The best short anime to watch with less than 50 episodes are Death Note, Cowboy Bebop, Steins;Gate, Your Lie in April, Parasyte: The Maxim, Banana Fish, Moriarty the Patriot, Yona of the Dawn and Kaguya-sama: Love Is War. We have also added Frieren and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. Each one tells a complete or satisfying story without a 500-episode commitment.
Long-running shows like One Piece are great, but they need years of viewing. If you are new to anime or have limited time, a series of 12 to 40 episodes lets you finish a full story in a few weekends. Below, each pick has its year, episode count and where it streams in India, based on JustWatch India listings checked in 2026. Catalogues change often, so check the app before you start.
For more streaming picks, browse our series section.
11 short anime with less than 50 episodes
1. Death Note (2006 to 2007)
Episodes: 37. Studio: Madhouse.
High school student Light Yagami finds a notebook that kills anyone whose name is written in it. He sets out to clean up the world, and the genius detective L sets out to catch him. The cat-and-mouse game between them is still one of the best in anime.
Where to watch: Netflix, and the Anime Times channel on Prime Video.
2. Cowboy Bebop (1998)
Episodes: 26. Studio: Sunrise.
A crew of bounty hunters travels through space in 2071, chasing small jobs and running from their pasts. Yoko Kanno’s jazz soundtrack and the mix of noir, western and sci-fi make it a classic. Netflix made a live-action version in 2021, but the original is the one to watch.
Where to watch: Netflix.
3. Steins;Gate (2011)
Episodes: 24, plus a bonus episode. Studio: White Fox.
A self-declared mad scientist and his friends turn a microwave into a device that sends messages to the past. The first half is slow and quirky, and the second half is one of the most gripping time travel stories in any medium.
Where to watch: Not on an Indian streaming service at the time of writing.
4. Your Lie in April (2014 to 2015)
Episodes: 22. Studio: A-1 Pictures.
Kousei, a piano prodigy who stopped playing after his mother’s death, meets Kaori, a free-spirited violinist who pulls him back into music. It is a music drama and a coming-of-age story, and it is known for making viewers cry.
Where to watch: Crunchyroll and SonyLIV.
5. Parasyte: The Maxim (2014 to 2015)
Episodes: 24. Studio: Madhouse.
Alien parasites invade Earth and take over human brains. One fails to reach the brain of teenager Shinichi and settles in his right hand instead, and the two have to work together to survive. It is body horror with real questions about what makes us human. Netflix’s Korean live-action spin-off, Parasyte: The Grey, came out in 2024.
Where to watch: Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
6. Banana Fish (2018)
Episodes: 24. Studio: MAPPA.
Ash Lynx, a teenage gang leader in New York, and Eiji, a young Japanese photographer’s assistant, are pulled into a conspiracy around a mysterious drug. It is violent and emotional, and the bond between the two leads is the heart of the show.
Where to watch: Not on an Indian streaming service at the time of writing.
7. Moriarty the Patriot (2020 to 2021)
Episodes: 24, plus later special episodes. Studio: Production I.G.
This retelling of Sherlock Holmes makes William James Moriarty the lead, a young aristocrat who uses crime to attack the class system of Victorian England. Sherlock still appears, and their rivalry builds across the series.
Where to watch: JioHotstar.
8. Yona of the Dawn (2014 to 2015)
Episodes: 24. Studio: Studio Pierrot.
Princess Yona’s life collapses when her father is murdered, and she flees with her bodyguard Hak. She sets out to find four legendary dragon warriors. Be warned: the anime ends while the manga story continues, so you may want to pick up the manga after.
Where to watch: Not on an Indian streaming service at the time of writing.
9. Kaguya-sama: Love Is War (2019 to 2022)
Episodes: 37 across three seasons, plus a later four-episode special, Stairway to Adulthood. Studio: A-1 Pictures.
Two student council leaders at an elite school like each other but are too proud to confess, so each tries to trick the other into confessing first. It is a romantic comedy with sharp writing and a very funny narrator.
Where to watch: Crunchyroll, with the first season also on SonyLIV.
Newer short anime worth adding
10. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End (2023 to 2026)
Episodes: 28 in Season 1, with Season 2 released in 2026. Studio: Madhouse.
The story begins after the heroes have already defeated the Demon King. Frieren, an elf mage who will outlive her human companions by centuries, sets out on a new journey to understand the people she lost. It is calm, moving and one of the best-rated anime of recent years.
Where to watch: Crunchyroll and SonyLIV, with Season 1 also on Netflix.
11. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (2022)
Episodes: 10. Studio: Trigger.
Set in the world of the Cyberpunk 2077 video game, it follows David, a street kid who becomes a cyber-enhanced mercenary in Night City. It is fast, stylish and tragic, and you can finish it in a day.
Where to watch: Netflix.
How to choose your first short anime
- For thrillers: Start with Death Note or Steins;Gate.
- For action: Try Parasyte or Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.
- For romance and comedy: Go with Kaguya-sama.
- For emotional drama: Pick Your Lie in April or Frieren.
For more lists like this, see our listicles.
Frequently asked questions
Which short anime is best for beginners?
Death Note is the most common recommendation for beginners, with a tight 37-episode story and a clear ending.
Is Death Note on Netflix India?
Yes. Death Note streams on Netflix in India.
What is the shortest anime on this list?
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, with 10 episodes on Netflix.
Where can I watch Frieren in India?
Frieren streams on Crunchyroll and SonyLIV, and Season 1 is also on Netflix.
Sources: JustWatch India on Death Note, JustWatch India on Frieren, JustWatch India on Kaguya-sama.
