When it comes toanimehype, so much of the discourse is about the new Big Three orwho could beat up Gokuthat many of the smaller titles get left out of the discussions. Much of the focus centers around battle shounen titles likeJujutsu KaisenorSolo Leveling(which admittedly deserve all their flowers), but there arelots of amazing seinen, shojo, and slice-of-life storiesthat are just as breathtaking and emotionally resonant. So, call me The Florist, because I’m about to pass out bouquets to the most underrated anime shows on Netflix.
For more recommendations, check out our ranked list ofThe Best Coming of Age Anime ShowsandThe Best Anime Shows on Crunchyroll Right Now.
Disclaimer: These titles are available in the US.
‘The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.’ (2016 - 2018)
IMDb: 8.3/10
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.
Falling into the recent trend of shows followinga powerful protagonist who hides their powersso they can live a normal life,The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.is a particularly delightful addition to the canon. The trope is often used as a way to explore perspectives on how people wield power while bathing it in elements of a genre to either deconstruct or subvert its traditions. Just asOne Punch Mansatirizes battle shounen and superhero storytelling,Saiki K.injects the extraordinary into an ordinary slice-of-life school drama with a great deal of humor. The series follows Saiki Kusuo, who was born with a myriad of psychic abilities, but despite his god-like powers, he simply wants to get along with his classmates and enjoy the day-to-day of high school life, even though hijinks seem to follow him wherever he goes.
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‘Blue Box’ (2024 - Present)
IMDb: 7.9/10
This inspirationalteen sports romancehas no business looking as dazzling and beautiful as it does, but that’s to be expected fromTelecom Animation Film, which served as the go-to animation house ofStudio Ghiblifor decades.Blue Boxis a touching story of parallel journeys that intersect through two student athletes who grow closer as they inspire each other to be the best they can be at their respective sports. There is an organic chemistry between average badminton player Taiki Inomata, who pushes himself to be worthy of his crush, and Chinatsu Kano, who is thestar basketball playerat their school. Together, they open themselves up to all that life has to offer: love, heartbreak, crushing defeat, and victory.
‘Witch Watch’ (2025 - Present)
IMDb: 6.7/10
WITCH WATCH
The vibe ofWitch Watchis likeSabrina the Teenage WitchmeetsTenchi Muyo, but even more wacky, horny, and self-aware than both of them combined. Following a teen girl entering high school after completing her witch training, the series follows her everyday life as she and her human-like ogre childhood friend try to hide her magic from the other students while being confronted by mythical magical menaces who cause problems in her life. Like Tenchi, there is an undertone of unrequited love between the two main leads that should enticethe will-they-won’t-they romance lovers, while the magic shenanigans brought about by the supernatural cast provide endless hilarity for the comedy fans.
‘My Happy Marriage’ (2023 - Present)
IMDb: 7.6/10
My Happy Marriage
A tsundere lover’s dream,My Happy Marriageis a historical fantasy drama that doesn’t just tug at the heartstrings — it yanks them in for a passionate embrace. Taking place in amagical version of 1920s Japan, the story revolves around a young girl born without the spiritual gifts of her family line, so she is married off to an infamously cruel army commander who drives off every romantic partner he meets. However, it turns out these two may be just what the other needed in their lives. The series has been compared toBeauty and the Beast, but I would argue the themes and storytelling surpass the classic French fairy tale as it explores ideas of family obligation, abuse, and human connection through radical empathy.
‘Komi Can’t Communicate’ (2021 - 2022)
IMDb: 7.7/10
Komi Can’t Communicate
If you’re a fan of wholesomeslice-of-life comedieswith a hint of romance, thenKomi Can’t Communicateis the show for you. Thiscoming-of-agehigh school tale follows the titular Komi, who suffers from such debilitating social anxiety that she can’t talk to other students — but that doesn’t stop her classmate and his childhood best friend from helping her try to break through her disorder to make 100 friends. It’s a fun story that takes the time to center on social anxiety and gender fluidity as primary subjects of the story in a medium where they are often sidelined or simply used as punchlines. Though the show does mine comedy gold from all the characters, main and secondary, as it tackles ideas surrounding interpersonal communication and perception.
IMDb: 7.3/10
Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead
In our currentlate-stage capitalist hellscape, where exploitation is the name of the game,ZOM 100: Bucket List of the Deadis a relatable horror comedy where azombie apocalypseis preferable to going into a 9-to-5 job. Untethered from the responsibilities of paying bills and trying to impress an abusive boss, series protagonist Akira Tendo decides that a world filled with the undead is the perfect place to live life to its fullest as he tries to fulfill his bucket list before getting bitten. Beyond the wonderful cast of characters that Akira meets along his journey, a standout aspect of the show is the use of color mixed with black-and-white scenes to reflect the internal emotions of the character as he moves through the world. Once you fall in love, don’t forget to tell your friends so we get a Season 2!
‘From Me to You’ (2009 - 2024)
IMDb: 7.8/10
Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You
From Me to Youis aslice-of-life romancethat feels like the epitome of young love in all the best ways. No matter where you go to high school, it is a universal experience to feel misunderstood or disconnected from other students. That is the central emotion that the story revolves around, as it follows a young girl who is shunned for her sullen appearance until she meets a boy who finally sees her, fully and truly. From there, a wonderful friendship slowly blooms into a deep romantic love.Production I.Gdidn’t have to go all in to make thisslow-burn shojo storylook as beautiful as it is, but it’s great that they allowed the animation to reflect the brilliance of the story.
‘The Rising of the Shield Hero’ (2019 - Present)
The Rising of the Shield Hero
It’s not a legit anime list if we don’t include anisekai, so let’s end with one of the best in the recent boom ofmodern people being transported to a fantasy world,The Rising of the Shield Hero. Subverting the usual power fantasy of a mundane individual becoming the most powerful being in a medieval world of magic and monsters, this story places the main character on the back foot from the very beginning, which allows the audience to sympathize with him while cheering on his push against adversity. Be forewarned, the first episode has some dubious ethics surrounding sexual assault allegations and slavery due to the monarchical setting, but it pushes past that quickly to become a fascinating folk hero tale.
