The 8 Best Anime Shows That Can Be Called Masterpieces on Netflix, Ranked
With season 2 of the hit supernatural romance Dan Da Dan finally rolling into the summer season simulcasts, it got me thinking of the other mind-blowing animated series that Netflix offers. My criteria for what makes a masterpiece may differ from yours, but the general tenets are as follows: emotionally resonant, breathtaking animation, and tight, purposeful storytelling. Simple, right? It also helps if it’s weird as hell, but that’s just me. So, here’s my ranking of the best anime series masterpieces, but it’s not the definitive ranking, so feel free to let me know your top three after you get to the end.
RANK – 08
Scavengers Reign’ (2023)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 8.6/10
Don’t jump me, but I am gonna bend the definition of anime a bit here. Can you blame me, though? This Emmy-winning sci-fi spectacular is essentially an American take on revolutionary works like Akira and the oeuvre of Hayao Miyazaki and the folks at Studio Ghibli (both of which would be all over this list if it were for movies). Born from a viral short created by Joseph Bennett and Charles Huettner, Scavengers Reign is a feast for lovers of rich worldbuilding and mature character stories filled with flawed individuals trying to survive a harsh alien world. The story follows the survivors of a catastrophic ship malfunction that scatters them across an unknown planet. Between the thoughtful execution of the biomes and fauna that inhabit the world and the tumultuous relationships that inform the survivors’ interactions with it, there is something that everyone can enjoy from this series.
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RANK – 07
‘Carole & Tuesday’ (2019)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 7.8/10
It shouldn’t surprise you that a series created by the dream team of Shinichirō Watanabe and studio Bones would make the list, but the premise just might. Watanabe and Bones are generally known for their killer action sequences mixed with deeply resonant character work, and this series has that flavor, but instead of the fist-pumping fights you’d see in Samurai Champloo or Cowboy Bebop, this show is about the internal struggle against loneliness and the battle to be seen through one’s art. Carole & Tuesday is a heartfelt 24-episode series that revolves around two girls who connect over their aspirations to be musicians, so they form a duo to try sharing their songs with the people of Mars. That’s right — it wouldn’t be a Watanabe production without a little sci-fi, so they’re trying to win the Martian equivalent of American Idol. Prepare to ugly cry while jamming to some great original tunes.
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RANK – 06
Delicious in Dungeon’ (2024 – Present)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 8/10
Essentially a mashup of a food anime and a dungeon crawler RPG, Delicious in Dungeon is a masterwork of organic worldbuilding (pun intended). Anyone who’s read through the full manga knows that the wonderfully engaging story, mixed with the whimsically complex characters we got in the first season, was just the tip of the iceberg. Then again, we also know that the culinary industry survives on tips! Jokes aside, Ryoko Kui’s fantasy cooking series is a great addition to the ranks of iconic fantasy anime that introduces audiences to the intricacies of the world through the exploration of various dungeon monster ecosystems while cooking them into the most scrumptious-looking dishes.
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RANK – 05
‘Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End’ (2023 – Present)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 8.9/10
When the manga for Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End dropped back in 2020, readers knew that writer Kanehito Yamada and illustrator Tsukasa Abe had created an instant classic. But now, their introspective story about legacy, human connection, and the passage of time has been brought to life by the G.O.A.T.S. at Madhouse, so you already knew this was gonna be on the list. If you’re unfamiliar with this sleeper hit, the story follows a thousand-year-old elf, the titular Frieren, as she sets out to truly engage with the world she and her adventuring party saved 50 years ago. Through her eyes, the audience gets to experience how worlds change over time and learn to appreciate the fleeting nature of existence.
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RANK – 04
Vinland Saga’ (2019 – 2023)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 8.8/10
It’s hard not to love the idea of an anime filled with blood, revenge, and redemption based on the real story about a famous Viking, and that’s exactly what Makoto Yukimura delivers. Vinland Saga dramatizes the tale of Thorfinn Karlsefni and his journey in search of the land discovered by Leif Erikson. But this isn’t just an expedition across the seas, as Yukimura expands his story into a brutal descent into hatred propelled by a lust for vengeance. The character arc for Thorfinn is one of the most compelling aspects of the series, which is only enhanced by the beautiful animation from Wit Studio and MAPPA, coupled with voice acting that drives the emotional stakes right through your heart.
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RANK – 03
DanDaDan’ (2024 – Present)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 8.4/10
Being the impetus for this article, you already knew DanDaDan was gonna be in the top three. It might have been higher if it were complete, but since we’re just getting Season 2, there is still time for it to get the infamous The Promised Neverland treatment (but I pray to the anime gods that doesn’t happen.) Honestly, this would be in my top three just from the Acrobatic Silky sequence in episode 7. (If you know, you know and are probably crying just remembering it.) But if you’re just joining us supernatural alien hunters who love this series, the story follows two high school students, Okarun and Momo, who essentially start a slow-burn romance after a ghost steals Okarun’s balls (I already told you — I like it weird!). Just an FYI, the first episode can be triggering as there is an attempted sexual assault, so be aware.
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RANK – 02
Mob Psycho 100’ (2023)
Rotten Tomatoes: 90% | IMDb: 8.5/10
There’s no reason that the mangaka who made the silly satirical hero series One Punch Man should be able to make something so wholesome yet emotionally complex and devastating, but ONE pulls it off. Mob Psycho 100 is a revelation of self-actualization and neurodivergent representation that perfectly balances ONE’s unique sense of humor with genuine moments of growth that expand on the central themes of staying true to oneself while putting in the work to care for others. Through the titular main character, Mob, and his part-time job as a psychic exorcist, the show explores the responsibilities associated with wielding power while filling the story with delightfully kooky characters that act as reflections that he can use to understand himself. Beyond making me cry, the series also features some of the best animation that studio Bones has ever produced, so get ready for a rollercoaster of emotions.
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RANK – 01
Neon Genesis Evangelion’ (1995 – 1996)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 8.5/10
The number one spot has to be the influential mecha anime that deconstructs the genre while diving into psychological and philosophical concepts. The legacy of Neon Genesis Evangelion continues to this day as creator Hideaki Anno introduces new iterations and timelines in the Rebuild series, but there will never be anything like the original series. The combination of religious iconography used as threatening entities, commentary on the aftermath of nuclear disaster, and the nuanced dive into depression and parental abandonment are big elements of what makes the series great. But it’s not just the layers of visual storytelling and subtle nods and the greater world happening outside the perspective of the teenage protagonist that have kept fans engaged for three decades — it’s also the relatable experience of coming-of-age in a world that’s barely holding on in the wake of numerous disasters. So, get in the f***ing robot, reader!
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