Anime On Netflix Everyone Should Watch

     As someone who once despised anime and used to view it as one of the lowest forms of entertainment, I am a firm believer that there is good anime out there that can hook anyone, regardless of their disposition, or experience with anime. Maybe you were one of those 90's kids who used to watch Pokemon, Dragon Ball Z, and/or Sailor Moon, but never really watched anime outside of that. Perhaps you're not interested in anime because it's hard to follow subtitles, or because anime is generally over-sexualized (I assure you that's a generalization). Heck, maybe you're like everyone else on the planet and you're looking for something to save you from going on your seventeenth The Office re-watch. I guarantee there's something out there that will open you up to anime.

     So where do you start? Well luckily for you, Netflix has a growing, very solid selection of anime to watch. With the assumption that you are the normal person with access to Netflix, I'm going to outline a couple of anime that I would lovingly refer to as "normie bait". This guide will stick to these easier to digest anime, but there are a few other anime on Netflix that I'd strongly recommend, which are bit more intense for the average first timer, but do an exceptional job of blowing expectations out of the water. I'll save those for another time. (P.S. If you're not new to anime but want a recommendation of something on Netflix, still take a scroll through this guide and see if there's anything on here you haven't seen yet!) Let's take a look at what's currently available.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

"Alchemy is bound by this Law of Equivalent Exchange—something the young brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric only realize after attempting human transmutation: the one forbidden act of alchemy. They pay a terrible price for their transgression—Edward loses his left leg, Alphonse his physical body. It is only by the desperate sacrifice of Edward's right arm that he is able to affix Alphonse's soul to a suit of armor. Devastated and alone, it is the hope that they would both eventually return to their original bodies that gives Edward the inspiration to obtain metal limbs called "automail" and become a state alchemist, the Fullmetal Alchemist."  -- Plot synopsis by myanimelist.net

     Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is THE quintessential anime for anyone who even remotely enjoyed shows like Dragon Ball Z, Naruto, or One Piece back in the day. FMA:B takes all the tropes of that genre of anime (called "shounen" anime), and perfects them in every regard. Apart from having a compelling plot that you can't pull yourself away from, the show has lots of great fight scenes, and characters that are easy to grow fond of or hate. I frequently find that people who don't normally watch anime, end up loving this show. FMA:B is easy to follow, but is still very interesting thanks to how it explains things to viewer. What's especially appealing for newcomers, is that the anime has one of the strongest English voice acting I've heard, so there's no need to worry about those troublesome subtitles. FMA:B is also a great show for Netflix binge watchers, as it paces itself nicely at 64 episodes long. One important thing to note if you plan to watch Fullmetal Alchemist, is to make sure you watch Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, and not the one titled "Fullmetal Alchemist". As a brief explantaion, "Fullmetal Alchemist" is an older version of the anime that aired while the source material was still being written, and eventually has to make its own original plot that is not the greatest. "Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood" is a redo of the old anime that aired when the manga had been completed, and adapts the manga completely, unlike "Fullmetal Alchemist".

Death Note

"High school student and prodigy Light Yagami stumbles upon the Death Note and tests the deadly notebook by writing a criminal's name in it. When the criminal dies immediately following his experiment with the Death Note, Light is greatly surprised and quickly recognizes how devastating the power that has fallen into his hands could be. With this divine capability, Light decides to extinguish all criminals in order to build a new world where crime does not exist and people worship him as a god. Police, however, quickly discover that a serial killer is targeting criminals and, consequently, try to apprehend the culprit. To do this, the Japanese investigators count on the assistance of the best detective in the world: a young and eccentric man known only by the name of L." 
-- Plot synopsis by myanimelist.net

     Comparable to a mixture of Supernatural and Criminal Minds, Death Note is the perfect anime for people who are into detective thrillers, mystery, and psychological intrigue, with a supernatural twist. The big draw with Death Note is the cat and mouse mind games that play out between Light and L, which is only amplified by the supernatural capabilities of the Death Note and Shinigami. While there is a bit of camp edginess to the anime, it's an interesting take on the morality of murder and justice. There are a lot of unexpected developments and twists that keep Death Note's plot fresh, and the show does a very solid job of setting boundaries on the supernatural elements (the notebook, for example, has a set of rules that prevent it from being an overpowered plot device). What makes Death Note most accessible to anime first-timers, is how universal the themes are, and how separated the show is from Japanese culture. Another huge plus, for casual viewers, is that this anime is one of the very few anime where I actually enjoy the English voice acting more so than the original Japanese cast. While Death Note is not as long as FMA:B, it still makes for a good binge at 37 episodes.

Your Lie in April

"Music accompanies the path of the human metronome, the prodigious pianist Kousei Arima. But after the passing of his mother, Saki Arima, Kousei falls into a downward spiral, rendering him unable to hear the sound of his own piano. Two years later, Kousei still avoids the piano, leaving behind his admirers and rivals, and lives a colorless life alongside his friends Tsubaki Sawabe and Ryouta Watari. However, everything changes when he meets a beautiful violinist, Kaori Miyazono, who stirs up his world and sets him on a journey to face music again." -- Plot synopsis by myanimelist.net

     Taking a step back from the intensity of action and thrillers, Your Lie in April is a beautiful, emotionally driven drama. If you're someone who has even the slightest bit of respect for classical music performance, or someone who thrives on romance and tragedy, this anime is a must watch. Your Lie is a fantastic example of the capabilities of animation to instill weight and emotion within a scene. It also provides a good entry point to a very common setting in anime; the high school life. Although Your Lie in April is probably one of the lesser known anime in this guide, I think it serves as an excellent starting part for people who are put off by action anime like Naruto. Beyond the strong animation and music, the most universal draw of the show is its themes of overcoming tragedy, depression, and other hardships that are relatable to everyone at some point in their life. While an English dub is available for this anime, I would strongly recommend watching it subtitled with the Japanese voice acting, as the original acting does a much better job of conveying emotions.

One Punch Man

"The seemingly ordinary and unimpressive Saitama has a rather unique hobby: being a hero. In order to pursue his childhood dream, he trained relentlessly for three years—and lost all of his hair in the process. Now, Saitama is incredibly powerful, so much so that no enemy is able to defeat him in battle. In fact, all it takes to defeat evildoers with just one punch has led to an unexpected problem—he is no longer able to enjoy the thrill of battling and has become quite bored." -- Plot synopsis by myanimelist.net

     Superheroes are undoubtedly popular right now, thanks largely in part to the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. So what better an anime to start with than One Punch Man, one the greatest parodies on the superhero genre to date. OPM is not only a fantastic comedy, with better quips and jokes than any Avengers movie could make, but it's also just a ridiculously fun time to watch. You would think that conceptually, a superhero who never loses would be pretty boring, but the show rolls with it in really interesting and amusing ways. It's not a one trick show either, there are other unique heroes and villains that make up a colourful cast of potential for more parodies and exciting action scenes. While One Punch Man may not always have the dramatic depth of a multi-movie franchise, many of the fight scenes are much larger in scale than most of the MCU (save for the recent Infinity Wars film). The anime not only makes a good starting point because of its superhero focus, but makes a great introduction to Japanese comedy in anime. If you find One Punch Man funny at any point, odds are there are other comedy anime that will make you laugh just as much, if not more.

Attack on Titan

"Centuries ago, mankind was slaughtered to near extinction by monstrous humanoid creatures called titans, forcing humans to hide in fear behind enormous concentric walls. What makes these giants truly terrifying is that their taste for human flesh is not born out of hunger but what appears to be out of pleasure. To ensure their survival, the remnants of humanity began living within defensive barriers, resulting in one hundred years without a single titan encounter. However, that fragile calm is soon shattered when a colossal titan manages to breach the supposedly impregnable outer wall, reigniting the fight for survival against the man-eating abominations." -- Plot synopsis by myanimelist.net

     I feel like most people have seen Attack on Titan even if they don't watch anime, which makes this an easy recommendation as a starting point on Netflix. I think the best way to describe this series is to imagine The Walking Dead, except the walkers are between 10-50 feet tall, can only be killed by cutting the back of the neck, and sometimes have unique abilities. I think what makes Attack on Titan so appealing at a mainstream level is that like The Walking Dead, or Game of Thrones, characters can and will die without a moment's notice. It's very unhinging action and drama, with a good level of mystery and even politics to carry the plot. The English voice acting on this is pretty solid as well, although I prefer the Japanese version. Not really a whole lot else I can say about Attack on Titan other than the fact that if you've heard the name before, it's for a good reason. Also the second season is way better than the first.

Little Witch Academia (TV)

"'A believing heart is your magic!'—these were the words that Atsuko "Akko" Kagari's idol, the renowned witch Shiny Chariot, said to her during a magic performance years ago. Since then, Akko has lived by these words and aspired to be a witch just like Shiny Chariot, one that can make people smile. Hence, even her non-magical background does not stop her from enrolling in Luna Nova Magical Academy. However, when an excited Akko finally sets off to her new school, the trip there is anything but smooth. After her perilous journey, she befriends the shy Lotte Yansson and the sarcastic Sucy Manbavaran. To her utmost delight, she also discovers Chariot's wand, the Shiny Rod, which she takes as her own. Unfortunately, her time at Luna Nova will prove to more challenging than Akko could ever believe. She absolutely refuses to stay inferior to the rest of her peers, especially to her self-proclaimed rival, the beautiful and gifted Diana Cavendish, so she relies on her determination to compensate for her reckless behavior and ineptitude in magic." -- Plot synopsis by myanimelist.net

    Little Witch Academia is another much more lighthearted anime compared to other shows on this guide. If you're into Disney and Harry Potter, then I'd wager you'll enjoy the heck out of LWA. The anime shares a lot of themes and animation techniques that you'd find in Disney animation, but is still very unique in its art style. LWA also does a great job of making magic feel truly fantastical, much like Harry Potter does in a very identical setting. The world of Little Witch Academia is fun to explore, and the characters are all enjoyable and have unique chemistry between them. There's something so uniquely uplifting and charming about every part of the anime, that makes it as equally good of a starting place as any other of the suggestions in this guide. On top of the TV series that came out last year, there are two other movies which are also on Netflix, but if you can't do them all definitely check out the TV series. I also strongly recommend giving subtitles a chance over the English voice acting; Little Witch Academia is a great example of Japanese voice acting that exceeds acting in any other form of media.


     Well, that's five strong choices to get you started. Once you've finished those and found what you like, you can check out any of the other Netflix anime that catches your attention, or if you're really itching for an anime binge, consider picking up a Crunchyroll subscription. I will continue to put out more anime recommendations and reviews, so keep checking back here for more, or even ask me for a recommendation directly.