Best Beginner Anime Movies on Netflix in 2024

Over the past several years, the Netflix library has grown considerably and includes not only great original licensed anime series but movies as well. If you're brand new to anime and need help knowing what to watch, here's our guide to the best starter movie series on Netflix in 2024

Finding a new anime movie to watch is less difficult than finding a new series; thankfully the Netflix anime library has a huge variety of films. Although it's not the most extensive library of anime, it still has plenty of exciting and bold new original and licensed films from beloved franchises like One Piece, Haikyuu, and Naruto.

It's also worth mentioning that a selection of Studio Ghibli's incredible films are also available in select regions.

Do you want to watch an anime series instead? We also have an in-depth guide to the best anime series for beginners.

Big budget, big animation

Because of larger budgets and the limited length of the equivalent of four or five anime episodes, animation studios go bigger and bolder with the animation of their feature films, often resulting in some truly dazzling visuals.

Netflix has prided itself on some of its original anime films over the years, and we believe you should start with the following titles:

• Drifting Home (2022) – During summer vacation, two childhood friends visit the residential complex where they grew up, which is to be demolished. But while playing, they get caught in a strange phenomenon, and upon waking up, they discover that they and the residential complex are lost at sea.
• Bubble (2022) – Tokyo, cut off from the outside world by bubbles that defy the laws of gravity, has become a playground for parkourists.
• Suzume (2022) – Disasters lurk behind the mysterious doors that open in Japan. To save their country from disaster, Suzume and the mysterious Souta must find a way to close all the doors.
• Fantasy (2023) – Rudger, Amanda's imaginary friend, suddenly finds himself alone when he arrives in the City of Fantasy, where imaginary creations survive and find work after being forgotten.

Studio Ghibli's legacy can be seen here ImaginaryAnd it will surprise no one to learn that Studio Ponoc, the animation studio that produced it Imaginarywas founded by Yoshiaki Nishimura, former head filmmaker of Studio Ghibli.

Shōnen Films

To capitalize on the popularity of shonen anime series, animation studios will work on creating films for the franchise that can be released in theaters around the world. Often, these films are not connected to the main story of the anime series and are simply big-budget, fun side adventures that put the story's heroes into unique and sometimes bizarre adventures in scenarios against incredibly dangerous, powerful, and fun villains.

Some of the best shonen movies you should watch on Netflix:

• One Piece: Movie Raid (2022) – Luffy and the Straw Hat crew head to Elegia Island, where Uta, the world's most beloved singer and Shanks' daughter, is performing.
• Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (2021) – The story of Yuta Okkotsu, a powerful but cursed sorcerer who must learn to control the fiery spirit within him after enrolling in a jujutsu high school.
• Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie (2012) – Naruto and his friend Sakura find themselves in a parallel world controlled by Madara, who wants to steal the power of the Nine-Tails from Naruto.

Other Shonen Movies Fans Should Watch My Hero Academia: Two Heroes And The Seven Deadly Sins: Prisoners of the Sky. Needless to say there is a whole collection here one piece And Naruto The movies which are ready to stream.

While the production of these films used to be an annual event for franchises such as one piece And NarutoIn recent years, studios have avoided inundating fans with movies.

Finale of the story

Alternatively, some studios have concluded the story from the anime series and made the final arc a major theatrical release. Examples of these anime movies can be found on Netflix:

• The Quintessential Quintuplets Movie (2022)
• Sailor Moon Eternal and Sailor Moon Cosmos (2021–2023)
• Violet Evergarden: The Movie (2020)

Before watching the movies listed above, we recommend that you watch the anime series first.

Mecha Movies

Not only a hub for toy sales but also incredibly entertaining, the world of mecha anime often focuses on giant mechs piloted by brave heroes who often face off against evil forces such as other mechs or giant monsters.

The best mecha anime movies to watch on Netflix come from beloved franchises Gundam and Neon Genesis Evangelion.

There are currently six Mobile Suit Gundam anime movies that you can stream on Netflix:

• Mobile Suit Gundam I (1981)
• Mobile Suit Gundam II: Soldiers of Sorrow (1981)
• Mobile Suit Gundam III: Encounters in Space (1982)
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counter Attack (1988)
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway (2021)
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Seed Freedom (2024)

There are also two movies based on Neon Genesis Evangelion:

• Evangelion Death (True)² (1997)
• The End of Evangelion (1997)

We recommend you watch the Evangelion movies after watching the Neon Genesis Evangelion series. The first movie, Evangelion Death (True)², recaps 24 episodes of the series and previews the next movie, The End of Evangelion.

Customers should also be aware that The End of Evangelion Neon Genesis Evangelion offers an alternate ending to the story.

What about Studio Ghibli?

Studio Ghibli is an Academy Award-winning animation studio from Japan responsible for beloved classics such as spirited Away, howl's Moving Castle, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononokeand many more!

Sadly, you cannot watch Studio Ghibli films on Netflix in the USA and you will need a Max subscription to do so. However, while outside the USA, you can access all twenty-one Studio Ghibli films until the summer of 2026.

Pictured from left to right are Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, and Howl's Moving Castle. – Studio Ghibli.

In other exciting news, Studio Ghibli has two more films, The Boy and the Heron and the heart-wrenching war-drama grave of the fireflies, Heading to Netflix.

Pictured from left to right are The Boy and the Heron (left) and Grave of the Fireflies (right). — Studio Ghibli.

For Netflix subscribers with access to the Studio Ghibli library, we'd argue there's no better collection of films to start your anime viewing experience with.

What anime movies have you watched on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below!