Anime on Netflix

With more than 49 million subscribers in the U.S. alone and more than 93 million worldwide, Funimation. So here's our rundown of Netflix's current exclusive anime offerings.

Netflix currently has 11 anime titles across eight franchises that are classified as Netflix Original Series, as well as two titles: DEVILMAN crybaby (Spring 2018). Current series are listed below in order of appearance on the service.

Knights of Sidonia
The first season of this all-CG production was the first Netflix Original Series anime back in 2014, and Netflix later picked up its second season too. A rousing musical score highlights this distant-future here.

The Seven Deadly Sins
This 24 episode series from 2014-2015 was Netflix's second pick. Its story about disgraced superhuman knights (including a giantess and a fairy noble) helping an endangered princess is equal parts superhero tale and fantasy yarn, though it does pack in some keen character development too. Netflix also offers the series' four-episode 2016 sequel. Full reviews of both series can be found here.

Glitter Force
This 2015-2016 series is an Americanized version of the 2012 anime series Smile Precure!, the ninth installment in the franchise. It runs 40 episodes across two seasons, skipping eight episodes from the original's 48-episode run. It involves a team of magical girls being assembled by the mascot character Candy to help Queen Euphoria of the kingdom of Jubiland thwart the minions of evil Emperor Nogo, who seek to release him from his sealed prison. In other words, it's standard magical girl fare. We don't currently have a review for it.

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Cyborg 009
Netflix has both of the most recent anime entries in this seemingly eternal franchise. There's a 2015 here.

GANTZ:O
The most recent Originals acquisition, this 2016 movie uses top-of-the-line Japanese CG animation to spin the old here.

The Best of the Lot

Honestly, that's a tough call. Of the nine Netflix Original anime that I have seen, GANTZ:O is the best-looking of the group, but I wouldn't call any of these titles outstanding in storytelling or characterization. By eliminating titles that are more inconsistent in quality, I'm left with the solidly entertaining Ajin and Kuromukuro, and of those two I'll go with the latter thanks to its more appealing visuals and likable cast.

The fact that Netflix seems to be picking up the pace and claiming titles a year or more ahead of release suggests that their experiment with anime is successful enough to warrant continuing. It's probably safe to say that anime will continue to be a small but significant part of Netflix's offerings for the foreseeable future.