The world of animes and mangas on Netflix offers an impressive diversity in 2026, bringing together varied universes to satisfy all tastes. You can discover must-see works that mix action, emotions, and fascinating worlds. To better guide you through this richness, we invite you to dive into:
- The cult animated series that have marked Japanese culture
- The major new releases of the year not to be missed
- Rare works for enthusiasts wishing to broaden their horizons
- Animes adapted from legendary and recent mangas
- A selection allowing a progressive discovery, from amateur to seasoned fan
Through this top 10, we will explore these series, each with its own particularity, offering you a complete immersion into Japanese animation offered by the most popular streaming platform. Prepare to experience an adventure as much visual as emotional.
- 1 Dive into the wild action with Sakamoto Days and its must-have companions
- 2 Exploration of cult classics: Fullmetal Alchemist, Demon Slayer, and Attack on Titan
- 3 New successes and recent must-watch titles: Jujutsu Kaisen and Naruto Shippuden
- 4 Dark fantasy and psychological tales: Berserk and Tokyo Ghoul as major references
- 5 Netflix’s role in the popularization of animes and mangas: an essential platform
Dive into the wild action with Sakamoto Days and its must-have companions
Sakamoto Days, arriving on Netflix in 2025, is already a pillar of Japanese animation on the platform. This anime tells the story of Taro Sakamoto, a former hitman turned family man. This original blend of action and humor has captivated viewers thanks to its dynamic pace and lightness.
The series manages to strike an uncommon balance between tense fight scenes and warm family moments, appealing to both fans of classic shōnen and newcomers. In 2026, this production remains a model for this type of creation, with a rhythmic narrative and character design as expressive as it is refined.
Alongside Sakamoto Days, Netflix also offers Fairy Tail, which is among the must-watch animated mangas for those who prefer adventure and magic. This classic invites you to join a guild of mages where friendship is put to the test through increasingly intense battles. Available in some regions via VPN, Fairy Tail still gathers a loyal community thanks to its endearing characters like Lucy and Natsu, who bring explosive adventures to life where magic and camaraderie reign supreme.
In the same adventurous spirit, Seven Deadly Sins takes us to a fantastical Middle Ages, where the heroes embody the seven deadly sins. With impressive battles and plots mixing epic fights and stories of friendship, this series is a safe bet for those wishing to prolong their exploration of Japanese culture on Netflix.
To understand the impact and diversity of works like these, it is useful to look at popularity figures: since 2023, Seven Deadly Sins regularly appears in the top 10 of the most-watched animated series on the service. This confirms its status as a must-watch anime.
Exploration of cult classics: Fullmetal Alchemist, Demon Slayer, and Attack on Titan
It is impossible to talk about must-see animes without mentioning masterpieces such as Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Demon Slayer, or Attack on Titan. These series, each in their own category, illustrate the full narrative power and aesthetic of modern Japanese animation.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, freshly reintroduced in the Netflix catalog in France, offers a story that blends an initiatory quest, science fiction, and alchemy in a superbly realized steampunk universe. The Elric brothers, faced with dramatic repercussions on their bodies and their world, embody intense figures whose emotional complexity continues to captivate over 64 episodes. This work is regularly cited among the best animes ever created and is a must-watch for any enthusiast.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, meanwhile, is recognized for its exceptional animation style, notably thanks to studio Ufotable. The story of Tanjiro and his sister Nezuko, mixing tragedy, hope, and battles with choreography widely praised by critics, has conquered a large global audience. Major arcs such as the Mugen Train have become references in their own right within the sphere of recent animes. This phenomenon continues to influence pop culture far beyond the simple circle of Japanese animation fans. Its success is such that it is often compared to other great sagas like One Piece or Naruto.
Attack on Titan stands out as a dark and complex dystopian tale, where survival, politics, and betrayals intertwine. In 2026, its animation by MAPPA is still praised for its intensity, while the narrative progression keeps hooking the audience over time. The series has pushed the genre to new heights, offering both spectacular action scenes and deep reflections on human nature.
These animes share a capacity to renew narration and animation in often very violent or dramatic contexts but always with strong and endearing characters. They greatly contribute to the growing popularity of mangas and animes on Netflix.
These works perfectly illustrate how the platform has become an essential reference for consuming Japanese animation content, both in terms of quality and diversity.
New successes and recent must-watch titles: Jujutsu Kaisen and Naruto Shippuden
Among the recent animes that have strengthened Netflix’s catalog, we cannot ignore Jujutsu Kaisen and the continuation of the Naruto phenomenon with Naruto Shippuden and Boruto.
Jujutsu Kaisen, available on Netflix since May 2024, has become a real sensation. Follow Yuji Itadori, plunged into a world of sorcery where the fight against curses is intense and spectacular. Praised for its animation quality and the psychological development of its characters, it strikes a successful balance between action scenes and lighter moments, making it very accessible. The spinoff movie Jujutsu Kaisen 0 available on the platform is also an excellent entry point to discover the universe of the series.
As for Naruto, this iconic shōnen epic continues to gather fans of all ages. The story of the young ninja aspiring to become Hokage marked an entire generation, and the sequel with Boruto allows exploration of new issues, bringing a fresh breath to the first-generation fans. The availability of these complete series on Netflix guarantees everyone the possibility to live a long and varied adventure.
In the current context, these recent successes highlight Netflix’s dynamism in continuously enriching its catalog to meet the expectations of an ever more demanding and varied audience. It is also interesting to note that several announcements, such as those seen at Jump Festa 2026, promise even more major works to come on the platform, thus consolidating its place as a leader in streaming animated series.
Dark fantasy and psychological tales: Berserk and Tokyo Ghoul as major references
For fans of darker stories, the animes Berserk and Tokyo Ghoul occupy a prominent place among the must-watch titles on Netflix.
Berserk, rather reserved for an adult audience, impresses with its dark atmosphere, brutal and complex universe. The adaptation available on Netflix highlights the very famous “Golden Age” arc, mixing tragedy, overwhelming ambitions, and betrayals. This work has greatly influenced the dark fantasy genre, with dense narration and a deep treatment of themes such as survival and power. Despite sometimes difficult scenes, it is considered one of the most emblematic animated mangas for those wishing to venture into more tortured stories.
On its side, Tokyo Ghoul plunges into an unsettling Tokyo where Ken Kaneki, transformed into a ghoul, must navigate between monstrosity and humanity. The anime stands out through a mix of introspection, suspense, and psychological as well as physical confrontations. The realism of its emotions, emphasized by a dark aesthetic, gives it a special place in the anime landscape. This melancholic and brutal aspect simultaneously attracts those seeking an experience different from classic shōnen.
These two series have set landmarks in Japanese dark fantasy, bringing a depth less frequently found in other animes. They also reveal Netflix’s ability to offer varied works, ranging from mainstream to more niche universes.
| Animated series | Thematic | Recommended audience | Particularity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berserk | Dark fantasy, tragedy | Adult | Dark atmosphere, brutal universe |
| Tokyo Ghoul | Horror, psychology | Young adults – adults | Exploration of man/monster dualities |
| Jujutsu Kaisen | Supernatural, combat | General adolescent audience | High-quality animation and sustained pace |
Netflix’s role in the popularization of animes and mangas: an essential platform
Netflix has continuously expanded its anime catalog in recent years, becoming a true gateway for a broad audience. Whether you are a fan of classics or looking for new releases, the platform now offers a wide and varied range that meets all expectations.
Beyond simple broadcasting, Netflix acts as a catalyst for Japanese culture by facilitating access to series that might have remained confidential. We can observe that this popularization relies on several factors:
- A wide diversity of genres: action, drama, romance, dark fantasy, slice of life…
- Constant renewal with major licenses and promising titles
- Increased geographic accessibility thanks to unified global distribution
- Often very polished animation quality, attracting an audience accustomed to genre demands
- Commitment to broadcasting popular animated films linked to series, such as the Demon Slayer: The Infinity Fortress film
Streaming has become the privileged way to explore these exciting universes. Netflix’s offer places these works in a facilitated framework for enthusiasts, but also for those who want to progressively discover this fascinating Japanese culture.
Finally, recent announcements, such as the expectations around the potential arrival of series related to One Piece or its replacements, indicate that the platform will remain a major player in 2026, always attentive to the needs of its growing community. For this, you can take a look at announcements related to releases on the upcoming mangas likely to replace One Piece in order to prepare your future binge-watching sessions.
