Beastars – March 2020
Last year, US anime watchers agonized with anticipation as Carol and Tuesday released episodically in the East but was held off for a two-part bulk release on Netflix in the West. Beastars is this year’s new victim of the company’s odd anime jail program, as the title has already been out overseas for some time now.
Beastars tells the story of a timid, anthropomorphic grey wolf called Legoshi. Along with the other hybrid creatures that make up the setting, he spends his days working as a stagehand for his school’s drama club.
A mystery soon unfolds, testing the society that is already on edge due to the contradicting habits of the carnivores and herbivores that make up its world.
Based on the praise the show has been getting so far, Beastars’ release will certainly be one you’ll be binge-watching, justifying the long wait.
Drifting Dragons – Fall 2020
Ever wonder what an anime about Zepplin-riding monster hunters would look like? Well, you’re in luck if so, as Netflix and Polygon Pictures are creating a CGI series for the manga Drifting Dragons.
The show’s premise is pretty straightforward, as a crew of dragon hunters board the vessel Quin Zaza to score big. One big catch means riches for life for those involved, with failure meaning just as dire results.
Drifting Dragons isn’t all about the hunt though, as the story focuses more on the grand adventures surrounding it and the bonds the crew members create.
More importantly, there will be some scrumptious gourmet cooking on display that is sure to leave your mouth watering.
Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 (April 2020)
While the recent live-action movie of the same name didn’t really tarnish the legacy of the franchise, there is no doubt that fans of Ghost in the Shell were left wanting a bit more after seeing it. In 2020, it looks like Netflix may well grant that wish.
Titled Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045, this upcoming original aligns heavily with the cyberpunk themes known to the series. It is set in a fictional version of 2045 Japan, where global capitalism has failed.
In this new, futuristic society, covert operating units have begun conducting secret cybernetic operations, looking to manipulate technology any way they can to get an advantage.
Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 will feature a unique look, as Netflix has revealed they will use 3DCG animation to create the show. This style emulates hand-drawn anime alongside the use of CGI technology.
Baki: Part 3 (April 2020)
When it originally released back in 1991, Baki the Grappler eventually gained a cult following. It’s over-the-top style and animation were transfixing.
The show also mixed a surprising amount of depth to its odd characters and story alongside its gruesome fights. It wasn’t until Netflix launched a new series, simply titled Baki, in 2018 that modern fans got hooked on the martial arts show.
Ever since the new show released, Baki has been steadily added to many anime fans must-watch lists. The title has once again made a name for itself thanks to its impressive visuals and unique form of storytelling, meriting an incoming third part that is set to release in 2020.
Just keep in mind that like some other shows on this list, Japan gets first dibs. Once Baki does release overseas though, it’ll only be a few months until you get to experience the glorious, muscle soaked combat you’ve come to love.
BNA: Brand New Animal (Spring 2020)
In an alternate reality of the 21st century, humanoid animals have emerged from the shadows, attempting to integrate themselves into everyday life.
While their origins are seemingly a mystery, one day a regular high school student, Michiru, finds herself turned into a tanuki person unsuspectingly. Confused and scared, she seeks shelter in the outcast sanctuary of Anima City.
In the city, she finds others like herself, including a wolf person by the name of Ogami Shiro. Together, the two unravel the mystery behind her sudden change, uncovering far more than they originally bargained for rather quickly.
The Seven Deadly Sins: Season 4 – August 2020
Regardless of your feelings on it, there is no denying that The Seven Deadly Sins is hands-down Netflix’s most successful original anime.
As the name dictates, the show tells the story of a group of humans that embody and represent the Seven Deadly Sins. Together, this cast of colorful characters works together to help rid the land of evil and stop corruption from flowing into it.
The fourth season of the show once again follows the group, which was left shattered at the hands of the commandments last season.
Currently, the Sins are separated, spread across the land. To stand any chase against the clan of demons terrorizing the kingdom, their only hope is to come together and once again work as a team.
Alongside this, the trials and tribulations surrounding Meliodas’ troublesome origins, as well as his recent actions, will surely take center stage this time around.
Aggretsuko Season 3 (Summer 2020)
The 25-year-old, heavy metal-loving Red-Panda Retsuko is back for her third season on Netflix, continuing her journey of coping with her day job by screaming her lungs out in Karaoke.
While the exact plot of the third season isn’t entirely set in stone, it is sure to expand upon the themes of the first two seasons. Expect to continue to dive deep into Retsuko’s friends, family, relationships, and the annoyances and emotions that accompany them.
Even if you aren’t a heavy metal fan, this is definetly another show you should be sure to catch up on, as it features hilarious dialogue and relatable moments often known to the slice of life genre.
Castlevania Season 3 (TBA)
The unlikely trio of Alucard, Trevor Belmont, and Sypha Belnades returns to Netflix in 2020, continuing the gory adventures of Castlevania.
Last season saw a lot of death and chaos, so the third installment will be sure to have plenty of fallout from all of the events that took place.
New monsters, more clans of blood-sucking vampires, and information about Alucard will also come to light, as the show looks to be in top form once again.
Though there hasn’t technically been a solid 2020 release date announced, there is a lot of evidence to indicate that season three will be out this year. When Netflix Nordic accidentally tweeted the show would arrive in December, director Samuel Deats stated the final episode was close to complete, though not finished.
Pacific Rim (TBA)
Ever since Guillermo del Toro brought Pacific Rim to the silver screens back in 2013, fans have been desperate for more content. Thanks to Netflix – and selective memory that helps us forget Pacific Rim Uprising was ever a thing – viewers now have their wish.
Simply called Pacific Rim, this Netflix original anime follows a brother and sister hellbent on finding their missing parents. In order to accomplish their impossible mission, they must pilot an abandoned Jaeger across a land riddled with gigantic monsters, known as Kaiju.
According to Legendary Entertainment executive Elie Dekel, the show’s budget will be considerable. As such, expect some top-notch animation and combat to be on display.
Eden (TBA)
In collaboration with Netflix, Full Metal Alchemist and Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood director Yasuhiro Irie has created a brand new series, titled Eden.
Set a thousand years in the future, Eden takes place in a city fully populated by robots, Eden 3. While on a mission on the outskirts of their home, two farming robots come upon a human baby girl.
Once they get over the fact that the ancient myth of human beings is real, the two decide to raise the girl as their own.
This premise alone is fascinating, as it flips the idea of human vs robot sentients on its head, as the human questions why it isn’t a robot instead of the other way around.
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