With anime now streaming on countless platforms, it can be overwhelming having to choose only one series to watch. Just about every classic and acclaimed anime is readily available in an instant, while countless others are updated as they premiere in Japan. Excellent shows will inevitablybecome lost among the hundreds currently accessible, but luckily for fans,Netflixis home to some of the more underrated to have been released in recent years.
From action to sci-fi to slice of life, the streaming platform’s catalog of anime only continues togrow in number and popularity. Shifting its focus to new, weekly releases of heavy hitters likeDandadanandRanma 1/2, there’s no better time to explore the series that might have flown under the radar. With Netflix original series that can stand on their own among the classics,there is something for everyone of differing tastes to enjoy.
Good Night World
Cast
Premiering in 2023, Good Night World is a Netflix original anime series following a dysfunctional family who cope with their real-world struggles by playing a VR game called Planet. Despite not spending time with each other in real life, the family unknowingly create a VR family known as The Akabane Family.
2023
# of Episodes:
12
Good Night Worldis a Netflix original anime series based on the 2015 manga by Uru Okabe. Following the teenage shut-in, Taichiro Arima, who spends the majority of his timeplaying an online game called “Planet”, the series is brimming with thrilling mystery, action, fantasy, and quiet drama. As the series progresses, it turns out that Taichiro’s dysfunctional real-world family has unknowingly been spending their time together online. When “Planet” begins to have very real effects on the lives of the Arimas, however, the broken family is forced to band together and fight.
Good Night Worlddoesn’t do anything overly innovative with its Isekai elements, but is ultimately better-off for sticking to an already established formula.The running mysteries and gripping tension within Taichiro’s familymake for an entertaining watch throughout the series' brief 12 episode run.
The Way of the Househusband
The Way of the Househusband follows Tatsu, a former yakuza boss, who retires from crime to become a full-time househusband. Balancing mundane household chores while encountering old rivals, Tatsu navigates this new chapter with the same intensity he once reserved for gang life. The show blends humor and action, presenting a unique slice-of-life story with a comedic twist.
2021
15
Another Netflix original anime series,The Way of the Househusbandoffers a refreshingly unique slice-of-life storyabout an ex-Yakuza member turned homemaker. Tatsu, once nicknamed “The Immortal Dragon” for his infamous past exploits, puts his Yakuza days behind him to support his wife’s dreams. And though Tatsu has moved on from his shady past, the Yakuza hasn’t quite moved on from him. Recurring encounters with ex-rivals consistently make his new, quiet life eventful as the once-feared boss does his best to settle down.
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Comedic the entire way through,The Way of the Househusbandblends typical slice-of-life elements with the chaos of the Yakuza lifestyle. Tatsu’s journey to becoming a helpful and supportive husband isboth endearing and absurdly hilarious, and the series' short runtime prevents the characters' antics from overstaying their welcome.
2018
21
Hi Score Girl’s original manga and two-season anime adaptation were well-received during their initial runs, but have seen their popularity fade in the years since their release. The unconventional Romcom series is made by gamers, for gamers, including countless references to classic arcade machines and home video games. Haruo Yaguchi, a self-absorbed fighting-game fanatic,meets his match one daywhen the quiet Akira Ono humbles him in Street Fighter II.
What follows is anostalgic and sweet romance story between two gamersduring the arcade boom of the 1990s. The series features extremely accurate depictions of vintage games, both niche and widely known, and uses them as the backdrop of young love between two awkward teens. Its unique spin on the romance genre and bittersweet conclusion makesHi Score Girla worthwhile watch.
Blue Periodfollows high schooler Yatora Yaguchi, as hediscovers a love for art while grappling with his own lack of goals. A popular student with dyed hair and earrings, Yatora initially believes art to be useless in his studies, but is later moved by the painting of a classmate and decides to pick up painting. His fierce determination leads to rapid improvement, and before he knows it, he finds himself taking the entrance exams for Japan’s most prestigious art school.
Blue Periodis a highly moving, inspirational series that showcases both thebeauty and difficulties that come with chasing a passion. The anime does well to capture the unique art style of Tsubasa Yamaguchi’s original manga, and expertly captures the experiences of a young aspiring artist. Even for viewers who aren’t artists themselves, there is something so endearing about Yatora’s journey that all who aspire to something can identify with.
Orb: On the Movements of the Earth
In 15th-century Poland, young prodigy Rafal stumbles upon a revolutionary theory challenging the belief that the Earth is the center of the universe. Under the mentorship of a mysterious scholar, he begins exploring this heretical idea. As the Inquisition closes in, Rafal must navigate a dangerous path to uncover the truth.
2024
10
Orb: On the Movements of the Earthis a currently ongoing simulcast series planned for 25 episodes. Though the anime is only barely reaching the halfway mark, it is one of the most unique and interesting series to be released in years. Set in 15th-century Poland,Orbuses fictional scenarios torecount the earliest studies on the movements of Earth, inspired by the findings of the real-life astronomer, Nicolaus Copernicus.
At a time when scientists and astronomers were considered heretics, a young man named Rafal comes in contact with the mysterious Hubert and his theory about the movement of the Earth. However, the belief that anything but Earth could be the center of the universe was considered deeply blasphemous, and so the groundbreaking research comes with a cost. Very few series have such interesting spins on historical events, makingOrbone of the more underrated anime seriesin recent seasons.
2022
Kotaro Lives Alonemay have turned off some anime fans with its unique art style and promise of a Kindergarten-aged protagonist. And while much of the series works because of its cute main character and slice-of-life scenarios,the anime does not pull its punches when it feels it’s time to get serious. Kotaro’s experience as a child living alone in his own apartment is incredibly endearing, and the influence he has on his troubled neighbors is absolutely contagious.
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Kotaro Lives Aloneis a wholesome, heartwarming series that will oftencatch its audience sleeping with poignant and emotional beats. The manga on which the series is based ended in 2023, two years following the anime’s conclusion, and though there are no current plans for a continuation,Kotaro Lives Aloneneeds no more than one season to make an impact on the viewer.
Great Pretender
Great Pretender is an action-crime comedy anime from Wit Studio and director Hiro Kaburagi. The series follows con-man Makoto Edamura as he fails to trick one of the most prolific thieves in the world, Laurent Thierry, who happens to control several mafia groups worldwide. To stay in his good graces, Makoto now must work Laurent’s less-than-above-board jobs and keep himself alive. The series is broken up into different cases, introducing extra main characters in each one.
2020
23
Great Pretendermay not only be one of the most underrated anime series in recent years, but one of themost underrated ever. Produced by Wit Studio, the animators behindAttack on Titan’s first three seasons,the anime is one of the more visually unique and impressive in recent years, featuring bright clashing colors that only add to the series' overall charm. What truly sellsGreat Pretender, though, is the quality of its characters.
The series' main character, Makoto Edamura, wants to be an honest, working person in order to help his sick mother. However, in what becomes a constant for the protagonist, he falls in with a con-man named Laurent and finds himself at the center of major heists. His tendency to never quite be fully aware of the scale of crime he’s involved withmakes the series consistently entertaining and surprising.Great Pretenderis an incredibly enjoyable watch across its four cases, and anime fans will be doing themselves a favor by checking it out.
50
LikeKotaro Lives Alone, anime fans might have hesitated to check outAggretsukodue to its cuddly, cute Sanrio protagonist. And while Retsuko is directly related to Hello Kitty, she’s more like the cool aunt who had a little too much wine at the family holiday party than an adorable mascot.Aggretsukofollows the red panda as she struggles her way through her mid-twenties while working an accounting job for a trading firm. Dealing with an overbearing boss and troublesome co-workers, Retsuko has a secret method of blowing off stress.
One Year Later, I Still Miss Aggretsuko: Here Is Why It Needs One More Season
While Aggretsuko did go out with a bang, it ultimately feels like the series still had more stories to tell, making another season a must.
With a microphone she keeps tucked away in her purse,Retsuko often visits the karaoke bar to sing death metal songs.Aggretsukois made for an audience of anime fans wrestling with the transition into adulthood, who can relate to the overly cute anthropomorphic red panda who occasionally turns into a death metal demon. The series' later seasons divert the plot into more exaggerated scenarios, but the anime never loses its wandering twenty-something spirit.
Aggretsuko
Aggretsuko is an animated series created by Sanrio, focusing on Retsuko, an anthropomorphic red panda navigating her stressful office job in Tokyo. The show explores themes of corporate burnout and societal expectations, with Retsuko expressing her frustrations through cathartic death metal karaoke sessions. Featuring a mix of humor and relatable scenarios, Aggretsuko provides a unique commentary on modern work culture.
