Netflix has been expanding its animated library for years now with some of the best Anime series available online. And if you’re looking specifically for action, there are more than enough good action anime series to choose from in 2021.

What makes a great action anime you ask? Well, it really comes down to how much fighting and explosions are occurring on an episode by episode basis. If the series spends entire episodes without some sort of epic battle, then it probably doesn’t belong on this list.

Gurren Lagann

Total Episodes: 27
IMDb Rating: 8.3

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.

Sword Art Online

Creator: Reki Kawahara
Total Episodes: 74
IMDb Rating: 7.6

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.

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.

Neon Genesis Evangelion

Creator: Hideaki Anno
Total Episodes: 26
IMDb Rating: 8.5

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.

One Piece

Creator: Eiichiro Oda
Total Episodes: 130
IMDb Rating: 8.7

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.

Akame ga Kill!

Creator: Takahiro
Total Episodes: 24
IMDb Rating: 7.9

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.

One Punch Man

Total Episodes: 12
IMDb Rating: 8.8

One Punch Man is not your traditional action series, but it has some of the best anime fight scenes of all time.

The plot follows the life of Saitama, a hero that fights evil just because it’s fun to do so. Of course, fighting can only be so entertaining when you can defeat literally any enemy with just one punch. Comedy intricately intertwines with action, making this an action series that even anime newbies can enjoy from the start. It doesn’t take itself too seriously but has all the elements you need to feel delighted while you watch.

Netflix currently only has the first season on One Punch Man available to stream, but you can find season 2 on Hulu if you binge the first 12 episodes too fast.

B: The Beginning

Creator: Production I.G
Total Episodes: 18
IMDb Rating: 7.2

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.

Fullmetal Alchemist

Creator: Hiromu Arakawa
Total Episodes: 51
IMDb Rating: 8.5

Even if you don’t watch much anime on Netflix, you’ve likely heard or seen mention of FMA somewhere. This fantastic fantasy action series has spawned games, movies, and even alternate versions of the same series.

The story follows two young brothers named Edward and Alphonse Elric. These two boys survived a traumatic accident where they took Alchemy too far and quite literally lost parts of themselves in the process. Their hunt to regain what they’ve lost leads them into a global war and some of the darker aspects of alchemy as a whole.

You can stream all episodes of both Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood on Netflix right now. They are similar, but each slightly different and equally worth watching.

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