10 Most Underrated Anime Series Streaming on Netflix That Deserve More Recognition

Netflix has a wide catalog of anime, but so many get looked over every day. Here are ten of the most underrated anime that need recognition.

Netflix is home to some of the most popular anime for fans to stream, but there is a fair amount that flies under the radar. It's no secret that outside of Crunchyroll, and HIDIVE, Netflix is one of the best platforms for streaming anime. Not only does it feature some of the most popular titles throughout history at the press of a button including Cowboy Bebop and One Piece, but it also has given fans original shows and movies that have become absolute hits. Series like Aggretsuko and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners have put the service on the map as a place to get quality stories fans can't find anywhere else.

However, what some fans may not realize is that Netflix actually has some lesser-known titles hiding beneath its more popular entries that have gone completely unnoticed. For every popular show, there's a title that goes nearly unnoticed. They have their fans, but they don't get as much recognition as they deserve for having similar quality in storytelling and character work as another mainstream favorite.

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10. Kakegurui

Kakegurui follows a new student at Hyakkaou Private Academy named Yumeko Jabami. Much to her delight, she quickly discovers that the school maintains a hierarchy system decided through gambling. This revelation gives her a goal to take on the student government through her love of gambling and make her life at school more exciting.

Things go off the rails quickly as bets are waged with body parts, futures, and even the lives of students. Of course, to keep things interesting, almost every member of the Student Council cheats to maintain their status. While some of the cheating is nonsensical, it's entertaining to see the levels they go to ensure their victory. Sadly, after five years since its second season, Kakegurui has yet to complete its story with no sign of a third in sight. Even its spinoff, Kakegurui Twin, went relatively unnoticed, making this franchise incredibly underrated.

9. Bee and Puppycat

At first glance, it can be a bit confusing why Bee and Puppycat, which spawned from a Frederator web series on YouTube is classified as an anime by Netflix. However, it turns out that OLM, the studio behind Pokémon, was in charge of the animation and production of the series, so it counts – on a technicality.

The best description for this overlooked series is that it's a cozy show. The use of color and animation makes it incredibly calming to watch as Bee and her companion Puppycat travel across space picking up odd jobs to pay their rent. There's a central plot to this series, but it's incredibly loose as it focuses on the calming nature of its premise. For anime fans wanting something to watch after a long day, this is the perfect series for them.

8. Romantic Killer

This romantic comedy completely flew under the radar for most Netflix users when it debuted in 2022. Romantic Killer follows a girl named Anzu Hoshino who has a love for video games but not relationships. However, a love fairy named Riri enters her life and takes away her biggest loves to force her into the life of a dating simulator by manipulating the world around her.

The way that this series breaks the rules of an isekai by bringing the other world to her makes this romcom an incredibly compelling watch. The mischief Riri causes forces Anzu to confront potential suitors making for some comic gold that will have viewers laughing tremendously while also growing to love her as a character as she learns more about herself.

7. Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop

This 2021 film directed by Your Lie in April's Kyōhei Ishiguro centers around a young boy and girl who meet each other over one eventful summer. Both face insecurities in their lives with Kouichi using poetry to express his emotions and Yuki constantly covering her face up during livestreams to prevent others from seeing her buckteeth.

When the two meet, their friendship grows into something more as they learn to bring out the best in each other. This is an adorable slice-of-life romance bolstered by its tremendous animation. It captures the feeling of summer perfectly while speaking to many teenage viewers about insecurities and how they can work past them to be themselves.

6. High-Rise Invasion

Fans looking for something more action-oriented on Netflix need to watch High-Rise Invasion. Netflix's 2021 anime follows a group of humans transported to a mysterious world where they're on top of multiple connected high-rise buildings being pursued by masked killers.

They quickly realize they must fight back in order to survive while trying to uncover the mysteries behind this new world and why they were chosen. The questions and thrills placating this series are what keep viewers engaged through its short 12-episode run. While it does delve into some fan-service moments that will make some audiences roll their eyes, the execution of this thriller makes it an exciting watch regardless.

5. The Orbital Children

This Netflix miniseries went relatively unnoticed when it arrived in 2022. Originally premiering in Japan as a two-part film, the show follows a group of kids on a satellite orbiting Earth that gets struck by a strange comet. The children on the station find themselves separated from the adults without any way to communicate, opening the way to a story of survival as the history of the station and the comet that hit them are explored.

Not only does this series' short runtime make it more promising for an afternoon watch, but the premise of a survival story in space is enough to grab most audiences for a thrilling time. It's incredible that a story with this much potential went so far under the radar and deserves to be given a watch.

4. My Happy Marriage

One of Netflix's newest series, this new take on the Cinderella story injects spiritual abilities and magic into its familiar story. It's already made waves as a must-watch anime on the streaming service, yet very few seem to be talking about it.

The writing for its characters, both good and bad, makes the story engaging to watch, and the animation only heightens its quality. My Happy Marriage is a romance series that nails every aspect of its premise and deserves to be given more attention as one of the best titles in its respective genre.

3. Vampire in the Garden

This post-apocalyptic story has perhaps the most interesting premise out of the entries on this list. In a world plagued by a war between humans and vampires, music has been banned to accommodate for the creatures' sensitive hearing. However, when a girl named Momo meets a vampire named Fine, they explore the art of music much to the resistance from humans and vampires alike.

Vampire in the Garden is gorgeously animated and explores a new aspect of the "star-crossed lovers" trope. While their love for each other is primarily platonic with small hints at something more, their relationship leads to a compelling connection between opposite forces brought together by the very thing that separated their families. It's a fascinating watch that should be given a chance for its premise alone. The execution makes it even better.

2. Rilakkuma and Kaoru

This endearing series shares a lot of familiar ground with other cutesy, episodic anime similar to Bananya. It follows a woman named Kaoru interacting with a cute group of animals led by a bear named Rilakkuma on various adventures. What makes this series stand out though is its animation.

The use of stop-motion is absolutely gorgeous and gives Rilakkuma and Kaoru their own voice as they find new ways to express themselves differently. It even opens the path for potential use of the style in other shows, which will soon be seen in the upcoming Pokemon Concierge series.

1. Kotaro Lives Alone

Perhaps the most overlooked anime on Netflix, Kotaro Lives Alone sees a four-year-old child named Kotaro move into an apartment on his own. At first, it appears the series is ripe with comedic potential based on its premise. However, the themes surrounding Kotaro moving on his own at such a young age make it one of the saddest shows on Netflix. There are hints of death, grief, and abandonment that make his situation not only upsetting but complex as well. It's a series that's been grossly overlooked and should be added to anyone's queue immediately.

These are, of course, just a few of Netflix's large catalog of anime. The titles they currently have could have even more undiscovered gems hiding beneath the more popular shows and movies. Sometimes it's worth taking leaps into the unknown, and these ten overlooked Netflix anime, proves that som