Top 20 Anime Netflix Originals

Who was Sinbad before he rose up to become king? The answer; one of the most entertaining scoundrels you’re likely to come across. While the Aladdin and Alibaba’s adventures were also nothing to scoff at and did a wonderful job of introducing us to this fantastical land, Sinbad is just too much fun! As par of the course of the Magi series, this origin story not only boasts plenty of emotionally charged moments, but for all intents and purposes it’s just a great big action romp that chronicles the life of one of the franchise’s favourite sons.

What would you do if you discovered that you were practically immortal? Well, in the case of student Kei Nagai, you’d run like hell to avoid becoming a government experiment. After discovering that he is the furthest thing from human, he finds himself unwilling thrown into a conflict between his species and the cruel government organisation that wishes to use all Aijin for their own twisted motives. Love seeing the worst of what humanity has to offer? Netflix has got you covered.

Don’t let her adorably fluffy frame fool you, Retsuko is caught in the mundane hell that is office life, dealing with an overbearing boss, a disintegrating social circle and no prospect of a bright future. Her solution? Rocking out at her local karaoke bar with plenty of death metal. In spite of the fact she’s a red panda and bursts into a screaming solo every time she becomes enraged, there’s something wholly relatable about the obstacles Retsuko faces on a daily basis, with enough charm to its name to keep you entertained all throughout. Just please give our boy Haida a chance at love already!

For those that have a special place in their hearts for the original series, or for casual anime viewers who just want to see heads role, then this adaptation is right up your alley. Taking on the Osaka Arc, we see the likes of Kato and a new team encounter some of the most violent and imposing aliens, ever. Which is saying a lot for Gantz. The animation style makes each kill pretty hard to watch, and trust us, you are going to see a lot of bodies torn to pieces in this flick. Though it might be worth it to see that one mecha suit…

The Fate series is...complex to say the least. So instead of taking you through a dedicated powerpoint presentation, Netflix decided to treat fans and newcomers alike to this latest iteration. One that stands on its own as a contained story that requires no prior viewing, and instead dedicates its run time to busting out an endless slew of astoundingly animated battles. With two warring sides, plenty of characters to attach yourselves to (cough Rider of Black cough) Apocrypha is definitely one fantasy epic to check out.

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#15: “Great Pretender” (2020)

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This came out of nowhere, and ended up enrapturing plenty with the sharpness of its plotting, thrill of its capers and the sheer joy of watching a bunch of con-men trot the globe in search of fortune. A crime comedy with plenty of wit, watching the cast plan and execute their various thefts the world over, and all the dangers that come with it, turned it into Netflix’s new golden boy. It’s got action, the humour is just the right amount of zany, and every interaction between Abigail and Edamame is just delightful!

Brought to us by the director of Cowboy Bebop himself, this celebration of music and its ability to unite people is nothing short of beautiful. From the stunning visuals, the sci-fi backdrop, the guest-musicians who contribute an eclectic mixture of genres, all the way to our titular duo’s journey to make it in an industry during a time of strife, this series hits plenty of high notes. While the plot can certainly meander at times, there’s nothing fake about the legitimate joy you’ll feel watching Carole and Tuesday take to the stage.

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#13: “BNA: Brand New Animal” (2020)

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Did it reach the heights found in Trigger’s previous canon of work? Not quite, but it certainly delivered when it came to showcasing their strong points, i.e a distinctive animation-scape that lent itself to blistering battles and intriguing commentary on humanity’s numerous faults. After suddenly finding herself transformed into a tanuki, the once human Michiru flees to a city built to shelter beastmen from prejudice and oppressiveness. From there, she becomes embroiled with the lone wolfman Shiro, as well as secrets sure to take the polish off the so-called paradise she now calls home.

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#12: “Hi Score Girl” (2018-19)

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Equal parts a homage to the video games of yesteryear, as well as an adorable romance between two arcade junkies, there’s a little here for everyone. Growing up during the golden age of classic fighting games, Haruo’s growing relationship with the silent yet skilled Akira not only paves the way for an organic love story that proved to be more potent than the most devastating of finishing moves, but also plays host to some of video games greatest hits! Where else can you see Guile and Zangief offering romantic advice to anime adolescents?

Sensual, sociopathic and splendid; that’s Yumeko Jabami for you.In a school where gambling determines social status, winning offers you a life of luxury while losing literally turns you into a slave. Then Yumeko turns up and everything is thrown on its head. With a love and addiction to gambling that is borderline orgasmic, she proceeds to challenge the highest ranking members of the school, just for the thrill of it. Be warned, if you bet against her, be prepared to experience Yumeko’s madness up close.

A continuation from one of classic anime’s most iconic fight-fests, Netflix’s reintroduction of Baki and his fellow fighters has proven to be a whirlwind of testosterone that continues to surprise us. From taking on death row convicts all the way to the son of Muhammed Ali, this series has no filter when it comes to the craziness of its battles. One moment you’re watching Baki clean house with his in-depth knowledge of martial arts, and the next you’ve got his death-dealing father randomly appearing to give him a terrifying rendition of the birds and the bees. Just do yourself a favour and accept the crazy, we guarantee you’ll love the results!

Granted, the animation can be hit and miss at times, especially when you’re spending time with our admittedly mediocre cast. But where this series really excels is with the Guana, the alien creatures that literally broke the Earth in half and sent humanity fleeing into the darkness of space. With a growing sense of isolation and desperation, this gritty take on the mecha vs alien trope serves as a much needed refresher as to why you should fear what comes from the stars. Also they’re gross as all hell.

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#8: “Little Witch Academia” (2017)

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Stop what you're doing and binge-watch this show right now! While many newcomers will cry out “Harry Potter” at first glance, the witches of Luna Nova Academy are very much their own entity. As wannabe sorceress Akko and her dysfunctional friends try to navigate their way through their magical semester, an endless amount of charm, legit laughter and heartfelt encounters await them (and us) along the way. To say this series casts a spell on all who watch it would be a huge understatement. Plus, its worth watching for Diana’s swagger alone.

Set in a world where anthropomorphic carnivores and herbivores live by side by side in a society not too dissimilar to or own, this series wastes no time in presenting the big questions on issues such as race, segregation, violence, and where does the line between love and instinct start to blur. After encountering and subsequently falling for a rabbit named Haru, introverted wolf Legoshi’s life starts to spiral, forcing him to confront the many established prejudices he’s learned to live with as he pursues a romance that seems doomed to fail. Its subject matters are heavy, but it’s presented in such an engrossing way you won’t be able to turn away.

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#6: “The Disastrous Life of Saiki K” (2016-19)

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We’ll take any chance to talk about this glorious comedy, and since Netflix pushed out the second season and the Reawakened follow-up, we can! Despite being a psychic with enough power to decimate the planet if he wanted to, Kusuo Saiki just wants to live a mundane, middle of the road life, only for him to constantly be surrounding with the most eccentric of class-mates who never fail to disrupt is day, and in most cases force him to use his abundance of esper abilities to resolve whatever hilarious antics they’ve forced him into.

Out of all the bare-knuckle brawlers hopping on the Netflix bandwagon, this savage series stands atop them all due a slick combination of excellently choreographed fights, a tournament arc playing host to some truly outrageous contenders, and a lead who doesn’t know the meaning of restraint when it comes to smashing in skulls. Ohma’s vengeful journey has everything you could want, including a plethora of killers, psychos and legit monsters for him to test his mettle against, the majority often finding themselves beaten and bloody by his fist.

Welcome to the madhouse, folks! This action packed anime stars a dude with a lizard face named Caiman who happens to also have a sentient head living in his mouth trying to restore his memories. With a striking blend of dark humour, gory fights and surprisingly touching interactions between its brutal cast, Caiman’s quest to restore what was stolen from him is a bloody good time no matter how you slice it.

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#3: “The Seven Deadly Sins” (2014-)

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Layered with a cast of quirky yet badass protagonists, this show is fantasy action at its best! In order to save the kingdom that once shunned them from a deep-rooted corruption, seven knights all based on the deadly sins, take up arms and kick a serious amount of ass along the way. The banter is on point, the fight scenes have never heard of the word subtlety, and every word from Ban’s mouth is sheer gold. Wrath, Greed, Sloth, Pride, Lust, Envy and Gluttony have never looked so good!

Saturated with gorgeous animation along with a narrative that is bound to have you in tears, Violet’s journey from tool of war all the way to empathetic ghost-writer is one of Netflix’s proudest achievements to date. Following her fallen commander’s parting words, Violet finds herself employed as an Auto Memory Doll; wandering around the country and writing letters for those wanting to express what lies in their hearts. Throughout these encounters, Violet not only starts to break free of her solemn shell, but discovers the many facets that come with being a human, both the painful and beautiful.

A truly haunting take on what was already hailed as one of the darkest properties to come from the early manga scene, this latest incarnation of Devilman blends together the exquisite fluidity made famous by director Maasaki Yuasa with an unrelenting look at every taboo mankind is capable of creating. Following his sudden transformation into a demon hybrid, the once timid Akira declares himself as a protector of humans, only to find himself caught in the middle when the worst of man and demon rises to the surface in a truly unforgettable and uncomfortable display of brutality. Even years on, it still holds the title for Netflix’s best and darkest anime venture.