The Best Live-Action Anime Adaptations on Netflix

Live action takes on anime and manga have become a regular part of Netflix’s lineup. Some are brand new productions made for the platform while others are licensed releases that arrived after theatrical runs in Japan and beyond.

Here are ten titles you can stream on Netflix that come directly from anime and manga worlds. You will find series with full season orders and feature films with clear runtimes, along with who made them and when they landed on the service.

‘ONE PIECE’ (2023– )

This series adapts Eiichiro Oda’s long running pirate saga with Iñaki Godoy as Monkey D. Luffy, alongside Mackenyu, Emily Rudd, Jacob Romero, and Taz Skylar. Season one launched on August 31, 2023 with eight episodes and was produced by Tomorrow Studios with Shueisha and Netflix.

Filming took place in South Africa with large scale sets for the Going Merry and key East Blue locations. The production uses a mix of practical boat builds and digital effects, and it includes new arrangements of franchise themes with original composer involvement.

‘Yu Yu Hakusho’ (2023)

The live action take on Yoshihiro Togashi’s series arrived on December 14, 2023 with five episodes. Sho Tsukikawa directed and the cast features Takumi Kitamura as Yusuke Urameshi with Jun Shison, Kanata Hongo, and Shuhei Uesugi in principal roles.

The show was produced by Robot Communications for Netflix and uses extensive creature and energy effect work supervised by international visual effects teams. Episodes run in the 45 to 56 minute range and cover the opening Spirit Detective arcs with condensed story lines.

‘Parasyte: The Grey’ (2024)

This Korean series expands Hitoshi Iwaaki’s body horror world with new characters and a new setting. It premiered on April 5, 2024 with six episodes created by Yeon Sang ho and written by Ryu Yong jae, and stars Jeon So nee, Koo Kyo hwan, and Lee Jung hyun.

Production was led by Climax Studio with practical parasite rigs combined with digital transformations. The story connects to the original premise through shared biological rules and includes police investigation threads and anti parasite task force operations.

‘City Hunter’ (2024)

Netflix released this feature adaptation of Tsukasa Hojo’s manga on April 25, 2024. Yuichi Sato directed, Tatsuro Mishima wrote the screenplay, and the cast features Ryohei Suzuki as Ryo Saeba with Misato Morita and Masanobu Ando.

The film runs about 1 hour and 42 minutes and updates Shinjuku locations with modern signage and action staging. It includes the series calling cards such as the job request chalkboard and the partner dynamic with Kaori’s signature prop humor.

‘Bleach’ (2018)

Shinsuke Sato directed this feature that adapts the Substitute Soul Reaper arc, starring Sota Fukushi, Hana Sugisaki, and Ryo Yoshizawa. It released worldwide on Netflix on September 14, 2018 following a summer theatrical run in Japan.

The film runs about 108 minutes and recreates Hollow encounters with full suit and digital composite work. Costumes and weapon designs match early manga looks including Ichigo’s oversized zanpakuto and the Shinigami uniform details.

‘Erased’ (2017)

This series adapts Kei Sanbe’s mystery in a full television format with 12 episodes. It stars Yuki Furukawa as Satoru Fujinuma and premiered globally on December 15, 2017 with a production partnership between Netflix and Kansai TV.

The adaptation follows the complete manga plot and intercuts adult and childhood timelines with careful continuity. Location work uses Hokkaido settings for the past timeline, and the show closes with the original ending from the source material.

‘Kakegurui’ (2018–2019)

The live action drama ran two seasons for a total of 15 episodes with direction by Tsutomu Hanabusa. The cast includes Minami Hamabe as Yumeko Jabami with Mahiro Takasugi and Aoi Morikawa among the regulars.

The production adapts the Academy’s gambling matches with elaborate set builds for each game. Season one covers high stakes student council challenges while season two expands the roster with transfer competitors and new rule sets.

‘Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning’ (2021)

Keishi Otomo’s prequel film tells Kenshin Himura’s origins and stars Takeru Satoh and Kasumi Arimura. It opened in Japan on June 4, 2021 and released globally on Netflix on July 30, 2021 with a runtime of 137 minutes.

The movie adapts the Kyoto era backstory with yashiki and alley sets built for sword fights captured at high frame rates. It was filmed alongside the companion film and uses period accurate costuming and practical stunt wire work for the combat.

‘Death Note’ (2017)

Adam Wingard directed this feature based on Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata’s work, starring Nat Wolff, LaKeith Stanfield, and Willem Dafoe. It premiered on Netflix on August 25, 2017 after a festival screening the day before and runs about 100 minutes.

The film relocates the setting to Seattle and uses a practical animatronic element combined with performance capture for Ryuk. The production includes new rule pages for the notebook and a condensed sequence of cat and mouse set pieces.

‘Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead’ (2023)

This live action film adapts Haro Aso and Kotaro Takata’s manga and is directed by Yusuke Ishida. It stars Eiji Akaso as Akira Tendo and opened globally on Netflix on August 3, 2023.

The movie runs 128 minutes and shot on location across urban and coastal areas with color saturated production design. Practical zombie makeup mixes with digital crowd augmentation, and the film lists Robot Communications and Plus One Entertainment among the producers.

Tell us which titles you would add to this list and share your picks in the comments.