Banana Fish just got easier to watch. Anime Limited licensed the series for the UK, North America and France, and Netflix now streams it in select regions — the UK, Ireland, the US, Canada and France — with English and French dubs as of August 12, 2026. A Blu-ray release is planned for early 2027. If you missed MAPPA's crime drama the first time, it is back in the spotlight.
Quick answer
Banana Fish streams on Netflix in select regions (UK, Ireland, US, Canada, France) with English and French dubs. It is a 24-episode 2018 series produced by MAPPA, directed by Hiroko Utsumi, adapting Akimi Yoshida's manga. According to SenpaiRanks, Banana Fish holds an adjusted score of 7.88, placing it firmly in the upper tier of crime and drama anime.
What it is
Banana Fish follows Ash Lynx, a teenage gang leader in New York, as he unravels a conspiracy tied to a mysterious drug. MAPPA's 2018 adaptation moved the setting from the manga's 1980s to modern-day New York, but kept the raw, tragic core intact. Hiroshi Seko handled series composition — the same writer behind several of the studio's heavy hitters.
Where to watch it
Right now the cleanest route is Netflix in the licensed regions, with dubs available. It previously streamed subtitled on Amazon Prime Video, but that listing has been removed — so Netflix is the current home. Here is the series trailer:
Is it good?
By the numbers, yes. Per SenpaiRanks, Banana Fish tracks at an adjusted 7.88 — a strong mark for a self-contained drama with no franchise padding. Its reputation rests on tight pacing and one of the most quietly devastating endings in modern anime. If you want more of MAPPA's catalog, our best MAPPA anime ranked list is the natural next click, and the best anime to watch in 2026 hub covers wider picks.
The read
A licensing refresh plus Netflix availability is the perfect excuse to finally start Banana Fish — or to rewatch before the Blu-ray lands. Open its catalog page, see where the 7.88 puts it on the drama board, and rate it to plant your own vote against the crowd's Consensus. Another MAPPA-adjacent title hitting Netflix this month is the Gintama Yoshiwara in Flames movie.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Where can I watch Banana Fish?
A: On Netflix in select regions (UK, Ireland, US, Canada, France) with English and French dubs.
Q: Does Banana Fish have a dub?
A: Yes — Netflix offers English and French dubs as of August 2026.
Q: Is Banana Fish worth watching?
A: SenpaiRanks tracks it at an adjusted 7.88, placing it in the upper tier of crime/drama anime.
Q: Who made Banana Fish?
A: MAPPA, directed by Hiroko Utsumi, adapting Akimi Yoshida's manga.
Q: How many episodes is Banana Fish?
A: 24 episodes, originally airing in 2018 on Fuji TV's Noitamina block.