Netflix is one of the largest streaming services that is currently available on Apple, Android, Windows, Roku, and more. With such a wide variety of shows on the platform, many of them fall into the anime genre. With all of the options available to watch on Netflix, there is constant disagreement regarding which of these shows is the best. With this in mind, these are the top 5 best anime that are available to watch on Netflix.
- HunterXHunter (Hunter Hunter)
By far the longest show on this list, HunterXHunter is one of the most famous anime of all time. It follows the story of Gon, an adventurous young boy who grew up without a father, as he gets his Hunter’s License and goes on plenty of action-packed adventures while looking for his dad. This show has some amazing moments and even more amazing characters. Unfortunately, this show does not develop its characters that well. With this in mind, along with the incredibly drawn-out story, I feel that I can not rank this higher than #5.
- Demon Slayer
This is quite possibly the anime with my favorite animation of all time. Demon Slayer looks beautiful, with bright colors and an insanely high animation budget. The show has an amazing story as well. This anime is about a young boy named Tanjiro who ends up losing his family to demons, only for his sister, Nezuko, to be turned into one. Tanjiro trains hard to become a demon slayer while trying to avenge his family and cure his sister. The third season of the show is not available just yet, but it should be coming to Netflix soon.
- Vinland Saga (Ven-land Saga)
If you like Vikings, this anime would be amazing for you. This show is filled with plenty of action and a thrilling story. One thing that I love about this show is how well-developed the main character Thorfinn is. Thorfinn is a child at the start of the show, meaning the audience gets to see all of the pain that he endures at a young age. When Thorfinn watches his father die in combat, he dedicates his life to avenging his father’s death. This show is very intense and deals with a lot of sensitive topics including murder, kidnapping, abuse, and various other important issues. With this aside, it tells an amazing story that is filled with fighting, backstabbing, and revenge. This show is targeted more toward adults and is the only show on this list to earn a TV-MA rating.
- Toradora (Toe-rah-doe-rah)
This romantic anime holds a special place in my heart. Being the show that got me into the romance genre, it goes without saying that I love it. When two outcast students end up being forced to help each other with their relationships, their efforts quickly lead to feelings for each other. Despite trying for a large amount of the show to set each other up for different people, they quickly realize that they don’t want to see the other with somebody else.
- Death Note
One of my personal favorites of all time, Death Note is a psychological thriller that is filled with plot twists from characters not being who they say they are, to others coming up with highly unpredictable plans. The show is based on genius high school student Light Yagami. Light comes into contact with a notebook that can “eliminate” anyone whose name is written in it, with a few exceptions. When these deaths start to get investigated, Light, now going by the pseudonym “Kira,” must evade getting caught. This show earns the #1 spot for me due to the fact that the characters are very clearly smart and are incredibly unpredictable in what they do. This show is also great for discussing with others whose side they would take on the L vs Kira situation and if killing in the name of justice is right or wrong.
Honorable Mentions:
Some honorable mentions for this list are Naruto, One Piece, and Sword Art Online. These are three large shows that are each fantastic; however, only a few seasons of each are available on Netflix. All three can be found in their entirety on Hulu or Crunchyroll.
