38+ Best Anime Movies on Netflix You Need to Watch

Best Anime Movies on Netflix.

Netflix is the largest and most paid streaming service in the world and one of the best ways to enjoy watching anime legally. There are a variety of anime movies that are popular among both Japanese and foreigners. In Japan, the word “anime” is simply Japanese for animation, no matter its origin.

But outside of Japan, the word is associated specifically with animation produced in Japan or by Japanese creators. 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 also available on Netflix UK and Seis Manosbut but are marketing them as anime.

For this particular list, we’ve decided to go for the best anime movies on Netflix, choosing from the movies listed within their own anime category, no matter their origin.

Best Anime Movies on Netflix

• A Whisker Away
• Cowboy Bebop: The Movie
• Spirited Away
• Godzilla: The Earth Eater
• Flavours of Youth
• The Summit of Gods
• The End of Evangelion
• Mirai
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack 
• A Silent Voice
• Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King (2023)
• Sol Levante (2020)
• Dragon Quest: Your Story (2019)
• Altered Carbon: Resleeved (2020)
• Drifting Home (2022)
• Bubble (2022)
• Seven Deadly Sins: Cursed By Light (2021)
• Violet Evergarden: The Movie (2020)
• Child of Kamiari Month (2021)
• NiNoKuni (2019)
• New Gods: Nezha Reborn (2021)
• Blame! (2017)
• The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf (2021)
• Stand By Me Doraemon Movies (2014; 2020)
• Kuroko’s Basketball The Movie: Last Game (2017)
• Tiger & Bunny: The Rising (2014)
• One Piece Film Strong World (2009)
• The Seven Deadly Sins: Prisoners Of The Sky (2018)
• Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop (2021)
• Pokemon The Movie: Secrets Of The Jungle (2020)
• Children Of The Sea (2019)
• In This Corner of the World
• Tokyo Godfathers
• Big Fish & Begonia
• Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
• Brave Story
• The Night Is Short, Walk on Girl
• The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya

There is something in this list for everyone, from youngsters being introduced to the anime world, anime movies aimed at a young adult audience, complex or franchise titles not recommended for newbies, to critically acclaimed classics for all audiences.

Whether you’re a long-time fan or just looking to get into the medium, there is something for everyone. Before heading to the main post, I recommend you equally check out our post on 10 great anime series on Netflix.

A Whisker Away

Looking for anime movies on Netflix with a rather funny storyline?? A Whisker Away is for you. Miyo Sasaki is in love with her classmate Kento Hinode. She tries desperately to let him know but despite her efforts, she can’t.

One day, Miyo obtains a mask with strange powers. The mask allows anyone wearing it to transform into a cat. Miyo sees in this mask an opportunity to get closer to her lover easily. Being transformed into a cat, Kento effectively gives her the attention she has always sought without knowing what her true identity is. She enjoys it but does not know that this mask can also have its drawbacks.

Cowboy Bebop: The Movie

It is one of the best anime movies of all time and recommend anime to watch

Everything takes place in 2071, in the crater of Alba City on Mars by the explosion of a tanker truck by terrorists. The government suspects a bioterrorist attack and puts many people under medical surveillance. But although people are sick, no trace of the virus is found. A huge reward is therefore promised for the capture of the evildoers.

The Bebop’s bounty-hunting team takes the opportunity to bail out their finances. They identify the author of the attack: Vincent Volaju, a former soldier. The section members had been the subject of a scientific experiment involving nanorobots. Vincent was the only survivor, thanks to the anti-nanobots present in his blood. His memory had been erased as a result of this experience, and he was considered dead.

He launches a massive attack on Halloween day, by blowing up giant pumpkins filled with nanobots. Having guessed his intentions, the Bebop team embarks on the adventure to stop him and unravel the mystery behind this virus. Cowboy Bebop: The Movie is one of the best anime movies on Netflix that you should absolutely watch.

Spirited Away

Our little Chihiro Ogino’s family has decided to move and Chihiro is annoyed because she doesn’t want to leave her house or even abandon her school. While trying to reach their new home, they get lost at the end of a winding road and arrive in front of a tunnel.

Going through the tunnel they see what they think is an abandoned theme park. The parents investigate and find a deserted stall piled with food. They start eating but Chihiro has a bad feeling about it and refuses the food. 

Chihiro explores the park and meets a boy, Haku, who tells her to leave before nightfall. She runs back to her parents and finds they have become pigs and as the night falls she is gradually becoming transparent. Haku forces her to eat some food from the spirit world to prevent her from completely disappearing.

She’s trapped in this world, she will have to survive in it and find a solution to get out. This is one of the greatest all-time anime movies on Netflix and we highly recommend you watch it. It’s one of the best anime movies of all time and on Crunchyroll

Related: Spirited Away Anime Locations in Japan

Godzilla: The Planet Eater

It is the 34th film in the Godzilla series and acts as the sequel to 2018’s Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle, and also as the final instalment in the animated Godzilla trilogy. In this last film, humanity’s last survivors return to Earth to find that millennia have passed on Earth.

After two failed attempts to defeat Godzilla, the survivors’ numbers are gradually decreasing, and in-fighting has begun between humanity and its alien allies. But little do they know that their final challenge is approaching: a monster that not even Godzilla can defeat is coming to eat the world whole.

Flavours of Youth

Flavours of Youth is among the anime movies on Netflix with particular scripts. Indeed the anime tells three different tales in urban China but in different cities.

i) The Rice Noodles

Centred on a young employee working in Beijing, called Xiao Ming. He reminisces about his memories with his grandmother through his love for San Xian noodles.

ii) A Little Fashion Show

Shows orphan sisters living in Canton; the eldest earns her living as a model to enable her sister to study. 

iii) Love in Shanghai

Li Mo has a friendly relationship with Xiao Yu. After Xiao Yu got injured trying to go back home, Li Mo carried her on his back to her apartment. Since Xiao Yu could not go to school due to her injury, she asked Li Mo to record the lessons on cassette tapes so she could listen to the tapes and learn what she missed. Xiao Yu later responds back to Li Mo via cassette tapes and the two develop a romantic relationship with each other.

The Summit of the Gods

Makato Fukamachi, a Japanese photojournalist, accompanies mountain climbers to take pictures. He complains about the lack of determination in the climbers affecting the quality of his pictures. Someone approaches him and offers him the camera of George Mallory, a mountain climber who attempted to scale to the summit of Mount Everest in 1924, well before the first recorded success in 1953.

Since he died on the mountain, nobody knows whether he was successful or not. However, it was impossible to say whether he succeeded, unless someone could get their hands on his camera. Thinking of it as a joke, Fukamachi shrugs him off.

He later encounters a mysterious mountain climber named Habu Joji, in whose hands he thinks he sees Mallory’s camera, which might reveal if Mallory and his companion really were the first to climb Everest to find more information on Habu as he revisits his past and the people involved in his life.

Gradually he becomes more involved with Habu, to the extent that he ultimately finds himself joining him on Everest to record Habu’s own attempt to reach the peak. Where will all this lead him?

The End of Evangelion

The End of Evangelion is the concluding film to the Neon Genesis Evangelion series, of which it offers an alternative ending, the last two episodes of the anime have been very controversial. The film takes place right after the events of Episode 24 and is split into two parts (Episode 25′: Love is Destructive and Episode 26′: ONE MORE FINAL: I Need You) featuring a version of Episodes 25 and 26 of Neon Genesis Evangelion, final episodes of the series that have generated many reactions of dissatisfaction among fans. 

The film is thus chaptered into two parts: the first is centred on the Nerv, the man, and the angels; and the second part, is centred on Shinji Ikari and the complementarity plan.

Mirai

Kun, a young boy, lives a happy and fulfilling life until the birth of Mirai, his little sister. Kun feels left out as all the parent’s love and attention is now on Mirai. At the bottom of his garden, where he often takes refuge, is a magic tree.

Kun is propelled into a fantasy world where the past and future will mingle. In this fantastic world, he meets the different members of his family at different ages of their lives: his mother as a little girl, his great-grandfather in his youth and his teenage little sister.

Kun embarks on an initiatory journey that will lead him to marry the figure of the big brother he must become. This film teaches all children who find themselves in the same situation as Kun, important lessons about family and love.

Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack

UC 0093, Neo Zeon led by the red comet of Zeon “Char Aznable himself, returns with a new army mounted under the nose and beard of the Federation. Meanwhile, the AEUG is disbanded, it is replaced by Londo Bell, whose goal is similar to the Titans: prevent any attack from Neo Zeon. Veteran Bright Noah was put in charge, and they also recruited other veterans, such as Amuro Ray.

Char attempts to take possession of the asteroid Luna 5 during the Battle of Gryps. Mission successful, he managed to have it launched on Lhassa, in Tibet, where the new headquarters of the Federation was. Adenauer Paraya, a politician sent by the Federation, is on a mission to secretly negotiate with Char Aznable so that there is no more conflict. The negotiation turns to Char’s advantage, who buys back the asteroid Axis with a very large sum of gold.

His plan, project Axis to Earth to wipe out all life on it and accelerate humanity’s evolution into NewTypes. Bright Noah, Amuro Ray, and all the members of Londo Bell will then have to do everything to prevent this catastrophe.

A Silent Voice

Being one of the best anime that deals with depression, Silent Voice is equally one the best anime movies of all time and also centres around romance

Shoko Nishimiya has been deaf since birth and has a hearing aid. Despite this, she does everything she can to understand what is happening around her. Frightened by this handicap, her father ended up abandoning her, leaving her mother to raise her alone.

When Shoko is transferred to a new school, she tries to overcome her difficulties but, despite her efforts to integrate into her new environment, nothing helps persecution multiply. Intrigued, fascinated, and then finally exasperated by this young girl who does not know how to communicate with her voice, Shoya, the leader of his class, decides to devote all his energy to making her life impossible.

Psychological and then physical, the aggression of the young boy became more and more violent until the day when too much bullying provoked a complaint from Shoko’s family, as well as the school’s director’s intervention. At this moment, everything changes for Shoya: his comrades, who until then had not missed an opportunity to torment the young girl either, will turn against him and designate him as the sole responsible.

Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King (2023)

Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King is canon-adjacent, using elements from the manga to construct a solo story, like most movies for long-running anime, so if you’re a long-time fan, the movie takes place before Asta and the Black Bulls depart for the Heart Kingdom.

For those who haven’t seen it, the film is based on the well-known Shounen series Black Clover, which follows Asta, a young kid without magic but full of ambition, as he strives to become the Wizard King. In this quest, Harry battles a traitor to the Clover Kingdom who wants to exterminate the populace and replace them with resurrected wizards from the past in order to establish his own magical utopia based on eugenics.

Related: Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King Review

Sol Levante (2020)

In search of a bite-sized watch? We have the ideal solution. The Netflix and director Akira Saitou partnership produced the animated short Sol Levante. The audience is free to simply sit back and take in the kaleidoscope of colors and dynamic artwork because it is a visual extravaganza with lots of fast-paced motion and no conversation.

After watching the lighthearted four-minute movie, we urge you to watch the featurettes as well as to fully grasp the concept of the short, which is more of an exhibition of the capabilities of creating animation in a fully digital environment than it is about a tiny snippet of a larger story.

Dragon Quest: Your Story (2019)

Dragon Quest: Your Story, based on the popular Dragon Quest video game and adapting the plot from the fifth chapter, is a lovely story that was directed by Makoto Hanafusa, Ryuichi Yagi, and Takashi Yamazaki.

Its animation evokes a distinct fusion of computer-generated anime with a nod to The Incredibles and How to Train Your Dragon. This series, dubbed into English by renowned voice actresses Yuri Lowenthal, Stephanie Sheh, and Xanthe Huynh, starring Takeru Satoh, Kasumi Arimura, and Haru in place of the original Japanese version’s contentious use of live-action actors to voice the characters.

Drifting Home (2022)

Drifting Home, directed by Hiroyasu Ishida, tells the tale of a group of neighborhood kids who discover themselves and their entire apartment building drifting over an enigmatic sea. Ishida also co-wrote the film with Hayashi Mori.

They uncover unexpected secrets as they travel. It delicately deals with the subjects of loss, kinship, and fresh starts. Drifting Home is a pleasant adventure film for viewers of all ages, with a truly endearing cast, including the voices of Mutsumi Tamura, Ayumu Murase, Yumiko Kobayashi, and Asami Seto.

Bubble (2022)

The intriguing anime film Bubble, directed by Tetsurô Araki (Attack on Titan), is set after Tokyo is invaded by bubbles, leaving the city ruined and cut off from the outside world. With the help of an all-star anime production crew, including authors Gen Urobuchi, Renji Ooki, and Naoko Satou, professional filmmakers may bring their ideas to life in Bubble.

Tokyo transforms into a parkour battlefield with a gravity that is as shattered as the city. It seems as though a couple of young people’s chance encounters during a risky jump may have been more serendipitous than they initially believed.

Seven Deadly Sins: Cursed By Light (2021)

In this movie, Meliodas and his friends are forced to act once more when a potent new magical coalition threatens to upend the recently established peace and put everyone in great danger. Fans of the series will adore this bold, action-packed episode that is packed with style and flair.

Violet Evergarden: The Movie (2020)

Heartfelt and sincere, Violet Evergarden is quite beautiful. It explores the subject of getting over trauma. While serving in battle as a kid soldier, Violet lost both of her hands in addition to her cherished tutor, Gilbert. She transformed into a Doll, a person who ghostwrites letters to help people express their feelings, in an effort to move over her traumatic past.

Violet is forced to face her sad memories and her love for the man she lost after meeting a terminally ill youngster named Yurith. Although both the animation and the plot are exquisite, you should probably prepare some tissues before watching this lovely tale.

Child of Kamiari Month (2021)

Child of Kamiari Month deftly juggles serious subjects like bereavement with comical, lighter moments. The main character of the movie is Kanna, an elementary school student with a passion for running that she inherited from her mother.

However, after her mother dies, Kanna finds it difficult to love it anymore. When a demon named Yasha and a rabbit named Shiro accompany Kanna on an unexpected adventure, she might just rediscover her love for the sport and, in the process, rediscover herself. Child of Kamiari Month has a heartwarming story and stunning animation that you must see.

NiNoKuni (2019)

NiNoKuni is a fantasy movie based on the same-named video game series about three teens who are drawn into the mystical Evermore kingdom. They learn how decisions made in one realm affect decisions made in another as they hop between the two. Like in any great magical film, they must eventually engage in a titanic struggle between good and evil. NiNoKuni has a vintage air about it, similar to Spirited Away and The Wizard of Oz. Look no further if you want a good adventure movie that will take you to a foreign location.

New Gods: Nezha Reborn (2021)

A well-known Ming dynasty novel’s iconic character is given a steampunk twist in New Gods: Nezha Reborn. Li Yunxiang, a biker who discovers that he is truly the mighty deity Nezha reincarnated, is the protagonist of the movie.

However, before he has time to completely digest this and activate his abilities, he is put in peril as familiar foes resurface. In New Gods: Nezha Reborn, classic mythology is approached in an intriguing and novel way by skillfully fusing realism with more surrealistic elements.

Blame! (2017)

Blame! might not be the greatest viewing for you if you’re afraid of technology’s escalating power. (Or, if you’re seeking a horrifying horror film, perhaps the ideal one.) The movie is set in a far-off future where robots hunt people who are thought to be trespassers. A group of survivors, however, eventually stumble across Killy, a synthetic human who may hold the key to their survival. This movie will undoubtedly appeal greatly to sci-fi aficionados who are in the mood for a nice atmospheric drama.

The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf (2021)

The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf, a prequel to The Witcher franchise’s main tale, is a gorgeous, action-packed glimpse into a young Vesemir’s (Theo James) childhood and a glimpse into the world before Geralt’s exploits. Vesemir and the witch Tetra (Lara Pulver) are tasked with finding Kitsu (Kari Wahlgren), a lost elf turned wicked magician.

As they do so, they gradually learn about a more nefarious conspiracy that is developing in the hinterlands. Fans of the franchise and beginners alike will enjoy the immersive environment created by fluid animation and gorgeously produced scenery, and the experience is further enhanced by the excellent voice acting.

Stand By Me Doraemon Movies (2014; 2020)

Anyone unfamiliar with the property might be cautious to get into the two recent films because Doraemon is a cultural icon. Some of the best short stories from the series are adapted for the Stand By Me Doraemon movies, and they are friendly to newbies. Both films are coming-of-age tales that deal with family and anxiety-related issues.

Kuroko’s Basketball The Movie: Last Game (2017)

The Generation of Miracles reunite in Last Game, the anime adaptation of Kuroko’s Basketball, to face a United States squad that despises Japanese athletes. For those unfamiliar with the series, it should come as no surprise that this movie offers little. However, for Kuroko’s Basketball aficionados, Last Game offers a unique chance to witness the Miracles working together as a single unit.

Tiger & Bunny: The Rising (2014)

As of right now, season 2 of the anime Tiger & Bunny is accessible on Netflix. The Rising from 2014 is among the titles that may now be watched in its entirety on the platform. In this season 1 follow-up film, Ryan Goldsmith, a new superhero, takes the place of the ailing Kotetsu T. Kaburagi as Barnaby Brooks’ companion. Ryan swiftly reveals himself to be anything but heroic despite his might.

One Piece Film Strong World (2009)

One Piece films are available on Netflix, including the entertaining Film: Z from 2012. Strong World is a contender for that title, even though there is little doubt that that film represents the franchise at its cinematic pinnacle. In this movie, directed by Eiichiro Oda, the Straw Hats battle Golden Lion Shiki, a formidable pirate who develops a romantic interest in Nami.

The Seven Deadly Sins: Prisoners Of The Sky (2018)

After a few lackluster seasons, The Seven Deadly Sins’ reputation has fallen drastically in recent years. Prisoners of the Sky made its debut in 2018 following the well-received Revival of The Commandments season, when the anime was perhaps at its height of popularity. The movie may be seen as the series’ final hurrah before it began to wane. Nevertheless, the 2021 film Cursed by Light is also worth seeing.

Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop (2021)

Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop is more than simply a visual treat; it also conveys a sweet tale of Cherry and Smile, two socially awkward and nervous characters, and their developing friendship. The anime also has a great soundtrack that plays a crucial role in how the tale is presented.

Pokemon The Movie: Secrets Of The Jungle (2020)

Mewtwo Strikes Back – Evolution, The Arceus Chronicles, and Secrets of the Jungle are three Pokemon films available on Netflix. The latter of these three is the most comprehensive and advisable experience, however, the first remake may bring back good memories for a longtime fan of the franchise’s first film.

Ash’s run as the anime’s main character has come to an end, ushering in an exciting new era for the 20+-year-old trademark. If Secrets of the Jungle turns out to be Ash’s final movie journey, it will be a fitting conclusion for the beloved character. More significantly, it will show that life after Ketchum is more than possible.

Children Of The Sea (2019)

Ruka meets two boys who are more attuned to the ocean than the land at an aquarium. Soon after, the young woman discovers that she is drawn to the water at the same time as sea life begins to migrate strangely away from its native environment.

The animation in Children of the Sea is stunning, and many of the ocean scenes have the sense of wonder and whimsy that is usually only found in Studio Ghibli’s works. The movie’s narrative scale gradually grows until it reaches absurd proportions by the conclusion. The whole experience is successful, despite the fact that some elements of the movie, such as the characters, are unimpressive.

In This Corner of the World

In This Corner of the World, one of the best anime films of the decade deserves to be included. The historical drama film centers on Suzu, the main character, and is set in Hiroshima during World War II. The anime film illustrates how the residents of Hiroshima dealt with hunger and worry during that period.

Tokyo Godfathers

There is a well-known 2003 animated tragicomedy film called Tokyo Godfathers that is available to watch and features in our list as one of the best movies on Netflix. It was directed by Satoshi Kon, who is well known for the 2006 anime film Paprika, and produced by the renowned Japanese animation studio Madhouse.

It follows the story of three homeless characters, set during the Christmas holidays in a different Tokyo. By chance, they come upon an abandoned baby in the garbage, and they decide to go in search of her real parents.

Big Fish & Begonia

Based on a short animated film created by Liang Xuan and Zhang Chun, Big Fish & Begonia is a top-notch Chinese cartoon that was released in 2016. It is also referred to as the first commercial production of the animation firm B&T, which the filmmakers formed.

The fantasy tale, which follows Chun, a 16-year-old girl, is based on tales and books from ancient China, such as Zhuangzi. As part of the ceremony associated with coming of age, she departs for the first time to the world of humans. During her journey, a young man named Kun risks his life to save her.

Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day

The slice-of-life anime series Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day which debuted in 2011, was turned into a film in 2013. The conflicted relationships between the main character Jintan, the protagonist Menma, and the other four Super Peace Busters members are the main emphasis of the story. On Netflix, you should look for a movie that makes you cry.

Related: Anohana Anime Locations in Japan

Brave Story

This fantasy animation film Brave Story a well-known novel authored by Miyuki Miyabe in 2003, is also one of the best anime movies on Netflix to watch. Wataru, a young elementary school student, is portrayed as trying his best to save his friends and family both in the actual world and in the parallel universe.

The Night Is Short, Walk on Girl

An anime film called The Night Is Short, Walk on Girl was made from a 2006 novel by Tomihiko Morimi. The story takes place in Kyoto, where Senpai, a university student, develops feelings for a black-haired student at the same institution. He watches her get embroiled in many enigmatic events.

The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya

Following the TV anime series The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, which ran from 2006 to 2009, Kyoto Animation created the slice-of-life film The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya in 2010. One of the main protagonists, Kyon, learns that something is amiss with both the planet and the other SOS Brigade members.

Here comes the end of the top anime movies on Netflix we recommend to you. However, you equally check out these great anime series still on Netflix