Last Updated on March 18, 2022
Netflix has been expanding its anime library for years with some of Netflix’s best original anime. And if you’re looking for action, there are more than enough good action anime series in 2022.
What makes anime a good action movie? Well, it really depends on how many fights and explosions occur from episode to episode. If a show goes through full episodes without some sort of epic battle, it probably won’t make it on this list.
Table of Contents
Best Action Anime on Netflix
Today, I would like to introduce you to the 10 best action Anime on Netflix. These great anime movies are recommended to both anime beginners and lovers.
1. Gurren Lagann
Gurren Lagann is a lot like Neon Genesis Evangelion, but with one key difference — it doesn’t take itself nearly as seriously. Sure, there are fighting robots, aliens, and surprisingly deep moments, but overall it’s a fun and approachable action anime.
The plot follows two friends, Simon and Kamina, who become symbols of rebellion against the all-mighty spiral king. Both main characters begin their story in a subterranean village and make their way to the surface via an ancient drill robot. It’s an action-packed, yet surprisingly emotional series that is worth bingeing all at once.
All 27 episodes are currently streaming on Netflix, and since the series is complete, you can actually get some closure once you reach the end.
2. Sword Art Online
The fast-paced storyline of SAO draws you in quickly and holds on to you the whole time. It’s one of the best RPG anime series you can watch right now. While there isn’t necessarily non-stop action, the fight scenes are pretty exciting and occasionally provide a real feeling of danger for the characters.
RECOMMENDED:
- 10 Must Watch High School Anime Movies on Netflix
- 10 Must Watch Anime Couples | Best Anime Couples of All Time
Sword Art Online takes place in the year 2022, thousands of gamers find themselves trapped in a new and fully immersive virtual MMORPG. To get back to their real bodies, they must fight their way to the top of a tower without getting killed. If you’ve ever enjoyed an online RPG game before, this anime series is definitely worth a watch.
There are 3 seasons of SAO are available on Netflix right now if you’re ready to start bingeing. But you may have to look outside of Netflix for the movie, Ordinal Scale.
3. Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebop is one of the best anime series of all time. With slick fight scenes, an intriguing plot, and just the right amount of jazz mixed in, it’s a must-watch for any fan of the genre.
The story follows bounty hunter Spike Spiegel and Jet Black as they gather a crew and struggle to scrape by in the wild-west era of space adventuring. Nothing ever seems to work out as the group deals with misadventures, tragedies, and epic fights, but it’s hard not to root for them.
You can currently stream the only season of Cowboy Bebop on Netflix. There is also a live-action version of the series that you can stream, but it isn’t nearly as good as the original.
4. Neon Genesis Evangelion
Neon Genesis Evangelion is arguably one of the greatest sci-fi shows of all time, and absolutely essential for understanding the sci-fi anime series genre as a whole.
What begins as a relatively standard show about giant fighting robots turns into a post-modern look at how depression. And while that doesn’t sound particularly intriguing after the robot bit, we can assure you that it is. With epic battles, explosions, alien invasions, and giant laser beams Neon Genesis Evangelion is the opitimy of what an action anime should be.
You can currently stream all 26 episodes of the series on Netflix as well as two of the movies that arose from the show. If you want more like this, take a look at our list of the best thriller anime series on Netflix.
5. One Piece
It may start out a bit slow and have too many filler episodes from season to season, but One Piece is one of the best anime of all time, not just one of the best anime adventure series on Netflix.
So if you’re looking for something wonderful and action-packed with an overwhelming amount of episodes, this is it. The story follows a good-natured and adventurous young pirate named Monkey D. Luffy as he dives headfirst on a quest for the legendary “One Piece” treasure. Whoever can claim the treasure will claim the coveted title of “Pirate King”. He picks up crew members along the way to help him on his quest, including a pirate hunter names Zorro who wields 3 swords at once.
You can currently stream all 130 episodes of this glorious anime series on Netflix. Though you may need to spread it out over months to avoid getting fatigued since it was originally made for television.
6. Attack on Titan
Attack on Titan is a sci-fi horror series that everyone should watch at some point. It’s a unique concept with some unexpected twists and turns as the plot unfolds.
The entire concept of the series revolves around the human race struggling to survive within a series of city walls. Creatures called Titans plague the outside lands and have a particular taste for human flesh. The story mostly follows Eren Jaeger after he watches his mother get eaten by one of the Titans.
There is currently only one season of Attack on Titan streaming on Netflix, but it’s a great intro into the series if you want to get started.
7. Akame ga Kill!
What starts out as a seemingly innocuous adventure anime turns dark in a hurry. Akame ga Kill disguises itself as a mix of action and comedy but has the heart of a horror anime series.
The story follows a young man named Tatsumi as he sets out on a journey to The Capitol where he can make a name for himself. When he finally arrives there, he learns first hand the evils of those in power within The Capital. It isn’t until he runs into a dangerous group of assassins that his journey of bloodshed truly begins.
You can stream the first season of this series on Netflix right now, but you’ll have to look elsewhere for more episodes after that.
8. Baki
Baki is a classic fighting anime series on Netflix with some ridiculous battles and concepts. As a martial arts series much of the action is represented by two fighters facing off and pushing each other beyond their limits.
Though the name of this series would suggest that Baki is the main character throughout, he isn’t always the center of focus. More often than not, each episode focuses on the battles between his competitors as they fight to prove who is the strongest in the world.
9. B: The Beginning
B: The Beginning is a Netflix original anime that hits the ground running. If you’re a fan of good thriller-horror anime and are looking for a good series to plow your way through, it’s worth a watch.
The story follows a legendary investigator for the Royal Police as he chases down a serial killer nicknamed “Killer B”. As the investigation unfolds, a mysterious criminal organization and a dark past are slowly unearthed. We’ll give you a hint — it involves biological experiments.
There are currently 2 seasons streaming on Netflix right now, with the latest season just arriving.
10. Dorohedoro
If you’re looking for a unique story with some incredibly interesting characters, then look no further than Dorohedoro. This peculiar anime series follows a duo on the hunt for a sorcerous.
While that plot may seem pretty commonplace in anime, the twist comes with the fact that the main story drive is that the main character has the head of a lizard. As they grow closer to whoever gave him this scaly affliction, they find themselves targeted by a killer group of sorcerers that are completely unrelated.