If you’re hunting tonight for the Best Animated Series on Netflix, this guide brings clarity without the fluff. We audited Netflix’s U.S. catalog and cross-checked audience scores, awards chatter, and renewal status to find animated gems across genres, tones, and age brackets. You’ll find Netflix animated shows that span prestige adult dramas, family adventures, and visually daring anime, all meeting the IMDb ≥6 bar set here. Where possible, we note renewals, fresh seasons, or anthology drops so you know what’s active right now.
Below you’ll get a ranked, reader-friendly list with tight bullets, then an eight-sentence story-forward blurb for each pick. Expect crisp tags, cast and creator details, and light guidance on who each show suits—exactly what you need to decide among the Best Animated Series on Netflix tonight. We also weave in phrases like top animated dramas on Netflix and streaming animated series naturally so the piece reads like a conversation, not a checklist. Availability can change as licenses rotate, but all entries were eligible at the time of writing; always check your local catalog for the latest.
Our handpicked Best Animated Series on Netflix for every mood
Arcane
- Seasons: 1 (2021–2021)
- Episodes: 9
- Starring: Hailee Steinfeld, Ella Purnell, Katie Leung
- Creator/Showrunner: Christian Linke & Alex Yee
- Sub-genre tags: dieselpunk, action drama, steampunk
- IMDb Rating: 9.0/10
Arcane explodes with painterly action and bruised sisterhood in the vertical city of Piltover and Zaun. The show braids class conflict with intimate character beats, making every duel feel like a choice with consequences. Hailee Steinfeld and Ella Purnell anchor the drama with volatile warmth and hurt. Every frame lands like concept art come alive, a rare synthesis of style and story. Political gambits and street-level scrapes keep the pacing taut from minute one. Songs, color palettes, and kinetic editing build an identity that lingers after the credits. Awards chatter and year-end lists helped push it beyond the gaming fandom. It is a lodestar among the Best Animated Series on Netflix for viewers craving scale and emotion.
Castlevania
- Seasons: 4 (2017–2021)
- Episodes: 32
- Starring: Richard Armitage, Alejandra Reynoso, James Callis
- Creator/Showrunner: Warren Ellis (writer), Sam Deats (showrunner)
- Sub-genre tags: gothic, dark fantasy, action horror
- IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
Castlevania sinks its fangs into gothic despair and sardonic humor in equal measure. Trevor, Sypha, and Alucard form a reluctant trio whose banter cuts through the blood and ash. The choreography slices clean, lingering on momentum and impact rather than gore alone. Warren Ellis’s scripts juggle nihilism and empathy without losing momentum. Seasons build toward sieges that feel tactical and mythic at once. Villains get interiority, turning monster hunts into tragic collisions. It’s also a case study in how game adaptations can chart their own path. Returning to it is easy, and its legacy endures in Netflix’s expanding animation slate.
Castlevania: Nocturne
- Seasons: 1 (2023– )
- Episodes: 8
- Starring: Edward Bluemel, Thuso Mbedu, Pixie Davies
- Creator/Showrunner: Kevin Kolde & Clive Bradley
- Sub-genre tags: revolutionary era, dark fantasy, vampire saga
- IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
Castlevania: Nocturne resets the board in revolutionary France with a new Belmont under siege. The action pivots from candlelit cathedrals to riot-torn streets, keeping momentum alive. Fresh allies complicate old oaths, and the show embraces messy faith versus power. Fight scenes favor bold silhouettes and sky-carved blades of light. The soundtrack smolders, pushing duels into operatic territory. Grief and duty tug at every decision, sharpening the hero’s arc. It builds its own voice instead of leaning too hard on nostalgia. Fans of blood-streaked fantasy will find the lineage both honored and restless.
Blue Eye Samurai
- Seasons: 1 (2023– )
- Episodes: 8
- Starring: Maya Erskine, Masi Oka, George Takei
- Creator/Showrunner: Amber Noizumi & Michael Green
- Sub-genre tags: jidai-geki, revenge, adult drama
- IMDb Rating: 8.9/10
Blue Eye Samurai carves a revenge path through Edo-period Japan with sculpted light and shadow. Mizu’s blade work reads like choreography etched into wood and steel. Dialogues hum with restrained fury, opening into startling tenderness. The production blends cultural texture with sleek, modern pacing. Moments of stillness make the violence hit harder, not louder. Episodes spiral toward choices that expose identity and survival as intertwined. Awards talk and critical lists made this a 2024-era touchstone. Among the Best Animated Series on Netflix, it offers adult drama with a razor’s edge.
Love, Death & Robots
- Seasons: 3 (2019–2022)
- Episodes: 35
- Starring: Topher Grace, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel McHale
- Creator/Showrunner: Tim Miller (creator), David Fincher (EP)
- Sub-genre tags: anthology, sci-fi, horror, comedy
- IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Love, Death & Robots turns the anthology dial to chaos, romance, terror, and punchline all in one season. Each short is a laboratory where styles, studios, and genres collide. The best entries land like midnight fables for the streaming age. Horror bleeds into comedy; satire cuts into cosmic dread. The brevity invites rewatching and late-night debate about favorites. It’s a sampler for animation’s boundless toolbox, not a single flavor. When a short hits, it hits like a meteor in a glass lake. The collection keeps Netflix’s animation bench feeling eclectic and alive.
BoJack Horseman
- Seasons: 6 (2014–2020)
- Episodes: 77
- Starring: Will Arnett, Amy Sedaris, Alison Brie
- Creator/Showrunner: Raphael Bob-Waksberg
- Sub-genre tags: dramedy, satire, character study
- IMDb Rating: 8.8/10
BoJack Horseman threads cartoon absurdism with unflinching mental-health candor. Hollywood satire is the bait; character accountability is the hook. Episodes slide from riffy comedy to experimental episodes with ease. Voice performances mine both the punchline and the ache. Visual gags fire in the margins while the main plot breaks habits. The show’s seasonal arcs keep circling truth without preaching. Awards recognition followed its late-career peak and daring structure. Its bruised honesty makes it essential to any list of the Best Animated Series on Netflix.
Rising favorites within the Best Animated Series on Netflix
Big Mouth
- Seasons: 7 (2017–2023)
- Episodes: 70+
- Starring: Nick Kroll, John Mulaney, Maya Rudolph
- Creator/Showrunner: Nick Kroll, Andrew Goldberg, Mark Levin, Jennifer Flackett
- Sub-genre tags: coming-of-age, adult comedy, cringe humor
- IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
Big Mouth weaponizes cringe to tell the sweetest stories about growing up. The Hormone Monsters are chaos gremlins, but empathy is the engine. Songs, sketches, and PSAs collide in hallways and bedrooms. Embarrassment becomes a shared language rather than a joke’s end. Guest stars pop in without derailing the warm core cast. The show isn’t afraid to revise itself and grow too. Later seasons broaden the circle without losing specificity. It remains a pillar of Netflix’s unapologetically adult animation lane.
Hilda
- Seasons: 3 (2018–2023)
- Episodes: 39
- Starring: Bella Ramsey, Ameerah Falzon-Ojo, Oliver Nelson
- Creator/Showrunner: Luke Pearson
- Sub-genre tags: fantasy adventure, family, folklore
- IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
Hilda finds magic in curiosity, mapping a city where trolls, spirits, and kids share space. The muted palette and round shapes make the world instantly welcoming. Every episode honors bravery that looks like listening before leaping. Adventures scale from small mysteries to neighborhood-sized quests. Parents will find layered jokes and gentle rhythms built for bedtime. Holiday specials and features expand the mythos without bloat. It’s ideal for co-watching across ages, rare and precious. As part of the Best Animated Series on Netflix, it’s a north-star for cozy, curious storytelling.
The Dragon Prince
- Seasons: 5 (2018–2023)
- Episodes: 45+
- Starring: Jack De Sena, Sasha Rojen, Paula Burrows
- Creator/Showrunner: Aaron Ehasz & Justin Richmond
- Sub-genre tags: high fantasy, quest, politics
- IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
The Dragon Prince blends court intrigue, road-trip bonding, and dragon mythology into a buoyant mix. Animation swings from slapstick to spectacle without whiplash. Siblings and unlikely allies keep the heart beating between battles. Magic rules feel playful yet consistent, inviting fan theories. Villains earn empathy instead of just boos. Each season tightens character choices toward messy leadership. The world never stops expanding, but the friendships stay central. It’s a go-to family pick when you want wonder with laughs.
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power
- Seasons: 5 (2018–2020)
- Episodes: 52
- Starring: Aimee Carrero, Karen Fukuhara, AJ Michalka
- Creator/Showrunner: Noelle Stevenson
- Sub-genre tags: heroic fantasy, LGBTQ+ themes, ensemble
- IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power remixes 80s iconography into a sparkling story of chosen family. Adora’s journey is equal parts destiny and everyday courage. Friendships fracture, heal, and evolve with sincerity. Action scenes feel kinetic without drowning the character beats. The ensemble is a carousel of personality without weak links. Queer representation is baked into the show’s beating heart. Final arcs land with catharsis that feels earned, not forced. As part of the Best Animated Series on Netflix, it’s a banner for inclusive heroism.
Voltron: Legendary Defender
- Seasons: 8 (2016–2018)
- Episodes: 78
- Starring: Jeremy Shada, Bex Taylor-Klaus, Josh Keaton
- Creator/Showrunner: Joaquim Dos Santos & Lauren Montgomery
- Sub-genre tags: space opera, mecha, team adventure
- IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Voltron: Legendary Defender revs up the mecha tradition with team dynamics and serialized stakes. Space battles are crisp, readable, and satisfyingly tactical. Humor breaks tension without puncturing momentum. Character growth across eight seasons rewards loyal viewers. The mythology keeps adding layers without losing focus. Villains and rivals push the heroes into sharper choices. Friendship and duty fight for the same cockpit. It’s a Saturday-morning rush with prime-time continuity.
Aggretsuko
- Seasons: 5 (2018–2023)
- Episodes: 50
- Starring: Kaolip, Katelyn Gault, Erica Mendez
- Creator/Showrunner: Rarecho (creator/director)
- Sub-genre tags: workplace comedy, music, slice-of-life
- IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
Aggretsuko screams its heart out in karaoke booths after soul-sucking office days. Retsuko’s metal catharsis is both punchline and pressure valve. Coworkers start as archetypes and turn into confidants. The humor lands because the problems feel painfully real. Short episodes make it easy to binge between chores. Romance arcs arrive like pop songs, catchy and bittersweet. The finale gives hard-won balance instead of a fairy tale. It’s workplace therapy disguised as adorable rage.
Certified crowd-pleasers among the Best Animated Series on Netflix
Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts
- Seasons: 3 (2020)
- Episodes: 30
- Starring: Karen Fukuhara, Sydney Mikayla, Deon Cole
- Creator/Showrunner: Radford Sechrist & Bill Wolkoff
- Sub-genre tags: post-apocalyptic, adventure, music
- IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts blasts neon hope across a mutated landscape of singing megafauna. Friendships stitch together a new kind of family on the move. Music cues double as character confessions and plot engines. Action is energetic, but kindness is the most disruptive force. The color design turns danger into candy-coated awe. Villains get redemption arcs that feel risky and right. It’s short, complete, and perfect for a weekend marathon. Among the Best Animated Series on Netflix, it’s a beacon of joy and resilience.
Carmen Sandiego
- Seasons: 4 (2019–2021)
- Episodes: 32
- Starring: Gina Rodriguez, Finn Wolfhard, Rafael Petardi
- Creator/Showrunner: Duane Capizzi
- Sub-genre tags: heist, globe-trotting, educational
- IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
Carmen Sandiego turns geography lessons into sleek heists with a conscience. Carmen steals back artifacts and agency while mentoring her crew. Every city stopover is a postcard with punchy momentum. Villains are stylish foils rather than cackling speed bumps. Education slides in through clues and capers, not lectures. The tone balances cool confidence with heartfelt choices. It’s as bingeable as it is classroom-friendly. Parents get a clever throwback; kids get a globe to explore.
Blood of Zeus
- Seasons: 2 (2020–2024)
- Episodes: 16+
- Starring: Derek Phillips, Jessica Henwick, Jason O’Mara
- Creator/Showrunner: Charley & Vlas Parlapanides
- Sub-genre tags: mythology, action, epic
- IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
Blood of Zeus swings for operatic Greek tragedy with thunder and betrayal. Mortals and gods collide in set pieces that punish hubris. Family secrets ripple into city-level ruin and redemption. The visual scale feels cinematic without sacrificing clarity. Creatures are monstrous and melancholy in equal measure. Seasonal arcs close with cliff edges sharp enough to cut. The second season doubled down on scope and spectacle. Myth lovers will devour its modernized epics with gusto.
DOTA: Dragon’s Blood
- Seasons: 3 (2021–2022)
- Episodes: 24
- Starring: Yuri Lowenthal, Lara Pulver, Tony Todd
- Creator/Showrunner: Ashley Edward Miller
- Sub-genre tags: game adaptation, fantasy war, dragons
- IMDb Rating: 7.0/10
DOTA: Dragon’s Blood builds a tangle of destinies from a game’s sprawling lore. Dragons and mages collide with politics and prophecy. Fights are legible, fast, and punctuated by hard choices. It trusts viewers to track a deep bench of players. Myth arcs interlock until revelations slam home. The mapping of game roles to drama feels surprisingly organic. It rewards fans without locking out newcomers. Genre faithful will find comfort in its classic fantasy bones.
Pacific Rim: The Black
- Seasons: 2 (2021–2022)
- Episodes: 14
- Starring: Gideon Adlon, Calum Worthy, Erica Lindbeck
- Creator/Showrunner: Greg Johnson & Craig Kyle
- Sub-genre tags: kaiju, mecha, survival
- IMDb Rating: 7.0/10
Pacific Rim: The Black drives two siblings across a kaiju-ruined continent in a salvaged Jaeger. Survival beats come first; mythology creeps in like fog. Action has weight, with metal groans and sand-choked vistas. Trust is rationed like food as factions circle. The tone sits between YA adventure and grim peril. Flashbacks humanize losses without wallowing. Short seasons keep the urgency high. It’s a lean companion to the live-action films’ maximalism.
Scissor Seven
- Seasons: 4 (2018–2023)
- Episodes: 40+
- Starring: He Xiaofeng, Jas Patrick, Ronny Chieng
- Creator/Showrunner: He Xiaofeng
- Sub-genre tags: wuxia parody, action comedy, Chinese animation
- IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Scissor Seven whips from slapstick to heartbreak as an amnesiac hairdresser moonlights as a hitman. Martial-arts gags spin into painterly duels at the drop of a comb. The show keeps undercutting bravado with tenderness. Side quests pay off in surprisingly heavy ways. It’s endlessly memeable without losing sincerity. The tonal blend feels singular in global animation right now. Later seasons deepen the myth arc around identity. It’s a cult-favorite within the Best Animated Series on Netflix, especially for action-comedy fans.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
- Seasons: 1 (2022)
- Episodes: 10
- Starring: Zach Aguilar, Emi Lo, Kenjiro Tsuda
- Creator/Showrunner: Rafał Jaki (showrunner), Studio Trigger
- Sub-genre tags: cyberpunk, tragedy, action
- IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners crashes neon tragedy into breakneck chases and quiet betrayals. Studio Trigger’s angles and edits feel like adrenaline art. The romance anchors chaos in something painfully human. Night City is the loudest character, hungry and cruel. Every upgrade costs a piece of the self, not just money. The soundtrack pushes scenes from stylish to scalding. Awards and year-end lists kept it buzzing well past release. It’s become a gateway for newcomers curious about game-world stories.
Underrated gems rounding out the Best Animated Series on Netflix
Beastars
- Seasons: 3 (2019–2024)
- Episodes: 36
- Starring: Chikahiro Kobayashi, Sayaka Senbongi, Yuki Ono
- Creator/Showrunner: Shinichi Matsumi (director), Paru Itagaki (manga)
- Sub-genre tags: anthropomorphic drama, teen romance, noir
- IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Beastars turns animal masks into a drama about appetite, ethics, and adolescence. Stop-motion-tinged sensibilities make the staging feel theatrical. The central romance is uneasy and tender at once. School politics escalate into a city’s moral crisis. Performances sell whispers as loudly as roars. Mystery arcs braid into character therapy sessions. It’s as much noir as it is coming-of-age. Fans of layered teen drama will feast here.
The Seven Deadly Sins
- Seasons: 5 (2014–2021)
- Episodes: 100+
- Starring: Yuki Kaji, Sora Amamiya, Misaki Kuno
- Creator/Showrunner: A-1 Pictures/Studio Deen; based on Nakaba Suzuki
- Sub-genre tags: fantasy adventure, shōnen, ensemble
- IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
The Seven Deadly Sins rallies a scattered band of heroes to fight gods, demons, and destiny. Arcs juggle slapstick, romance, and apocalyptic stakes. Power-ups feel like character beats more than stat sheets. Villains often want what heroes want, just skewed. Flashbacks hit like puzzle pieces clicking into place. Set pieces lean big and bright, never dour. It scratches the classic shōnen itch with heart. Binges fly by thanks to cliff-happy endings.
B: The Beginning
- Seasons: 2 (2018–2021)
- Episodes: 23
- Starring: Hiroaki Hirata, Asami Seto, Johnny Yong Bosch
- Creator/Showrunner: Kazuto Nakazawa & Production I.G
- Sub-genre tags: mystery thriller, sci-fi, crime
- IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
B: The Beginning braids serial-killer thrills with biotech conspiracies and secret royalty. The tone moves from chilly procedural to high-wire sci-fi. Action flourishes are precise, not noisy. Detectives and prodigies keep out-thinking each other. Mood and music add a glassy, cinematic sheen. The second season ramps up mythology without losing propulsion. It’s one to watch with the lights low and your phone down. For the Best Animated Series on Netflix crowd, it scratches the mystery-sci-fi itch perfectly.
Godzilla Singular Point
- Seasons: 1 (2021)
- Episodes: 13
- Starring: Yume Miyamoto, Shoya Ishige, Taro Kiuchi
- Creator/Showrunner: Atsushi Takahashi; Bones & Orange
- Sub-genre tags: kaiju science, mystery, hard sci-fi
- IMDb Rating: 6.6/10
Godzilla Singular Point treats kaiju like math problems with teeth and mythology with gears. Scientists and students push theories into monster territory. The art direction fuses retro charm with modern precision. Mysterious signals escalate into city-rattling revelations. Characters feel like colleagues you worry about, not pawns. It’s nerdy in the best way, but never inert. Climaxes spiral into elegant, brainy spectacle. It’s a love letter to scientific wonder and giant-monster awe.
Masters of the Universe: Revelation
- Seasons: 2 (2021, 2024)
- Episodes: 15+
- Starring: Mark Hamill, Chris Wood, Lena Headey
- Creator/Showrunner: Kevin Smith
- Sub-genre tags: 80s revival, sword-and-sorcery, legacy sequel
- IMDb Rating: 6.5/10
Masters of the Universe: Revelation revisits Eternia to finish a story fans have argued about for decades. Legacy characters are allowed to break, heal, and evolve. Action figures become people with motives and scars. Kevin Smith leans into myth without losing humor. The score and color work dial nostalgia to epic. Debates around choices kept it trending when new parts dropped. It’s a testament to reboots that take risks instead of copy-paste. Long-time fans will find closure and fresh sparks alike.
The Cuphead Show!
- Seasons: 3 (2022)
- Episodes: 36
- Starring: Tru Valentino, Frank Todaro, Grey DeLisle
- Creator/Showrunner: Dave Wasson (developed), based on Studio MDHR
- Sub-genre tags: retro cartoon, slapstick, game adaptation
- IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
The Cuphead Show! lifts rubber-hose animation into a modern, mischievous binge. Episodes run short and snappy, perfect between tasks. The Devil and the brothers trade gags like jazz riffs. Visuals commit hard to period style without feeling dusty. The game’s chaotic spirit survives intact for TV. Guest characters swing in to steal scenes and scoot. It’s both kid-safe and slyly referential for adults. Among the Best Animated Series on Netflix, it’s the purest retro sugar rush around.
About Animated Series and Netflix
American television once siloed animation into Saturday mornings and late-night oddities, but the streaming era blew those walls open. Netflix invested early in adult storytelling, kids’ worldbuilding, and global studios, letting creators pitch riskier tones and art styles. As animated TV on Netflix expanded, audiences found that animation could juggle satire, myth, and intimate drama with equal confidence.
Today, the platform’s pipeline spans anthology experiments, auteur-driven prestige, and accessible family fare. That breadth is why guides to the Best Animated Series on Netflix matter: they connect viewers to the right tone, from best cartoons on Netflix for adults to family-friendly animation on Netflix and world-class anime on Netflix. As studios collaborate across borders, expect even bolder hybrids and cross-media tie-ins.
Whether you’re marathoning a prestige tragedy or queuing a kid-friendly adventure, animation now covers moods once reserved for live action. For smart interviews and industry context, check recent coverage in Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, which track renewals, studio shifts, and festival buzz.
As catalogs rotate, add this page to bookmarks and recheck your region before you press play. You’ll also discover original animated series streaming each season as new projects land and limited series conclude.
Frequently Asked Questions
Catalog snapshot: September 26, 2025. Availability may change by region and date.
