Anime localization has been an uphill battle for the industry, as differing cultural standards and a lot of different cooks in the kitchen gave anime an early handicap during its formative years. However, with the likes of Funimation and Toonami having built significantly better relations with fans, anime has finally entered the mainstream of modern entertainment.
One of the greatest contributors to anime's increased localization in the modern day has been Netflix, the streaming giant that has done a great job of both bringing tons of fan favorite anime to digital as well producing quite a few of their own. However, not every series is a smash hit. For those wanting a quick run down of the more easily skippable anime recommendations on Netflix, MyAnimeList has done everyone a favor and rated some of the site's worst anime.
10 Kengan Ashura (7.49)
One of the freshest faces on this list, Kengan Ashura came in right after Netflix had delighted viewers with the outrageous, quick paced action of their Baki revival. Kengan Ashura would turn out to be aesthetically similar, if not as well paced or as well received. It would tell the tale of a world where modern businessman carry on the traditions of their merchant ancestors and compete for dominance using mighty gladiators.
Ouma Tokita, after having taken out one of the competitors for the next tournament, is now enlisted within that person's place and ventures into his martial arts quest to become the strongest there is.
9 Aggretsuko: We Wish You A Metal Christmas (7.34)
Aggretsuko has become a quick cult favorite within the anime community. For its adorable, Sanrio style and surprisingly relatable characters, the series has received mass praise from Western fans as one of the best comedy anime in recent years. And while the Christmas special isn't too far off from the regular anime's rating, it still loses points for being the shameless cash grab that is a holiday special.
When Retsuko becomes obsessed with becoming more popular on Instagram, she goes on an entire tirade to gain followers, working even harder as the holiday season draws near.
8 Sirius (7.15)
The everlasting battle between werewolves and vampires has been a time tested one ever since some Mary Shelley-esque writer or grainy, horror film producer from the '80s came up with the idea. When the concept came to Japan, it reached new heights in its stoic, gothic nature, epic battles, and incredibly defined worlds to outclass the lore of the West.
Such is the case of Sirius, a story focusing on the supernatural task force that is the Jaegers who are entrusted to deter a new vampire threat that's come to Japan. Unbeknownst to the Japanese authorities however, the Jaegers have a hidden mission to deter the vampires from and locate the elusive Ark of Sirius whose power can decide the fate of the world.
7 Ultraman (6.93)
Ultraman is one of the most recognizable and beloved figures within all of Japanese media, especially as one of the major Seinen series. Having delighted with its special fusion kaiju battles and Sentai styles for decades, it is a franchise that constantly finds new life in every generation.
In this one in particular, the previous Ultraman, Shin Hayata, finds that he must now pass on the Ultraman name and power to his son, Shinjirou, when a new, alien threat invades. Now standing as the next generation of Ultraman, can Shinjirou truly live up to the legendary name?
6 A.I.C.O.: Incarnation (6.76)
A.I.C.O.: Incarnation is the textbook example of anime science fiction nonsense. Its characters must overcome an alien, shapeless threat known only as "The Matter," as they venture out to uncover its secrets protected by a massive government conspiracy.
Aiko Tachibana had simply thought that she was being taken care of by the government with their constant surveillance; but when the mysterious transfer student, Yuuya Kanzaki, tells her otherwise, she finds that she may very well be the key to ending the dark turmoil now affecting the world.
5 Cannon Busters (6.60)
Cannon Busters receives plenty of points for its clean animation, incredibly detailed and unique world, and its eccentrically designed cast of characters. Its story focuses on S.A.M. who is a friendship droid that enlists the help of a maintenance robot and a fugitive on the run to help her find her best friend and heir to the kingdom, as invading forces begin to break ground in their country.
Aesthetics aside, the story hasn't really done much for fans, as the personality of its character and the plot itself don't really add anything as new and refreshing as their designs.
4 7 Seeds (6.47)
The plot of 7 Seeds is interesting enough if not one of the most compelling loglines to stick out from typical anime premises. When a meteorite threatens to wipe out all life on Earth, a government project goes underway, as it collects five groups of seven people to put under cryogenic sleep to outlast the looming apocalypse.
When these people, i.e. the "seeds," awake, they find that humanity has truly ended, the world had reverted to a more natural state, and giant creatures and beasts of old now rule the planet. Having nothing to guide them but each other, this group must find new purpose in life and work to preserve the future of humanity.
3 Hero Mask (6.40)
Barely just edging ahead of 7 Seeds, Hero Mask is this list's entryway into the crime detective world. Mystery anime and its illustrious detectives have offered the industry some of its most cerebral and innovative moments, bending minds in both premise and deduction.
Netflix, a website already renowned for catching people up to the latest seasons of Sherlock and NCIS, decided to take its own jab at the genre with Hero Mask. In a world where a strange string of deaths have been tied to a conspiratorial group hiding behind mysterious bio-masks, Sarah Sinclair and James Blood must think quickly if they are to end it all and find the truth.
2 Sword Gai The Animation (6.02)
Sword Gai The Animation is another installment of Netflix's original anime boom that tries really hard to be as edgy, and anime-y as possible. In a world forgotten by the gods, people looked to a demon for help who, in turn, answered with their own wrath. The demon's blade, Zsoltgewinn, has since between guarded by humans, only for its power to corrupt one of them and to continue its path of carnage.
Gai Ogata is a young boy whose life has been tortured by the arrival of another demon blade, Shiryu, to his family. After it tore his family apart and left him alone in the middle of the woods, Shiryu now possesses Gai's arm. With Shiryu a major threat to Zsoltgewinn and Gai struggling to control Shiryu, will Gai get strong enough in time for his fated clash with the other demon blade?
1 Knights of the Zodiac: Saint Seiya (5.24)
Saint Seiya is one of the most time honored Shounen series from Shonen Jump's early years. Having persisted in adaptation and memory since the '80s, this is a franchise that truly means something special to its fandom and the anime community as a whole. Netflix in its rising empire took hold of the series and made its own, now infamous, interpretation of the old story.
Not only would Netflix streamline the animation to incredibly cartoony CG and make some very unwanted changes to the characters, it would also heavily condense the story to fit within its season order. Disappointing in more ways than one, Netflix's Knights of the Zodiac currently stands as the website's worst rated anime.