Anime has always been an incredibly successful industry in Japan. However, recently, it has begun gaining more traction overseas. In the western world, anime is now mainstream. Certainly, we can thank popular shows like Demon Slayer, Attack on Titan, My Hero Academia, as well as the Big Trio of Naruto, Bleach, and One Piece.
These shows played a significant role in popularizing the genre. However, another major factor in anime’s growth in popularity can certainly be attributed to Netflix, and streaming services in general. These services have brought anime to a wider audience outside of Japan. So, if you are thinking about getting into anime, Netflix is a good place to start. Let’s look at the best introduction anime on Netflix right now.
Kakegurui – Compulsive Gambler
Gambling has been a part of human culture and society for as long as we’ve been around. The industry persists to this day, and is bigger than ever. We have guides like the one at Metro Times to thank for the success of iGaming. These sites have greatly contributed to the education regarding online gambling and sports betting alike.
Another reason why gambling remains relevant has to do with the numerous media built around the theme. Such is the case with Kakegurui – Compulsive Gambler. The Netflix show takes place in the fictional Hyakkaou Private Academy. The school, like any institution, has a clear hierarchy. However, rather than based on grades or athleticism, the hierarchy at Hyakkaou is based around gambling.
When second-year transfer student Jabami Yumeko first arrives to Hyakkaou, she seems to be an unassuming girl caught in the crossfire of the student council. However, the attendees of the academy soon find out that Yumeko is a compulsive gambler, and quite a good one too. Her goal now is to take down the student council, and establish herself as the head honcho at her new school.
Kakegurui is strange, fun, and surprisingly gripping. It brings all of the tropes that most people expect to see in anime to the table, flips them on their head, subverts them, and plays them straight. It is also not what most usually expect from anime, lacking in action, magic, or any sort of super powers. It is quite over-the-top though, which is one of the primary draws of anime.
Pluto
Osamu Tezuka is often credited as the “Disney of Japan.” For good reason, as the man basically established the manga and anime industry as we know it. He wrote dozens of stories and is responsible for some very noteworthy creations in Japanese culture. But, without a doubt, his most iconic creation is Astro Boy, the android super hero who protects the world from evil Robots.
Astro Boy’s greatest rival is Pluto, the giant robot created for the purpose of destruction. It is precisely this character that greatly inspired Naoki Urasawa to write his 2003 manga, Pluto. Urasawa is a brilliant writer whose stories rival even novels that have won Booker Prize awards. A retelling of the Astro Boy story from a more mature perspective, Pluto is a brilliant piece of literature that has earned Urasawa numerous awards. It is only surprising that it took 20 years for a proper adaptation.
Regardless, in 2023, we got the Netflix original series Pluto. An excellent adaptation of the comic book, spanning 8 episodes. The anime’s release was met with overwhelming positivity, and though it didn’t reach a wide audience, the audience that did see it loved it.
If you are looking for a more mature take on the classic action anime tropes, Pluto is an excellent place to start. It combines elements of neo-noir, science fiction, and crime drama, all the while managing to weave an incredible story, that will keep you gripped to the very end.
Demon Slayer – Kimetsu no Yaiba
Certainly, Demon Slayer does not need much of an introduction. It is among the first anime that broke through to the mainstream, and most people are already aware of it. The story is set in the Taisho era (1912 – 1926) Japan, and follows a young boy called Tanjiro Kamado, whose sister has become a demon. Tanjiro is looking to cure his little sister, and to do so, he joins the ranks of the Demon Slayers.
What most people like about Demon Slayer is that it is unapologetically shonen. For the unaware, shonen is a term describing a demographic (Boys aged 12+). However, to many of us in the west, it has become synonymous with action/adventure anime like Naruto, One Piece, and Bleach. Throughout the 2000s, many Shounen Jump action manga attempted to subvert the typical expectations of the genre.
However, when Kimetsu no Yaiba hit the pages of the magazine, it quickly became a best-seller. The reason was that it did not try to subvert expectations or do something new with the themes. Instead, it just did the tropes associated with the magazine incredibly well. Once the anime released, Demon Slayer became a household name.
Gorgeous animation, incredible voice acting, and loveable characters have made this show a hit. Unfortunately, Netflix does not have the rights to broadcast the whole show. But the first season is available on the streaming platform. Give it a go, and if you find that it is for you, then watch the rest as well. It will almost certainly prove a good time.
Honorable Mentions
In this final section, we’d like to list off a few anime that didn’t make the cut, but are worth seeing none-the-less. These shows have a dedicated following, but may just have something in them that does not make them great for a first time viewer.
- Vinland Saga: an incredible historical drama about the Viking’s invasion of England. However, after the first season, there is a drastic change in tone. While the show retains its quality, some fans might not gel with the shift.
- Baki: the Baki franchise is notorious for how strange and bizarre it is. The action sequences are fun, and once you get used to it, the strangeness becomes charming. However, it does take getting used to.
- Dorohedoro: the urban, cyberpunk-fantasy anime is based on one of the most critically acclaimed manga of all time. However, it does incorporate 3D animation, which many anime fans don’t enjoy.
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