In this series, we’re looking at the best anime films of all time. We’ve chosen films that are both heartbreaking and thrilling, that have left an impression on us after watching them. So without further ado, here are the 10 best anime films of all time!
A Silent Voice
This film follows Shouya, an elementary school bully who picks on his classmate Shouko for being deaf. His hurtful shenanigans lead to Shouko transferring out of their school. Afterward, everyone blames Shouya for this matter in his high school years.
Despite his age, Shouya’s plagued with many horrid memories of his past. He gets a chance to redeem himself when he spots Shouko wandering nearby. Shouya vows to make things right with Shouko to eradicate any guilt, grief, or sorrow that continues haunting him.
This film provides viewers with excellent life lessons through its well-rounded cast. Shouya puts his money where his mouth and tries his hardest to make Shouko’s life better. His actions will leave a long-lasting impression on folks for the better. Check out A Silent Voice if you’re searching for a heartwarming and tear-jerking film.
Redline
Redline is a film that is highly stylized and intense, but it makes up for it with beautiful animation and rivalries. This work features highly stylized racing segments that will stimulate your heart as characters reach extreme speeds on the race track.
Redline is an anime that highlights a race without rules. This race pushes its competitors to their limits, and our protagonist, JP, is one of its latest competitors who can’t wait to show the world what he can do. Unfortunately, this race will take place on a planet that is infested with trigger-happy individuals. ..
The film’s cheesy dialogue and tone may make some turn a blind eye. However, the action segments involving our characters making sharp turns and colliding with nearby racers make for incredible entertainment.
Jinrou: The Wolf Brigade
Ninja Scroll
Ninja Scroll is an excellent anime that offers a great depiction of ninjas in anime. While its premise is simple, it evokes similar feelings you’d get after watching a stellar B-movie. This anime receives praise for its epic fights and exciting protagonist, Jubei.
Kazuki is a soldier who fails to exterminate a young terrorist. The girl causes a drastic explosion that results in many people getting hurt. Kazuki’s scolded for his failures and is forced to return to a military academy for re-evaluation. At the academy, Kazuki gets roped into a governmental conspiracy that will determine Japan’s future.
Fans of films with deep messages and gritty tones will love Jinrou, an emotional roller coaster that examines the darkness that lay dormant in humanity’s hearts. This anime provides some great symbolism with its fascinating storytelling. If you’re a fan of films with deep messages and gritty tones, this one is definitely worth checking out.
Jubei is a samurai who has a dark past. He was once forced to fight for the Shogunate and he has a history of betrayal. One day, he rescues Kagero from a husky individual. Kagero informs Jubei that she’s investigating a strange disease that wiped out an entire village. An old fellow poisons and blackmails Jubei into participating in Kagero’s affairs. Jubei is determined to find out what happened to the village and stop the disease before it destroys more lives.
Jubei is helping the older man and Kagero with their plans, when he learns that this mission involves taking down a formidable foe from his past. This anime’s action feels somewhat realistic and gorier than most ninja anime. Everyone displays a significant level of martial arts, swordsmanship, and other forms of combat. Fans of action films will get a kick out of the intense and insane martial arts performed by Ninja Scrolls’ cast.
Angel’s Egg is an anime that offers a unique form of storytelling that’s not present in most modern works. This is an anime that viewers won’t appreciate unless they’ve rewatched it several times. It leaves the door open on its plot, allowing everyone to ponder different explanations of what’s being presented.
Angel’s Egg is a slow-paced anime that wants its viewers to think. Even if the scenes are mundane, you’ll walk away with a lasting impression.
Angel’s Egg is a film that is not for everyone. There will be many people who do not enjoy its pacing or lack of explanation for its plot. However, those with patience will walk away intrigued and impressed by its content. With its gothic art style, interesting characters, and somber atmosphere, Angel’s Egg is one of the most mind-numbingly meaningful films.
Ghost In The Shell (1995)
Anime has had a significant impact on the direction of some of the world’s most masterful films. For example, Ghost In The Shell (1995) made a big impression on anime fans and went on to influence filmmakers like Lana and Lily Wachowski and James Cameron. ..
Ghost In The Shell is an anime that delves into the complex and thought-provoking concepts of human ideology and existence. It does this in a way that is both engaging and respectful of its audience, drip-feeding its ideas at just the right intervals. ..
Cyberpunk anime “Major Kusanagi” is beautifully drawn with cyberpunk aesthetic. Major Kusanagi is well-rounded and performs some jaw-dropping stunts. This anime evokes a great sense of mystery and will please any anime fan who enjoys stories with depth and creativity. ..
Perfect Blue
Mima is a perfect example of someone who has overcome many obstacles. She is popular, but not because she is good-looking or talented. Rather, she is popular because she is the latest thing. She has never been in a relationship and doesn’t plan on it ever being the same. Her fans are her everything and she knows it. However, when Mima falls for a man who isn’t her type, she finds herself in for a tough battle.
She abandons her group to pursue a career in filmmaking that will make her more recognizable to the public. Little does she know, the horrors that await those who tread down a path of fame and fortune. Director Satoshi Kon knows how to provoke his viewers with Perfect Blue. ..
This film offers exquisite commentary on pop culture and its damaging effects on humanity. Mima’s voice actresses excellently portray her downward spiral wonderfully. Despite being an older work, this film is still very relevant today. ..
If you’re looking for an anime that will get your gears turning, Perfect Blue is a great choice. ..
The film is an emotional roller coaster from beginning to end. It offers some heartbreaking depictions of war and how it affects everyone involved. With its gritty atmosphere, chilling imagery, and likable protagonists, many fans may want to have a box of tissues on standby. ..
Seita and his sister Setsuko are the only two survivors of their family in the aftermath of World War II. The city they live in has been bombed by American forces, leaving them homeless and with nothing left to lose. ..
In the small town of Shibasaki, Seita and Setsuko meet a man named Tatsuya who tells them about a program that helps homeless people. Tatsuya says that he can help them find work and get back on their feet. He also tells them about the people in the program who have been successful in doing so. Seita and Setsuko are excited to hear this and decide to apply for the program.
This Studio Ghibli film is much darker than other titles like Spirited Away and Ponyo. There are a few instances where Seita and Setsuko smile and dine on wonderful meals, but the whole anime feels drenched in despair and sadness. You’ll grow infuriated by the people’s reactions toward these two. Seita and Setsuko evoke a childlike innocence that’s difficult to ignore. It’s a satisfying but cruel film.
This anime is about a human girl falling in love with a werewolf. Despite learning about Oookami’s werewolf powers one night, Hana remains infatuated with the being. Eventually, Hana gives birth to two wolf children named Ame and Yuki.
Hana is faced with a dilemma when her husband, Oookami, dies in a tragic accident. She must care for their children alone or move them to the countryside in order to protect them. Hana makes the brave decision to move her family to the countryside in hopes of protecting them.
The anime focuses on Hana’s struggles as a single parent of two wolf children. This is an anime that’ll hit people who’ve experienced single-parent households the most. Hana’s struggles to bond with her kids and watch over them will resonate with those who have experienced similar challenges in their lives.
Wolf Children is a family-themed anime that will get your tears flowing. Each character receives enough screen time and depth to make you care for them, and the story is well-told. If you’re looking for an anime that’ll keep you entertained, look no further than Wolf Children.
Akira
Akira is a landmark anime film that set the bar for many animation studios to follow. It follows a gang leader named Kaneda, who lives in a futuristic city called Neo-Tokyo. The film’s mesmerizing visuals, action scenes, and mature themes make it an unforgettable experience for fans of anime. ..
The gang has had a dispute with an opposing group called the Clowns. Tetsuo, a friend of Kaneda, encounters an esper-like humanoid who is running from the government. The espers’ powers rub off on Tetsuo, granting him similar abilities. The government swaps gears and heads to stop Tetsuo before he can unleash his full power.
The anime focuses on Kaneda’s efforts to find and protect Tetsuo from harming the world and himself. Despite its brilliant visuals, the anime’s story may not scratch everyone’s itch.Apparently, the anime doesn’t include some crucial bits that bring more life to Kaneda and Tetsuo’s characters. While this may be true, the anime features enough content to warrant fans’ viewing of this work.
Despite its shortcomings, Akira is a well-made and entertaining film. ..
A Whisker Away
This anime is about a cat who has to fight for her life against a group of hunters who want to kill her. Despite being outnumbered and outmatched, the cat manages to hold her own and eventually defeats her opponents.
Miyo, an eager girl, is trying to win the attention and affection of her classmate Kento. In order to do this, she turns into a cat and spends more time with him. ..
As the line between human and cat begins to blur, the second half of this movie really comes into its own and shows some fantastical Ghibli magic (although this is not a Ghibli title, of course.) With some nice themes at its core and a cute cat fronting the title, A Whisker Away is definitely a decent movie worth checking out.
Spirited Away
Spirited Away is a colorful and mystical Studio Ghibli film that follows the adventures of a young girl named Aqua. Aqua is anything but magical, but she’s a fun and engaging character to follow. She’s the perfect foil for our protagonist, who is more than just magical.
- Akira
- Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away
- Studio Ghibli’s The Wind Rises
- Studio Ghibli’s The Cat in the Hat
- Studio Ghibli’s My Neighbor Totoro
Chihiro and her parents stumble upon an abandoned amusement park while on a road trip. They are then transported to the Spirit World where Chihiro’s parents become pigs. Chihiro must find a way to escape with her family and complete tasks in order to do so. Haku, a boy who resides in the Spirit World, helps her along the way. ..
Spirited Away is an anime that is full of exploration and unfamiliarity. Everything about the anime feels fantastical, compelling, and imaginative. Chihiro encounters many adorable-looking critters during her expedition, but she’ll meet fierce beasts and cruel individuals who wish to torment her. If you haven’t watched this film yet, I highly recommend that you do so. ..
Our picks for the best summer reads are just the beginning! Let us know in the comments below what books you’re looking forward to reading this season. ..
