I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again. When it comes to Anime on Netflix, the popular streaming service has it on lock! I already did one of these when I wrote about the first season of Attack On Titan being on Netflix (which, I might add, is no longer on the platform), and now, I’m going to do one for Demon Slayer and a few other popular anime.
Ah, Demon Slayer, the little anime that could. Over the weekend of April 30-May 2, it made its way to the #1 movie in America, beating out Mortal Kombat at the box office. I’m going to repeat that. An anime beat Mortal Kombat at the box office. Now, granted, besides Godzilla Vs. Kong, the box office hasn’t been the same ever since Covid struck the world. But Demon Slayer’s surprise ticket sales are proof that there is definitely an American audience for anime, and they are hungry for more. So, along with Demon Slayer, here are 5 other anime that you can currently stream on Netflix at the time of this writing.
Demon Slayer (2019)
Demon Slayer has taken the world by storm! It’s the story of a young man named Tanjiro Kamado who is a Demon Slayer, which is a warrior in a select group called the Demon Slayer Corps. These badasses slay demons and look cool doing it. The only problem is that Tanjiro’s sister, Nezuko, is now a demon herself, and he seeks out a cure to turn her back into a human.
I just started watching Demon Slayer and I am freaking hooked. The art style is jaw-dropping at times, and the stories are both dark, but also full of hope. All 26 episodes are currently streaming on Netflix, but there’s no word yet if the upcoming Season 2 will also be hitting the platform.
Stream Demon Slayer on Netflix
Hunter X Hunter (2011)
The second Hunter X Hunter anime (the first ran for a period in 1999-2001), Hunter X Hunter is all about a kid named Gon Freecss who wants to be a hunter like the dad he never knew. But you can’t just be a Hunter. You have to pass an exhaustive examination, so it’s kind of like the Demon Slayer Corps I mentioned earlier. Sort of.
But what makes it different from Demon Slayer is the tone and the cast of characters Gon meets along the way. My favorite is Leorio Paradinight, a man who wants to be a physician, but he still has to pay his bills, so he’s going into hunting. The show can get a little dark at times, but it’s not like, Attack on Titan dark or anything like that. You can watch the first 4 seasons on Netflix. As of right now, Seasons 5 and 6 have not been announced for Netflix. And whether there will even be a seventh season is still up in the air.
Stream Hunter X Hunter on Netflix
One Piece (1999)
One of the longest running anime of all time (972 episodes and counting!), I’m going to be honest with you. I’ve only seen a single episode of One Piece. I know, I know. I need to watch more of it, but it’s just so daunting. It’s like getting into Doctor Who. I know there’s a certain point where I could jump in, but I would want to start at the beginning, and like Doctor Who, One Piece doesn’t seem to have an end in sight.
As for the basic story, One Piece is about a teenage pirate named Monkey D. Luffy who can stretch like Ms. Marvel because he eats Devil Fruit. He’s the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates and he goes off on adventures with other pirates to find treasure. I know there’s a lot more to it than that, but again, I didn’t get very far into it. Four seasons are currently on Netflix, and it’s unknown how much more of the series will be coming to the service.
Black Butler (2008)
Black Butler is a show that has to be seen to be believed. Essentially, it’s a story set in the Victorian era about a boy named Ciel and his demon butler friend, Sebastian Michaellis. Sebastian, by the way, is Ciel’s murdered dog’s name. Let me explain. You see, Ciel’s estate was destroyed and his parents and dog were murdered. And instead of meeting the same fate, Ciel was kidnapped and tortured by some cultists. The cultists give Ciel this strange brand, which connects Ciel to a demon that will feast on his soul while it gives him powers to exact revenge against those who have wronged him. So, yeah, just your standard, typical anime.
There are three seasons of Black Butler on Netflix, but I’m told that the show very loosely follows the manga, with the whole second season being its own thing entirely and seemingly separate from the first season. If you like your anime bizarre (and also darkly funny), then you might want to give Black Butler a try.
Stream Black Butler on Netflix
Blue Exorcist (2011)
You know how Percy Jackson is the son of Poseidon in the Percy Jackson series? Well, Blue Exorcist’s hero, Rin Okumura, is the son of Satan, and Rin wants to kick his dad’s butt. His foster parent was actually an exorcist, and Rin wants to become one, too, so he could destroy Satan, but he has to go to school first, because come on now, anime loves its school settings.
Blue Exorcist has great action and a compelling narrative. I especially like Rin’s younger brother, Yukio, who doesn’t have Satanic powers himself, but still has a gift of knowing when demons are around so that he can help his brother. Two seasons are currently on the platform, but there currently isn’t any word on whether a third season will come to Netflix.
Stream Blue Exorcist on Netflix
Sword Art Online (2013-?)
Sword Art Online is kind of like Ready Player One. That’s the best way I can describe it for the uninitiated. It’s like Ready Player One. But instead of seeking out easter eggs, it’s more about characters escaping the VR game that they’re trapped inside of.
Action-packed and super creative (a beta tester is actually the hero!) Sword Art Online is the show for you if you’re into both video game culture and anime. There are three seasons on Netflix, as well as the side-season, Gun Gale Online for one season.
Stream Sword Art Online on Netflix
Those are just a sampling of the anime that you can currently watch on Netflix. But like with my last article, you have to watch them when you can since you never know when a show will be pulled. And if they are pulled, then you can always check out our 2021 Netflix TV series to see what else you might want to watch, especially when it comes to the 2021 summer TV schedule.
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