3 anime to watch on Netflix (and 2 to skip)
By Diana Nosa
With anime becoming increasingly popular every year, this is the perfect time for those who have been trying to get into anime to start from somewhere. And, in our opinion, there's no better place to start than Netflix.
Netflix is home to a handful of anime, each with its own unique stories and characters that you are sure to have one or two things in common with. Even so, there are a few titles that we don't necessarily think are the best introduction to anime rather they're titles that more seasoned anime watchers view since they're more used to titles having aspects that others may find a more difficult time trying to stomach (i.e. excessive fan service or gore).
We want to make sure you have a great time watching anime, which is why there are some anime we recommend you watch as soon as possible and others we don't recommend holding your breath for.
Granted, when you watch your first couple of Netflix anime titles, you'll begin to develop your own likes and dislikes. But until that time comes, here are three Netflix anime shows you should watch and two Netflix anime you should skip.
Blue Period: WATCH
Yaguchi is at a standstill in life where nothing really brings him pleasure. He has grown bored with his humdrum life and is in desperate need of finding a new passion. Thankfully, when he least expected it, he found a new passion for making art.
With his newfound love for the arts, Yaguchi sets out to become better and more experienced in this field. He knows that starting from scratch isn't easy, but it's far better than not starting at all.
What we love about Blue Period is the anime's gentle reminder that it's never too late to fall in love with a new passion or hobby. So long as you're patient with yourself and your journey, you'll always find a new reason to seize the day.
Castlevania: WATCH
When Dracula's human wife gets burned at the stake, accused of being a witch, the menacing and all-power vampire makes a deal with society, telling them that so long as they repent from their ways, he'll have mercy on them. However, humans grossly underestimated Dracula and so, he sent out a great and fearful army to wipe them out of existence.
With humanity at its wits end, lost about how exactly to go about stopping Dracula's rage, there comes a beacon of light in a narrow, dark hallway. That light is none other than Alucard, Dracula's only child and humanity's last chance.
While Castlevania can feel dark at times, it's a great watch because of how well the anime balances heavy moments with more lighthearted elements. Where there's sadness, the anime includes comedy; where there's hopelessness, it also includes a glimmer of hope.
Delicious in Dungeon: WATCH
After his sister sacrifices her safety to save the lives of her adventure party, Laios sets out to save her from the grasp of the dragon that is on the verge of digesting his sister for good.
Doing so is easier said than done since he has to traverse a confusing dungeon to be able to find her. What's more, the dungeon is filled with traps and tricks at every step, putting his life in danger at every turn. Nevertheless, he and what's left of his adventure party must press on before it's too late.
Sure, there is a great deal of battles and drama that will certainly have you sitting on the edge of your seat, but there is far more to Delicious in Dungeon than this. This title is also about cooking delicious food and sharing recipes with friends. You're certainly in for a great watch with this title, especially with all the cool characters you'll meet.
Most Netflix anime go down easy for anime fans. However, there are some that don't seem to land as well.
High Rise Invasion: SKIP
High Rise Invasion follows the life of Yuri Honjo, a young girl who is fighting for her life in a mysterious world where it's kill or be killed. She doesn't know how she got here nor does she know how to get out. All she does know is that she needs to run away from those who wish to kill her and set out to find someone who could help her live to see another day.
On the surface, High Rise Invasion is an intense rollercoaster ride that leaves you wondering what exactly will happen next. However, where this anime falls is not making every moment about this intense dog-eat-dog world and, instead, filling it with unnecessary moments that keep you from being immersed.
For example, this anime has a huge problem with fanservice to the point where the lewd jokes become increasingly annoying and borderline problematic. In a day and age where most of these jokes will no longer fly, you may feel very put off by this anime feeling a need to include fan service. We know we were.
The Way of the Househusband: SKIP
The Way of the Househusband is a textbook example of why some anime are better left as manga rather than getting animated into a title that deviates so far from people's expectations that it's become unwatchable.
While this seems to be a very harsh assessment of this anime, fans' frustration towards the anime is very warranted because the animation style of this Netflix anime can be boiled down to an anime that simply colorized manga panels. The jokes are the same, the characters are just as funny as we remember them to be, and the story is the classic one we know and love. But somehow, the animation, something that most fans were expecting to be different, was underwhelming.
Objectively, the anime isn't bad at all. However, if you go into The Way of the Househusband expecting it to be anything like the original source material, we're sorry to say that you'll be somewhat disappointed.
Hopefully, you're able to find something that intrigues you on Netflix!