The 5 Best Original Netflix Animations You Can Stream Now.
Japanese animation, widely known in the West as “anime”, has reached heights of popularity that we did not even know about just a few years ago.
With very few dubbed and heavily edited shows coming out on US screens, fans began to exchange counterfeit VHS tapes and later copies of digital videos with fan subtitles from the Internet. Now every major streaming service has a healthy library of anime that anyone can watch with the click of a button.
Netflix especially stands out for its investment in original anime. They either paid to produce these shows or bought the exclusive broadcast rights. While there are very few real-life failures in the Netflix Original anime library, these five shows represent some of their best work in our opinion.
1. Devilman Crybaby
Devilman Crybaby is a new adaptation of Go Nagai’s popular manga Devilman. This is a very stylized and extremely brutal approach to the original work. So this is certainly not a show for the faint of heart.
This anime tells the story of Akira Fudo, who takes on the powers of a powerful demon named Amon. Together with their friend Ryo, they fight the demons that hide among humanity. Devilman Crybaby is disturbing, dark, violent and nihilistic. The previous anime adaptation of Devilman wasn’t family-friendly either, but this version is by far the most graphical version of the story.
If dark and brutal entertainment is your thing, Devilman Crybaby deserves the title of masterpiece. It is beautifully designed, dubbed at the highest level, and its tragic story will remain in the memory of viewers long after the end credits are over.
2. Hi Score Girl
Anime and manga are well known for telling incredibly niche stories. Whether it’s tennis or, in this case, a very specific era in the history of video games. The game “Hi Score girl” is set in the 90s and tells a romantic story about Haruo Yaguchi and Akira Ono.
One is the average lagging behind, the other is the sophisticated daughter of an influential family. What they have in common is their absolute obsession with video games. Especially competitive arcade fighting games like Street Fighter II.
While the show’s CGI may not be for everyone, it is a charming story that retains the original manga’s emphasis on accurate representation of video games. If you like cute romance tales, 90s or classic video games, then Hi Score Girl is a must see.
3. Violet Evergarden
If you are looking for a beautiful, sedate and exciting show, Violet Evergarden may be for you. Based on the award-winning light novel series written by Kana Akatsuki, it is now also an award-winning anime series.
In the world of “Violet Evergarden” we meet the main character right after she returns from the war. An injured former soldier with prosthetic arms, Violet is looking for work as an “automatic memory doll.” In fact, they are professional typists and ghost writers. People come to them and ask for letters, either dictating them or forcing these skilled craftsmen to choose the words for them.
Violet comes across as emotionally crap, more like a cold robot than a human. The last words spoken to her by the boss still haunt her, because she cannot understand their meaning. In the story, we accompany her on the way to understanding her own humanity and realizing that she is a weapon of war in the post-war world.
Apart from the main 13-episode series, there are also two special issues on Netflix at the time of writing. This helps to reveal the history and circumstances surrounding this mysterious woman.
4. The Seven Deadly Sins
At first glance, The Seven Deadly Sins looks like a typical shonen anime. Shonen anime and manga tend to target boys and include properties such as Naruto, Bleach, My Hero Academia, and Dragon Ball Z. Although, of course, they are popular with people of all genders and ages.
However, if you give it a chance, you will find a story that is more than meets the eye. A unique and fantastic mix of Arthurian mythology and Western fantasy, seen through the prism of the senses of Japanese animation.
The Seven Deadly Sins, as we first meet them, are a group of super-powerful criminals charged with a serious crime. Persecuted by anyone who wants a chance at glory. As the plot develops, we realize that things may not be as it seems at first glance.
The Seven Deadly Sins features gorgeous landscapes and character designs, engaging battles and a compelling story. A must see for fans of any of the aforementioned shows.
5. Beastars
The Beasts is a quirky show that both adds variety to this list of Netflix Original anime and fully deserves to be on it. In this strange story of a society of anthropomorphic animals, the main tension arises from the distinction between carnivores and herbivores. An example is the soft main character – the gray wolf Lagosi.
He falls in love with a little bunny girl named Haru, but has to deal with his predatory nature. At the same time, there are more serious political problems, not to mention a love triangle involving another protagonist.
The characters’ animal faces may be more symbolic than anything else, but there is no doubt that The Beasts is a wild ride from any point of view.
Honorary Mention: Castlevania
The last title on our list is not anime, but listen to us for a minute. Castlevania is an American production but based on the beloved Japanese video game franchise. The animation itself is reminiscent of anime films such as Vampire Hunter D, and the storyline will definitely not be devoid of your typical anime plot.
That is, if you didn’t know it was an American program, you would be forgiven for thinking that you were watching a dub of a Japanese show.
As for the story itself, it takes place in a dark and gothic world, where powerful supernatural beings terrorize people. The event that begins the story is associated with the almighty vampire Dracula, his human wife, and a misunderstanding that leads him to seek revenge on people. Now Dracula will have to fight our heroes Trevor Belmont, Sifa Belnades and Alucard. Dracula’s own half-human son.
It is arguably one of the best animated series ever made in terms of quality production and compelling storylines. If you are a fan of anime and missed it because it is American in origin, do yourself a favor and give it a try.
Anime Ga Suki Desu Ka?
This could very well be the golden age of anime, with easy, widespread access and a lot of international money flowing into the industry. Those of us who have been longtime fans for decades have always wanted this media to be easily accessible to everyone.
The day has finally arrived with the Netflix Original anime. If you want to try some of the best modern anime, this list is a great place to start.
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The 5 Best Original Netflix Animations You Can Stream Now
The 5 Best Original Netflix Animations You Can Stream Now