The definition of anime has long been a source for debate amongst fans. In Japan, the word "anime" is simply Japanese for animation, no matter the media or its origin. But outside of Japan, the word has come to be associated specifically to animation being produced in Japan or from Japanese creators. This gets a bit complicated, as plenty of cartoons from the West like Transformers and even Animaniacs were at least partially animated by Japanese studios, and shows like The Last Airbender and movies like The Matrix were heavily influenced by anime. With Netflix now becoming a powerhouse in the anime industry, things get even more complicated, as they have shows made by Western creators like Castlevania and Seis Manos but are marketing them as anime. For this particular list, we’ve decided to go by Netflix’s own anime category, choosing from the movies listed within it, no matter its origin. Keep reading to discover the best anime movies on Netflix.

For more recommendations, check out our list of the best movies on Netflix, best anime shows on Netflix, and best cartoons for adults.

Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Netflix.

A Whisker Away

Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | IMDb: 6.7/10

whisker away poster
A Whisker Away
Anime
Adventure
Drama

Miyo Sasaki is in love with her classmate Kento Hinode and tries repeatedly to get Kento's attention by transforming into a cat, but at some point, the boundary between herself and the cat becomes ambiguous.

Release Date
June 18, 2020
Director
Jun'ichi Satô , Tomotaka Shibayama
Cast
Mirai Shida , Natsuki Hanae , Johnny Yong Bosch , Bob Buchholz , Kira Buckland , Reba Buhr , Griffin Burns , Susumu Chiba
Runtime
104 Minutes

A story of love and cats, the anime A Whisker Away is a pure cinematic treat from beginning to end that will leave you smiling from ear to ear and purring in contentment. The original Japanese title translates to Wanting to Cry, I Pretend to Be a Cat, a poetic encapsulation of the playful spirit of this fantasy adventure that may leave you wishing you, too, could become part of the feline world. Overflowing with whimsy, it centers on young Miyo Sasaki, who tries to get the attention of a classmate by turning into a cat. However, this ends up becoming less about young love and more about her own personal exploration of how she wants to live her life. As Miyo tries to escape the sad feelings of her life through this transformation, the animation ensures that there is joy and beauty to be found there as well. It all becomes a unique experience that speaks to the pains of growing up with how we all must try to find a way to work through the inevitable challenges of life — even if it means turning into a cat now and again. - Chase Hutchinson

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One Piece Film: Strong World

IMDb: 7.5/10

One Piece Film- Strong World poster
One Piece Film: Strong World
Anime
Fantasy
Action
Adventure
Release Date
December 12, 2009
Director
Munehisa Sakai
Cast
Mayumi Tanaka , Kazuya Nakai , Akemi Okamura , Kappei Yamaguchi
Runtime
1 hr 55 min

With the recent release of the live-action One Piece adaptation, now is a good time to revisit some of the other adventures featuring the Straw Hats. One Piece Film: Strong World is the tenth feature film in the series, and unlike previous films, production was personally overseen by manga creator Eiichiro Oda. The story finds the Straw Hat crew taking on the legendary pirate Shiki the Golden Lion, who kidnaps Nami and threatens to take over the East Blue using genetically modified animals. With director Munehisa Sakai at the helm, who previously worked on the One Piece series, and Oda’s contributions, this is one of the best One Piece films to this day.

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Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King

Rotten Tomatoes: 86% | IMDb: 7.4/10

Black Clover- Sword of the Wizard King poster
Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King
Action
Anime
Fantasy
Adventure
Release Date
June 16, 2023
Director
Ayataka Tanemura
Cast
Gakuto Kajiwara , Nobunaga Shimazaki
Runtime
1 hr 50 min

Like most movies for long-running anime, Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King is canon-adjacent, using aspects from the manga to tell a standalone story, so if you’re a long-time fan, the movie takes place before Asta and the Black Bulls head off to the Heart Kingdom. For newcomers, the movie is based on the popular Shounen series Black Clover, which follows a magicless yet ambitious young boy named Asta, who wants to be the Wizard King. In this adventure, he faces off against a traitor to the Clover Kingdom who seeks to wipe out the population and replace them with revived wizards of the past to create his own magic eugenics utopia. Needless to say, Asta and pals are gonna have to kick this guy’s butt! – Tauri Miller

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Dragon Quest: Your Story

IMDb: 6.5/10

Dragon Quest- Your Story poster
Dragon Quest: Your Story
Anime
Release Date
August 2, 2019
Director
Takashi Yamazaki , Ryūichi Yagi
Runtime
1 hr 52 min

Based on the beloved Dragon Quest games, adapting the storyline from the fifth installment, Dragon Quest: Your Story is a charming story directed by Makoto Hanafusa, Ryuichi Yagi, and Takashi Yamazaki. The animation style of Dragon Quest: Your Story feels like a unique blend of computer-generated anime with a hint of How to Train Your Dragon meets The Incredibles. With the original Japanese iteration controversially featuring live-action actors to voice the characters, Dragon Quest: Your Story stars Takeru Satoh, Kasumi Arimura, and Haru, dubbed into English well-known voice artists, Yuri Lowenthal, Stephanie Sheh, and Xanthe Huynh. – Yael Tygiel

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Altered Carbon: Resleeved

Rotten Tomatoes: 60% | IMDb: 6.4/10

altered carbon resleeved
Altered Carbon: Resleeved
Anime
Release Date
March 19, 2020
Director
Dai Sato
Cast
Ray Chase , Doug Stone , Kaiji Tang
Runtime
1 hr 14 min

Set a couple hundred years before the short-lived Altered Carbon series, Altered Carbon: Resleeved is an animated spin-off film with fantastic animation and soaring action. Expanding the universe in pleasing, albeit expected, ways, Altered Carbon: Resleeved stars Ray Chase, Doug Stone, Kaiji Tang, Chris Conner, and Brittany Cox. Taking place on the planet of Latimer, Altered Carbon: Resleeved follows Takeshi Kovacs (Chase) on his investigation into the death of a yakuza boss while attempting to protect a tattoo artist named Holly (Cox). Directors Takeru Nakajima, Yoshiyuki Okada, and Shouta Kitamoto tackle the techno-orientalist backdrop with beautifully choreographed fight sequences, weaving everything together. – Yael Tygiel

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Drifting Home

Rotten Tomatoes: 69% | IMDb: 6.3/10

drifting home poster
Drifting Home
Animation
Fantasy
Comedy
Drama
Adventure
Release Date
September 16, 2022
Director
Hiroyasu Ishida
Cast
Mutsumi Tamura , Asami Seto , Ayumu Murase , Daiki Yamashita
Runtime
1 hr 59 min

Directed by Hiroyasu Ishida, who co-wrote the refreshing film with Hayashi Mori, Drifting Home is a story about a group of neighborhood children who find themselves and their entire apartment complex drifting across a mysterious sea. Along their journey, they discover unexpected secrets. Drifting Home is a beautifully animated film that gingerly addresses themes of grief, family, and new beginnings. With a wonderfully charming cast, including the voices of Mutsumi Tamura, Ayumu Murase, Yumiko Kobayashi, and Asami Seto, and through deliberate storytelling, Drifting Home is a heartwarming adventure movie for audiences of all ages. – Yael Tygiel

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Bubble

Rotten Tomatoes: 50% | IMDb: 6.3/10

bubble poster
Bubble (Netflix)
Animation
Release Date
April 28, 2022
Cast
Jun Shison , Mamoru Miyano
Runtime
1 hr 40 min

From director Tetsurô Araki (Attack on Titan) comes Bubble, a fascinating anime film that takes place after Tokyo is attacked by bubbles, leaving the city destroyed and isolated from the rest of the world. Produced by an all-star team in the anime sphere, including writers Gen Urobuchi, Renji Ooki, and Naoko Satou, Bubble allows experienced filmmakers to bring their visions to life. With gravity as broken as the city, Tokyo becomes a parkour battlefield. When a couple of young people unexpectedly meet during a reckless jump, it seems their encounter might be more fortuitous than they thought. – Yael Tygiel

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Violet Evergarden: The Movie

Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 8.3/10

Violet Evergarden: The Movie
Animation
Release Date
September 18, 2020
Director
Taichi Ishidate
Cast
Yui Ishikawa
Runtime
2 hr 20 min

Emotional and sincere, Violet Evergarden: The Movie is a stunning film that tackles the theme of overcoming trauma. As a child, Violet was made to be a soldier, and during battle, she lost both her hands and her beloved mentor, Gilbert. To overcome her painful past, she became a Doll: someone who ghostwrites letters to help people express their feelings. After encountering a terminally ill boy named Yurith, Violet is forced to confront painful memories as well as her love for the man she lost. The animation and story are equally stunning, but beware: you’re going to want to grab some tissues before tuning into this beautiful tale. – Taylor Gates

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Child of Kamiari Month

Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 5.9/10

Child of Kamiari Month poster
Child of Kamiari Month
Animation
Fantasy
Release Date
February 18, 2022
Cast
Maaya Sakamoto , Miyu Irino , Kô Shibasaki
Runtime
1 hr 39 min

Child of Kamiari Month effortlessly combines fun, lighthearted moments with serious topics like grief. The film centers around an elementary school girl named Kanna, who has a passion for running, which she inherited from her mother. However, after her mother passes away, Kanna struggles to cope and loses her love for it. But when Kanna is sent on an unexpected journey, joined by a rabbit named Shiro and a demon named Yasha, she may just refind her enjoyment for the sport – and refind herself in the process. With a touching plot and gorgeous animation, Child of Kamiari Month is a must-see. – Taylor Gates

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NiNoKuni

IMDb: 6.1/10

NiNoKuni poster
NiNoKuni
Animation
Action
Fantasy
Release Date
August 23, 2019
Director
Yoshiyuki Momose
Cast
Kento Yamazaki , Maaya Sakamoto
Runtime
1 hr 46 min

Based on the video game series of the same name, NiNoKuni is a fantasy film about a trio of teenagers who get swept up into a magical kingdom called Evermore. As they jump back and forth between worlds, they discover how actions in one affect the other. Eventually, as with any great magical movie, there’s an epic battle between good and evil they must fight in. NiNoKuni feels like a combination of classics, like Spirited Away meets The Wizard of Oz. If you’re looking for a solid adventure flick that can transport you to a faraway land, look no further. – Taylor Gates

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New Gods: Nezha Reborn

Rotten Tomatoes: 80% | IMDb: 6.8/10

new gods nezha reborn
New Gods: Nezha Reborn
Animation
Fantasy
Action
Release Date
April 12, 2021
Cast
Yang Tianxiang , Zhang He , Xuan Xiaoming
Runtime
1 hr 56 min

New Gods: Nezha Reborn takes a classic character from a popular Ming dynasty-era novel and gives it a steampunk twist. The film tells the story of Li Yunxiang, a motorcyclist who learns that he is actually the great deity Nezha reborn. However, before he can fully process this and come into his powers, old enemies start cropping up, putting him in danger. New Gods: Nezha Reborn does an excellent job blending realism with more surrealist aspects, offering an interesting and fresh approach to traditional mythology. – Taylor Gates

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Blame!

IMDb: 6.6/10

blame poster
Blame!
Animation
Sci-Fi
Action
Release Date
May 20, 2017
Director
Hiroyuki Seshita
Cast
Takahiro Sakurai , Kana Hanazawa , Sora Amamiya , Mamoru Miyano
Runtime
1 hr 46 min

If you’re scared of technology growing more and more powerful, Blame! might not be the best watch for you. (Or, if you’re looking for a terrifying horror movie, maybe the perfect one.) The film takes place in the distant future, where humans are considered illegal residents and hunted by robots. One day, however, a group of survivors comes across Killy: a synthetic human who could be the key to survival. Sci-fi fans who are craving a good atmospheric drama are sure to find lots to love in this film. – Taylor Gates

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The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf

Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 7.2/10

The Witcher Nightmare of the Wolf
The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf
Sci-Fi
Animation
Fantasy

Release Date
August 23, 2021
Director
Kwang Il Han
Cast
Theo James , Mary McDonnell , Lara Pulver , Graham McTavish
Runtime
83 minutes

A prelude to the main story of The Witcher franchise, The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf is a stunning action-packed peak into a young Vesemir’s (Theo James) life and a look into the world prior to Geralt’s adventures. Tasked with hunting down Kitsu (Kari Wahlgren), a missing elf turned evil mage, Vesemir and the witch, Tetra (Lara Pulver), slowly begin to uncover a more sinister plot brewing in the shadows of the land. Fluid animation and beautifully rendered backgrounds create an immersive world that both fans of the franchise and newcomers will enjoy, and the noteworthy voice acting only adds to the experience. Be prepared for chilling monster designs and lots of carnage, as well as a pleasantly surprising amount of that dark humor that Netflix Anime has come to be known for. The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf excels at defying expectations, revealing a thrilling story filled with love, loss, and lies. - Olivia Fitzpatrick

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A Silent Voice: The Movie

Rotten Tomatoes: 94% | IMDb: 8.1/10

a-silent-voice-poster
A Silent Voice
Animation
Drama
Release Date
September 17, 2016
Director
Naoko Yamada
Cast
Miyu Irino , Saori Hayami , Aoi Yuki
Runtime
2 hr 10 min

A beautiful journey into the often broken and perilous experience of growing up, A Silent Voice: The Movie takes the story from the beloved manga to the big screen to remarkable effect. It all centers on a group of students and the long, painful process of making amends for past harms on a rocky path to redemption. Specifically, it is all about how one young boy bullied another girl who is deaf to the point where she left the school. There is no easy way to make up for such horrible things, and the film doesn’t shy away from this, pushing characters to really grapple with the harm they have caused. It does so with both vibrant and brilliant animation that masks a more profound sadness that only gets more overwhelming at every turn. Spanning several years as the characters grow into early adulthood, it is a film that tackles often heavy subject matter with a sense of grace and joy that more than earns its bittersweet ending. - Chase Hutchinson

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Flavors of Youth

Rotten Tomatoes: 83% | IMDb: 6.6/10

flavors of youth poster
Flavors of Youth
Anime
Anthology
Drama
Release Date
August 4, 2018
Cast
Taito Ban , Mariya Ise , Ikumi Hasegawa , Minako Kotobuki
Runtime
1 hr 15 min

A film made up of three distinct and lovely vignettes that come together into something magnificent, Flavors of Youth captures a sublime sense of tragedy mixed with triumph. Following three different stories of growing up in three different cities in China, the film is centered around love and loss as they play out across the lives of disconnected strangers who all are at the same airport. They also are often linked to food, not just as something to eat but as a sensory connection to memory that sticks with us long into adulthood. There is just so much to latch onto with each individual story, as they are all lovingly crafted. From the detailed animation to the strong writing, they are all different even as they all operate in conversation with many of the themes of the other stories. Though you may feel sad that they are often fleeting experiences, this is the point, as you soon get swept up in the next story with the understanding that it too won’t last forever. The only downside? It will likely make you incredibly hungry for one of the many delicious meals you see brought to life. - Chase Hutchinson

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Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters

IMDb: 6.0/10

godzilla planet poster
Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters
Animation
Release Date
November 17, 2017
Director
Kobun Shizuno , Hiroyuki Seshita
Cast
Mamoru Miyano , Takahiro Sakurai , Kana Hanazawa , Yûki Kaji
Runtime
1 hr 28 min

After more than 60 years and over 30 films, Planet of the Monsters is the first animated film in the Godzilla franchise and the first film in a trilogy about a future where humans are attempting to recolonize Earth 20,000 years after the planet was taken over by Godzilla.

Though the CGI animation may take some time getting used to, there are some beautiful shots and stunning action scenes that can even go up against the big-budget live-action King of the Monsters. This trilogy is also true to the original movies in the franchise in that it is more of a drama with monsters in them than full-out action all the time. Planet of the Monsters and its sequels also ask some interesting questions about philosophy and religion via two alien species in conflict while giving us a true sci-fi epic about a giant monster with an incredible soundtrack.

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The End of Evangelion

Rotten Tomatoes: 90% | IMDb: 8.1/10

end of evangelion poster
Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion
Anime
Sci-Fi
Release Date
July 19, 1997
Director
Kazuya Tsurumaki , Hideaki Anno
Cast
Megumi Ogata , Megumi Hayashibara , Kotono Mitsuishi
Runtime
1 hr 27 min

First of all, do not, under any circumstances, attempt to watch The End of Evangelion without having seen Neon Genesis Evangelion. This is the most complex, challenging movie on this list, but watching it will feel like a life-changing experience.

After an ambiguous ending that some fans considered to be unsatisfying and inconclusive, death threats were sent to creator Hideaki Anno. Prompted by the production company’s wishes to create a film ending to the series, Anno worked on End of Evangelion, a direct response to the backlash that literally incorporates the death threats into the movie for a split second. Taking place during the last two episodes of the show, the movie offers an alternate reason for Shinji’s breakdown and also shows the Evangelions’ organization NERV come under attack by shadowy corporation SEELE and the Japanese government, who are trying to bring about the world-ending Third Impact.

It is a fascinatingly personal look at Anno’s own mentality as he brings the audience in on his way of thinking, while also pointing the camera back at the audience and condemning them for demanding something other than what the author intended. It’s a masterwork of filmmaking, mixing animation with live-action scenes in what’s probably the most direct response to fan entitlement and toxicity in anime history.

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