When it comes to audio/visual media, Netflix has been on the forefront (or at least has tried to) of providing original and or exclusive content for subscribers.
While it has been a hit or miss in both the live action and animated shows. And the offerings Netflix had hasn’t been the best as of late so I personally had to unsub myself a few times. But recently I’ve been able to catch three new or at least newly added animated shows that has made me sub to the streaming service once again.
Here’s the three shows:
Tekken: Bloodline
Tekken: Bloodline is a series that loosely adapts the storyline of Tekken 3. Focused on Jin Kazama‘s POV as the series follows his story of revenge against ogre who killed his mom Jun.
While not the best in the three shows in the list right now. Tekken: Bloodline serves as a great introductory series into the world of Tekken. It must be said however, that amongst the new video game series adaptations out right now, Bloodline looks better than the first season of the Dota 2 series, Dragon’s Blood (writer’s note: I’ve only watched the first season of the series hence the comment).
The series took a lot of liberties with the storyline (an example includes addition of characters that were not part of the Tekken 3 line-up but it’s still there). It’s still provides a decent perspective to the whole premise of Tekken and the King of Iron Fist tournament. If you want to really sink your teeth into the whole series story, it’s best to watch the various YT videos that provide the whole timeline.
The series itself is still enjoyable amidst it’s flaws. And it’s one of those series that you can just turn off your brain and just accept what’s happening on screen. In fact, aside from being a introduction to the game series story, this can also serve as a primer to Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure since the series too is similar to Bloodline where you just accept what’s happening on screen and move on from it.
Cyberpunk: Edgrerunners
Moving on to an infinitely better video game based IP animated series. Cyberpunk: Edgrerunners is a prequel story to the video game Cyberpunk 2077 by CD Projekt Red of the Witcher series fame. Animated by Studio Trigger (yes that Studio), Cyberpunk: Edgerunners follows the story of David Martinez, a young, talented street kid who loses everything in a drive-by shooting and resorts to a life of crime in Night City.
The series creates a great introduction into the whole world of Cyberpunk 2077 which almost makes you forget about the game’s terrible launch. The series gives you a glimpse of a world that’s both soul sucking and wonderful at the same time.
It has all the hallmarks of a Studio Trigger show that is populated and starred by a cadre of tragic, lovable, and even relatable characters. Admittedly it’s a show that has encouraged me to go back into Night City and actually finish the game.
86
And we’re now at the cream of the crop in my top 3 list. The 86 anime series that is based off the light novel series written by Asato Asato and illustrated by Shirabii. In my attempts to not spoil the whole plot especially since the 23-episode 2 season run (so far) provides a huge tonal change in storytelling in-between seasons that if I mention anything more it ruins the whole experience.
So to avoid that I’m taking the plot from IMDb:
The story follows Lena as she commands a squad of drones called the 86. The Republic of San Magnolia is at war with its neighboring country, the Empire of Giad. Both sides use unmanned drones to conduct a “war without casualties”. The story follows Lena as she commands a squad of drones called the 86.
It’s a series that has already aired outside of Netflix, but has been recently included in it’s anime offering. It’s a series that’s both heart wrenching and anger inducing that as I mentioned earlier if I say more that it will ruin the experience.
86 is a series that has a group of lovable characters, a plot that’s engaging until the end even with the storytelling shift and makes you think about our current society. It also well done animation wise by A-1 Pictures. If you have a Netflix account, you should definitely watch it.
And there you have it. It’s my current list of three Netflix animated shows you need to watch on the platform. Will these series keep me on the platform? Probably yes. But I still have another list of series I wanted to share that covers most of the series I’ve been getting back to in the service. But that’s for another post.
What’s your list on your end? Sound off in the comments!
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