's younger sister, survived the onslaught — but she was turned into a demon. Tanjiro travels Taisho-era Japan with Nezuko in search of a cure and joins the Demon Slayer Corps, seeking to confront the original demon, Muzan Kibutsuji, who killed his family.
The animation and action are breathtaking, the characters are compelling and vibrant, the music is stellar and the dialogue is memorable. We couldn't recommend this anime more. Season one is streaming on Netflix, but there's another season out there, if you're craving Death Note (2006)
A gripping game of cat and mouse for the ages, Death Note follows Light Yagami, a genius high schooler who finds a mysterious notebook (the titular "Death Note") that gives its owner the ability to kill anyone whose name is written within it. Hellbent on creating a new world free of crime, Light carries out a massacre, killing off criminals and those Light deems morally unworthy. But the world's greatest detective is on the case. Can Light get away with it?
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