With over 100 million subscribers worldwide, online streaming services like Netflix and Hulu have become the supreme overlords of TV shows and movies. These streaming giants have a lot of titles in their arsenal, and lately, they’ve been dipping their toe in the anime market bringing us some awesome anime series to binge-watch. So, whether you’re new to anime or a seasoned fan, here are 13 anime series on the streaming services Netflix and Hulu that you need to binge-watch.
Knights of Sidonia
- Number of episodes: 24 (2 seasons)
- Genre: Action, Mecha, Sci-Fi, Space
- Streaming service: Netflix
The perfect anime to start your Netflix binge-watching session is none other than the first Netflix original anime series, Knights of Sidonia. The energetic and equally wonderfully choreographed series documents a distant-future space opera involving the colony ship Sidonia trying to fight off aliens while looking for a world to call home.
[Zuleika Boekhoudt, FANDOM Contributor]
DARLING in the FRANXX
- Number of episodes: 24 (1 season)
- Genre: Action, Mecha, Sci-Fi, Romance
- Streaming service: Hulu
In a distant dystopic future of DARLING in the FRANXX, children are raised without love, freedom, names, or knowledge of the world beyond the Garden, the facility that trains them to become Parasites, male-female mech pilot pairs. Those who show potential move on to live on plantations — facilities that house parasites — the others disappear, never to be heard of again.
Hiro, code number 016, is one of those children. Unfortunately, he goes from being a child prodigy to being unable to pilot a mech (called FRANXX) at all, a fate worse than death. That is, until he meets a mysterious horned girl, called Zero Two.
Not only does her addition to Squad 13 give Hiro the will to pilot again, it also leads the squad to question everything they know about themselves and the mysterious world they live in. While the show features beautiful, fast-paced mecha battles, it’s actually the relationships between the children of Plantation 13 that bring the suspense and drama.
From crushes to jealousy, the children experience emotions that, thanks to their sheltered upbringing, they just can’t put to words. Viewers will relate to the agony of puberty, but will also find themselves attached to these strong-willed kids who continue to fight even though the odds are stacked against them.
[Karla Clark, FANDOM Contributor Program Manager]
Black Lagoon
- Number of episodes: 24 (2 seasons)
- Genre: Action, Drama, Mafia, Pirates
- Streaming service: Hulu
Black Lagoon tells the story of a young businessman, Rokuro, who soon comes to regret his decision to go on a business trip to Thailand. As within the Land of Smiles, lies the crime-ridden city of Roanapur, which is notorious as a haven for convicts and degenerates.
Before even arriving at Roanapur, Rokuro gets captured by a mercenary group called Black Lagoon. The group plans to hold Rokuro for ransom, but the scheme ultimately fails, as Rokuro’s bosses refuse to pay any cent for him.
Now stranded and betrayed by his former employer, Rokurou decides to join his capturers. To survive in this crime-ridden city, Rokurou must change and prepare himself for the carnage that he’s going to be living in.
[Zuleika Boekhoudt, FANDOM Contributor]
Cowboy Bebop
- Number of episodes: 26 (1 season)
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi, Space
- Streaming service: Hulu
Depending on who you ask, Cowboy Bebop is somewhere between a phenomenally great anime and the absolute best anime ever made (which was the opinion of my high school band teacher). Cowboy Bebop tackles the loneliness and search for meaning that comes with adulthood better than nearly any other anime.
Its setting in the space-exploring near-future is also so multi-faceted and well done that it feels like a reality we might one-day call home. Its soundtrack is also the stuff of legends and perhaps the best feature of this already immaculate anime.
At only 26 episodes, Cowboy Bebop is perfect for binge-watching. Fair warning, though, the biggest criticism against this show is that it ends, and viewers are no longer able to journey through space with The Bebop crew. So, prepare for the inevitable heartbreak. If you think you can handle it, you can watch the excellent dub on Hulu.
[Lucas DeRuyter, FANDOM Contributor]
Gungrave
- Number of episodes: 26 (1 season)
- Genre: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi, Super Power
- Streaming service: Hulu
If supernatural and crime syndicates are more of your go-to anime, then Gungrave may be just for you. The series follows two friends, Brandon Heat and Harry MacDowell, as they move up the ladder in Millennion, the largest and most notorious mafia family in the area. While these two are so close that they even consider themselves as brothers, greed and jealousy prove stronger than their bond.
[Zuleika Boekhoudt, FANDOM Contributor]
Gate: Thus the JSDF Fought There!
- Number of episodes: 24 (2 seasons)
- Genre: Action, Military, Adventure, Fantasy
- Streaming service: Hulu
In Gate, after a mysterious gate suddenly appears in the middle of Tokyo, Japan, the rest of the world is shocked when they learn that there’s a whole other civilization filled with supernatural creatures. To learn more about this mysterious new world, Japan sends its elite military forces to investigate what these creatures want: peace or war.
While the 24-episode anime series may be just a glorification of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces (JSDF), it has a unique premise that will make you want more supernatural military action.
[Zuleika Boekhoudt, FANDOM Contributor]
Samurai Champloo
- Number of episodes: 26 (1 season)
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Historical, Samurai
- Streaming service: Hulu
Samurai Champloo is an anime that imagines a world where samurai culture and hip-hop culture are blended together. So, it’s simultaneously amazing and ridiculous. Much like Cowboy Bebop, every episode focuses on characters trying to find their place in a world that no longer has a need for them, or who cannot reconcile with their unique circumstances. While it can be rather intense and relatable at times, there are also moments of levity.
Samurai Champloo is amazing because it covers some very relatable topics while also not taking itself too seriously. It succeeds in depicting the highs and lows of life in a way that feels wholly sincere and unique. This amazing anime is for anyone who wants their minds blown and hearts touched.
[Lucas DeRuyter, FANDOM Contributor]
Little Witch Academia
- Number of episodes: 25 episodes (2 seasons)
- Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Magic, Fantasy, School
- Streaming service: Netflix
Some hocus-pocus here and an eye of newt there and you get Little Witch Academia. The magical series follows Atsuko as she enters the prestigious magic school, Luna Nova Academy and the fascinating situations she gets herself into while aspiring to become her idol, Shiny Chariot.
The series brings wonder, playfulness and beautiful graphics into one. But, that’s not all. The visuals, the message of friendship and overcoming personal failings are thoroughly intertwined making it the perfect anime to binge-watch with the family.
[Zuleika Boekhoudt, FANDOM Contributor]
Btooom!
- Number of episodes: 12 episodes (1 season)
- Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Psychological, Seinen
- Streaming service: Hulu
Imagine waking up one morning on a beautiful island with no recollection of how you got there. That wouldn’t be a bad situation to be in, right? For, 22-year-old Ryōta Sakamoto it’s his worst nightmare. While on this seemingly deserted island, Ryōta quickly figures out what’s going on: he’s playing his favorite video game, Btooom!, which doesn’t bode well if you’re playing to stay alive.
[Zuleika Boekhoudt, FANDOM Contributor]
One-Punch Man
- Number of episodes: 12 episodes (1 season)
- Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Comedy, Parody, Super Power, Supernatural
- Streaming service: Netflix and Hulu
One-Punch Man is, almost indisputably, the best anime to be released in 2015. This amazing series is a deconstruction of the shōnen genre and makes nuanced commentary on how difficult it can be to live a fulfilling life and the value of self-betterment. It also has a dude who can kill giant monsters and insane aliens in a single punch.
This 12-episode anime flies by at a break-neck pace; making it perfect to binge on Netflix or Hulu. While this series might not be the perfect fit for you if you are less familiar with anime, anyone can appreciate the show’s stunning animation and quirky collection of characters.
[Lucas DeRuyter, FANDOM Contributor]
The Devil is a Part-Timer!
- Number of episodes: 13 episodes (1 season)
- Genre: Comedy, Demons, Romance, Fantasy
- Streaming service: Netflix and Hulu
Paying rent, doing chores, and working at a fast food chain are just the way of life. There’s no excitement in these mundane tasks for the average person. But, for Satan, these are just small steps towards worldwide domination.
After being stranded in modern day Tokyo and left powerless, Satan must work at MgRonald’s to make ends meet as, “conquering the world” isn’t really much of a necessary skill.
Much of the humor in The Devil is a Part-Timer! stems from the Prince of Darkness scraping together as much cash as possible. And of course, the crazy fights that he gets into over the most mundane things. The series is genuinely funny and offers the right mix of personalities.
[Zuleika Boekhoudt, FANDOM Contributor]
Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet
- Number of episodes: 13 episodes (1 season)
- Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Adventure, Mecha
- Streaming service: Netflix and Hulu
In the distant future, humans live in space and their sole purpose is the extermination of a squid-like race of alien called Hideauze.
Ledo, a rank-and-file soldier, is separated from his fleet along with his mecha, Chamber. They land on a planet covered with water where people live on massive ships. You know, anime’s answer to Hollywood’s Waterworld.
Unable to speak their language, Ledo must learn to communicate with these people all the while trying to find a way back home.
Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet goes much deeper than it appears and explores some mature topics, such as cultural barriers and one’s purpose in life. It’s the perfect anime show to dissect and find out its true message and meaning in one binge-watching session.
[Zuleika Boekhoudt, FANDOM Contributor]
Castlevania
- Number of episodes: 4 (1 season)
- Genre: Horror, Supernatural, Vampires
- Streaming service: Netflix
Some would argue that this incredible, four-episode Netflix series does not technically count as an anime. While there is an argument to be made there, it doesn’t make Castlevania any less enjoyable. This show is all killer, no filler – with monstrous demons usually on the receiving end of that killing.
The dark, medieval setting of Castlevania and the personally motivated characters within it make this show a perfect fit for anyone looking to scratch their Game of Thrones itch. While the low episode count does make it perfect to knock out in an evening or a weekend, it does mean that you’ll quickly be hungry for more. Thankfully, Netflix has made it clear that season two is in the works and that it will consist of eight episodes. While there is no official release date yet, it’s great to know that this wonderful series will continue on.
[Lucas DeRuyter, FANDOM Contributor]
Your Lie in April
- Number of episodes: 22 episodes (1 season)
- Genre: Drama, Music, Romance, School, Shounen
- Streaming service: Netflix and Hulu
Do you love music? Are you a hopeless romantic? Then prepare to jump on the roller coaster ride that is Your Lie in April. The 22-episode anime follows prodigy-pianist Kousei who, after losing his mother, also loses interest in playing the piano. But, when he meets the beautiful and somewhat brash Kaori, his life gets a new tune.
The balance of seriousness and humor, alternating between the two and then being united with the musical scores brings the whole series together. And when it comes to the drama, the passionate intensity between the characters alone is reason enough to binge-watch the series until it’s melancholic finale.
[Zuleika Boekhoudt, FANDOM Contributor]