Anime is an extremely versatile storytelling medium that's made a huge impact not only on television but also in movie theaters. There's an easy appeal in long-running anime series that have hundreds — or even thousands — of episodes to explore. That being said, the average anime fan may not have the necessary time to commit to such sprawling narratives as the ones seen in One Piece or Dragon Ball. A popular way to enjoy anime in a fraction of the time lies in the concise stories told in the top anime movies.
Some of the best anime movies are standalone feature film installments of popular series. However, many anime movies tell completely original stories that don't require any preexisting knowledge. It's not easy to sift through thousands of anime movies, but there are some special cinematic efforts that audiences owe it to themselves to check out.
Updated by Daniel Kurland on November 15, 2023: This list's latest update covers a broader range of anime feature films as the selection being looked at expands from 30 to 35 movies, as well as a slightly revised ranking order for these choices. The list's entries have been marginally revised and cleaned up to be more up-to-date, which has also carried over to the list's links in an effort to best reflect CBR's most recent anime content. Finally, stylistic changes have also been incorporated to offer more descriptive headlines for the highlighted anime feature films, which cover multiple decades of celebrated anime movies.
35 Redline Is an Adrenaline-Pumping Space Race for Fame and Fortune
Redline
A story about the most popular racing event in the galaxy, the Redline, and the various racers who compete in it.
- Release Date
- October 9, 2010
- Director
- Takeshi Koike
- Cast
- Takuya Kimura , Yû Aoi , Tadanobu Asano
- Rating
- Not Rated
- Runtime
- 1 hour 42 minutes
- Writers
- Katsuhito Ishii , Yoji Enokido , Yoshiki Sakurai
- Production Company
- Gastonia, Madhouse, Madhouse, Tohokushinsha Film Corporation (TFC)
| MyAnimeList Rating | 8.28 |
|---|---|
| Anime-Planet Rank | #433 |
| IMDb Rating | 7.5 |
10 Most Underrated Shojo Anime Of The 2000s, Ranked
Exciting and heartwarming 2000s shojo anime like Ultra Maniac and Peach Girl give popular titles like Fruits Basket a run for their money.From Speed Racer to Initial D, anime have tackled the racing genre with endless enthusiasm and creativity over the years. The racing genre can grow repetitive over an extended anime series, but a feature film is the perfect medium to distill such a fast-paced story. Redline is the directorial debut of prolific animator Takeshi Koike in one of Madhouse's most heightened productions.
Redline is set in a futuristic world where contenders from across the galaxy come together for a high-stakes space race where anything goes. Redline is often style over substance when it comes to the animated artistry and theatrics that take precedence over deep, unique characters. That being said, Redline is still a purely fun anime experience, albeit one that amounts to a shallower experience than the rest of these anime classics.
34 Dragon Ball Super: Broly Is a Love Letter to Bombastic Shonen Action
Dragon Ball Super: Broly
Goku and Vegeta encounter Broly, a Saiyan warrior unlike any fighter they've faced before.
- Release Date
- December 14, 2014
- Director
- Tatsuya Nagamine
- Cast
- Masako Nozawa , Aya Hisakawa , Ryô Horikawa , Toshio Furukawa , Takeshi Kusao
- Rating
- PG
- Runtime
- 100 minutes
- Genres
- Action-Adventure
- Studio
- Toei Animation
| MyAnimeList Rating | 8.17 |
|---|---|
| Anime-Planet Rank | #305 |
| IMDb Rating | 7.7 |
Dragon Ball Super: Broly canonically introduces Legendary Super Saiyan antagonist, Broly, into the shonen series. Dragon Ball Super: Broly is Dragon Ball Super's first theatrical outing, and it received a positive reception, largely because of its expansion of the Super Saiyan lore. Vegeta and Goku are in prime form, and the film's battles benefit from a proper cinematic budget.
Accordingly, Dragon Ball Super: Broly manages to thrill fans with a unique mixture of cinematography and high-octane action. This is an even greater achievement when considering that Broly is the 20th Dragon Ball movie and the fourth film to tackle Broly's story.
33 Summer Wars Is a Coming-of-Age Drama Wrapped in an A.I. Conundrum
Summer Wars
A student tries to fix a problem he accidentally caused in OZ, a digital world, while pretending to be the fiancé of his friend at her grandmother's 90th birthday.
- Release Date
- August 1, 2009
- Cast
- Ryûnosuke Kamiki , Nanami Sakuraba
- Rating
- PG
- Runtime
- 1 hour 45 minutes
- Genres
- Anime , Action , Adventure
- Production Company
- Madhouse, Nippon Television Network (NTV), Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co., D.N. Dream Partners, Warner Bros., Yomiuri Television, Video Audio Project (VAP)
| MyAnimeList Rating | 8.02 |
|---|---|
| Anime-Planet Rank | #391 |
| IMDb Rating | 7.4 |
Mamoru Hosoda is the perfect anime storyteller for a tale about fantastical creatures and a metaverse apocalypse that could spill over into the real world. Hosoda cut his teeth on the first Digimon movie and Summer Wars very much feels like an evolution of the ideas and themes in Digimon Adventure: Our War Game!
Summer Wars unpacks how humanity is both indebted to technology and artificial intelligence but also destined to become obsolete because of it. Summer Wars effectively blends a coming-of-age story about young love with its larger-than-life A.I. dilemma, all of which looks absolutely beautiful.
32 Tekkonkinkreet Fights To Protect a Rich Utopia From Corrupt Criminals
Tekkonkinkreet
Original title: Tekkon kinkurîto
Two boys defend Treasure Town and Yakuza try to take over and clear it for new development.
- Release Date
- December 23, 2006
- Director
- Michael Arias
- Cast
- Kazunari Ninomiya , Yû Aoi , Yusuke Iseya
- Rating
- R
- Runtime
- 1 hour 51 minutes
- Genres
- Anime , Action , Adventure
- Writers
- Anthony Weintraub , Taiyo Matsumoto
- Production Company
- Aniplex, Asmik Ace Entertainment, Beyond C., Shogakukan, Studio 4°C, Tokyo MX
| MyAnimeList Rating | 7.95 |
|---|---|
| Anime-Planet Rank | #1405 |
| IMDb Rating | 7.5 |
Directed by The Animatrix producer Michael Arias, Tekkonkinkreet is a Studio 4°C feature that's a stunning examination of community, pride, and the lengths that people will go to protect what they love. It's not unusual for a city or location to become a character itself, but Tekkonkinkreet really celebrates this idea as two orphans — White and Black — do everything in their power to protect their home from falling into corruption by the Yakuza.
Underdog stories can be a lot of fun, and Black and White are fully-formed characters who nicely compliment one another. Beyond Tekkonkinkreet's emotional story and passionate characters, it's just a visual marvel that's rich in creative, expressive architecture.
31 The Girl Who Leapt Through Time Is a Cautionary Tale About Accepting Mistakes
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
A high-school girl named Makoto acquires the power to travel back in time, and decides to use it for her own personal benefits. Little does she know that she is affecting the lives of others just as much as she is her own.
- Release Date
- July 15, 2006
- Rating
- TV-PG
- Runtime
- 1 hour 38 minutes
- Genres
- Anime , Adventure , Comedy
- Writers
- Satoko Okudera
- Production Company
- Madhouse, Happinet(I)., Kadokawa Pictures
| MyAnimeList Rating | 8.11 |
|---|---|
| Anime-Planet Rank | #407 |
| IMDb Rating | 7.7 |
Time travel tales are prevalent in anime, but Mamoru Hosoda's The Girl Who Leapt Through Time uses this heightened sci-fi concept to tell a deeply human story about independence, free will, and why imperfections are a necessary part of life. Makoto Konno is a 17-year-old high school student who learns that she can jump through time and change the past. Makoto relishes the ability to re-write mundane mistakes from her life, whether they're embarrassing social situations or just doing better on a test at school.
However, Makoto learns that these leaps that improve her life result in other people's suffering. Newly inspired, Makoto tries to reapply her power to help others rather than selfishly focus on herself.
30 Roujin Z Transforms Elderly Health Care Tech Into a Chaotic Super Robot
Roujin Z
A compassionate young nurse is determined to help an elderly invalid strapped to a revolutionary health care bed but there are unexpected consequences.
- Release Date
- 1996-04-00
- Rating
- PG-13
- Runtime
- 1 hour 20 minutes
- Characters By
- Shinji Ogawa, Shinsuke Chikaishi, Chisa Yokoyama
- Production Company
- A.P.P.P., Aniplexm Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co., Movic, Sony Music Entertainment, Tokyo Theatres, TV Asahi
| MyAnimeList Rating | 7.05 |
|---|---|
| Anime-Planet Rank | #8210 |
| IMDb Rating | 6.8 |
Best Anime On Crunchyroll
From brand-new breakout hits to classic fan favorites, Crunchyroll has a ton of great anime for fans to stream right now.Roujin Z is a '90s classic that's a powerful collaboration between Akira's Hiroyuki Kitakubo and Katsuhiro Otomo, as well as Satoshi Kon, who helped with art direction and set design. Roujin Z has a lot to say and it's a poignant deconstruction of controversial health care and society's concern over the increasing dominance of technology.
Set in an advanced, futuristic Japan, an experimental machine that's built to protect and care for the elderly gains sentience and becomes a destructive robot of unimaginable strength. There's a very wry sense of humor through Roujin Z which helps blend the prescient story's dramatic and comedic sensibilities. Roujin Z is full of meticulous, detailed hand-drawn animation that's just as beautiful three decades later.
29 Paprika Is a Kaleidoscopic Dream Heist Through the Human Mind
Paprika
When a machine that allows therapists to enter their patients' dreams is stolen, all hell breaks loose. Only a young female therapist, Paprika, can stop it.
- Release Date
- June 22, 2007
- Director
- Satoshi Kon
- Cast
- Megumi Hayashibara , Tōru Emori , Katsunosuke Hori
- Rating
- R
- Runtime
- 1 hour 30 minutes
- Genres
- Action , Adventure , Fantasy , Psychological
- Writers
- Seishi Minakami , Satoshi Kon
- Production Company
- Madhouse, Sony Pictures Entertainment
| MyAnimeList Rating | 8.04 |
|---|---|
| Anime-Planet Rank | #956 |
| IMDb Rating | 7.7 |
All of Satoshi Kon's anime works are masterpieces, but Paprika — the director's final feature film — hits especially hard and feels like the synthesis of his entire career. A powerful device that's meant to be a psychiatric aid falls into the wrong hands and becomes a dangerous tool that can brainwash individuals through their dreams.
The heist to acquire this controversial tech blurs the lines between the real world and the subconscious, which results in surreal, exciting visuals that represent Kon at the top of his game. Paprika gets into the whole "dream heist" concept long before Christopher Nolan's Inception, and anyone who loves that sci-fi/action film owes it to themselves to check out Paprika.
28 Weathering With You Reflects the Fragile Human Condition Through the World's Weather
Weathering With You
Set during a period of exceptionally rainy weather, high-school boy Hodaka Morishima runs away from his troubled rural home to Tokyo and befriends an orphan girl who can manipulate the weather.
- Release Date
- July 19, 2019
- Director
- Makoto Shinkai
- Rating
- PG-13
- Runtime
- 112 minutes
- Studio
- Toho Animation
- Production Company
- CoMix-Wave Films
| MyAnimeList Rating | 8.28 |
|---|---|
| Anime-Planet Rank | #234 |
| IMDb Rating | 7.5 |
Makoto Shinkai's filmography is full of heartbreaking love stories that are greatly interested in society's relationship with the natural world. Weathering With You unites two psychologically lost teens who find kinship and community in each other's company during a season of intense rainfall.
Hodaka learns that his new friend, Hina, can actually control the weather, which turns into a compelling story about the complicated circle of life and the roles that everyone plays. While not as emotionally resonant as Shinkai's Your Name or Suzume, Weathering With You is still top-tier anime storytelling with photo-realistic visuals that are easy to get lost in.
27 Howl's Moving Castle Is a Magical Movie About Youthfulness and Power
Howl's Moving Castle
When an unconfident young woman is cursed with an old body by a spiteful witch, her only chance of breaking the spell lies with a self-indulgent yet insecure young wizard and his companions in his legged, walking castle.
- Release Date
- June 17, 2005
- Cast
- Takuya Kimura , Tatsuya Gashûin , Chieko Baisho
- Rating
- PG
- Runtime
- 1 Hour 59 Minutes
- Genres
- Adventure , Family
- Studio
- Studio Ghibli
| MyAnimeList Rating | 8.66 |
|---|---|
| Anime-Planet Rank | #57 |
| IMDb Rating | 8.2 |
The 20 Best Animated Movies of All Time
Animated films are in a renaissance. With a growing appreciation for the medium, it's time to explore the best animated movies of all time.Howl's Moving Castle is a Hayao Miyazaki movie that's inspired by the novel of the same name. The story is set in a world where magic and 20th-century technology co-exist, but this has resulted in a bitter war between two disadvantaged kingdoms. A conflict between magic and nature is prime material for Studio Ghibli, but it occasionally leans a little too far into the limitless nature of Howl's magic.
Howl's Moving Castle begins with Sophie, a young girl, who gets cursed by a jealous witch to live out her days as an elderly woman. A courageous wizard named Howl becomes Sophie's champion and her only hope of returning to normal. Howl's Moving Castle looks stunning and is proof of how much each Studio Ghibli movie visually improves from the last. However, this chaotic magic occasionally results in a story that's style over substance.
26 Wolf Children Is a Touching Tale About What It Means To Be a Family
Wolf Children
After her werewolf lover unexpectedly dies in an accident while hunting for food for their children, a young woman must find ways to raise the werewolf son and daughter that she had with him while keeping their trait hidden from society.
- Release Date
- July 21, 2012
- Cast
- Aoi Miyazaki , Takao Osawa , Haru Kuroki
- Rating
- PG
- Runtime
- 1 hour 57 minutes
- Production Company
- Nippon Television Network (NTV), Studio Chizu, Madhouse
| MyAnimeList Rating | 8.57 |
|---|---|
| Anime-Planet Rank | #79 |
| IMDb Rating | 8.1 |
Wolf Children is a strong contender for best anime movie and an early glimpse of Mamoru Hosoda's skills as a storyteller. Wolf Children follows Hana, a single mother who raises two very peculiar half-human, half-wolf children after the death of their werewolf father. Wolf Children highlights the selfless sacrifice that's necessary to be a family. Hana's task isn't easy, and she faces difficulties when it comes to hiding her adoptive children's true nature.
Wolf Children tells a sweet, heartwarming story that mixes fantasy with grounded hope. Hosoda's film reminds audiences that families come in many shapes and sizes. There's nothing wrong with being different, and sometimes the greatest love comes from those who have lost the most.
25 Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' on Heaven's Door Matches the Heights of the Anime Series
Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' On Heaven's Door
Original title: Cowboy Bebop: Tengoku no tobira
A terrorist explosion releases a deadly virus on the masses, and it's up to the bounty-hunting Bebop crew to catch the cold-blooded culprit.
- Release Date
- May 16, 2003
- Director
- Shinichirô Watanabe , Mary Elizabeth McGlynn
- Cast
- Beau Billingslea , Melissa Fahn , Nicholas Guest
- Rating
- TV-14
- Runtime
- 1 hour 55 minutes
- Genres
- Anime , Crime , Action
- Writers
- Keiko Nobumoto , Shinichirô Watanabe , Hajime Yatate
- Production Company
- Bandai Visual Company, BonesBones
| MyAnimeList Rating | 8.38 |
|---|---|
| Anime-Planet Rank | #355 |
| IMDb Rating | 7.8 |
Shinichiro Watanabe's Cowboy Bebop is one of anime's greatest triumphs, and it concludes with a satisfying epilogue in the form of a feature film, Knockin' on Heaven's Door. Set between the anime's 22nd and 23rd episodes, the Cowboy Bebop movie tells a massive sci-fi tale of chemical terrorism on Mars. Cowboy Bebop: The Movie captures all of the series' magic with this suspenseful standalone story that still feels important.
Every character shines, but Knockin' on Heaven's Door contains absolutely stunning visuals that are at their best during Spike's hand-to-hand fight sequences and the film's jazzy slice-of-life opening theme song. It's a movie that will entertain both hardcore Cowboy Bebop fans and complete newcomers.
24 Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind Is a Nihilistic Look at Nature's Decay
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
Warrior and pacifist Princess Nausicaä desperately struggles to prevent two warring nations from destroying themselves and their dying planet.
- Release Date
- March 11, 1984
- Cast
- Sumi Shimamoto , Hisako Kanemoto , Gorô Naya , Yôji Matsuda
- Rating
- NR
- Studio
- Studio Ghibli
| MyAnimeList Rating | 8.36 |
|---|---|
| Anime-Planet Rank | #313 |
| IMDb Rating | 8.0 |
Released in 1984, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind tells the touching story of a young princess who dedicates her life to a better understanding of the world she lives in. Nausicaä covers an ambitious, broad timeline that begins 1000 years prior to its central character's antics. An apocalyptic war is triggered by industrial and technological advancements, which leave civilization's natural wonders in ruin.
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind dwells on the toxicity that this war has caused and how it continues to infect the world. These are important ideals that Miyazaki would return to and expand upon in Princess Mononoke, but they're still rich in Nausicaä. Nausicaä is one of Miyazaki's most charming protagonists, and it's hard not to empathize with her mission to save and share the world against those committed to its destruction.
23 The Tale of Princess Kaguya Is an Aesthetic Marvel That's Full of Heart
The Tale of Princess Kaguya
Found inside a shining stalk of bamboo by an old bamboo cutter and his wife, a tiny girl grows rapidly into an exquisite young lady. The mysterious young princess enthralls all who encounter her, but ultimately she must confront her fate, the punishment for her crime.
- Release Date
- November 23, 2013
- Director
- Isao Takahata
- Rating
- PG
- Runtime
- 2 Hours 17 Minutes
- Writers
- Isao Takahata , Riko Sakaguchi
- Production Company
- Studio Ghibli, Dentsu, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners
| MyAnimeList Rating | 8.21 |
|---|---|
| Anime-Planet Rank | #644 |
| IMDb Rating | 8.0 |
The Tale of Princess Kaguya is guaranteed to evoke intense emotions in its audience. The heavy film intentionally aims to bring its audience to tears, and it achieves this goal in a manner that feels genuine rather than manipulative. The titular Princess Kaguya experiences a tough lot in life as her adoptive parents come to learn that she's an ethereal being and no ordinary child.
Princess Kaguya's attempts to integrate herself into society among humans drives the film forward. Kaguya connects with the people around her in a way that highlights what it truly means to be human and how emotions are what give existence purpose. The film's powerful message, in addition to its gorgeous watercolor-esque art style, helped it resonate with audiences but also earn an Academy Award nomination.
22 Promare Fights Fire With Fire and Overloads Its Audience With Unbelievable Animation
Promare
Original title: Puromea
A futuristic firefighting mecha service is created to protect the world.
- Release Date
- May 24, 2019
- Director
- Hiroyuki Imaishi
- Cast
- John Eric Bentley , Steve Blum , Johnny Yong Bosch
- Rating
- PG-13
- Runtime
- 1 hour 51 minutes
- Genres
- Anime , Action , Adventure
- Writers
- Kazuki Nakashima
- Production Company
- Aniplex, Sanzigen, Trigger
| MyAnimeList Rating | 7.92 |
|---|---|
| Anime-Planet Rank | #691 |
| IMDb Rating | 7.0 |
Must-Watch Fantasy Anime Streaming On Hulu
From Demon Slayer to The World Ends With You, Hulu has some of the best anime available.Modern anime fans have become increasingly savvy when it comes to what animation studios are responsible for their favorite series. Studio TRIGGER is one of this generation's most celebrated anime studios, and everything that they create is a stunning visual celebration. Promare is TRIGGER's first feature film, and they absolutely rise to the occasion with a beautiful anime movie that puts their television work to shame.
Promare creatively turns firefighters into superheroes in a world that's been ravaged for three decades by flame-controlling monsters known as the Burnish. Promare literally fights fire with fire in an engaging action story that plays by its own rules and delivers kaleidoscopic chaos.
21 Whisper of the Heart Is a Quiet Look Into a Humble Romance
Whisper of the Heart
A love story between a girl who loves reading books, and a boy who has previously checked out all of the library books she chooses.
- Release Date
- December 13, 1996
- Rating
- G
- Runtime
- 1 Hour 51 Minutes
- Story By
- Hayao Miyazaki, Aoi Hiiragi, Cindy Davis
- Characters By
- Yoko Honna, Issei Takahashi, Takashi Tachibana
- Production Company
- Tokuma Shoten, Nippon Television Network (NTV), Hakuhodo
| MyAnimeList Rating | 8.22 |
|---|---|
| Anime-Planet Rank | #441 |
| IMDb Rating | 7.8 |
There's an overpowering trend where anime get shoehorned into the action genre, which can begin to feel repetitive. Whisper of the Heart breaks free of this stasis as an inventive subversion of romantic comedies and their emotional tropes. Whisper of the Heart banks on lovable characters and an effortless story where it's hard not to get invested in their growing, earnest union.
Whisper of the Heart crafts a touching relationship between a bookworm and a violin maker that's likely to resonate with audiences who aren't typically won over by anime movies. Whisper of the Heart highlights the tender side of cinematic anime love stories.
20 Castle in the Sky Depicts Grandiose Adventures That Defty Gravity
Castle in the Sky
Original title: Tenkû no shiro Rapyuta
A young boy and a girl with a magic crystal must race against pirates and foreign agents in a search for a legendary floating castle.
- Cast
- Mayumi Tanaka , Keiko Yokozawa , Kotoe Hatsui
- Rating
- PG
- Runtime
- 2 hours 5 minutes
- Production Company
- Tokuma Shoten, Studio Ghibli
| MyAnimeList Rating | 8.26 |
|---|---|
| Anime-Planet Rank | #484 |
| IMDb Rating | 8.0 |
All of Hayao Miyazaki's feature films deserve accolades, and Castle in the Sky caused a significant stir back during its release in the '80s. Miyazaki's cinematic efforts always push visual boundaries, but Castle in the Sky is a technical marvel that still stands out nearly four decades later. Castle in the Sky tells the moving story of a boy and girl who long to locate a mysterious floating castle. Aerial innovation is a consistent theme in Miyazaki's works, and Castle in the Sky begins to push these interests to rewarding places.
Castle in the Sky isn't lacking when it comes to scope or its sense of adventure. That being said, there's also lyrical dialogue and infinitely quotable conversations that celebrate these characters' humanity just as much as the fantastical journey that they find themselves on. Castle in the Sky is an exceptional Studio Ghibli gateway movie, but Miyazaki's follow-up films do more with these themes.
19 My Neighbor Totoro Combines Cute Creatures With Coming-of-Age Catharsis
My Neighbor Totoro
When two girls move to the country to be near their ailing mother, they have adventures with the wondrous forest spirits who live nearby.
- Release Date
- April 16, 1988
- Rating
- G
- Studio
- Studio Ghibli
| MyAnimeList Rating | 8.25 |
|---|---|
| Anime-Planet Rank | #258 |
| IMDb Rating | 8.1 |
10 Best Name Meanings In Studio Ghibli Movies, Ranked
A name says a lot about a character's personality and motivation. Writers and Studio Ghibli creators put careful thought into the names they choose.My Neighbor Totoro is one of Hayao Miyazaki's greatest accomplishments at Studio Ghibli, and it's become a permanent part of pop culture. Totoro and the other magical creatures in this fantasy adventure have not just been referenced countless times over in other anime but even in American productions like South Park.
My Neighbor Totoro doesn't stray far from classic Studio Ghibli sensibilities. Satsuki and Mei are initially discouraged by their family's move to the quiet countryside. Their boredom comes to a close once they befriend Totoro and a bunch of many other adorable forest creatures. My Neighbor Totoro isn't as deep as some of Miyazaki's other films, but it more than makes up for it in the fantasy department.
18 Josee, the Tiger & the Fish Is an Emotional Journey About Lonely Introverts
Josee, The Tiger & The Fish
Original title: Joze to tora to sakana-tachi.
Tsuneo is a university student and Josee is a young girl who has rarely gone out of the house by herself due to her being unable to walk. The two meet when Tsuneo finds Josee's grandmother taking her out for a evening walk.
- Release Date
- July 12, 2021
- Runtime
- 1 hour 39 minutes
- Characters By
- Kaya Kiyohara, Taishi Nakagawa, Matsutera Chiemi
- Production Company
- Bones, East Japan Marketing & Communications Inc., KDDI Corporation
| MyAnimeList Rating | 8.40 |
|---|---|
| Anime-Planet Rank | #175 |
| IMDb Rating | 7.6 |
Plenty of anime movies find success through fantastical stories. However, some of the most moving narratives are the ones that are firmly grounded in reality and effectively hold a mirror up to the fragile nature of being human. Josee, the Tiger and the Fish focuses on Tsuneo, an aimless college student who's unsure about how to seize his future, and Josee, an optimistic dreamer who moves around in a wheelchair.
A tender story unfolds between these two as they open their lives to each other and allow themselves to become vulnerable. There's such a sweet and earnest story at the center of this coming-of-age tale that's likely to reduce its audience to tears but never feels manipulative.
17 Suzume Puts a Troubled Girl on an Epic Quest To Save Japan
Suzume
A modern action adventure road story where a 17-year-old girl named Suzume helps a mysterious young man close doors from the other side that are releasing disasters all over in Japan.
- Release Date
- April 14, 2023
- Director
- Makoto Shinkai
- Cast
- Nanoka Hara , Hokuto Matsumura , Eri Fukatsu , Shôta Sometani
- Rating
- PG
- Runtime
- 122 minutes
| MyAnimeList Rating | 8.35 |
|---|---|
| Anime-Planet Rank | #177 |
| IMDb Rating | 7.7 |
Makoto Shinkai continues to prove that he's one of the most groundbreaking names in anime, and his most recent feature film, Suzume, feels like the culmination of his filmography's themes. Suzume follows a listless young adult who learns that she's uniquely qualified to prevent Japan from supernatural destruction.
Suzume's ability to lock magical doors and prevent these toxic dangers from spreading becomes a touching coming-of-age narrative that's just as much about healing her heart as it is about repairing the environment. All of Shinkai's signature ideas are present in Suzume, but there's also a Studio Ghibli quality to Souta's oddly charming transformation into a sentient three-legged chair.
16 Ghost in the Shell Is a Cyberpunk Triumph on Identity and Control
Ghost in the Shell
A cyborg policewoman and her partner hunt a mysterious and powerful hacker called the Puppet Master.
- Release Date
- November 19, 1995
- Director
- Mamoru Oshii
- Cast
- Atsuko Tanaka , Akio Otsuka , Iemasa Kayumi
- Rating
- TV-MA
- Runtime
- 1 Hour 23 Minutes
- Genres
- Sci-Fi , Action , Crime
- Studio
- Production I.G
- Franchise
- Ghost In The Shell
| MyAnimeList Rating | 8.27 |
|---|---|
| Anime-Planet Rank | #705 |
| IMDb Rating | 7.9 |
Ghost in the Shell has passed the test of time and proven itself to be one of the best anime movies and the medium's signature cyberpunk story. Ghost in the Shell takes place in the distant future and follows a cyborg security agent, Motoko "Major" Kusanagi, who's in pursuit of a hacker. Ghost in the Shell presents intense action and solid characters and wrestles with heavy themes like the nature of identity, ethics, and corporations.
Ghost in the Shell is one of the most iconic anime movies to come out of the '90s, yet its visuals can hold their own with any modern movie. Other films, series, and spinoffs have been released, but they fail to match the excellence of this original film. Ghost in the Shell's heightened action is second to none, and it exposes audiences to a whole new breed of action hero.
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