Looking for the best anime movies on Netflix? Well, check out these top anime movies on Netflix that you’d absolutely love. Read further to know more about it.
Netflix doesn’t showcase a wide variety like HBO Max but offers a wide range of anime movies that are worth scrubbing through. In fact, they have a good collection of Netflix original anime movies that are really worth checking out.
Did you know, Netflix Japan has reported that more than 90% of the viewership is of Anime in the last 12 months.
Which is the best anime movie on Netflix?
I’ve watched several anime movies but Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack is the best anime movie on Netflix because of its plot, characters as well as graphics.
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack is a theatrical film and the last chapter from the original saga started way back in 1979 following the universal century timeline. The film is directed and written by Yoshiyuki Tomino, the original creator of the amazing Gundam series. This film is considered the best from the Gundam franchise, The film shows Char Aznable the leader of Neo-Zeon counterattack against his 14-year rival Amuro Ray, hero of the earth federation.
Though Netflix stands out for its extensive collection of anime series like naruto and food wars. They have many anime films that you can enjoy like demon slayer and Jojo’s adventures.
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So let’s get started with the Best Anime Movies on Netflix.
Best Anime Movies on Netflix: Quick Summary
| Best Anime Movies on Netflix | Genre | Duration |
| Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack | Sci-fi | 1 hr 59 mins |
| A Silent Voice | Romance, drama | 2 hr 9 mins |
| The End of Evangelion | Action, sci-fi | 1 hr 27 mins |
| Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro | Adventure | 1 hr 39 mins |
| Blame! | Sci-fi, action | 1 hr 46 mins |
| A Whisker Away | Fantasy, romance | 1 hr 45 mins |
| Modest Heroes | Fantasy | 53 mins |
| In This Corner of the World | War, drama | 2 hrs 9 mins |
| The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya | Sci-fi, comedy | 2 hrs 43 mins |
Best Anime Movies On Netflix
Lu Over the Wall
Genre: Comedy, fantasy / Director: Masaaki Yuasa / Ratings: 8/10
I watched Lu Over the Wall 2 years ago for the first time and I’ve watched it several times from then because I love this anime movie. This Netflix anime movie includes both whimsical and weird that will take you away from reality but still keep grounded.
Lu Over the Wall is a coming-of-age story that follows Kai, a middle school student who moves to a small fishing town and falls in love with the mermaids who live there.
Kai finds himself at odds with his family and the townspeople, who believe that the mermaids are responsible for causing accidents at sea. But when Kai gets to know Lu, the mischievous mermaid, he discovers that she and her friends are just like any other kids - they're just trying to have fun.
With help from Lu and her friends, Kai learns to let go of his fears and embrace life in the little town by the sea.
The movie has been praised for its beautiful animation and its heartfelt story, and it has been nominated for several awards including Best Animated Feature at the 2018 Oscars. I love how the plot of this anime progresses and how they’ve highlighted key themes of friendship and fear so beautifully.
Flavors of Youth
Genre: Drama / Director: Li Haoling, Jiaoshou Yi Xiaoxing, Yoshitaka Takeuchi / Ratings: 7.4/10
I watched Flavors of Youth after my friend recommended it to me and said it’s one of the anime movies on Netflix. She was right because this anime movie was so much fun to watch and had a lot to learn from.
Flavors of Youth is an anime movie about three different people and their experiences with love, life, and food.
The first story follows a young man who moves to a new city and falls in love with a girl he meets at his new job. The second story is about a young woman who is struggling to come to terms with her mother's death. And the third story follows two friends as they experience the ups and downs of growing up.
All three stories are gorgeously animated and filled with beautiful visuals and heartfelt moments. If you're looking for an anime movie that will make you feel all the emotions, then I highly recommend giving Flavors of Youth a watch as it’s one of the most amazing Netflix anime movies.
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack
Genre: Sci-fi | Director: Yoshiyuki Tomino | Rating: 7.3/10
If you’re a fan of the Gundam series this anime movie is my top recommendation. This theatrical film and the last chapter from the original saga started way back in 1979 following the universal century timeline.
I can watch the Gundam series endless times because of its plot and how the characters are super amazing. The nuclear weapons and the action in this movie is something that I personally loved.
The film is directed and written by Yoshiyuki Tomino, the original creator of the amazing Gundam series.
This film is considered the best from the Gundam franchise, The film shows Char Aznable the leader of Neo-Zeon counterattack against his 14-year rival Amuro Ray, hero of the earth federation. This is one of the best Anime movies on Netflix for sure.
The story revolves around a classic Gundam conundrum, The Neo-Zeon forces lead by Char attempt to bombard the earth with an asteroid loaded with nuclear weapons. The purpose, to free the colonies from the yoke of oppression by their enemies and kill everyone on earth while doing so.
Tomino has always been known for creating a hard sci-fi point of you and he hasn't fallen short with this masterpiece. The battle scenes with the new giant mobile suits and their rival the “new types”.
A newly evolved humankind that has acquired the ability to have psychic powers. Will keep you thrilled from start to end.
What makes this film even better is the amazing soundtrack by Shigeaki Saegusa, if you’ve been following the Gundam series this is a must-watch!
Related: Best Japanese Dramas To Watch On Netflix
A Silent Voice
Genre: Romance, drama | Director: Naoko Yamada | Rating: 8.2/10
A Silent Voice is a bittersweet symphony of emotions and drama with a hint of melancholy. Directed by the infamous Naoko Yamada, the film takes inspiration from the manga Yoshitoki Oima. It’s the best anime movie on Netflix with an IMDb score of 8.2.
The story revolves around school students Shoya Ishida and Shoko Nishimiya who is a deaf student who is recently transferred to their elementary school. Shoya Ishida bullies the innocent new transfer student relentlessly to grab the attention and amusement of his fellow classmates.
Things get out of hand when Shoya takes things too far, giving Shoko no other option than to transfer again from all the trouble Shoyo has caused her.
Shoya was looked down upon for crossing the limit with his peers and exiles into a state of self-imposed isolation and self-hate. It’s one of the best anime movies on Netflix that you’ll definitely love.
Years passed, fate brought Shoya and Shoko to cross each other's paths again but now as teenagers. Shoya tries to make amends for all the pain and suffering he had inflicted on her while trying to find himself in the process.
This film is an emotional roller coaster and is a must watch on Netflix. It’s one of the best romance anime movies on Netflix.
Related: Best Romance Anime Movies
The End of Evangelion
Genre: Action, sci-fi | Directors: Hideaki Anno, Kazuya Tsurumaki | Rating: 8.1/10
The last two episodes of Neon Genesis Evangelion are a big hit among fans of the series. The two-part “Do you Love me? And “Take care of yourself” sidelined the finale of the infamous series main conflict.
The film showcases the subconscious of Shinji Ikari, as he fights to resolve the self-hatred and disgust that follows him through the entire storyline. It’s one of the best action anime movies on Netflix.
The unusual and unorthodox nature of his decisions urges displaced fans to send out death threats on Anno’s Life and Gainax’s building to be foiled with graffiti. Anno decides to work on an alternative ending to the series to be produced in two parts and aired in cinema halls.
If you are looking for a happy ending with a chirpy conclusion, End of Evangelion is nowhere close to that. What you can expect is a fatalistic, life-affirming ending to an anime that has ever been produced.
In a nutshell, the good and bad of everything that is Evangelion is put together to create an anime film that is nothing like you’ve ever come across.
Apart from the unrelenting darkness, the film remains true to the spirit of its subtitle, “The joy of death is in the act of rebirth”. Do watch this movie as it’s one of the best anime movies on Netflix.
Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro
Genre: Adventure | Director: Hayao Miyazaki | Rating: 7.6/10
This anime film is a gem made by Miyazaki looking at his take on Kazuhiko Kato’s infamous master criminal which was once a boisterous heist film with heart and what might easily be Miyazaki’s lesser films.
Miyazaki directs the movie, Castle of Cagliostro with a disappointing simplistic antagonist while still maintaining a shine and sparkle with his well-known charm that peeks through all of this previous work. This is one of the best anime movies on Netflix that will keep you hooked.
The film revolves around Lupin who is a gentleman thief, who steals only when his sense of honor allows him to. The Castle of Cagliostro will always be an important artifact of director Miyazaki’s proto-Ghibli work.
Watching Lupin’s change in character and the level of suspense set makes this anime truly worth watching. It’s definitely one of the best anime movies of all time.
Blame!
Genre: Sci-fi, action | Director: Hiroyuki Seshita | Rating: 6.7/10
Blame! Is directed by the infamous Tsutomu Nihei who is known for this dark industrial sci-fi tone in his films and Blame! Is no less. The storyline takes place in a future earth that has been consumed by a huge, self-replicating superstructure called the City.
The lead Killy is a taciturn loner who wanders all around the world in search of a certain human possessing a special gene. The net terminal gene is the answer to stop the city’s hostile expansion. It's one of the best anime movies on Netflix 2021.
This anime movie is filled with thrill, action, and a great storyline. This is one Netflix original you don’t wanna miss as it’s one of the best anime movies on Netflix that will engage you in all possible ways.
A Whisker Away
Genre: fantasy, romance | Directors: Junichi Sato, Tomotaka Shibayama | Rating: 6.7/10
A whisker away is directed by Junichi Sato and Tomotaka Shibayama who created a truly unique romance that is bound to melt your heart. Supporting the direction with an amazing script from Mari Okada that throws into an emotional loop.
The story revolves around depressed middle schoolers who go through a magical journey that shows the honesty among them and gives you an insight into the mental health issues of the characters. It’s amongst the best japanese anime movies on netflix
The animal animation is sure to catch your eye. It looks amazingly realistic and appealing. A must-watch anime movie for its hidden storyline and amazing animation. Do watch this as it’s one of the best anime movies on Netflix.
Modest Heroes
Genre: fantasy | Directors: Akihiko Yamashita, Yoshiyuki Momose, Hiromasa Yonebayashi | Rating: 6.6/10
The Modest Heroes was directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi and Yoshiyuki Momose and Akihiko Yamashita who’ve come together to create this one-of-a-kind masterpiece. It’s amongst the best english anime movies on Netflix
The movie consists of three short films showing the true modest heroes from the director’s perspective. The first story revolves around a pair of anthropomorphic crab children who are living at the bottom of a large riverbed.
The second half is directed by Yoshiyuki Momose called ``Life Ain’t Gonna Lose” who really picks it up a notch and can be said to be the best part of the movie. It shows a young mother and her son shun, who is a happy-go-lucky kid with a debilitating food allergy to eggs.
The final part is Invisible directed by Akihiko Yamashita who shows the life of a man who’s struggling with a rare condition that renders him completely invisible to everyone he comes across.
All three stories are worth watching and are really refreshing to see how the three directors have created a connection between all three modest heroes. Go check out Modest Heroes as it’s one of the anime movies on Netflix.
In This Corner of the World
Genre: War, drama | Director: Sunao Katabuchi | Rating: 7.8/10
In This Corner Of The World was considered one of the best anime movies on Netflix 2010, the storyline is focused on Hiroshima during World War II. The story shows the main character Suzu and his struggle for food and survival during the difficult times of WWII.
If you like WWII movies this anime really captures the pain and struggle during that time in Hiroshima. It’s one of the best sad anime movies on Netflix but worth watching!
The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya
Genre: Sci-fi, comedy | Director: Yasuhiro Takemoto, Tatsuya Ishihara | Rating: 8.1/10
Here is another anime movie that is sure to put a smile on your face with a warm fuzzy feeling inside. Produced by Kyoto Animation in 2010.
The story revolves around the main character Kyon who gets to know something is wrong with members of the SOS Brigade and the rest of the world. It’s amongst the best anime movies on Netflix ranker, do watch it.
Best Anime Movies on Netflix: FAQs
Does Netflix Update their Anime List often?
What is the most viewed anime on Netflix?
What are some good anime movies to watch on Netflix?
These are the Best Anime Movies on Netflix that are on the top of my list, there are so many more that make the cut but the above are truly the cream of the crop. Enjoy!
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