The 20 best NETFLIX anime series [2021]

We list a dozen anime classics and modern bets that we love. Top-notch Japanese animation, in this article.

The world of manganime is in fashion. The rise of video-on-demand platforms has opened the doors to more film genres and storytelling styles on the small screen. Blindly placing trust in Japanese animated series is a privilege once only enjoyed by the big names; the chains did not want to risk.

But now it is different, with higher possibilities of amortization of licenses thanks to the subscriptions of platforms such as NETFLIX, today the protagonist. If you like anime or want to see series that are really worth it, we have compiled a list of 20 anime that, believe us, are essential for animation lovers from Japan; many of them based on manga with a great previous tour in their respective publishers.

Before we begin, we take the opportunity to remember that NETFLIX has its own application for consoles such as PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X | S. In case you prefer to get away from your computer or your mobile phone for a while and enjoy all the content of this platform on your console, you can download the free app (requires active subscription to use) in the PS Store and Microsoft Store.

FullMetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

In case you have any questions: this is the good one. There are two anime adaptations of FullMetal Alchemist, one that ended hastily and without accurately telling the story of Hiromu Arakawa’s manga, and another, Brotherhood, which in some respects comes to convey more than the bullet point work itself. FMA tells the story of brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric, who live in a small town with their mother. For different reasons, it dies, so through the use of alchemy they will try to revive it. Something terrible happens in a failed attempt. Everything else is an example of how to develop characters in fiction, how to tell intertwined stories and, above all, how to close a series in a big way.

FullMetal Alchemist has all 5 seasons on NETFLIX (64 episodes; full).
You can watch FullMetal Alchemist on NETFLIX here.

Neon Genesis Evangelion

One of the best animated series of all time. A cataclysm that leaves the land devastated; a cyberpunk-themed world where, fifteen years later, the character of Shinji Ikari enrolls as a pilot in NERV, his father’s former organization with which they have to fight against mecha monsters. We would recommend it for its action, but luckily we can say that it also has one of the most passionate and most masterfully told stories that we can remember.

Neon Genesis Evangelion has 26 episodes; complete.
You can watch Neon Genesis Evangelion on NETFLIX here.

One-Punch Man

Born as a web comic, this action-comedy series began to go viral at full speed thanks to the power of the networks. One, the artist responsible for the work, happened how it became a success considered by many as one of the most spectacular in recent times. If what you are looking for is pure action, remember the name of this studio: Madhouse. There are chapters that are a visual delight. The first season is the one available on Netflix.

One-Punch Man has 12 episodes (Season 1).
You can watch One-Punch Man on NETFLIX here.

Beastars

One of the most recent on the list. In charge of the Orange studio and from the 22-volume manga by Paru Itagaki, this shonen anime with an adult touch places us in a world with anthropomorphic beings where all kinds of beasts coexist. It all begins with the murder of a herbivorous being for which they begin to suspect the Legoshi logo. From there, the truth is that you cannot imagine everything that happens.

Beastars has 12 episodes (Season 1).
You can watch Beastars on NETFLIX here.

Your Lie in April

There is no action, shonen theme or fights that go off the screen here. There is music, a story of friendship and affection, but there is also drama. Your Lie in April is sad, but poignant, slow, avowedly slow, and not lost in spin-off stories. We will learn about the story of Kousei Arima, a young pianist with great potential who, after the death of his mother, decides to put aside his passion for anxiety attacks. Years later, a young woman appears in a preparatory school who changes her life; that changes absolutely everything.

Your Lie in April has 22 episodes; complete.
You can watch Your Lie in April on NETFLIX here.

Attack the titans

Shingeki no Kyojin, Attack on Titan or simply Attack on Titans, is one of the great phenomena of the manganime world of the last decades in convincing an audience beyond the truly anime follower. That merit, which Death Note once had, now comes to this interesting story where humanity wants to discover what lies beyond the walls that separate its cities from the rest of the continent. The invasion of giant creatures is always a threat, but one day Eren Jaeger – who loses his mother as a result of the attack of a wild titan – discovers that he too can become a titan. The derivative events go from discovering the origins of humanity, those of the titans and, above all, fighting to survive. A series jewel about to reach its end.

Attack on Titan has 3 seasons on NETFIX (1, 2 and 3 – Part 1) with 49 episodes; Season 3 Part 2 is available on Amazon Prime Video; Season 4 (in broadcast) is available on Select Vision.
You can watch Attack on Titan on NETFLIX here.

Assassination Classroom

It is usually not very difficult to convince someone to watch Assassination Classroom if they like this approach: a yellow alien arrives on Earth threatening to destroy it. He enters an art school, becomes a teacher and the students try to assassinate him so that he does not fulfill his objective. It goes without saying that this guy destroyed 70% of the Moon with his power. There is nothing. What happens in the series is hard to believe.

Assassination Classroom has 2 seasons (22 + 25 episodes); complete.
You can watch Assassination Classroom on NETFLIX here.

Re: Zero

Based on the series of light novels by Tappei Nagatsuki, this is an anime adapted by White Fox that will convince you if you like dark fantasy with touches of suspense and drama. Re: Zero – Starting Life in Another World places us in the life of Subaru Natsuki, a young man transported to another world where he meets a girl and … they both die. The funny thing is that Subaru discovers that he has the ability to go back in time once dead, but only he remembers what happened when he revives; not the others. It is complex, but its adult touch is very balanced.

Re: Zero has 25 episodes in its Season 1; the second is currently on air in Japan.
You can watch Re: Zero on NETFLIX here.

AnoHana

AnoHana
AnoHana

AnoHana (Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Boku-tachi wa Mada Shiranai) tells the story of several lifelong friends who, after a somewhat complex accident, separate; in fact, one of them dies. Jinta has since sought to reunite with her old childhood friends in order to fulfill the promise of Menma, the friend who died. The series has supernatural overtones, romances and a lot of drama. A-1 Pictures’ work with this anime is quite remarkable. It has earned a place on this list. It has only eleven episodes; to see her on a weekend.

AnoHana has 11 episodes; complete.
You can watch AnoHana on NETFLIX here.

Hi Score Girl

Based on the manga by Rensuke Oshikiri edited by Square Enix, this seinen is about the life of Haruo Yaguchi and Akira Oono, two friends who seek to be true portents in Street Fighter II for recreational purposes. A story of overcoming with a spokon touch designed for lovers of video games, competition, comedy and romance. It has a bit of everything and, why fool us, it works wonders. Also, luckily we have it complete, with its two seasons.

Hi Score Girl has 24 episodes; complete.
You can watch Hi Score Girl on NETFLIX here.

Magi: Adventure of Sinbad

Prequel to Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic, this is an anime action and fantasy adventure where we follow the origins of Sinbad, who years later would become the King of the Seven Seas. It is here that we learn how that genius is forged, from growing up in a fishing village to the death of his father. The conquest of the sea is not easy, but a world without wars is possible. There are only thirteen chapters.

Magi: Adventure of Sinbad has 13 episodes; complete.
You can watch Magi: Adventure of Sinbaden NETFLIX here.

Tokyo ghoul

This original Weekly Shonen Jump manga was adapted into anime by Studio Pierrot with remarkable success. It is not very long and goes directly to what you want to tell. We are in Tokyo, there have been several deaths at the hands of beings called Ghouls (they survive by eating human flesh). On a date with a girl, the protagonist ends up being attacked by the young woman, who is Ghoul, but thanks to the fall of some beams he is saved, although very injured. An organ transplant with her allows her to survive, so she becomes half ghoul, half human. This is how it all begins.

Tokyo Ghoul has 3 seasons (12 + 12 + 12 episodes); missing a fourth season, Tokyo Ghoul: RE 2nd.
You can watch Tokyo Ghoul on NETFLIX here.

Sword Art Online

SAO takes us to the year 2022, when a virtual reality MMORPG video game called Sword Art Online goes on sale. Those who participate literally play a VRMMORPG being themselves, they control their avatar. The problem? After a while they realize that they can’t get out of the video game and… that’s how the series unfolds, a search for the way out that allows them to be free again.

Sword Art Online has 2 seasons (25 + 25 episodes); complete.
You can see Sword Art Online on NETFLIX here.

The Seven Deadly Sins

Nanatsu no Taizai (The Seven Deadly Sins) has been one of the great manga of the past decade; a great success for Kodansha Publishing House. Especially pressing in Spanish-speaking territories, The Seven Deadly Sins has a manga very faithful to the original manga. It lends itself to being seen because its setting attracts a lot of attention, a medieval era where we will know the intention of the princess of the kingdom, Elizabeth Liones, to liberate the oppressed people in such a hierarchical society. One day he will meet Meliodas, a young man with powers who is actually one of the legendary Seven Deadly Sins. Together they will search and gather the rest, the seven.

The Seven Deadly Sins has 4 seasons on NETFLIX (24 + 4 + 24 + 24 episodes); the fifth season is missing, which is now being broadcast internationally.
You can watch The Seven Deadly Sins on NETFLIX here.

Fairy tail

Fantasy, adventure, magic, the value of friendship, spectacular combats, techniques with the use of all kinds of elements and a lot of fanservice. Fairy Tail, written by Hiro Mashima, was adapted to anime as a result of the success of this work, which tells us about the adventures of Natsu Dragneel and his cat Happy. His objective is to search for the dragon Igneel, but from there a lot happens within the wizard guild. It is a long, dense series, with all kinds of moments; It hit especially deep in Europe and countries like Spain. There is a special merit for Fairy Tail, and it is making you feel part of that guild of magicians, transmitting their values.

Fairy Tail has seasons 2 and 3 on NETFLIX (Episode 49 to 98).
You can watch Fairy Tail on NETFLIX here.

Naruto

Naruto
Naruto

If Dragon Ball was the symbol and the school of a few generations, Naruto did the same with those born in the late nineties and 2000s. Although not everything is there (Shippuden is missing, which is the second half of the series), the Naruto Uzumaki’s story on his way to become a ninja capable of facing problems and saving his village across all continents is one of overcoming, the path of the hero that we have read and seen dozens of occasions, with the exception that Naruto has a charm that manages to catch you as soon as you like kunai and ninjutsu.

Naruto has 9 seasons on NETFLIX (220 episodes; full)
You can watch Naruto on NETFLIX here.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure

Phantom Blood

A classic from the nineties still in circulation. His manga has more than 125 compiled volumes, one of those seinen (focused on the adult public) that created school and achieved with his manga a world tour. We meet the British Joestar family, who are tasked with fighting supernatural enemies from different eras. To do this they make use of a series of very diverse unique powers. There is action, suspense, comedy, tragedy… One of the most diverse works in genres of the old Shonen Jump.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure has 3 seasons on NETFLIX: Phantom Blood / Battle Tendency (26 episodes); Stardust Crusaders (48 episodes) and Diamond Is Unbreakable (39 episodes).
You can watch JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure on NETFLIX here.

Haikyu !!

Spokon are manga based on values such as friendship, camaraderie and the resilient spirit of sport. With references like Slam Dunk or Kuroko No Basket in the basketball genre, Haikyu !! is a declaration of love to volleyball. It has humor, typical teenage conflicts and, above all, there are championships where the protagonists fight to beat other schools until they are crowned champions. Production I.G is the studio in charge of the series, whose animation is outstanding in many scenes.

Haikyu Season 1 !! it has 25 episodes; seasons 2, 3 and 4 are missing.
You can see Haikyu !! on NETFLIX here.

InuYasha

One of the greatest classics of Japanese animation. It is incomplete, but its first two seasons are enough to get hooked and continue to enjoy it on other portals. Rumiko Takahashi, author of the phenomenal Ranma ½, is in charge of InuYasha, the name of the demon one day sealed to avoid problems, but Kagome, due to circumstances of fate, manages to cross a magical barrier that separates the current world from that of wars and remove that seal for a strong threat. Thus, Kagome takes control of the jewel of the four souls and gains enormous power. In return, it gains the antipathy of other monsters, especially when breaking into a thousand pieces. The search for those pieces is the leitmotif of history.

InuYasha has 2 seasons (27 + 27 episodes); incomplete.
You can watch InuYasha on NETFLIX here.

Death note

A classic, but it’s a classic for a reason. The couple of Tsugumi Oba and Takeshi Obata (who would later do the highly recommended Bakuman) are responsible for one of the greatest international manganime successes of the last twenty years. We put ourselves in the shoes of Light Yagami, a high school student who, for different reasons, finds a notebook (Death Note) capable of killing anyone whose name is written there. A standard delight.

Death Note has 37 episodes; complete.
You can watch Death Note on NETFLIX here.