Best Japanese animation series

Get ready to binge. We've found a collection of must-watch animation shows from Japan, now streaming on Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Prime Video, and other top services!

  • Takarajima 0

    Jim Hawkins is a young boy lead by progressive events to embark on a search journey for the legendary treasure of the once dreaded pirate, Captain Flint. On their way to Treasure Island, John Silver, Jim's best friend (and eventually a father-figure), takes over command of the ship revealing his true self as the ruthless pirate who was once the right hand of Flint himself. Feeling betrayed, Jim now has to deal with his mixed emotions and face Silver, who still consider himself and Jim as friends.

    67
  • Poster for 昭和元禄落語心中

    昭和元禄落語心中 2016

    When a certain man is released from prison, he knows exactly where he's heading first. After falling in love with a traditional comic storyteller's rendition of the story called "Shinigami," he is determined to become his apprentice. The performer, Yakumo, has never taken an apprentice before, but to everyone's surprise, he accepts the eager ex-prisoner, nicknaming him "Yotaro." As Yotaro happily begins his new life, he meets others in Yakumo's life, including Yakumo's ward Konatsu. Konatsu was the daughter of a famous storyteller, and Yakumo took her in after her father's tragic death. Konatsu loved her father's storytelling, and would love to become a performer in her own right—but that path is not available for women.

    67
  • Poster for Magi-Nation

    Magi-Nation 2007

    Magi-Nation is an animated television series based on the card game Magi Nation Duel. The show premiered in Canada on September 8, 2007 on CBC Television and on September 22, 2007 in the U.S. on Kids' WB. A series of DVDs are set to be released on October 21, 2008 through January 6, 2009. The series has formerly aired in the U.S. on Toonzai on The CW, and formerly on Cookie Jar Toons on This TV, with the second season worldwide premiere airing on Cookie Jar Toons.

    49
  • Taotao 1983

    Taotao (original name Tao Tao Ehonkan) is an anime series about the eponymous Taotao, a small panda. In the stories, Taotao has adventures with his animal friends and listens to the stories of his mother, the mommy panda. [en.wikipedia.org]

    52
  • Poster for Tsum Tsum Shorts

    Tsum Tsum Shorts 2014

    The fantastic adventures of classic Disney characters like you've never seen them before: in a Tsum Tsum version!

    49
  • Transformers: Robotmasters 2004

    The Robotmasters cartoon was a two-episode series of DVDs by Actas Inc. packaged with select Robotmasters toys. The cartoon told the same version of the events seen in several of the Robotmasters pack-in comics and online comics, but with a few alterations.

    55
  • Poster for Daimidaler the Sound Robot

    Daimidaler the Sound Robot 2014

    There is a high school boy named Madanbashi Kouichi who has Hi-ERo particles, the power source to operate the robotic weapon Daimidaler. With the help of Sonan Kyouko from the mysterious Prince Beauty Parlor organization, he stands up against the Penguin Empire that troubles humanity.

    53
  • Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto 2008

    Based in the present day Tokyo, there exist people known as Mahou Tsukai (people who use magic or "Mages"). But, even though there's magic around, there's not much difference from the world we live in. Yume Kikuchi is a 17 year old 2nd year senior high school student. So that she can officially become a Mage, Yume makes use of her summer break and leaves for the capital from Tooya in the Iwate prefecture. It's the first time she's been to Tokyo. First time she's been to a boarding house. And she was thinking that it'll be an all girl's place too but in fact, the manager's a charming male. Caught in a mix of anxiety and great anticipation, Yume's training in magic begins.

    36
  • Eternal Family 0

    Eternal Family is a 1997 OVA directed by Koji Morimoto and released by Japanese animation studio, Studio 4°C. The film is about the daily life of a group of six very different strangers who, for scientific purposes, are brainwashed into believing that they are a family. The family is filmed and to recoup scientific expenses the distribution rights for the footage are sold to a television station for broadcast as a domestic soap opera called Eternal Family. The show becomes highly popular in the outside world so when a plumbing disaster results in the family accidentally escaping, the television station and the residents of Champon City spare no expense to retrieve them. The story was written jointly by Morimoto and Dai Sato. Eternal Family represents Sato's debut as an anime screenwriter, and Morimoto's first foray into the field of broadcast media. In 2004 the OVA was collected for release on one DVD.

    32
  • Gatchaman 0

    Gatchaman is a three-part original video animation (OVA) based on the popular 1970s anime Gatchaman. It was released in Japan and the United States during the mid-1990s. This version of Gatchaman is set in the year 2066 where the evil leader of the nation of Hontwall is threatening to take over the planet. Scientists from the International Science Organization are disappearing and only five teenage heroes, the Science Ninja team, can stop the disaster. The OVAs were licensed by Urban Vision through Harmony Gold USA and were released on VHS and DVD. At Anime Boston 2013, Sentai Filmworks had announced that they have rescued the OVA series along with the original 1970's series for a DVD re-release in October. The series was made available for streaming through Crunchyroll. The series was originally dubbed by Harmony Gold and Urban Vision, however, Sentai Filmworks confirmed that the OVAs will be redubbed for their upcoming DVD and Blu-ray re-release to match the uncut TV series dub.

    33
  • Poster for Ninja Slayer From Animation

    Ninja Slayer From Animation 2015

    Ninja Slayer is a series of novels which follow Kenji Fujikido who vows to hunt down and kill ninjas after his family is slain during a ninja battle. The stories are set in the futuristic city of Neo Saitama.

    35
  • Poster for Yatterman Night

    Yatterman Night 2015

    A girl is looking at a remote island on the ocean named The Yatter Kingdom, a country that is said to be ruled by the hero Yatterman. The girl wants to ask the Yattermans for some help to cure her sick mother and decides to venture to the kingdom. She gets kicked out from the kingdom though and her mother dies without receiving any help. Under Dokurobei, the boss of the Dorombo thieves that existed, lies a beauty named Doronjo. The two men, Boyacky and Tonzura, worked under Doronjo but got kicked out from the Yatter Kingdom along with the Doronbo thieves as they lost a fight against the Yatterman. This is the new generation of Dorombo—Doronjo, Boyacky, Tonzura, and new Yatterman—a story of the birth of Gan-chan and Ai-chan.

    20
  • New Ultraman Retsuden 2013

    Ultraman Retsuden is a biography series produced by Tsuburaya Productions created to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the Ultra Series.

    13
  • Poster for Sasami-san@Ganbaranai

    Sasami-san@Ganbaranai 2013

    The story follows a hikikomori named Sasami who is unmotivated about even changing clothes or eating. Her brother takes care of her, even though she despises his slave-like nature. Sasami spends her days viewing the outside world via a Brother Surveillance Tool on her computer. In the outside world, the three beautiful Yagami sisters and Sasami's brother are in the middle of relationships worthy of a romantic comedy.

    10
  • Studio Ghibli Special Short Collection 1991

    Collection of shorts and TV spots produced by Studio Ghibli or its subsidiary Studio Kajino between the years 1992 and 2022

    10
  • Naked Wolves 2009

    In the Flash-animated television comedy series, a sumo wrestler named Mikoshiarashi travels around the world to train to become the Yokozuna, the Grand Sumo Champion. He meets colorful characters along the way as he is determined to meet his goals.

    10
  • Prince Shisukon 1963

    10
  • Uchurei 2009

    The "summer supernatural teen comedy" revolves around an ordinary high school boy named Takashi who ends up living with a space alien's spirit (uchūjin no yūrei) after a strange incident. He names the creature "Uchurei" and plans to keep it as a pet, but becomes possessed by it.

    10