Anime can be incredibly diverse in not only its genres but also in episode length. Some anime, like One Piece, use thousands of episodes exploring the vast world and complex story. On the contrary, sometimes all a show needs are twelve episodes to become a fan favorite. Anime uses a length measurement called cours; one cour is 12-13 episodes, two cours are 24-26 episodes, and so on.
✕ Remove Ads
While getting into a new show with hundreds of episodes is exciting, sometimes it's best to start a short series that fans can complete in a day. Binging has become increasingly popular over the years and negates the time commitment of spending weeks or months on a single show. While there are a lot of single-cour anime series, some seem to go by way faster, making the day fly by in what seems like minutes. These are the best short anime series to binge in one afternoon, acting like short and sweet stories that new and veteran fans can enjoy.
10 'Solo Leveling' (2024)
Number of Episodes: 12
✕ Remove Ads
While it has only recently aired, Solo Leveling has already become a staple in the battle shounen community with its fast-paced action. It follows Sung Jin-Woo in a world where gates suddenly open to unleash monsters in the world. To stop the invasion, hunters enter the portal and conquer the dungeon before the monsters can attack Earth. Jin-Woo is known as the weakest hunter until his experience in a mysterious dungeon gives him a power unlike any other.
Solo Leveling is a must-watch for any fan of action and fights, as the series boasts impressive animation and choreography. This power-fantasy anime explores Jin-woo's growth in strength as he tests the limits of his new power. While the story isn't spectacular, it sets up anticipated events, and the action carries the series to make every episode go by in a flash with its stunning visuals. Season 2 of Solo Leveling was confirmed, but there isn't a release date currently.
Solo Leveling
Anime
Action
Adventure
- Release Date
- January 6, 2024
- Cast
- Aleks Le , Taito Ban
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- A-1 Pictures
✕ Remove Ads
9 'Death Parade' (2015)
Number of Episodes: 12
Taking place between the land of the living and the afterlife, Death Parade focuses on Decim in the bar Quindecim, who judges two new players every episode. Decim pits the characters against each other in a game that reveals their true nature and whether they deserve to go to heaven or hell. With him is Onna, a strange woman who loses her memory and questions the methods of Decim and the other staff.
Despite not being inherently scary, Death Parade is a great horror anime that explores the human psyche and how things can change when put in a serious situation. With its episodic format, the show is very easy to binge as a new story unfolds unique personalities and slowly explores the mystery of Onna. With only twelve episodes, Death Parade is an entertainingly biting and dark anime that seems to fly under the radar.
✕ Remove Ads
8 'The Tatami Galaxy' (2010)
Number of Episodes: 11
Following Watashi, a university student in Kyoto, The Tatami Galaxy is a unique romance anime that explores how circumstances shape love and how it dangles in front of you. Watashi dreams of a perfect college life and decides to join a club with the hopes of meeting his dream girl. Every episode has him going back in time when he can't accomplish this, moving on to another club each time.
The fast-paced dialogue is a bit much, but it helps make the show go by fast after it grabs fans' full attention. The episodic style also helps the pacing, with the audience curious to see what wacky adventure Watashi and Ozu go on to find love. The animation and art style are also one of a kind and perfectly accentuate the story. The Tatami Galaxy has fans blasting through each episode as it delivers a unique story of love with powerful messages.
✕ Remove Ads
7 'Cyberpunk: Edgerunners' (2022)
Number of Episodes: 10
After the death of his mother, David Martinez uses an enhanced spine implant that takes him down a spiral of addiction in his life as an Edgerunner. The anime takes place before the events of Cyberpunk 2077 and is based on the universe created by Mike Pondsmith. The gang David joins slowly goes to hell after they are caught up in a conspiracy.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is one of the most impressive recent anime, with stunning visuals, animation, and unique worldbuilding. Despite the show being pretty depressing, fans can't help but watch the next episode as the plot is filled with shocking developments to keep the story fresh. The anime ends on a sad note but is still a masterpiece that will go by in no time, reaching its finish line before fans realize it.
✕ Remove Ads
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
TV-MA
Animation
Action
Adventure
Sci-Fi
- Release Date
- September 13, 2022
- Cast
- Aoi Yuki , Kenichiro Ohashi , Kenjiro Tsuda , Kazuhiko Inoue
- Seasons
- 1
6 'FLCL' (2000)
Number of Episodes: 6
Using wacky characters and an obscene plot, FLCL follows Naota, an average kid living in a boring town who looks after everything his brother left behind. However, a guitar-wielding, Vespa-riding woman named Haruko flips his life upside down after she uses him in a world-ending plot. This original anime has many fascinating characters and some of the best music in the genre.
✕ Remove Ads
With only six episodes, fans can complete FLCL in around two hours. However, those who loved it may not want to watch the sequels because of their lackluster effort to imitate the original's mastery. FLCL is considered a perfect anime that utilizes a bizarre plot to tell a simple coming-of-age story. The crazy tale and avant-garde nature may put some fans off, but the anime tells a relatable story in a unique fashion that stands out from other media.
5 'Dorohedoro' (2020)
Number of Episodes: 12 + 6 shorts
Set in a weird and grimy place called the Hole, Caiman is a failed experiment by an elitist wizard who vows to regain his memory and take revenge. Accompanying him is Nikaido, owner of a gyoza restaurant, as they work together to uncover the mystery that takes them into the world of magic. Despite years without a follow-up, the website recently announced a new season of Dorohedoro.
✕ Remove Ads
The unique worldbuilding, loveable cast, eerie mystery, and dark comedy help Dorohedoro stand out among anime. It is so easy to get sucked into the world as the show explores the difference between wizards and the residents of the Hole. The mystery keeps fans hooked as Caiman's past is slowly revealed, adding new story dynamics and plot twists that make it unpredictable. With only twelve episodes, fans should rush to Netflix and enjoy the wild thrills Dorohedoro has to offer before season two releases.
4 'The Promised Neverland' Season 1 (2019)
Number of Episodes: 10
The Promised Neverland is a fascinating horror mystery anime that follows Emma, Norman, and Ray as they attempt to escape the Grace Field orphanage. The trio enjoys their lives, passing tests and spending time with their families; however, not everything is what it seems when they discover that the outside world is filled with demons. This whole time, the children are being raised as food for these monsters, so the trio plans an escape to ensure their survival.
✕ Remove Ads
While the first season is an intense ride of terror and intrigue, the second season cuts down the majority of the manga to just twelve episodes, making it a confusing slog that rushes everything. The mystery is gripping with large stakes, similar to the world-famous anime Attack on Titan. This creepy but ultimately endearing coming-of-age twelve-episode anime is a treat, with the mystery and cliffhangers making it easy for fans to decide whether or not to watch another episode.
The Promised Neverland
TV-14
Anime
Adventure
Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
*Availability in US
- Release Date
- January 11, 2019
- Creator
- Kaiu Shirai
- Cast
- Mariya Ise , Lynn , Yoshino Aoyama , Hiyori Kono
- Seasons
- 2
3 'Grand Blue Dreaming' (2018)
Number of Episodes:
✕ Remove Ads
Moving out of the city, Iori moves in with his uncle's diving shop near his University. There, he meets some relatives and new friends, and his college life starts on a rough night of drinking and partying. Forced into the diving club, Iori learns the beauty of diving with a colorful cast of characters. This college anime is a fun time whether fans know about diving or not, as it offers some of the best comedy anime has to offer.
Grand Blue Dreaming utilizes its beautiful setting and eccentric cast to create some of the funniest scenarios in anime. Featuring a lot of adult humor, this anime thrives on misunderstandings and innuendos, making it a hilarious watch-through. Fans have been clamoring for a second season since 2018, but unfortunately, there are still only twelve episodes of fun to tide fans over. Each episode has plenty of laughs but also wholesome moments of great characterization.
WATCH ON Amazon
✕ Remove Ads
2 'Baccano!' (2007)
Number of Episodes: 13
Often overlooked, Baccano! is a hidden gem by the creator of Durarara and features the same type of mystery with a large cast to explore. The anime focuses on several different characters, all related in some way, as they try to survive 1930s Chicago amongst gang war and supernatural phenomena. From an immortality elixir to a train heist interrupted by a ghost attack, Baccano! is a crazy thrill ride with unexpected plot twists and a gripping mystery.
Thirteen episodes never felt so fast after watching Baccano!The series flies by unexpectedly as fans indulge in the thrilling mystery and fantastically written ensemble. Each story offers something different, and witnessing them weave together to give fans the bigger picture is a wonder. Unfortunatley Baccano! never saw a second season due to poor reviews in Japan, mainly because of the American setting and non-linear storytelling, but at least there are three special episodes for fans to enjoy.
✕ Remove Ads
Rent ON AMAZON
1 'Chainsaw Man' (2022)
Number of Episodes: 12
Living an impoverished life under a mob boss because of his dead father's debt, Denji's life turns around when Makima finds him and makes him a devil hunter. Denji enjoys his new life as everything is a fresh and fun experience for him as he teams up with Aki and Power to eradicate any threats that come his way. Chainsaw Man is a dark and twisted battle series, yet it is still brimming with life and comedy, silly characters, and bizarre events.
Chainsaw Man has quickly become one of the most popular anime in recent years, receiving critical acclaim for its unique characters and story. The stellar animation, twisted comedy, heart-pumping action, and loveable characters make watching twelve episodes a breeze. If fans can't get enough, a Chainsaw Man movie that follows the next arc in the series was announced. The anime stands out among some of the best Shounen series, and with so few episodes, Chainsaw Man should be on every fan's schedule.
✕ Remove Ads
Chainsaw Man
TV-MA
Anime
Action
Adventure
Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
*Availability in US
- Release Date
- October 11, 2022
- Cast
- Kikunosuke Toya , Suzie Yeung , Ryan Colt Levy , Tomori Kusunoki
- Seasons
- 1
NEXT: The 10 Most Underrated Anime Movies on Netflix, Ranked
