The definition of anime has long been a source for debate amongst fans. In Japan, the word “anime” is simply Japanese for animation, no matter the media or its origin. But outside of Japan, the word has come to be associated specifically to animation being produced in Japan or from Japanese creators. This gets a bit complicated, as plenty of cartoons from the West likeTransformersand evenAnimaniacswere at least partially animated by Japanese studios, and shows likeThe Last Airbenderand movies likeThe Matrixwere heavily influenced by anime. With Netflix now becoming a powerhouse in the anime industry, things get even more complicated, as they have shows made by Western creators likeCastlevaniaandSeis Manosbut are marketing them as anime. For this particular list, we’ve decided to go by Netflix’s own anime category, choosing from the movies listed within it, no matter its origin. Keep reading to discover the best anime movies on Netflix.
For more recommendations, check out our list of thebest movies on Netflix,best anime shows on Netflix, andbest cartoons for adults.
Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Netflix.
A Whisker Away
Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | IMDb: 6.7/10
Miyo Sasaki is in love with her classmate Kento Hinode and tries repeatedly to get Kento’s attention by transforming into a cat, but at some point, the boundary between herself and the cat becomes ambiguous.
A story of love and cats, the animeA Whisker Awayis a pure cinematic treat from beginning to end that will leave you smiling from ear to ear and purring in contentment. The original Japanese title translates toWanting to Cry, I Pretend to Be a Cat,a poetic encapsulation of the playful spirit of this fantasy adventure that may leave you wishing you, too, could become part of the feline world. Overflowing with whimsy, it centers on young Miyo Sasaki, who tries to get the attention of a classmate by turning into a cat. However, this ends up becoming less about young love and more about her own personal exploration of how she wants to live her life. As Miyo tries to escape the sad feelings of her life through this transformation, the animation ensures that there is joy and beauty to be found there as well. It all becomes a unique experience that speaks to the pains of growing up with how we all must try to find a way to work through the inevitable challenges of life — even if it means turning into a cat now and again. -Chase Hutchinson
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One Piece Film: Strong World
IMDb: 7.5/10
With the recent release of the live-actionOne Pieceadaptation, now is a good time to revisit some of the other adventures featuring the Straw Hats.One Piece Film: Strong Worldis the tenth feature film in the series, and unlike previous films, production was personally overseen by manga creatorEiichiro Oda. The story finds the Straw Hat crew taking on the legendary pirate Shiki the Golden Lion, who kidnaps Nami and threatens to take over the East Blue using genetically modified animals. With directorMunehisa Sakaiat the helm, who previously worked on the One Piece series, and Oda’s contributions, this is one of the best One Piece films to this day.
Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King
Rotten Tomatoes: 86% | IMDb: 7.4/10
Like most movies for long-running anime,Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard Kingis canon-adjacent, using aspects from the manga to tell a standalone story, so if you’re a long-time fan, the movie takes place before Asta and the Black Bulls head off to the Heart Kingdom. For newcomers, the movie is based on the popular Shounen seriesBlack Clover, which follows a magicless yet ambitious young boy named Asta, who wants to be the Wizard King. In this adventure, he faces off against a traitor to the Clover Kingdom who seeks to wipe out the population and replace them with revived wizards of the past to create his own magic eugenics utopia. Needless to say, Asta and pals are gonna have to kick this guy’s butt! –Tauri Miller
Dragon Quest: Your Story
IMDb: 6.5/10
Based on the belovedDragon Questgames, adapting the storyline from the fifth installment,Dragon Quest: Your Storyis a charming story directed byMakoto Hanafusa, Ryuichi Yagi,andTakashi Yamazaki. The animation style ofDragon Quest: Your Storyfeels like a unique blend of computer-generated anime with a hint ofHow to Train Your DragonmeetsThe Incredibles. With the original Japanese iteration controversially featuring live-action actors to voice the characters,Dragon Quest: Your StorystarsTakeru Satoh,Kasumi Arimura, andHaru, dubbed into English well-known voice artists,Yuri Lowenthal,Stephanie Sheh, andXanthe Huynh. – Yael Tygiel
Altered Carbon: Resleeved
Rotten Tomatoes: 60% | IMDb: 6.4/10
Set a couple hundred years before the short-livedAltered Carbonseries,Altered Carbon: Resleevedis an animated spin-off film with fantastic animation and soaring action. Expanding the universe in pleasing, albeit expected, ways,Altered Carbon: ResleevedstarsRay Chase, Doug Stone, Kaiji Tang, Chris Conner, andBrittany Cox.Taking place on the planet of Latimer,Altered Carbon: Resleevedfollows Takeshi Kovacs (Chase) on his investigation into the death of a yakuza boss while attempting to protect a tattoo artist named Holly (Cox). DirectorsTakeru Nakajima, Yoshiyuki Okada,andShouta Kitamototackle the techno-orientalist backdrop with beautifully choreographed fight sequences, weaving everything together.– Yael Tygiel
Drifting Home
Rotten Tomatoes: 69% | IMDb: 6.3/10
Drifting Home follows a group of childhood friends who unexpectedly find themselves adrift at sea when their apartment building mysteriously detaches from its foundations. As they navigate the vast ocean, the friends confront their past and face the challenges of survival, strengthening their bonds and uncovering hidden truths.
Directed byHiroyasu Ishida, who co-wrote the refreshing film withHayashi Mori,Drifting Homeis a story about a group of neighborhood children who find themselves and their entire apartment complex drifting across a mysterious sea. Along their journey, they discover unexpected secrets.Drifting Homeis a beautifully animated film that gingerly addresses themes of grief, family, and new beginnings. With a wonderfully charming cast, including the voices ofMutsumi Tamura, Ayumu Murase, Yumiko Kobayashi, andAsami Seto, and through deliberate storytelling,Drifting Homeis a heartwarming adventure movie for audiences of all ages.– Yael Tygiel
Rotten Tomatoes: 50% | IMDb: 6.3/10
Bubble (Netflix)
From directorTetsurô Araki(Attack on Titan) comesBubble, a fascinating anime film that takes place after Tokyo is attacked by bubbles, leaving the city destroyed and isolated from the rest of the world. Produced by an all-star team in the anime sphere, including writersGen Urobuchi,Renji Ooki, andNaoko Satou,Bubbleallows experienced filmmakers to bring their visions to life. With gravity as broken as the city, Tokyo becomes a parkour battlefield. When a couple of young people unexpectedly meet during a reckless jump, it seems their encounter might be more fortuitous than they thought.– Yael Tygiel
Violet Evergarden: The Movie
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 8.3/10
Emotional and sincere,Violet Evergarden: The Movieis a stunning film that tackles the theme of overcoming trauma. As a child, Violet was made to be a soldier, and during battle, she lost both her hands and her beloved mentor, Gilbert. To overcome her painful past, she became a Doll: someone who ghostwrites letters to help people express their feelings. After encountering a terminally ill boy named Yurith, Violet is forced to confront painful memories as well as her love for the man she lost. The animation and story are equally stunning, but beware: you’re going to want to grab some tissues before tuning into this beautiful tale. –Taylor Gates
Child of Kamiari Month
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 5.9/10
Child of Kamiari Montheffortlessly combines fun, lighthearted moments with serious topics like grief. The film centers around an elementary school girl named Kanna, who has a passion for running, which she inherited from her mother. However, after her mother passes away, Kanna struggles to cope and loses her love for it. But when Kanna is sent on an unexpected journey, joined by a rabbit named Shiro and a demon named Yasha, she may just refind her enjoyment for the sport – and refind herself in the process. With a touching plot and gorgeous animation,Child of Kamiari Monthis a must-see.– Taylor Gates
IMDb: 6.1/10
Based on the video game series of the same name,NiNoKuniis a fantasy film about a trio of teenagers who get swept up into a magical kingdom called Evermore. As they jump back and forth between worlds, they discover how actions in one affect the other. Eventually, as with any great magical movie, there’s an epic battle between good and evil they must fight in.NiNoKunifeels like a combination of classics, likeSpirited AwaymeetsThe Wizard of Oz. If you’re looking for a solid adventure flick that can transport you to a faraway land, look no further. – Taylor Gates
