Best Anime on Netflix 2026: What to Watch Right Now

Netflix has become a serious player in the anime world, both licensing popular series and producing stunning originals. Whether you already have a subscription or you’re wondering if Netflix is worth it for anime, this guide breaks down the best anime available on the platform in 2026.

From exclusive originals you can’t watch anywhere else to beloved classics and simulcast hits, here’s everything you should be watching on Netflix right now.

Our Top Picks

1. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

Cyberpunk Edgerunners David Martinez — Cyberpunk: Edgerunners – David Martinez

Episodes: 10 (Complete)
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Drama
Status: Netflix Exclusive
Why Watch: Studio Trigger’s masterpiece set in the Cyberpunk 2077 universe. Gorgeous animation, incredible action, and an emotional gut-punch of a story. You don’t need to know the game—this stands alone as one of the best anime of the decade. Essential viewing.

2. Pluto

Episodes: 8 (Complete)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Mystery, Drama
Status: Netflix Exclusive
Why Watch: A prestige adaptation of Naoki Urasawa’s manga, itself a reimagining of Astro Boy. Detective noir meets philosophical sci-fi in a gorgeously animated story about robots and humanity. One of the most mature, thoughtful anime on any platform.

3. Scott Pilgrim Takes Off

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off anime — Scott Pilgrim Takes Off

Episodes: 8 (Complete)
Genre: Action, Comedy, Romance
Status: Netflix Exclusive
Why Watch: The beloved comic/movie gets an anime adaptation with the original voice cast—but goes in wild unexpected directions. If you know Scott Pilgrim, this subverts everything you expect. If you don’t, it’s a hilarious, stylish love letter to geek culture.

4. Delicious in Dungeon (Dungeon Meshi)

Delicious in Dungeon cast — Delicious in Dungeon – The Party

Episodes: 24 (Complete)
Genre: Fantasy, Comedy, Adventure
Where to Watch: Netflix
Why Watch: What if you ate the dungeon monsters instead of just fighting them? This cozy adventure combines food anime with dungeon crawling for something unique and wonderful. Studio Trigger delivers beautiful animation, and the characters are endlessly charming.

5. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

Episodes: 28+ (ongoing)
Genre: Fantasy, Drama, Adventure
Where to Watch: Netflix / Crunchyroll
Why Watch: The 2024-2025 phenomenon about an immortal elf processing centuries of memories after her adventure ends. It’s meditative, beautiful, and quietly devastating. One of the defining anime of the current era.

6. Devilman Crybaby

Devilman Crybaby Akira — Devilman Crybaby

Episodes: 10 (Complete)
Genre: Action, Horror, Drama
Status: Netflix Exclusive
Why Watch: Masaaki Yuasa’s explosive adaptation of the classic manga. It’s violent, explicit, and emotionally devastating. Not for everyone, but absolutely unforgettable if it clicks. One of the most ambitious anime Netflix has ever produced.

7. Violet Evergarden

Episodes: 13 + Movies (Complete)
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Slice of Life
Where to Watch: Netflix
Why Watch: Kyoto Animation’s visual masterpiece about a former soldier learning to understand emotions through writing letters. Every episode is a tearjerker. The animation is the most beautiful you’ll ever see. Complete with movies for the full experience.

8. Castlevania

Castlevania Trevor Belmont — Castlevania – Trevor, Sypha, and Alucard

Episodes: 32 (Complete)
Genre: Action, Horror, Fantasy
Status: Netflix Exclusive
Why Watch: The gold standard for video game adaptations and Western-produced anime. Dark, violent, beautifully animated, and narratively complete. Trevor Belmont’s journey against Dracula is gothic perfection.

9. Baki Hanma

Episodes: 72+ (ongoing)
Genre: Action, Martial Arts
Status: Netflix Exclusive
Why Watch: Absurd, over-the-top martial arts mayhem. Baki is pure testosterone and ridiculous fights that somehow keep escalating. It’s not for everyone, but if you want pure fighting anime with zero pretense, this delivers endlessly.

10. Great Pretender

Episodes: 23 (Complete)
Genre: Action, Comedy, Thriller
Status: Netflix Exclusive
Why Watch: Stylish con artists pull elaborate heists across the globe. Wit Studio brings incredible visual flair, and each arc takes you to beautiful locations with clever schemes. If you like Ocean’s Eleven vibes with anime style, this is it.

11. Dorohedoro

Episodes: 12 (Season 2 announced)
Genre: Action, Comedy, Horror
Where to Watch: Netflix
Why Watch: A man with a lizard head hunts sorcerers in a grimy, violent, darkly comedic world. Dorohedoro is unlike anything else—its weird aesthetic and offbeat humor have earned it a cult following. If you want something different, this is it.

12. Blue Eye Samurai

Blue Eye Samurai Mizu — Blue Eye Samurai – Mizu

Episodes: 8 (Season 2 coming)
Genre: Action, Drama, Historical
Status: Netflix Exclusive
Why Watch: A mixed-race woman disguises herself as a man to seek revenge in Edo-period Japan. Stunning animation, brutal action, and mature storytelling. Western-produced but absolutely captures samurai drama essence. Critical darling for good reason.

13. Kengan Ashura

Kengan Ashura Ohma Tokita — Kengan Ashura – Ohma Tokita

Episodes: 48+ (ongoing)
Genre: Action, Martial Arts
Status: Netflix Exclusive
Why Watch: Corporations settle disputes through underground gladiator fights. If you want non-stop martial arts action with creative fighting styles, Kengan delivers. The 3D animation style grows on you, and the fights are genuinely exciting.

14. Japan Sinks: 2020

Episodes: 10 (Complete)
Genre: Drama, Disaster, Sci-Fi
Status: Netflix Exclusive
Why Watch: A family struggles to survive as Japan literally sinks into the ocean. It’s intense, harrowing, and emotionally devastating. Masaaki Yuasa brings his distinctive style to disaster survival drama with unflinching results.

Quick Comparison Table

How We Chose

Our selection criteria for Netflix anime in 2026:

Currently Available: These are all watchable on Netflix as of 2026. Anime libraries change, but these are established titles on the platform.

Quality First: Whether exclusive or licensed, these represent the best anime Netflix offers. No filler recommendations.

Variety: Action, drama, comedy, horror—we covered different genres so everyone finds something.

Netflix Exclusives Highlighted: Some of these you can ONLY watch on Netflix. Those get special attention.

Completed or Ongoing Excellence: Both finished stories and ongoing series that are worth starting.

Start Your Journey

For Netflix originals: Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, Castlevania, and Blue Eye Samurai showcase what Netflix can produce.

For crying: Violet Evergarden will emotionally destroy you with beauty.

For action: Baki, Kengan Ashura, or Blue Eye Samurai for different flavors of combat.

For something unique: Dorohedoro and Devilman Crybaby offer experiences you won’t find elsewhere.

For cozy watching: Delicious in Dungeon and Great Pretender are fun, engaging watches.

Netflix continues to invest in anime, and their library in 2026 reflects that commitment. Whether you want exclusive originals or popular licensed series, there’s plenty to binge.