Japanese animation, or anime, is no longer a niche interest – it's a global entertainment powerhouse attracting mainstream attention like never before. While the likes of dedicated services such as Crunchyroll cater to hardcore fans, Netflix and Amazon Prime are increasingly bringing Japan's biggest hits to more casual western audiences, and even investing directly in production themselves.
Here are some of the best anime series and movies on each platform, providing a solid introduction to newcomers and a highlight of the best around for anyone well versed in the medium.
If you've changed your mind and don't fancy anime, it's worth checking out our guide to the best films on Netflix, best Netflix series and what is new on Netflix.
The best anime on Netflix
Netflix started putting big money into anime with 2014's action sci-fi outing Knights of Sidonia – and hasn't stopped since. Now both directly funding anime exclusives to the streaming service and licensing some of the biggest hits Japan is putting out, Netflix is a must-have for anyone even curious about anime, and these are some of its best offerings.
If you've gone off the idea of watching anime, we also have a guide to the best movies on Netflix and a pick of the best shows and series on Netflix.
Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Power comes at a cost. This is the central theme of FMA:B, where the laws of magic (‘alchemy’ in the show’s own terms) are governed by the principle of equivalent exchange. The Elric brothers, Edward and Alphonse, learn this lesson the hard way when they attempt the forbidden practice of resurrection. In an attempt to return their lives to normal, they leave their home and travel into the city, to become official State Alchemists and find the Philosopher’s Stone that will fix everything. If one thing’s certain, you will never be bored watching this show. You can find it here.
Cowboy Bebop
Having just celebrated its 20th anniversary, Cowboy Bebop remains one of the most famous anime in the West, and one of the best introductions to the medium for newcomers. The basic genre is a sci-fi/western mix, but there is plenty of drama, action and comedy throughout the show which keeps things constantly fresh. The cast of the show may be interstellar bounty hunters who go about their business to a funky jazz soundtrack, but they are such grounded and well developed characters you’d think you were watching the final season of a much longer show, instead of a standalone series of 26 episodes. Watch it here.
Violet Evergarden
On a continent left devastated by a brutal war, the eponymous Violet travels around, recording the stories of those unable to tell their own. She's no mere ghost writer though – rather, an 'Auto Memory Doll', working to capture others' final tales. Yet as a former child soldier, driven my the mysterious last words of her former commander, her own story might be the most important, with ramifications for the still-recovering world. Based on the illustrated novels by Kana Akatsuki and Akiko Takase – the first work to ever win the Grand Prize in the notoriously tough Kyoto Animation Award – this painstakingly animated series is a joy to behold. Follow Violet's journey here, with new episodes weekly.
Devilman Crybaby
Originally created by famed manga artist Go Nagai in 1972, Devilman is one of Japan's darkest superheroes – and absolutely not for younger viewers. Akira Fudo gains his powers when his 'friend' Ryo forcibly bonds the demon Amon to him, betting Akira's pure soul can tame Amon's power without succumbing to the corruption of possession. He's right too, setting Akira on course for a battle against the demon tribe returning to claim Earth as their own. This ten-episode adaptation modernises Nagai's original concepts, adapting the full, shocking story for the first time. It's also directed by Masaaki Yuasa, one of the most idiosyncratic animators currently working, ensuring this looks like nothing else. Watch here, and if you're left wanting more of the Satanic superhero, it's also worth checking out Cyborg 009 vs Devilman, a rare anime crossover featuring an alternate universe version of Akira battling the legendary Shotaro Ishinomori's cybernetic super-team.
B: The Beginning
In an alternate world, the kingdom of Cremona is protected by the Royal Police – yet while they're being kept busy hunting down the serial murderer known only as 'Killer B', a cult of genetically-altered superhumans is gathering in the shadows, aiming at resurrecting a dark god from Cremona's past. The two strands may be more closely linked than anyone suspects though, and B's actions may play directly into the cultists' plans. Only Keith Flick, an eccentric detective returning to the Royal Police, may be able to solve this grim case. Mixing procedural criminal drama with battles against unnaturally powered beings, you can catch this intense series here.
A.I.C.O. – Incarnation
In 2035, the 'Burst' incident – an experiment gone awry – leaves an entire city uninhabitable, dominated by an artificial, ever-growing life-form known only as 'Matter'. Two years later, Aiko Tachibana, a 15-year old girl who lost her family in the Burst, learns she only survived because her brain was transplanted into an artificial body – one that may hold the key to stopping the spread of Matter. Joined by the mysterious Yuya Kanzaki, Aiko joins a group possessing advanced weaponry and mecha to return to the Burst's ground zero, the fate of humanity in her hands. A stunning action sci-fi series from Bones, the studio behind Eureka Seven and Fullmetal Alchemist, you can follow Aiko's journey here.
A Silent Voice
Shoya Ishida is about to commit suicide – until a flash recollection of his childhood changes his mind. Recalling and regretting how he had bullied deaf Shoko Nishiyama, he seeks out his former victim and seeks to make amends, but Shoko's protective sister Yuzuru is suspicious of his motivations. Directed by Naoko Yamada, this is a contemplation on communication and kindness, featuring lush animation and a gorgeous musical score. Watch here – and have tissues at the ready.
The best anime on Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime is home to a wide selection of anime series, including mainstream kids fare such as Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh!, cult favourites, and even some real obscurities not found anywhere else, including a trio of Japanese takes on the Sinbad story. Here are WIRED's picks for the best anime on Amazon.
If you've changed your mind and don't fancy anime on Amazon's service, we also have guides to the best films to watch on Amazon Prime UK and Amazon Prime's best TV shows.
Kokkoku
The title may not mean much in English, but its translation – "Moment by Moment" – hints at the time-warping nature of this tense thriller. When Juri Yukawa's brother and nephew are kidnapped by a cult, her grandfather reveals a family secret – the ability to freeze time and travel through a realm known as 'Stasis'. Intending to use the power to rescue their lost family members, the Yukawas find they're not the only ones in the temporal otherworld – grotesque monsters and sinister time-stoppers are also at work. The high concept of Seita Horio's original sci-fi manga is buoyed by a refreshingly mature cast of adult characters, whose interpersonal dysfunctions threaten them as much as the horrors lurking in Stasis. Spend your time with the series here.
Beatless
What happens when the creation of new technology and its introduction into society outpaces humanity's capacity to adapt to it? That's the weighty philosophical question at the heart of this otherwise innocuous-looking series. Based on the novel by Satoshi Hase, Beatless is set in a future where androids known as 'hIEs' are indistinguishable from humans. When 17-year-old Arato becomes the owner of a "luxury" model named Lacia, he thinks he's acquired a glorified robot maid – but Lacia is far more advanced than he ever expected. Mixing action with deeper questions surrounding sentience and determination, this is an especially thought-provoking series.
Inuyashiki: Last Hero
Ichiro Inuyashiki is 58 years old, looks older, is ignored or disrespected by everyone he knows, has been given a terminal diagnosis by his doctor – and just got crushed by an alien spaceship. On the plus side, the visitors reconstructed him, upgrading him to an advanced cyborg in the process. Unfortunately, they also rebuilt the young, handsome, and cruelly evil Hiro. Now, it's an android grudge match as Ichiro tests his new abilities against the angel-faced but murderous Hiro. It's rare to find adult protagonists in anime, but Inuyashiki goes further, exploring society's attitudes to age and morality, while also delivering intense action each episode. The 11-episode first season can be found here.
Welcome to the Ballroom
Anime isn't all giant robots and super-powered warriors – this series focuses on competitive ballroom dancing, and is still completely gripping. Tatara Fujita is a decidedly average middle school student, unable to decide what he wants to do with his life until he stumbles into the dance studio of the eccentric Kaname Sengoku. A former world champion ballroom dancer, Sengoku's skill inspires Tatara to devote himself to the unlikely sport, sparking a surprisingly tense drama about the sacrifices it takes to be the best. Meticulously animated with unique character designs, the entire captivating series is available here.
Your Name
Mitsuha lives in quiet, mountainous Itomori, wishing her life was more interesting. High school boy Taki lives in bustling Tokyo. They've never met – so why do they keep swapping bodies, waking up in unfamiliar skin and living each other's lives? Yet as the two grow closer, communicating only through notes for whenever they swap back, strange forces keep them from meeting in person. A sci-fi romance story in a real-world setting, director Makoto Shinkai's latest work has been one of the biggest breakthroughs in anime history, and winner of numerous awards. Watch it here before J.J. Abrams' American remake arrives.
The Boy and the Beast
From director Mamoru Hosoda – renowned for the likes of Summer Wars and Wolf Children – comes this beautiful and heartfelt fantasy movie. When Kyuta stumbles from our world into the realm of beasts, he's taken in by the surly warrior Kumatetsu – a giant bear. As the bond between the two turns familial, Kyuta is torn between returning home and staying with his ersatz father figure when a dangerous force threatens both of his worlds. With breathtaking animation, pulse-racing action, and surprisingly emotional beats, you'll want to catch this modern masterpiece here.
