Five essential animated series to binge on Netflix this weekend

Weekends are the perfect time to unwind. A binge session on Netflix might be equated with the ‘rotting girl’ aesthetic, but sometimes a beautifully animated series can do wonders for the imagination.

If you’re a Netflix subscriber seeking a delightful escape, look no further. Here’s a curated list of five essential series that promise to be the perfect companions for your weekend binge-watching sessions. 

These five animated series sway from being deeply philosophical to being deeply nostalgic Bildungsroman gems. So, grab your cosy blankets, settle into your favourite spot, and let these vividly painted worlds take you on a weekend-long journey of entertainment and escapism.

Here are five essential animated series on Netflix that promise a delightful mix of fantasy and philosophy. 

Five essential series to binge on Netflix this weekend:

Carol & the End of the World

In a world hurtling towards extinction, the series explores the life of a woman standing alone amid hedonistic masses pursuing their wildest wishes before the world comes to an end.

Created by Dan Guterman, as the impending apocalypse looms in Carol & the End of the World, most people liberate themselves to pursue their wildest dreams. At the same time, Carol (voiced by Martha Kelly) navigates this chaotic landscape quietly and rather uncomfortably.

Hilda

With its heartwarming storytelling and breathtaking animation, Hilda is a perfect blend of fantasy and friendship.

Luke Pearson’s enchanting fantasy series follows the adventures of Hilda, a fearless blue-haired girl, and her magical encounters with creatures from Scandinavian folklore. Voiced by Bella Ramsey, the 11-year-old Hilda moves from the nearby woods to the walled-in city of Trolberg and regularly goes on epic adventures with her pet deerfox Twig, Alfur the elf, and best friends Frida and David.

Blue Eye Samurai

Set in Japan’s Edo period, Michael Green and Amber Noizumi’s adult animated action series follows Mizu, a half-white, half-Japanese Onna-musha seeking vengeance against her father and three others who illegally remained in Japan during the closing of its borders by the Tokugawa shogunate.

Blue Eye Samurai features voice acting by the likes of Maya Erskine, George Takei, Masi Oka, Randall Park, and Brenda Song. And the gorgeous animations have earned praise from A Song of Ice and Fire author George R. R. Martin, who called the series a “terrific watch”.

The Midnight Gospel

Created by Duncan Trussell and Pendleton Ward, The Midnight Gospel is an animated series that follows Clancy, a spacecaster with a malfunctioning multiverse simulator. 

Clancy (voiced by Duncan Trussell) travels to different worlds, interviewing inhabitants on profound topics while grappling with his own existential journey. The show combines trippy visuals with real-life podcast conversations, exploring themes of life, death, and consciousness. Each episode is full of philosophical discussions, often offering a surreal blend of animation and stirring dialogue.

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off

Abel Góngora’s delightful adaptation from the iconic Scott Pilgrim series, this animated show follows a musician who, after meeting the woman of his dreams, must confront her army of ex-boyfriends. 

With its blend of humour, romance, and action, this is a must-watch for fans of the original graphic novels. The series also manages to bring the original cast to do the voice acting. Developed by Bryan Lee O’Malley and BenDavid Grabinski, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off features the voices of Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Anna Kendrick, Chris Evans, and even “Weird Al” Yankovic.