Being the original top streamer, Netflix has a massive collection of anime to choose from, and these are the 10 best ranked by MyAnimeList.
It's no surprise that, as the original top streaming platform, Netflix has gradually built up a massive selection of anime for subscribers to choose from. And with the catalog available and anime being a bigger part of mainstream pop culture on an international level, it's a service worth considering for fans looking for their next binge.
Many of these series are longstanding classics and modern classics that are acclaimed by veteran fans and solid starting points for newer ones. Given their respected statuses, these shows also rank high on the rating/review aggregator MyAnimeList as well.
10 Attack On Titan Season 1 (8.53)
In the early 2010s, Attack on Titan was among the best anime for beginners. Hajime Isayama's manga and Wit Studio's anime adaptation (for seasons 1-3) didn't have some of the stereotypical tropes that are normally jarring for those looking from the outside in, but it also blended a level of dark fantasy, political intrigue, and mystery at its core akin to what made HBO's Game of Thrones so addicting.
The series follows Eren Jeager and co. living within the confines of a walled-off city-state that protects them from mysterious Titan monsters. Following a horrific attack and the death of his mother, Eren joined up with the military to combat this threat. Unfortunately, Netflix only has the first season of Attack on Titan.
9 The Promised Neverland (8.55)
Though the second season of The Promised Neverland proved to be a blunder for many fans, season 1 remains a compelling watch and adaptation of Kaiu Shirai's manga of the same name. The anime features a beautifully clean and crisp art style courtesy of animation studio CloverWorks, while the story presents an engrossingly dark twist.
Emma, Norman, and Ray are kids living in an orphanage where things seem to be loving and peaceful, but a grim mystery begins to unravel when looking into those who get adopted. While season 2 was a letdown, fans can watch season 1 and read on in the manga to dive into this riveting dark fantasy.
8 Demon Slayer Season 1 (8.55)
2019 was a packed year for hit anime, with series like Vinland Saga, the aforementioned The Promised Neverland, and more. However, in terms of sheer mainstream popularity, Demon Slayer season 1 made an emphatic impact.
Koyoharu Gotouge's series does admittedly have a lot of the typical shounen trappings longtime fans are used to seeing, but the way it presents them makes it another particularly strong anime for beginners. Likewise, Ufotable's stunning animation work and horror-lite-inspired worldbuilding make Tanjiro and co.'s adventures an engaging watch.
7 Fate/Zero Season 2 (8.57)
Before Ufotable Demon Slayer, their Fate/Zero adaptation was arguably their best-known work. It's a prequel to Fate/stay night, taking place during the Fourth Holy Grail War, where powerful supernatural figures battle to win the titular Holy Grail that's known to grant wishes.
Fate/Zero was initially meant to air from start to finish continuously, but it was split into two seasons to allow Ufotable to take their time on the animation. The series was acclaimed for its character lore, dense narrative, and take on dark fantasy.
6 JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind (8.58)
Hirihiko Araki's JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is arguably the most popular seinen manga series, with David Production's anime adaptation garnering incredible hype with each successive season. JoJo started solid and only got better as it went on, with Golden Wind being many fans' favorite part of the anime series to date.
This season follows Giorno Giovanna, the hybrid biological son of Jonathan Joestar and DIO, across Italy as he climbs the ranks of the mafia. Golden Wind retains all the colorful chaos and absurdly stylish art direction that fans would expect, as well as a new main crew full of characters worth getting invested in.
5 One Piece Seasons 1-4 (8.63)
The only consistent anime left from Shounen Jump Magazine's days of "The Big Three," Eiichiro Oda's One Piece manga and Toei Animation's anime adaptation is one of the most enduring series in the medium.
The manga has been going on since '97 and the anime since '99, and it's chronicled a vibrant and sprawling pirate-fantasy odyssey that's drawn in millions to Luffy and the rest of the Straw Hat Pirate crew's exploits. Oda's world is full of rich lore, worldbuilding, and characters that retain an impressive level of attention to detail even several story arcs later.
4 Gurren Lagann (8.64)
Gurren Lagann is an anime that is so much more than it lets on. On its surface, it looks like another generic action shounen with mechs. However, as great as the mech-on-mech fights in Gainax's anime are, they're mostly vehicles for the story and characters that pilot them.
Simon and Kamina are two friends living in a grueling underground village in hiding from the surface's Spiral King and his Gunmen mechs, and eventually decide to venture out and take their world back. What unfolds is a euphorically inspiring, and at times heartbreaking journey that emphasizes humanity's sheer, indomitable force of will when at its collective best.
3 Violet Evergarden (8.67)
Kyoto Animation's Violet Evergarden, which is based on Kana Akatsuki's series of light novels, earned critical acclaim for its intimate coming-of-age story that touches on the aftermath of war. The story is centered around a young girl named Violet, who has been raised since childhood to be a calculating soldier, trying to reintegrate into society now that the war is finally over.
It mixes fantasy with slice-of-life in a way that results in a deeply emotional and down-to-earth story, providing a fulfilling change of pace for those seeking a break from bombastic action. Violet's story is a heartfelt one, as a young girl who's known nothing but the horrors of war tries to wrap her head around the concept of love and finding a new life's purpose.
2 Cowboy Bebop (8.76)
Taking a look at the track record of western live-action anime adaptations, it's unfortunately unsurprising to see Bebop's get critically panned and canceled shortly after its debut. However, Sunrise studio's original series from the '90s continues to stand the test of time as one of the best anime fans can stream anywhere.
Cowboy Bebop is an all-time classic in the medium, with its mix of western, sci-fi, and noir genres along with its irresistibly compelling cast of characters investing viewers throughout its 26 episodes. The acid-jazz influence also helps this already stylish anime even more palpably so, but it's Spike Spiegal and the rest of this bounty-hunting crew's emotionally resonant and thought-provoking arcs that'll make fans stay for the ride.
1 Hunter X Hunter (9.05)
Even though Yoshihiro Togashi's manga seems to be in a perpetual state of hiatus, Hunter x Hunter is still one of the most acclaimed shounen ever. This 2011 remake anime by Madhouse shares that critical reception, as it modernized the art and animation along with expanding the story beyond the late-'90s anime.
Gon, Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio's globetrotting exploits as "Hunters" spans a colorful cast of characters and impressive worldbuilding comparable to what makes the aforementioned One Piece such an immersive story. It's another one of the best anime that fans will be able to watch anywhere, and it comes as no surprise that it ranks on MyAnimeList's top 10 series.
NEXT: 10 Best Anime Worlds To Live In, According To Ranker
Next 10 Best YouTubers For Pokémon Fans To Watch