Looking for the best anime movies on Netflix?
How about the hottest dark anime shows?
We’ve got you covered!
If you’re a huge fan of anime, you need to check out these 11 shows and movies!
Related: Top 10 Best Anime Drawing Books
Table of Contents
Best Anime Movies & Shows on Netflix
You’ve probably heard of anime before, haven’t you? If not, anime is an animated/cartoon-like feature that is made in Japan. It comes in 2 formats- dubbed and subbed.
What’s the difference, you ask?
- Basically, dubbed is the process of removing the Japanese dialogue and replacing it with English-speaking voice actors.
- Subbed is short for subtitled, meaning the Japanese dialogue stays the same and English subtitles are added. The format English dubbed anime on Netflix is the most common of the two.
So, now let’s talk about some of the best anime movies on Netflix, as well as some of the best anime shows on Netflix.
Best Anime Movies on Netflix
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First, let’s start with the best anime movies on Netflix. The 3 movies listed below are all English dubbed anime on Netflix.
1. Expelled From Paradise
Expelled From Paradise
is a 2014 animation, sci-fi movie that focuses on Officer Angela Balzac, who lives on a cybernetic universe and is tasked with locating a hacker who is living on Earth.
- It’s one of the most popular anime movies on Netflix, with 6.8/10 rating on IMDB. That may not sound high, but if you’ve ever browsed ratings, you know that people can be harsh!
- Rating- TV-14
RELATED: Top 10 Supernatural Anime Movies & Shows That Will Give You Chills
2. Harlock: Space Pirate
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWZc6rvwZWU
Harlock: Space Pirate is a 2013 animation, adventure, sci-fi movie that focuses on Space Captain Harlock, who is the only person who can save mankind, but first he must contend with the evil Gaia Coalition.
- This one is a huge hit with sci-fi anime fans! It has kind of a Firefly
vibe to it. - Rating- NR
vibe to it.
3. In This Corner of the World
- In This Corner of the World is a 2016 animation, drama, history movie that takes place during WWII in Hiroshima, Japan.
- The movie focuses on Suzu, an 18-year-old who is married to a man she hardly knows and is forced to learn to survive during wartime.
- This is probably the highest-rated anime movie on Netflix…or anywhere for that matter. It has a very rare 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
- Rating- PG-13
Best Anime Shows On Netflix
Now, let’s talk about the best anime shows on Netflix. All 8 of the shows below are English dubbed anime on Netflix.
4. Attack on Titan
Attack on Titan is an animation, action, adventure television series that has been airing since 2013.
It’s one of the best anime shows on Netflix, and not just in my opinion! IMDB users give it a total of 8.8/10!
- Season 1 aired from April 7, 2013 to September 29, 2013; Season 2 aired from April 1, 2017 to June 17, 2013 and Season 3 is set to premiere on July 22, 2018. It is adapted from the manga- of the same name- by Hajime Isayama.
- The series revolved around Eren Yeager, a young boy who battles against Titans, huge, human-devouring humanoids, after they destroy his hometown and kill his mother.
- Netflix- Netflix features all 25 episodes from Season 1.
- Rating- TV-MA
5. Bleach
- Bleach is an animation, action, adventure, supernatural television series that aired for 16 seasons, from October 5, 2004 to March 27, 2012.
- It is based on the manga- of the same name- by Tite Kubo. The series showcases Kurosaki Ichigo, a high school student who has the ability to see ghosts and begins training to become a Soul Reaper.
- Netflix- Netflix has all 63 episodes from Seasons 1, 2 & 3.
- Rating- TV-14
6. Death Note
Death Note is probably the most popular anime television series to date. The animation, crime, drama, psychological, thriller television series aired for 1 season, from October 3, 2006 to June 26, 2007. It is based on the manga series- of the same name- by Tsugumi Ohba.
The series focuses on Light Yagami, a high school student who decides to rid the world of criminals after he comes across a mysterious, supernatural notebook.
- Netflix- Netflix features all 37 episodes from Season 1.
- Rating- TV-14
- Don’t confuse it with the live-action version! While the anime received a whopping 9/10 on IMDB, the movie only scored a mediocre 4.6/10.
Dark anime on Netflix is so much more than just blood and gore. Dark anime provides a series with an atmosphere that is bleak, morbid or twisted. Death Note is a great example of dark anime on Netflix.
7. Fate/Zero
Fate/Zero is an animated, action, fantasy, thriller television series that aired for 2 seasons, from October 1, 2011 to June 23, 2012.
- It is based on the light novel series- of the same name- by Gen Urobuchi.
- The series centers on the Fourth Holy Grail War, a tournament that features 7 magicians who compete in a deadly battle royale.
- Netflix- Netflix has all 25 episodes of Seasons 1 & 2.
- Rating- TV-MA
8. Fullmetal Alchemist
Fullmetal Alchemist is an animation, adventure, dark fantasy, sci-fi television series that aired for 1 season, from October 4, 2003 to October 2, 2004.
- It is adapted from the manga- of the same name- by Hiromu Arakawa.
- It is the prequel to the anime television series- Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood- which aired for 1 season, from April 5, 2009 to July 4, 2010.
- The series focuses on Alphonse and Edward Elric, two brothers who are searching for the Philosopher’s Stone, so they can repair their damaged bodies, after a failed alchemy attempt to resurrect their mother.
- Netflix- Netflix has all 51 episodes from Season 1. Netflix also features all 64 episodes of Season 1 of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.
- Rating- TV-14
9. Gurren Lagann
Gurren Lagann is an animation, action, adventure, comedy, sci-fi television series that aired for 1 season, from April 1, 2007 to September 30, 2007.
- The series showcases Simon and Kamina, two teens living in an isolated subterranean village, who battle against Lordgenome, a power-hungry Spiral King who rules the Earth.
- Netflix- Netflix has all 27 episodes from Season 1.
- Rating- TV-14
10. Naruto
Naruto is an animation, action, comedy, fantasy television series that aired for 5 seasons, from October 3, 2002 to February 8, 2007.
- It is based on the manga series- of the same name- by Masashi Kishimoto.
- The series revolves around Naruto Uzumaki, a young orphaned boy who is destined to become a Hokage, known as the strongest ninja.
- Netflix- Netflix features all 156 episodes from Seasons 1, 2 & 3.
- Rating- TV-PG
11. Sword Art Online
Sword Art Online is an animation, action, adventure, sci-fi television series that aired for 1 season, from July 8, 2012 to December 23, 2012. A 2nd season titled- Sword Art Online II- aired for 1 season, from July 5, 2014 to December 20, 2014.
- It is adapted from the light novel series- of the same name- by Reki Kawahara.
- The series focuses on Kazuto “Kirito” Kirigaya and Asuna Yuuki, a pair of players in the MMORPG video game- Sword Art Online- who are trapped inside the virtual world.
- Netflix- Netflix has 25 episodes from Season 1. Netflix also features all 25 episodes from Sword Art Online II.
- Rating- TV-14
