Best Animated Action Netflix Shows of 2021

There are a lot of genres of content offered on Netflix. One of my favorite genres that I feel Netflix has really managed to hit it out of the park with is their animated shows. From the hysterical and depressing Bojack Horseman to the fantastically diverse She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, there are wonderful animated works of all types and for all ages on Netflix. It would be difficult to nail down a personal list of all the wonderful animated content released on the platform in 2021, so instead, I’m going to narrow my sights.

I do enjoy how much animation can be used to convey so many different stories and media, but there’s a special place in my heart for watching fun animated shows with a good amount of action in them. The following list isn’t filled with shows I thought were perfect or have the best animation I’ve ever seen. They’re just shows I had a lot of fun watching this year. Also since it is my list, I’m going to make a rule that it needs to be exclusive or started as exclusively on the Netflix platform, otherwise this might just be a long list of animes.

The first on this list is one that I had been intently following since its first season in 2017. Based on the Konami video game series of the same name, Castlevania focuses on the adventures of Trevor Belmont, Sypha Belnades, and Alucard as they fight against the forces of the powerful vampire Dracula. Although it takes inspiration from a few of the games and there are plenty of references to please fans of the series, there’s no need to know any details before watching!

2021 saw the series end with its fourth season. The entire series is supported by incredible animation, fantastic voice acting, and great character development for the heroes and villains alike. It is an exciting and fun show to watch and I highly recommend it.

Just like the previous series, we have another that’s based on a video game. DOTA: Dragon’s Blood focuses on a Dragon Knight named Davion, one of the many playable heroes in DOTA 2. Knowing the game isn’t necessarily needed, especially since the series seems to retcon some of the Dragon Knight’s previous lore to fit the narrative. However, it does dive into the game’s overall lore which can feel pretty overwhelming to non-players.

The series strikes a balance between anime and western animation along with a mix of 2D and 3D effects. If you’re a fan of Studio Mir’s previous works, such as The Legend of Korra, you’re sure to enjoy the visual spectacle here. I’d also recommend it if you enjoy an edgier series. While Castlevania uses violence, explicit language, and sexual tension/scenes when needed (even better in later seasons), with DOTA: Dragon’s Blood it’s used a lot more freely. Some might take it as trying too hard but others will revel in how over the top it all is.

Keeping the video game-based works going, I of course have to mention Arcane. There’s no way I couldn’t mention it. In case you don’t know, Arcane is a show based around characters from the popular game League of Legends, namely Jinx, Vi, Caitlyn, and a few others. There’s no need to have prior knowledge of the characters or the game, which I can attest to as I and many of my friends have never played League of Legends, but absolutely loved this show.

Everything about it is amazing. Thanks to the work of French animation studio Fortiche, who has worked on previous Riot cinematics and videos, the series is visually on a whole different level. The writing is superb and is brought even more to life with the incredible voice acting. Even with clear protagonists and antagonists, you feel attached to them all because they’re such wonderfully written characters. I could go on and on about how much I recommend this show, albeit at the cost of talking about the others. If you’re curious to hear more about it, you can read Patrick’s review here.

From properties based on games to those that were once based on action figures and the hope to sell even more action figures, we have Masters of the Universe: Revelation. The series acts as a darker sequel to the original 1983 series and ignores all other continuations and reboots. As the series was essentially half-hour commercials that focused on selling toys to children, there wasn’t as strong of a focus on creating deep narratives. It’s possible to watch this latest iteration even if you’ve never heard of the series at all.

With a strong voice cast and fun action scenes, it’s hard to say the series doesn’t live up to its past with how entertaining it is. Although making older properties a bit more grim feels cliché at this point, and some fans have had conflicting opinions on certain plot elements, I do have to give them credit for attempting to reinvent the series with new ideas. It’s arguably the weakest on this list, but it’s still an enjoyable watch that is simultaneously mature while also preserving that Saturday morning cartoon vibe.

Finally, we come across a series that started as a comic. Super Crooks is an anime from the fantastic Bones animation studio, that’s based on the American comic Supercrooks by the talented Mark Millar. It’s also been tied to Jupiter’s Legacy, another comic by Millar that was given a live-action adaptation that was not as popularly received. Thankfully, it’s possible to enjoy the series without watching Jupiter’s Legacy or reading either comic.

Jupiter’s Legacy may have left a bad taste in peoples’ mouths, but Super Crooks has proven more enjoyable. The premise of supervillains teaming up for a heist is a pretty great idea already and it is supported further with wonderful animation and entertaining characters. Don’t just take my word for it though, you can read Patrick’s review on it here.

Top fives are nice and all, but it’s my list and my rules, so there’s no way I’m not going to mention my personal favorite, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean. Currently, it is a Netflix streaming exclusive and has debuted its first 12 episodes more than a month before its scheduled TV broadcast in Japan.

In my eyes, it fits the bill. Based on the famous manga that’s just as notable for how easily subject to memes that it is, this is the anime adaptation of the sixth arc of the manga and the overall fifth season of the anime. This season focuses on Jolyne Cujoh, the daughter of a previous main character.

I will admit that four prior seasons can seem intimidating. On the one hand, each season focuses on a different character in a mostly isolated story, aside from some connecting strings. Many basic elements are briefly retold during each season so it is possible to jump into a new season. Some things will be lost to you, but you can understand the general gist. That being said, I highly suggest watching the entire series. The villains and fights are inventive, the humor is always great, and everything is aptly quite bizarre.

Considering this list was just based on what I’ve watched and what was recommended to me, I’m sure other shows would fit this list pretty well. Netflix’s wonderful selection of animated content, whether it be humor, educational, or action-based, has been great and is likely only going to expand. I know I can’t wait to see what 2022 brings, as well as what I may have missed.