The 10 Netflix Original Anime Shows You Don’t Want to Miss

Anime lovers have access to a large library of anime movies and shows on streaming platforms such as Netflix. With anime-streaming platforms such as Crunchyroll offering a wider range of choices when it comes to your next anime binge-watch, however, you may be leaning towards such services.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t find some gems on mainstream platforms. Here are the best Netflix Original anime shows that you can add to your watchlist and what you can expect from them.

10

Sakamoto Days

Sakamoto Days, adapted from the manga of the same name, is a shōnen anime that tells the story of Taro Sakamoto, a legendary hitman who retires from the underworld after he falls in love at first sight with a convenience store clerk. As part of his promise to his wife, Sakamoto vows never to kill or go back to his old life, choosing instead to start a family and take care of their family convenience store.

However, trouble follows him years after he retires (and even loses his fitness after years of inactivity and family life) when a massive bounty is placed on his head, and hitmen seeking revenge come after him and his family. Sakamoto hires three hitmen he meets to manage his store while fighting off danger along with his new team. Sakamoto Days is a perfect blend of good old-fashioned shōnen action, a heart-warming found family plot line, and a humorous story with new characters every episode or so.

9

Devilman Crybaby

Based on Go Nagai’s manga series, Devilman, Devilman Crybaby is an original animation that tells the story of best friends Akira Fudo and Ryo Asuka. Ryo tells Akira that ancient demons exist in the real world and suggests that he unite with a demon (this makes him “Devilman”). The series follows Akira’s descent into a war against evil, his strained relationship with Ryo, and humanity’s gripe with demons. The story also explores themes of sexuality, puberty, and LGBTQ+ identity, with fear of an unknown species being a core part of the story.

Devilman Crybaby has a lot of violence and sex, making it suitable only for mature audiences, so proceed with caution if you’re squeamish about gore and explicit content.

8

Kakegurui

Set in a private academy attended by children of influential figures, Kakegurui has a different spin on the social hierarchy in elite schools you might often come across in anime. Instead of the hierarchy being based on grades, money or talent, this school does things a little differently: students are “ranked” based on gambling. The school is also run by the powerful Student Council, with those winning the gambling games being able to contribute to the council, earning themselves prestige and popularity, while those who lose become slaves and “Pets.”

The protagonist, Yumeko Jabami, a transfer student, is different from her peers: she is a compulsive gambler who starts to disrupt the school’s rules and hierarchy for the thrill of the game. If you like a fast-paced series with a sports anime feel (while getting the dark, psychological aspect, too), then Kakegurui is a must-watch. The series also has a spin-off show on Netflix called Kakegurui Twin (6 episodes).

7

Blue Box

If you are looking for more sports and romance anime shows, Blue Box offers the best of both worlds. This feel-good anime is a story about Taiki Inomata, who attends an athletics-oriented high school. He is an average badminton player who has a crush on and admiration for his senior, Chinatsu Kano, a star player on the girls’ basketball team. Taiki trains in the gym every day to get better while trying to get close to his crush, but he hesitates to talk to her due to his shy nature. His fortune changes, however, when Chinatsu moves into his house because her parents have to travel abroad for work. Their romance develops while both of them work hard to become better at their respective sports, and Taiki starts training to make it to the national championships and impress Chinatsu.

6

Pluto

Pluto is a short, eight-episode reimagination of the Pluto: Urasawa X Tezuka manga (which is based on an arc of the original Astro Boy manga series). This sci-fi mystery tackles a bizarre case of killings of both robots and humans, with the common factor between the murders being the imitation of horn-like objects on all the victims’ heads. The seven great robots of the world and humans who are connected to the preservation of the International Robot Laws seem to be the ones targeted, but what makes the story interesting is that evidence suggests that a robot might be at the center of the conspiracy. A Europol robot investigator, with the help of the Japanese robot Atom, must solve the mystery before it’s too late.

5

Violet Evergarden

This anime is set post-war in the fictional land of Telesis, where the protagonist, Violet Evergarden, is recovering from her years of fighting and being shaped into a killer. She is only left with the final words of her commander, the meaning of which she is yet to discover. While recovering from all the bloodshed, the emotionally detached Violet starts working as a ghostwriter (Auto Memory Doll), writing letters and transcribing other people’s feelings.

Produced by Kyoto Animation, Violet Evergarden is an emotional slow-burner. It has two spin-off films, Violet Evergarden: Eternity and The Auto Memory Doll and Violet Evergarden: The Movie, which you can stream on Netflix.

4

Great Pretender

If your watch list is lacking a heist anime with stunning visuals and a feel-good, chill story, then Great Pretender is exactly what you’re looking for. The episodes, instead of having typical story arcs like anime shows usually do, are split into five cases set in different locations. The story follows Makoto Edamura, a Japanese conman who indulges in scamming and pickpocketing and calls himself “Japan’s Greatest Swindler.” His paths cross with a tourist and conman, Laurent Thierry, and the two go on high-stakes, international heists that test his self-proclaimed title and skills.

Great Pretender also has an anime-original sequel, Great Pretender: Razbliuto.

3

Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre

For fans of horror anime and manga, Netflix has a series that you don’t want to miss. Japanese Tales of the Macabre is an anthology adaptation of Junji Ito’s stories, with each episode outlining a separate horror story. Some prominent episodes include Hanging Balloon, where a bizarre phenomenon of grotesque hanging balloons with faces on them start appearing in the sky, claiming their targets, after a popular idol commits suicide; Tomb Town, a story about a sibling duo that has to deal with driving through a road full of tombstones after hitting a girl with their car; and Tomei’s Photos, which is about a mysterious and uncanny transfer student hiding a dark secret. The anthology can be dark and uncomfortable to watch at times due to its horror elements, but the good part is that you can watch any episode of your liking in a random order, so you can pick your poison based on the synopsis and what interests you.

2

B: The Beginning

Set in a fictional nation called Cremona, B: The Beginning sees a world of advanced technology where crime is rampant. Serial killer “B” is a vigilante who commits a double murder, prompting an investigation by the genius investigator Keith Flick of the royal police force. His path intertwines with a young Koku, a demi-human who is trying to avenge his childhood friend’s murder. A larger conspiracy involving a mysterious crime organization, suspense, and twists is at the core of this show, while Koku fights to survive and find the truth behind his powers. The second season of the anime, named B: Succession, has 6 episodes. B: The Beginning is a good blend of crime, gore, and supernatural elements, making it an interesting watch if you like suspenseful plots.

1

Ajin: Demi-Human

Ajin: Demi-Human is a dark fantasy anime that tells the story of a society where Ajin, or immortal humans with regenerative abilities, are seen as a threat and taken into custody when discovered. The protagonist, a teenager named Kei Nagai, is very disinterested in the existence of Ajin, but after a fatal accident, he finds that he has transformed into an Ajin and can heal his wounds. Kei is forced to choose a side when other Ajin decide to fight back against the government’s inhumane treatment of Ajin, while evading being taken in by the government for experimentation. If you have watched anime shows like Tokyo Ghoul before, then Ajin: Demi-Human would be right up your alley.

Between 2015 and 2016, the Ajin manga got a 3D film trilogy adaptation. In 2017, a live-action film was released.

Netflix has a lot of anime shows, new and old, to offer, with many being original shows. By typing in code 7424 in your Netflix search bar, you can easily filter out anime content and browse easily, or use a service like MyAnimeList to get information such as reviews, ratings, and trending anime shows.