NICKELODEON; Netflix; FX Animation has evolved beyond the realm of Saturday morning cartoons. From foul-mouthed adult capers likeArcherto generation-defining anime likePokémon, the medium now accommodates any audience andfills any niche. Crossing genres, artistic styles, and age levels, animated series are pushing the boundaries of technology and storytelling. Netflixboasts a massive catalog ofanimated favoritesand obscurities, butEntertainment Weeklyhas compiled a list of 15 must-see series. Here are the best animated shows on Netflix right now. NETFLIX Video game adaptations don't have the best track record, butArcanebucks the trend. Based on theLeague of Legendsuniverse, the series pleased fans while remaining accessible to newcomers. The story primarily follows orphaned sisters Vi (Hailee Steinfeld) and Powder/Jinx (Ella Purnell), who get caught in the clash between a wealthy utopia and its oppressed underbelly. Beyond the complex world-building and cinematic action,Arcane's stunning visuals blend hand-painting with 2D and 3D animation, making the series look like a living, breathing canvas. Where to watchArcane: Netflix Cast:Hailee Steinfeld, Ella Purnell, Katie Leung, Kevin Alejandro, Harry Lloyd FX Thiscarefully stylizedadult series parodies Cold War-era spy thrillers and the over-sexed, impossibly lucky, gun-toting antiheroes who populate them. Imagine James Bond meetsMad MenmeetsThe Naked Gun, with filthy martinis and even filthier mouths.H. Jon Benjaminvoices the titular Sterling Archer, who works for his own mother's (Jessica Walter) spy agency, affording him ample opportunity to work out his (rather intense) mommy issues. Archer's jokes and bullets are rapid-fire, with long-running callbacks rewarding binge-watchers and loyal fans. Meanwhile, the sharp dialogue and elaborately convoluted missions take full advantage of the genre trappings. Where to watchArcher: Netflix Cast:H. Jon Benjamin, Jessica Walter,Aisha Tyler,Chris Parnell,Judy Greer, Amber Nash, Lucky Yates NICKELODEON Water. Earth. Fire. Air. Long ago, the four nations lived in harmony; then everything changed when thatblue alien moviecame out. Okay, not really: ThisAvatarconcerns Aang, a plucky young airbender who can control all four elements. The last of his kind, he teams up with Katara and Sokka to save the world from the tyrannical clutches of the Fire Nation. Avatar: The Last Airbendergarnered wide acclaim for its world-building and storytelling. (Forget the unforgivableM. Night Shyamalanlive-actionmovie.) The sequel series,The Legend of Korra(2012–2014),is set 70 years afterAvatar. Where to watchAvatar: The Last Airbender: Netflix Cast:Zach Tyler Eisen,Mae Whitman, Jack De Sena,Dante Basco,Mark Hamill This Emmy-winning coming-of-age show recently concluded itseighth and final season, making it one of Netflix's longest-running scripted series.Nick Krollco-created the raunchy comedy, which explores puberty, sexuality, and the never-ending embarrassments of adolescence. Set in the world's horniest middle school,Big Mouthis a raw, unfiltered look at sexual education with real emotional honesty. Krollvoices several characters, accompanied byJohn Mulaney,Fred Armisen, andMaya Rudolphas Connie the Hormone Monstress. Where to watchBig Mouth: Netflix Cast:Nick Kroll, John Mulaney, Maya Rudolph, Fred Armisen,Jason Mantzoukas,Jenny Slate,Ayo Edebiri Courtesy of Netflix This landmark animated series showcases a brutal, blood-soaked revenge story set in Japan's Edo period. Lauded for its poetic visuals and sophisticated storytelling, it brings a comparatively rare level of cinematic gravitas to adult animation. Blue Eye Samuraifollows Mizu (Maya Erskine), a blue-eyed child of a Japanese woman and an illegal white foreigner. Seen as a monster and raised in shame and secrecy, she adopts a male persona, trains as a master swordsman, and goes on a quest for vengeance. Evocative brush strokes accentuate the show's heightened visual style, which enhances its impressive fight choreography and Japanese aesthetics. Where to watchBlue Eye Samurai: Netflix Cast:Maya Erskine,Brenda Song,Randall Park,George Takei,Kenneth Branagh,Masi Oka It may be a cartoon about anthropomorphized animals in a showbiz funhouse mirror called "Hollywoo," butBoJack Horsemanisn't afraid to go dark. Likedarkdark. BoJack (Will Arnett) is a washed-up '90s sitcom star trying to get his s--- together while navigating the truths and consequences of his many fraught relationships — familial, paternal, romantic, business, and otherwise. Tackling weighty issues like depression, addiction, exploitation, and three kids stacked on top of each other in a trenchcoat, this satire takes pleasure in firing off as many dumb puns as possible, while plumbing the depths of severe personal pain. Where to watchBoJack Horseman: Netflix Cast:Will Arnett,Amy Sedaris,Alison Brie,Aaron Paul,Paul F. Tompkins,Kristen Schaal,J.K. Simmons Not since the days of Lisa Frank stationery has a notebook had such a chokehold on students. This supernatural thriller follows a high schooler, Light, who discovers a book that has the power to kill anyone whose name is written on its pages. Under the alias "Kira," he takes justice into his own hands, using the notebook to take out criminals in an attempt to eradicate crime. Of course, power corrupts, and the anime explores how that truth impacts our naive, over-confident antihero.Death Noteis about what happens when good intentions face irreparable consequences. Where to watchDeath Note: Netflix Cast:Brad Swaile, Alessandro Juliani, Brian Drummond, Cathy Weseluck NETFLIX Fans looking to scratch theirLast Airbenderitch will be pleased to knowAvatar's head writer, Aaron Ehasz, co-created another show that's akin toGame of Thronesfor a younger audience.The Dragon Princefollows Prince Callum, his younger brother Ezran (who can communicate with animals), and an elf named Rayla. The trio journey across a sprawling magical world to return a secret dragon egg and prevent war from encompassing the continent. The series balances magic and humor while taking a serious approach to emotional growth and political turmoil, as our heroes battle dragonsandtheir inner demons. The fourth season shifted the timeline and rebranded asDragon Prince: Mystery of Aaravos, launching a new multi-season arc that ended with its seventh and final season. Where to watchThe Dragon Prince: Netflix Cast:Jack De Sena, Paula Burrows, Sasha Rojen Based on one of the best-selling manga ever, this anime faithfully adapts its source into an epic sci-fi/fantasy series that has become a cultural touchstone. In a world where Alchemy is the dominant science, the Elric brothers seek the philosopher's stone to restore their bodies. But an attempt to resurrect their mother goes haywire, costing Edward a couple of limbs and leaving Alphonse's soul bound within a suit of armor. Though shōnen-style anime is typically aimed at adolescent boys,Brotherhoodtranscends expectations, creating an emotionally mature story exploring sacrifice, morality, and redemption. Where to watchFullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood: Netflix Cast:Vic Mignogna, Maxey Whitehead, Travis Willingham, Caitlin Glass Related content:The best anime on Netflix right now Netflix While most post-apocalyptic stories are bleak, barren, high-octane wasteland wars,Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeaststakes a kid-friendly approach to its surreal landscape. When her underground human burrow is attacked, Kipo braves the surface world to rescue her father while battling "mutes" like Mod Frogs and befriending Timbercats. All the while, she's hiding a secret that she's part mutant, capable of transforming into a giant pink Jaguar creature. Kipo's lauded LGBTQ+ representation is fitting for a show that dives into identity issues and self-acceptance via a colorful milieu of shapeshifting mutants. Where to watchKipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts: Netflix Cast:Karen Fukuhara,Dan Stevens, Sydney Mikayla, Coy Stewart, Dee Bradley Baker, Deon Cole Masterminded by directorsDavid FincherandTim Miller(Deadpool), this anthology evolved from the pair's desire to reboot the 1981 filmHeavy Metal. After years of false starts, Netflix finally greenlit the series and gave the two filmmakers carte blanche. Encompassing sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and satire, each episode features a different animation style while adapting works from celebrated genre writers. There's a thrill to seeing installments like "The Witness," with boundary-pushing visuals that feel uncannily close to live-action. Then there's the dialogue-free "Jibaro," built on sound design and silent techniques in depicting the hypnotic connection between a deaf knight and a siren. Where to watchLove, Death & Robots: Netflix Cast:Chris Parnell,Seth Green,Debra Wilson, Dan Stevens, Fred Tatasciore WhenAdventure Timecreator Pendleton Ward announced hisfollow-up animated endeavor, few could have predicted the absurdist aberration and psychedelic fever dream that would follow. Using real interviews from comedian Duncan Trussel's podcast as dialogue, the show blends those conversations with surreal, trippy, occasionally gory visuals. The Midnight Gospelis laced with philosophical and spiritual inquiries as its lead character, Clancy, travels the multiverse interviewing bizarre inhabitants of dying planets. Without spoiling anything, the climax builds to a cathartic crescendo that will resonate long after the episode ends. Where to watchThe Midnight Gospel: Netflix EW grade:A (read the review) Cast:Duncan Trussell, Phil Hendrie, Stephen Root,Maria Bamford Studio Pierrot With a whopping 220 episodes, the first part of this anime follows thepopular manga's Naruto Uzumaki. A misfit orphan raised in Hidden Leaf Village, he embarks on an underdog's journey from outcast to powerful ninja. Having discovered he's the physical host of Kurama, a nine-tailed fox demon, Naruto must undertake a series of dangerous missions while fighting his inner turmoil and mythic external forces. The series also consists of a second part,Naruto: Shippuden,and a sequel,Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. Considered a gateway anime,Narutointroduced an entire new generation to the artform. It has become a rite of passage in anime fandom, a fashion icon for headband lovers, and a champion of awkward running. Where to watchNaruto: Netflix Cast:Maile Flanagan, Kate Higgins, Yuri Lowenthal The Pokemon Company Gotta Watch 'Em All. If you're feeling nostalgic for a '90s fix,Pokémon: Indigo Leagueis the original anime that helped launch an entire generation's obsession with hoarding pocket monsters long before Labubus were a thing. The origin story follows trainer Ash and his companion Pikachu as he thwarts Team Rocket on his quest to become a Pokémon Master. Based on the video games, this global phenomenon evolved into highly sought-after trading cards, manga, spinoff series, animated features, and the live-actionPokémon Detective Pikachu(2019) with a wise-crackingRyan Reynoldsas the famous furry sidekick. Where to watchPokémon: Indigo League: Netflix Cast:Veronica Taylor, Ikue Ōtani, Rachael Lillis, Eric Stuart, Nathan Price MAX Based on the short filmScavengers(2016), this adult sci-fi series follows a crew of survivors stranded on a dangerous alien planet with a bizarre ecosystem. It's no longer survival of the fittest; the characters must adapt both physically and psychologically to living in this eerie new environment. What stands out aboutScavengers Reignis just how otherworldly the planet Vesta feels. Sporting a minimalist, hand-drawn aesthetic, the show is richly detailed, leaning into a visual language that's both immersive and isolating, complemented by a haunting soundtrack. Existential and original, it's a show about space that gives new meaning to the term breathtaking. Where to watchScavengers Reign: Netflix Cast:Sunita Mani, Wunmi Mosaku,Alia Shawkat, Bob Stephenson Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly
