Typically, an anime will last for a single season, which is usually 12 or 13 episodes. While these shows can be watched in relatively short order, most of them are arguably better experienced over multiple days or even months if they are watched as part of a seasonal lineup. Sometimes, a series comes along that is so successful that it receives multiple sequels or, seemingly, refuses to end,producing hundreds of episodes in the process. Also, occasionally, ashort animecomes along that tells a full and satisfying story in less time than usual.
Certain stories are designed to be consumed in one go, encouraging viewers to just binge-watch all the episodes in a couple of hours. Modern streaming services are perfect for these types of experiences, and thebest short animeare also among the greatest shows of all time. They also cover a wide spectrum of genres, be it comedy, action, sci-fi, romance, or fantasy. Let’s highlight a few bingeable anime that can be watched in a single day.
Anime with multiple seasons will be considered as long as the cours work well in isolation.
Updated June 05, 2025 by Mark Sammut:TheWinter 2025 seasonis nearly done, and it does not have much in the way of short anime that can be specifically recommended for a binge-watch. Sakamoto Days is probably the best pick due to only having 11 episodes, but it does not particularly benefit from being consumed in one sitting. At just 6 fantastic episodes, Link Click: Bridon Arc is the perfectanime to binge, but the series has way more content than just this season.
Due to a lack of current options, an older romcom has been added as a recommendation. Also, galleries for each anime are now included.
A single-cour romcom,Tsuredure Childrenconsists of half-length episodes, so the full show can be completed in just two hours. Set in the same school, the anime follows a few relationships as they are starting to blossom, although the focus is primarily on comedy rather than heartfelt romance. Each episode consists of multiple sketches that only last for a handful of minutes, meaning they never overstay their welcome.
While not necessarily an all-time great romance or comedy,Tsuredure Childrenis consistently watchable and frequently charming. Some couples are more endearing than others, but they all have unique dynamics that help justify their existence.
Based on a 1999 short by Makoto Shinkai, which is a must-watch for fans of the director’s later works,She and Her Cat: Everything Flowschronicles the relationship between Miyu and her cat Daru. These two have been together for a long time, so much so that Daru is in the twilight of his life; meanwhile, Miyu is on the cusp of adulthood as a college student. Jumping back and forth between the present and the past,Everything Flowsshowcases the small moments that forged Miyu and Daru’s unshakable bond.
Unsurprisingly,She and Her Cat: Everything Flowsdoes not hesitate to pull at the viewer’s heartstrings, and pet owners might find some parts to be almost too relatable. Permitting someone is searching for a slice of life with the potential to cause tears, they should check out thisshort anime.
Tonari no Seki-kunhas a delightfully uncomplicated premise. A diligent student, Rumi Yokoi just wants to pay attention in class; unfortunately for her, she happens to sit next to Toshinari Seki, a boy who will go to great lengths to ensure that he never has to pay attention in class. A battle for the ages ensues as Seki devotes all his concentration to accomplishing his experimental acts of time-wasting while Rumi tries desperately to resist the urge to stare in bafflement at the chaos transpiring at her neighboring desk.
The main episodes last roughly 7 minutes, so the series goes by in a heartbeat. While each skit revolves around essentially the same joke, its short runtime and willingness to embrace absurdity permitTonari no Seki-kunto feel fresh throughout its entire run.
Laboring at a bookshop is hard work, regardless of whether someone is a skeleton or a knight. Despite the fantastical presentation of its characters,Skull-face Bookseller Honda-sanis quite a realistic look into this profession, showing the trials and tribulations faced by the store’s staff.
While a tense thriller can be impossible to pause, some of thebest anime to binge-watchcraft a cozy atmosphere that feels like a warm blanket on a cold day. These are shows that only expect attendance from their viewers, andSkull-face Bookseller Honda-sanis one of these series.
Based on Takashi Okazaki’s seinen manga,Afro Samuraigained a following due to its well-choreographed action and star-studded English voice cast. In an alternative interpretation of feudal Japan, warriors are classified by the number on their headbands, with “Number 1” representing the greatest fighter in the country. As a child, the eponymous samurai witnessed his father’s death at the hands of Justice, a killing that saw the latter take the former’s Number 1 headband. Now a capable swordsman, Afro Samurai seeks revenge on Justice.
Afro Samuraihas fun characters and a great soundtrack, but the anime’s main appeal is its gory fight sequences and stylish animation. Although the story has some depth and flashes of introspection, the series and movie both understand what the audience is here to see.
Gakuen Handsomehas awful animation, detestable characters, and is stuffed to the brim with yaoi harem tropes. Importantly, the anime is self-aware of all of these elements, and it uses them to parody a genre that has produced quite a few polarizing shows.
A self-insert protagonist, Yoshiki Maeda, attends an all-boys high school and quickly finds himself attracting the attention of the academy’s most eligible bachelors, along with a teacher. Yoshiki’s days become consumed with inappropriate declarations of love, grandiose romantic gestures, and the sharpest chins in anime.
Ok, this is a special case sinceThe Tatami Time Machine Bluesis a sequel to 2010’s fantasticThe Tatami Galaxy, which can be also binge-watched as it is only 11 episodes. However, the 2022 season flies by in roughly two hours, and the story is pitch-perfect for a single session sit. Despite being a sequel,The Tatami Time Machine Blueslargely does its own thing and can be watched without familiarity with its predecessor, even if that would not be ideal.
On a sizzling summer day at an apartment block filled with Kyoto University students, the air conditioner’s remote breaks, dooming the residents to hell on Earth. However, somehow, they discover a time machine, granting them the opportunity to rewrite the past and cool the future. Naturally, things get complicated rather quickly. Beautifully animated and overflowing with wit,The Tatami Time Machine Bluesis a delight, and it was one of thebest comedy anime of 2022.
As the show was adapted into a 2010 movie,Time of Evewas almost omitted from this discussion; however, the 6-part ONA series is readily available on Crunchyroll, while the feature is not. If someone wants to experience this sci-fi story, their best bet is to watch the original show rather than the film, especially since they are generally of similar quality.
So, what is this anime about? Well,Time of Eveisall about AI, and it covers fairly well-worn ground in the general sci-fi genre. In an alternate reality where technology has advanced to the point of allowing androids to exist in most households, a clear divide exists between humans and their robotic servants. Generally, the latter are viewed as little more than household items, with the public being encouraged by a ruling body to treat androids as disposable rather than living beings capable of thought, discourse, or emotions. One day, Rikuo follows his family’s AI robot to a cafeteria that eliminates the barrier separating humans and androids, requiring patrons to see everyone on equal footing rather than focusing on their makeup and flesh.
Although not necessarily covering new ground,Time of Evepresents an inspired take on this subject. The café serves as a safe zone for androids looking to be themselves and humans willing to expand their discriminatory view of the world. Rather than an overarching narrative, the anime mostly focuses on telling personal small-scale stories about how this society functions on a micro-level.
Unlike a lot of other series on this list,Devilman Crybabyis not a happy-go-lucky story or a comedic masterpiece. It has some funny moments, sure, butDevilmanis nihilistic to its core, as author Go Nagai intended it. But, when Masaaki Yuasa was approached with the concept of creating his own spin-offDevilmanstory, things somehow managed to get even darker. It’s honestly a psychological sort of experiment with gratuitous amounts of violence, gore, and other adult themes. Though, to be fair,it’s not quite on the same level as some other, more nuanced, psychological anime.
But, being sad or dark isn’t equivalent to being bad, as the series is incredibly well-made. The style of the show alone is memorable enough, but then the animation, rap scenes, voice acting, horror elements, and action scenes all take it over the top.
Detroit Metal Cityis a fever dream in the best possible way. Soichi dreams of writing and singing easy-listening pop songs without a shred of malice or suggestive content; unfortunately, as the leader of a death metal band, his on-stage persona is the personification of everything he hates in the world. Still, it is a gig and Soichi needs to eat, so he is willing to keep stepping into Johannes Krauser II’s shoes as long as his identity is kept a secret.
An argument could be made thatDetroit Metal Cityhas essentially one joke, but it is a great gag that the anime uses to full effect. Soichi’s dual lives constantly collide in hilarious ways, and his transformation to a metal demon is always a sight to behold. If someone is searching for an irreverent comedy they can blast through in two hours, they cannot do much better thanDetroit Metal City.
