15 best anime series on Netflix to watch right now

Interested in anime? Then Netflix is the perfect place to dive in, boasting a massive library of terrific titles. The sheer quantity of these offerings can be daunting when looking for something to start watching, but have no fear! We’ve put together a list of the best anime currently on Netflix in order to satisfy any and all of your streaming desires.

The following anime selections cover several different genres. Some are classics. Some are newer, but all are bound to get you hooked. Featuring everything from pirates to bounty hunters, karaoke lovers, to demons, here are the 15 best anime series on Netflix streaming now.

1. Aggretsuko

Retsuko at the office.
Credit: Netflix

Aggretsuko is a down-to-earth anime that primarily takes place in an office and follows the life of Retsuko, an unassuming twenty-something red panda, who has to deal with a shitty boss, navigate relationships with coworkers, and then let off steam by growling to death metal songs at karaoke bars. It’s an adorable, light-hearted little series.* —Kellen Beck, Science Reporter

How to watch: Aggretsuko is now streaming on Netflix.

2. Attack on Titan

In the world of Attack on Titan, humans live in a walled-off civilization to protect themselves from the giant Titans, who seek to devour them. After 100 years of peace, the outermost wall is breached by a new, more dangerous breed of Titan, resulting in carnage and chaos. Eren Yeager sees his mother die at the hands of the Titans and joins up with the Survey Corps in order to get revenge. The ensuing series is full of multifaceted characters, thrilling action sequences, and devastating plot twists. Netflix only has the first season of Attack on Titan, but it’s well worth the watch. —Belen Edwards, Entertainment Fellow

How to watch: Attack on Titan is now streaming on Netflix.

3. Castlevania

Video game adaptations are notoriously hard to get right, but Castlevania more than sticks the landing. Darkly atmospheric and full of rich lore, Castlevania tells the story of Trevor Belmont, a monster hunter from the disgraced Belmont family. He and his companions, Sypha and Alucard, seek to protect the land of Wallachia from Dracula and his horde of demons. Get ready to see dazzling magic, horrifying monsters, and high-intensity fights. Best of all, you don’t need any prior knowledge of the Castlevania games to enjoy the anime — you’ll get sucked in right away. —B.E.

How to watch: Castlevania is now streaming on Netflix.

4. Cowboy Bebop

It’s noir; it’s anime; it’s science fiction. It’s all of the above! Cowboy Bebop is a Japanese, genre-defying series from the ‘90s with a vocal fan following. Spike Spiegel is a bounty hunter in the year 2071, when humans are mostly living on outer worlds. He and partner Jet Black cruise around the galaxy in their spaceship, the Cowboy Bebop, tracking down ne’er-do-wells and picking up new team members along the way. Its moody atmosphere made it a standout among other anime titles of its time. This is a beloved series that rightfully deserves every single accolade it has received. It’s got style, suspense, and an iconic corgi. What more do you need?!* —Kristina Grosspietsch, Freelance Writer

How to watch: Cowboy Bebop is now streaming on Netflix.

5. Death Note

Death Note is a pretty intense show that revolves around a demonic book that can be used for murder by writing a person’s name in it, visualizing them in your head when you do it, and writing how they die. The book falls in the hands of teenager Light Yagami, who begins using it for what he perceives as the greater good and utilizes the complicated rules that come along with the book to avoid being found by investigators and fellow genius L. It’s hard not to binge right through it.* —K.B.

How to watch: Death Note is now streaming on Netflix.

6. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

When Tanjiro Kamado’s family is killed and his little sister Nezuko turns into a demon, he sets off on a quest to become a demon slayer in the Demon Slayer Corps. As he strives for vengeance and looks to cure his sister, he meets other demon slayers and encounters sinister forces. Demon Slayer‘s story is immediately engrossing, helped along by compelling leads and an atmospheric setting. To top it all off, the fight scenes are incredible, with top-notch animation and fight choreography. —B.E.

How to watch: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is now streaming on Netflix.

7. Hunter x Hunter (2011)

Gon Freecss is a young boy, who dreams of becoming a legendary Hunter like his father, who left him in order to pursue his career as a Hunter. Gon undertakes the strenuous Hunter Exam alongside other strong candidates like Kurapika, Leorio, and Killua. Every stage of the test contains exciting puzzles and trials, as well as a cast of vibrant supporting characters. This series is so much fun. Everything from Hunter x Hunter‘s vibrant characters to its exciting monster encounters combines to create a massively entertaining adventure. —B.E.

How to watch: Hunter x Hunter is now streaming on Netflix.

8. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure

Strike a pose.
Credit: Viz Media

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is an off-the-wall series full of ridiculous characters, beefy dudes, wild plotlines, and bright colors. The series follows various members of the Joestar family as they go on their individual, supernatural journeys, make friends, and ultimately defeat over-the-top villains. It’s really weird and a great way to just completely disconnect from reality. * —K.B.

How to watch: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is now streaming on Netflix.

9. Neon Genesis Evangelion

One of the greatest and most influential anime series of all time, Neon Genesis Evangelion is wildly ambitious, emotionally complex, and beautifully animated. In the future, the city of Tokyo-3 is under attack from monstrous Angels. Humanity’s last defense are giant mechas known as Evangelions, or Evas. When 14-year-old Shinji Ikari’s estranged father recruits him to be an Eva pilot, he finds himself at the forefront of the battle to save mankind. What follows is a series of incredible fights between Angels and Evas, as well as an in-depth exploration of trauma. —B.E.

How to watch: Neon Genesis Evangelion is now streaming on Netflix.

10. One Piece

Looking for adventure on the high seas? One Piece is the anime for you. Follow along with Monkey D. Luffy and his crew of Straw Hat Pirates as they search for the One Piece – the great treasure found by the last Pirate King, Gol D. Roger. One Piece is literal boatloads of fun, with zany characters and storylines. Netflix does not have the entire series (which is very, very long and still ongoing) in its library, but it does have the East Blue and Alabasta story arcs, which serve as great introductions to this classic anime. —B.E.

How to watch: One Piece is now streaming on Netflix.

11. One Punch Man

Saitama is a guy who just wants to be a hero for fun. By doing 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and a 10km run each day, he became the most powerful being in the universe, able to destroy any opponent with just one punch. One Punch Man is hilarious but also contains some really great action sequences, a perfect combo.* —K.B.

How to watch: One Punch Man is now streaming on Netflix.

12. Sword Art Online

When the players of a virtual reality MMORPG called Sword Art Online realize they can’t exit the game, they learn that the game’s creator is holding them captive. The only way to escape is to clear all the levels of the game — but they have to be careful. If they die in the game, they die in real life. With high stakes, fascinating characters, and the ever-changing world of its titular video game, Sword Art Online is a thrilling anime that sucks you right in and doesn’t let go. —B.E.

How to watch: Sword Art Online is now streaming on Netflix.

13. Violet Evergarden

Violet Evergarden has been used as a tool of war for her whole life. After the war ends, she adjusts to non-military life and works as an Auto Memory Doll, someone who composes letters for those who can’t write. Throughout all of this, she grapples with her past, including the last words her army major ever said to her. Violet Evergarden is a touching exploration of memory and human emotion centered around a compelling heroine. —B.E.

How to watch: Violet Evergarden is now streaming on Netflix.

14. Yasuke

A new samurai rises.
Credit: Netflix

LeSean Thomas’ miniseries follows the life and legend of its title character, a Black samurai who served daimyō Oda Nobunaga. Years after Nobunaga’s death, Yasuke lives as Yassan, a boatsman who shuttles villagers along the water and speaks little of his past. But a young girl with awesome power undoes Yassan’s quiet life and alias, thrusting him back into a world of warriors, magic and more. The show blends together sci-fi, fantasy, and history as only anime can, with Lakeith Stanfield at the mic bringing Yasuke sublimely to life. —Proma Khosla, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Yasuke is now streaming on Netflix.

15. Your Lie In April

There’s a very high chance you’ll be in tears by the time you’ve finished Your Lie in April. This series will pluck at your heartstrings and play with your emotions all the way until its beautiful, heartbreaking end. Your Lie in April tells the story of Kousei Arima, a gifted pianist who hasn’t been able to play since the death of his mother. Enter Kaori Miyazono, a violinist whose free-spirited playing style contradicts everything Kousei knows about music. With Kaori’s help, Kousei rediscovers his love of the piano. The result is an incredibly sweet anime with a gorgeous score – the scenes where characters play their instruments are true standouts. —B.E.

How to watch: Your Lie In April is now streaming on Netflix.

Asterisks (*) indicate the entry is slightly modified from a previous Mashable list.