Anime is an all-encompassing term. Outside of Japan, it sometimes refers to animation produced in Japan. In Japanese, it simply describes anything animated. However, it has become synonymous with a specific and popular animation taste in Japan. For this list, anime is not explained through aesthetics, but rather through where the animation is produced (i. e. Japan). While many associate anime with television screens, there are many anime videos that are a must-watch for those interested in more frequently animated films. While the history of Japanese animation dates back to the early 20th century (and arguably longer with precursors like Kage-e and Emakimono), the modern anime generation began with television shows in the 2000s. Since then, anime has grown in popularity. in Japan and abroad. Recently, animated films have become a popular medium, and the most productive animated films are found in all genres, adding coming-of-age, fantasy, and romance. Getting into anime can seem intimidating, but the best anime videos are for enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
While the highest-grossing animated film (and the highest-grossing Japanese film of all time), Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train, doesn’t appear on this list, the next 3 highest-grossing Japanese films do.
Studios such as Studio Ghibli, Madhouse, Toei Animation, and CoMix Wave Films have produced many of the films on this list and have made their way into animated films. This classification takes into account ancient artistic meaning, influence, and approach. prioritize the overall quality and visual experience of the movie.
A Whisker Away is a fantasy romance about a woman who swaps bodies with a cat and the boy she’s obsessed with. Directed by Junichi Sato and Tomotaka Shibayama, the film’s theatrical release was halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the film was sold to Netflix.
The film won well and lately has a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. Nick Allen wrote in his review for RogerEbert. com: “A wholesome fantasy built with serene settings and cute animals is most fun when it gets a little crazy and thankfully, A Whisker Away has some innovative concepts to make the story more magical it continues.
Based on Hinako Sugiura’s manga of the same name, Miss Hokusai follows a person who hopes to escape the shadow of her famous father to create her own art. The film is set in the early 19th century, in the Edo era, and venerates the art and artists of that era.
Directed by Keiichi Hara, the film is exclusive not only as an animated biopic, but also as a focus on female art. It’s not for everyone, though, and its slightly disjointed and episodic narrative design will put some off. The film is visually beautiful, especially in its depictions of Edo City and classical art styles. Unfortunately, lately it is not available for streaming in the United States.
Many millennial enthusiasts will be nostalgic for ’90s animated movies based on the television screens of their youth. Many of those movies are more nostalgic than smart, like Pokémon: The First Movie, or smart movies that require clever wisdom from the series they’re based on. forward, like Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan. Sailor Moon R: The Movie, however, is an intelligent film and one that can be enjoyed without becoming too familiar with the television screen on which it is based.
Sailor Moon R: The Movie is the first Sailor Moon film and led directly to two standalone sequels, Sailor Moon S: The Movie (1994) and Sailor Moon SuperS: The Movie (1995). The film follows the Sailor Guardians as they battle an alien who has an afterlife with Tuxedo Mask, when she comes to earth in hopes of being with him. The film has been dubbed and updated in 2017. It is also related to a short film, Make Up!Marine guardians. Sailor Moon R is rarely the best movie, but it will do more than just scratch the nostalgia of fans of a certain era. The film is available to rent on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, YouTube, and Google Play.
Belladonna of Sadness by Eiichi Yamamoto comes with a prominent cause warning. The film is not easy to watch and is not suitable for children. It is the last entry in the Animerama trilogy, after One Thousand and One Nights (1969) and Cleopatra (1970). ) and is by far the most productive of the three.
The film follows a peasant girl who makes a Faustian pact with Satan to get revenge on a local lord for a sexual assault. The film explores eroticism, religion, violence, misogyny, and feudal oppression through striking psychedelic imagery. Although some have called it outdated and exploitative, it is still a beautiful and strange piece of anime history that is worth watching. It can be rented on YouTube and Google Play.
Directed by Mamoru Hosoda, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is a sweet coming-of-age anime about a woman who discovers she has the strength to pass through time. However, this gift brings unforeseen consequences.
The film presents one of the most compelling takes on the nature of time travel. While it’s not the flashiest anime, it has some wonderful visual sequences and the characters and fast pace of the story more than make up for it. Lately it airs on Crunchy Roll.
Directed by Taichi Ishidate, Violet Evergarden: The Movie is in the Violet Evergarden soft novel series through Kana Akatsuki. Technically, this follows the Violet Evergarden series, which ran for one season in 2018, but works well as a standalone film.
The film follows Violet, a converted soldier, as she struggles with life after a wonderful war. The film is one of the most beautiful photographs on this list and has a delicately beautiful flavor that combines nostalgia and robotics of the 20th century. Famous Japanese game designer Hideo Kojima tweeted about the film in 2021: “I had never noticed Violet Evergarden, neither on TV nor in cinema, and I only knew the name from an advertisement for the film version. I’m glad I saw it. I cried a lot. little at the end. I used to be a lyric writer, but I don’t think I’ve written a letter in about 10 years. It’s been streaming on Netflix lately.
Mamoru Hosoda’s Wolf Children follows a human mother who will have to raise her children after the death of their werewolf father. The film is rarely very complex, but it is incredibly charming. Although it is too sentimental, it has enough center to keep the observer absorbed.
The film won the Japanese Academy of Animation of the Year award. If some prefer Hosoda’s previous film, Summer Wars, Wolf Children is better. Chris Michael wrote about the film for Gaudian: “It’s a fairy tale set in a genuine setting, drawn photogenuineistly in a conversion light that rivals Monet or GTA5. It recently aired on Crunchy Roll.
Pom Poko is arguably Studio Ghibli’s strangest film. While the English dub calls the characters “raccoons,” the movie is about tanukis. It follows a tanuki army as it rebels against a housing project under construction on the outskirts of Tokyo.
Directed by Isao Takahata, the film is about environmentalism, modernization, and Japanese folklore, with Tanuki featured prominently. Many jokes and themes would be understood by Japanese audiences, but they don’t really apply to foreign audiences. In classical art, tanukis are depicted with giant magical testicles, which is why the film highlights Tanuki “you know what. “However, most Americans are not familiar with this folklore. Even if it may not appeal to everyone, it’s a deeply artistic film that deserves to be seen. . Pom Poko is streaming lately on Max.
Night is Short, Walk On Girl is one of the most artistic animated films on this list. One of many wonderful anime directed by Masaaki Yuasa (including Ride Your Wave and Inu-Oh), Night is Short, Walk On Girl is based on the 2006 novel of the same name. The film follows a woman at a drinking party and a boy decided to confess his love to her.
The film won the Japanese Academy Award for Animation of the Year and is a spiritual sequel to the excellent anime based on Tomihiko Morimi’s novel, The Tatami Galaxy. Night is Short, Walk On Girl is a natural laugh and never takes itself too seriously. Lately it has been streaming on Max.
Metropolis follows a detective and his nephew in search of a scientist who created a beautiful robot woman in a technologically complex future city. The film is based on Osamu Tezuka’s 1949 manga of the same name. Rintaro directed it and Katsuhiro Otomo, famous for Akira, wrote the script.
The animation of this movie is impressive, especially since it was released the same year as Shrek. Roger Ebert said of the film, “If you’ve never noticed Japanese anime, start here. If you like them, Metropolis proves that you are correct. Although it can be discovered on the internet, it is unfortunately not available for streaming.
Directed by Makoto Shinkai, Weathering With You is a romance between a troubled runaway student and an orphaned woman with the strength to manipulate the weather. The film is attractive and gorgeously animated, especially the rain and sun scenes.
While some were disappointed with Weathering With You, most of the naysayers were similar to the fact that Shinkai is a follow-up to the hugely popular Your Name and the exorbitant expectations of the public. As clever as Your Name, Weathering With You is still a wonderful entry into the genre of romance and fantasy anime. The film was chosen as Japan’s entry into the Academy Award for Best International Film. However, she was not nominated. Weathering With You is currently airing on Max.
Directed by Isao Takahata, Only Yesterday follows Taeko as a child in 1960s Tokyo and a 27-year-old bachelor on a summer vacation to play a farmer in the countryside. The film goes back and forth between the two Taekos as it explores the position of women and culture in a converting Japan.
Although some moments will touch children, this film is much more aimed at young women. It’s a masterpiece that will appeal to today’s women in their twenties, just as it did in the 1990s. While the most recent dub from 2016 features Daisy Ridley and Dev Patel, the Japanese edition is better, basically because the explanatory interior monologue sounds awkward in English. Lately it has one hundred percent on Rotten Tomatoes and lately it is being broadcast on Max.
2016 was a wonderful year for anime with great videos like A Silent Voice, Your Name, Doukyusei, and The Red Turtle. And In This Corner of the World is among the most productive. In This Corner of the World is a heartbreaking war drama. Sunao’s Katabuchi. La film is based on the Fumiyo Kōno manga of the same title and follows a young woman growing up in a small town outside of Hiroshima in the 1930s and 1940s. The film juxtaposes classic Japanese life with the horrors of war.
The movie was a critical darling in Japan, winning 3 awards from the Japanese Academy. Katabunchi worked as Hayao Miyazaki’s assistant director on Kiki’s Delivery Service, and there’s a vintage Ghibli technique to visuals in this movie. However, this is not a bad thing and even evokes a sense of nostalgia for enthusiasts of the coming-of-age anime of the 1990s. Brian Tallerico said of the movie for RogerEbert. com: “Ultimately, In This Corner of the World is a stark reminder of what war does to the ones airy elements of humanity that we want to survive: dreams, art, love, etc. It is lately to be had to stream for loose on Tubi, Peacock, and Amazon Prime.
Belle follows a straight-A student turned virtual pop star who must uncover the truth about a mysterious beast. Technically, she was animated through Beauty and the Beast; However, it doesn’t sound like a Disney princess movie or an 18th century fairy tale. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, where it earned a 14-minute ovation.
Directed by Mamoru Hosoda, the film was a critical and monetary success. It was nominated for two Japanese Academy Film Awards and won one. The film features perfect music and indeed amazing visuals. Belle is available to stream on Max.
Mari Okada’s Maqui: When the Promised Flower Blooms follows a humanoid woman whose mystical race is attacked by humans who wish to use her blood as an elixir for life. In the midst of the chaos, he discovers a bathrough and makes the decision to raise it in human society.
The film was Okada’s directorial debut, and other anime directors praised his work, adding Makoto Shinkai, who tweeted, “It was a glorious film that awakened memories I had forgotten. Directed by Mari Okada, who has continued to show the novelty of the anime. As a rookie screenwriter, faced with such quality, I feel jealous and impatient. We also want to be motivated. The movie can be streamed for free on Tubi, Amazon Prime, and Pluto TV.
Mirai, another film directed by Mamoru Hosoda, follows a young boy who discovers a magical lawn that allows him to go back in time to meet future and future versions of his mother and sister. It’s a heartwarming film about family, belonging, and attitude that will delight kids, parents, and even other adults.
Mirai, the sixth anime and the first non-Ghibli anime to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. It also won the Japanese Academy Award for Animation of the Year. In a review for Variety, Peter Debruge wrote: “[They are] the works of a true auteur (in what appears to be his most private film to date) presented as innocent family entertainment. ” » It is available for rental on YouTube, Google Play, Amazon Prime and Apple TV.
Directed by Mamoru Oshii, Angel’s Egg is a cult classic. It’s very sparse when it comes to dialogue, which is rarely everyone’s favorite. However, it is a magnificent film that allows the audience to draw their own conclusions. Viewers who object to biblical references and allegorical fantasy will find a lot to like in Angel’s Egg, even if it’s not for everyone.
The film is set in a land of primordial ruins and follows a young girl who protects a giant egg that she believes will give birth to an angel and a child who hopes to hatch it. The film is rarely shown in theaters. However, a 4K recovery has been announced on the occasion of its 40th anniversary. Unfortunately, it is not available for streaming.
Based on the novel of the same name, Paprika is the newest film from acclaimed animation filmmaker Satoshi Kon. Kon known for iconic films such as Perfect Blue, Millennium Actress and Memories. While many of Kon’s films may have appeared on this list, Paprika is arguably his most artistic and visually stimulating film.
Paprika follows a dream detective on the trail of a criminal who steals a device capable of influencing the dreams of others. If this sounds a bit like Inception, many have said so. Both films share many plot elements and themes. However, Christopher Nolan did. Don’t cite it as a reference. Paprika is currently available to purchase on YouTube, Google Play, Amazon Prime, and Apple TV.
Porco Rosso is a noir film about a former seaplane pilot condemned to live as a pig in the Adriatic Sea in the 1930s. Although it sounds strange, everything looks good. The film was directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Although subtitles are sometimes preferred, Porco Rosso is the rare animated film that deserves to be seen in English, especially the 2005 English shortened version, starring Michael Keaton, Cary Elwes, and Susan Egan. The black taste lends itself well to reduction, and Keaton’s paintings as Marco “Porco Rosso” Rossolini seem straight out of Casablanca.
The film is possibly the funniest Studio Ghibli has ever made. However, it also serves as a harrowing look at post-traumatic stress disorder and the rise of fascism in Europe. The ending of the film is particularly heartbreaking and shocking. While several lines from the film have become iconic, “Better a pig than a fascist” has become a rallying cry in the 2023 Spanish elections. Porco Rosso is currently airing on Max.
Suzume is a romantic adventure anime directed by Makoto Shinkai. The film follows a young woman who teams up with a handsome stranger to seal supernatural doors that release creatures that cause earthquakes.
Like many Shinkai films, Suzume combines romance and coming-of-age themes with the risk of natural disasters. The film was a critical and box office success and has become the fourth highest-grossing Japanese film in the world. The film won the Japan Academy Film Award and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature. It has also been nominated for seven Annie Awards, tied with The Boy and The Heron for the most nominated anime. It is available to stream on Netflix and Crunchyroll.
Unlike the arguable 2017 action film of the same name, the original Ghost in the Shell is an anime classic. The film follows a cyborg agent who seeks to prevent a criminal from illegally hacking into the minds of cyborg-human hybrids. the nature of the self and technology.
The film, directed by Mamoru Oshii, is based on the manga of the same name. It is considered a cult film because it was first a box office failure before being released on video. The film encouraged the Wachowski sisters, adding their film The Matrix. James Cameron also called Ghost in the Shell “the first truly animated adult film to achieve a level of literary and visual excellence. “It is available to stream for free on Tubi and Pluto TV.
Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion is arguably the most productive film in a television anime franchise. The film is the finale of the Neon Genesis Evangelion series, broadcast in 1995-1996. Technically, these are the last two installments in the franchise, but it was sold as a movie and released in theaters.
Although the movie is better if you have watched the series, watching the series is not a prerequisite to enjoying the movie. In particular, the Evangelion franchise is strangely clever when it comes to making “independent movies. “The 2021 Evangelion movie: 3. 0 1. 01 Thrice Upon a Time is also worth watching, even for those who are not familiar with the series. The film was directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki and Hideaki Anno and starred several of the series’ voice actors, including Megumi Ogata, Yuko Miyamura, and Megumi Hayashibara. It follows an organization of teenagers who pilot mechas to fight the angels. The last scene is simply iconic and beyond impressive. It is available for streaming on Netflix.
The Tale of Princess Kaguya is the latest film by the legendary Isao Takahata. It is based on the 10th-century folklore The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter and follows a bamboo cutter who digs up a luminous little woman in a bamboo shoot. He elevates the woman to the status of princess even though she longs for the forest and village of her childhood. Like many of Takahata’s other films, the film focuses on the position of women and the way of life.
While the film is stunning, it uses a much more simplistic style than other Ghibli films and evokes classic painting tastes, such as Sumi-e watercolors. As of 2023, The Boy and The Heron, The Tale of Princess Kaguya is the highest-budget film in Japan’s history, with an approximate budget of $49 million. The film is Takeo Chii’s definitive film and also features a guest appearance through Yukiji Asaoka. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and lately is one hundred percent on Rotten Tomatoes. The tale of Princess Kaguya is recently aired on Max.
Your Name is a romantic anime with a different touch. The film follows two outstanding school students who switch bodies when a rare comet hits Earth. It’s charming both visually and thematically, and has a strangely catchy soundtrack and narrative focus. It balances the extravagant youth romance with the themes of culture and crisis in a very satisfying way.
Directed by Makoto Shinkai, Your Name is popular in Japan and abroad. Japanese studios Toho are reportedly running a live-action version. It currently owns 98% of Rotten Tomatoes and is available to stream on Crunchyroll.
My Neighbor Totoro is an old anime from his formative years. The film follows two sisters who notice the spirit of the forest in rural Japan in the 1950s. Not only is it a wonderful coming-of-age movie, but it also reflects respect for culture and nature. Outside of the film itself, the character Totoro has a cultural icon and also serves as Studio Ghibli’s mascot.
The film was originally dubbed into English in 1989 for Japan Airlines. While there is a stripped-down version from 2004 starring Dakota and Elle Fanning, as well as Timothy Daly, many (especially millennial fans) prefer the original voice acting. The movie is charming and also captures nostalgia. for a time and position that the peak audience has probably never been in. The movie is available to stream on Max.
Another film written and directed by Satoshi Kon, Tokyo Godfathers, follows three homeless people who find a toilet in a trash can on Christmas Eve. The film has a little bit of everything and works as a Christmas movie, a Yakuza movie, and a tragicomedy. It has also gained prestige as a cult vintage in the United States.
While the subtitled edition is recommended over English dubs for most of the anime on this list, the most recent English dub is notable for having a trans actress, Shakina Nayfack, playing the trans character of Hana (in the Japanese edition, Unfortunately Hana has a voice). through a man). It currently has a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and is streaming free on The Roku Channel and Amazon Prime.
The film that Studio Ghibli created outside of Japan, Princess Mononoke, can be said to be another Hayao Miyazaki film. The film is set in the Muromachi era (c. 1400 AD) and follows an epic war between kami (forest deities). ) and humans. Princess Mononoke carries a strong environmental message and is not afraid of nuance or ethical ambiguity.
Princess Mononoke is a critical and box office heavyweight, holding the Japanese box office record for domestic films until Spirited Away in 2001. It is also the first animated film to win the Japanese Academy Film Award for Film of the Year. Lately it has been streaming on Max.
One of the darkest anime on this list, Grave of the Fireflies surprisingly comes from Studio Ghibli and director Isao Takahata. The film follows two young people suffering in war-torn Japan in the 1940s. It is an anti-war masterpiece that still feels vital more than 35 years later.
Although the film is not suitable for children, curiously it was initially screened as a double feature film with My Neighbor Totoro, much lighter. The film was director Akira Kurosawa’s favorite Ghibli film, and he even once wrote a letter to Hayao Miyazaki praising a song, after mistakenly believing that Miyazaki had directed it. Roger Ebert said it was “such a harsh emotional delight that it forces us to reconsider animation. “Unfortunately, it is not currently possible to hire or stream it in the United States.
Directed by Katsuhiro Otomo, Akira is an iconic film of the genre. The film helped popularize animated films overseas and is one of the most notable animated films ever made. Set in the dystopian future of 2019, the film follows the leader of a biker gang and his telekinetic friend in an uprising in Neo-Tokyo.
Akira’s violent yet charming images are iconic and have been referenced directly or in many other films and TV shows. He also popularized a sliding stop for motorcycles, the “Akira slide”, which have become a benchmark in the imaginary of action cinema. From the music to the action sequences, Akira is very influential. Tom Usher wrote for Vice: “[Akira] was the first time the West became massively involved with Japanese culture and it had an enormous impact – the film’s influence is still obvious everywhere. “» It is available for streaming on Hulu.
Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, Spirited Away held the record for the highest-grossing film in Japan for 19 years. It is also the first non-English animated film to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature (it is also the only one until another Miyazaki film, The Boy and the Heron, won in 2024).
Spirited Away follows a 10-year-old woman who will have to save her parents from the spirit realm and an evil witch who runs a spirit bath. This is arguably Miyazaki’s masterpiece and the most productive film Studio Ghibli has released to date. The film is one of the most beautifully animated animated films of all time and is currently streaming on Max.
Conclusion
From coming of age to romance to robots, animated films capture beauty, excitement, and excitement. Anime is not only amazing animated movies, but also wonderful movies in general.
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