must see anime movies

Let's Get Started With The Anime Movies List Your Name (Kimi no Na wa.) (2016) A Silent Voice (Koe no Katachi) (2016) Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi) (2001) Grave of the Fireflies (Hotaru no Haka) (1988) Doukyuusei (Classmates) (2016) Sword of the Stranger (Stranger: Mukou Hadan) ...

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What are some must-see animes?

15 Must-See Anime Series Kobato. This anime follows a young woman who must do good deeds in order to fill a jar with "kompeito." Once her jar is filled her wish to "go ... Bodacious Space Pirates. This anime takes place in the future where space travel is as easy and accessible to people as boating or sailing or taking a cruise. Inu x Boku SS. ... Ouran High School Host Club. ... More items...

What is the best anime of all time?

“The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” — the original anime feature ... million worldwide; all six films have earned over $5.8 billion. “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” won 11 Oscars, including best picture, tying the ...

Which anime should I watch?

What is your gender?

• I know, I know: everyone hates this question, but I just have to ask! ...
• What's your favourite class at school (yes, you have to pick one)? ...
• RP time! ...
• Favourite food? ...
• Would you rather watch two-hundred-and-something episodes of an Anime of time, or keep it in the double digits? ...
• What genres do you prefer? ...
• Do you like romtanic programs/series/etcetra? ...

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What is the scariest anime ever?

The Most Terrifying Anime You Can Watch

• Devilman Crybaby gets incredibly grisly. ...
• Mononoke is a beautiful yet absolutely terrifying anime. ...
• Serial Experiments Lain is the perfect blend of sci-fi and horror. ...
• Perfect Blue is a terrifying anime with incredible influence. ...
• Things get super dark in Corpse Party. ...
• Shiki is a tragic tale about monsters and cruelty. ...

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What is the top 1 anime movie?

Based on the manga written & illustrated by Koyoharu Gotouge, Demon Slayer: Mugen Train is the most successful Japanese movie in history. It holds all the box-office records to its name as it collected more than $500 million worldwide becoming the highest-grossing anime movie of 2020.

Which anime series has best movies?

Best anime movies of all timeSpirited Away (2001) Film. Animation. ... My Neighbor Totoro (1988) Film. Animation. ... Akira (1988) Film. Animation. ... Grave of the Fireflies (1988) Film. Animation. ... Princess Mononoke (1997) Film. Animation. ... Tokyo Godfathers (2003) Film. ... Kiki's Delivery Service (1989) Film. ... Only Yesterday (1991) Film.More items...•

What is the top 10 anime of all time?

The Top 10 Best Anime Series Of All-TimeNaruto.Rurouni Kenshin: Wandering Samurai.Ghost in the Shell.Steins;Gate.Fullmetal Alchemist.Samurai Champloo.Darker Than Black.Attack on Titan.More items...•

What is the No 1 anime of all time?

Top Anime Series Of All-TimeFullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009–2012) TV-14 | 24 min | Animation, Action, Adventure. ... Hunter x Hunter (2011–2014) ... Steins;Gate (2011–2015) ... Clannad: After Story (2008–2009) ... Code Geass (2006–2012) ... Cowboy Bebop (1998–1999) ... Fighting Spirit (2000–2002) ... Gurren Lagann (2007–2008)More items...

What's the longest anime movie?

1. In This Corner (and Other Corners) of the World - 168 minutes. After 36 years, the extended edition of Final Yamato eventually lost the world's longest animated film record in 2019 to another anime director's cut: In This Corner (and Other Corners) of the World.

What is the Big 3 anime?

The Big Three refers to three very long and very popular anime, Naruto, Bleach and One Piece. The Big Three was a term used to describe the three most popular running series during their golden age in Jump's mid 2000s period - One Piece, Naruto and Bleach.

What is the coolest anime ever?

The 30 Best Anime Series of All TimeCowboy Bebop.Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.Neon Genesis Evangelion.Revolutionary Girl Utena.FLCL.Tatami Galaxy.Aku No Hana.DRAGON BALL Z. Watch On: Funimation. Original Run: 1989-1996.More items...•

What is the top 3 anime of all time?

Top 20 Most Popular Anime of All Time#1: “Dragon Ball” franchise (1989-)#2: “One Piece” (1999-) ... #3: “Naruto” franchise (2002-) ... #4: “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” (2019-) ... #5: “Pokémon” (1997-) ... #6: “Death Note” (2006-07) ... #7: “Attack on Titan” (2013-) ... #8: “JoJo's Bizarre Adventure” (2012-) ... More items...

What is the movie Barefoot Gen about?

Often talked about alongside Grave of the Fireflies for its focus on civilian life in late World War 2 Japan, Barefoot Gen tells the story of a boy in the aftermath of the atomic bomb being dropped on Hiroshima. It's a haunting, depressing film that sends a powerful anti-war message.

What was intended as a little arthouse film about a vampire hunter?

Later series never quite captured the same magic of possibility.

What is the Night on the Galactic Railroad about?

It's a heady story about life after death dripping with symbolism. Quite a lot for a child to take in.

What is the summer wars?

Summer Wars is the story about a guy spending time with a female friend's extended family and getting embroiled in a potentially world-ending disaster involving a social network. It's one half anthropomorphic cyber battles, one half uplifting story about the power of family. Sure, the director may have recycled the story he used for an old Digimon movie he directed, but don't let that take away from what a fantastic movie this version is.

Is Akira a dystopic anime?

Akira 's vision of a dystopic, cyberpunk future captured the imagination and defined an entire generation of western anime fans. This psychological horror thriller is so iconic it's still referenced frequently today, from animation homages to random western music videos. Even today there still hasn't been a movie to capture Akira 's oppressive sense of style, from the music to the design of the world.

Is Sword of the Stranger a good anime?

Sword of the Stranger is almost the perfect movie to show to someone who has only heard about anime in passing, has no real understanding of what it's like, but wants to watch something cool with samurais and awesome action. That sounds like I'm doing Sword of the Stranger a disservice, but the fact that it would give this hypothetical dumb-dumb that doesn't know what anime is a great first impression speaks to what an excellent work Bones did animating this movie.

Who is Yuasa from Mind Game?

Yuasa is the champion of many a hipster anime fan, including myself. His almost Dr.Seuss-esque art style and wild animation style has fascinated many anime fans. It was with the surreal movie Mind Game that he got his first big break. It's worth watching if you want something radically different from anything else on this list.

29. Tamako Love Story (2014)

Tamako Love Story (たまこラブストーリー) is a popular modern slice-of-life anime movie, produced by Kyoto Animation. The first part of the story with 12 episodes was aired on TV in 2013, and the movie adaption was released as its sequel in 2o14. The love story between a high school boy Mochizo and his childhood friend Tamako is beautifully depicted.

28. Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2001)

Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (映画：カウボーイビバップ 天国の扉) , released in 2001, is the movie adaption of the globally popular anime Cowboy Bebop, which was aired on TV in 1999. The setting of the movie is Mars on the days before Halloween in 2071, where the Bebop crews follow a terrorist incident that kills about 400 people.

27. The Anthem of the Heart (2015)

In 2015, The Anthem of the Heart (心が叫びたがってるんだ。) was produced by the staff who had worked on the popular anime series Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day. With the shocking past (the experience of parental divorce), a young girl named Jun Naruse gets less able to speak but able to sing.

26. Penguin Highway (2018)

The Japanese young animation studio Studio Colorido made Penguin Highway (ペンギン・ハイウェイ) in 2018, based on the sci-fi novel written by Tomihiko Morimi. The story focuses on the extraordinary daily life of a fourth-grade boy named Aoyama and a mysterious woman he calls “Lady”. One day, penguins emerge suddenly at their town.

25. Her Blue Sky (2019)

Her Blue Sky (空の青さを知る人よ), the new animated film released in 2019, is directed by Tatsuyuki Nagai who is the same director of The Anthem of the Heart and Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day. The setting is the same place as the two his previous movies: Chichibu City in Saitama City.

24. Sword Art Online The Movie: Ordinal Scale (2017)

Sword Art Online The Movie: Ordinal Scale (劇場版 ソードアート・オンライン オーディナル・スケール) is one of the best titles of the popular anime franchise Sword Art Online, which is abbreviated to SAO. It hit the big screen in movies in 2017, following the first season aired in 2012-2013 and the second season in 2015.

23. Jujutsu Kaisen 0: The Movie (2021)

Finally, Jujutsu Kaisen 0: The Movie (劇場版 呪術廻戦 0), the prequel and the first anime movie of the hottest series Jujutsu Kaisen, was released in the end of 2021. The original manga series has been successfully published since 2018, and its anime adaptation started in 2020.

Why is Fullmetal Alchemist the best anime?

The reason Fullmetal Alchemist is the best fantasy anime of all time is that it paints a fully realized, unique world with internally consistent rules that have real consequences. Building on that foundation, it delivers a story about two brothers that's as grounded as the setting is fantastic.

What anime genre is without Dragon Ball?

Without Dragon Ball, the fighting anime genre as we know it today probably wouldn't exist.

Why is Toradora so popular?

Of the many great romance anime series out there, Toradora! takes the top spot primarily because of the characters. Good romance stories are inherently character-driven, and the people in Toradora! have their own motivations and reasons for behaving the way they do.

Why are anime called horror?

Most anime horror series are referred to as horror because of the monsters, like High School of the Dead. These series tend to be light on what western audiences think of as horror. Still, When They Cry straddles the line.

How many episodes are there in FLCL?

FLCL gets the nod because it's short, sweet, visually beautiful, and somehow extremely relatable. The series only got six episodes, but that plays to its benefit. Each episode is jam-packed with no sagging in the middle.

What is isekai in Japanese?

Isekai, which means "another world" in Japanese, is a massively popular genre that typically plucks an unassuming person out of their daily life and inserts them into a fantasy or science-fiction setting. Some of the most popular examples include Sword Art Online and Spirited Away .

What is the magic girl genre?

The basic idea is that a young girl, or a group of girls, discover the ability to transform and use magic to fight an adversary. In the west, Sailor Moon is one well-known example.

What is the only yesterday?

Re-released in American theaters for the first time since its 1991 Japanese debut, Only Yesterday is a simple slice-of-life story of one woman’s childhood and her time spent in the countryside as an adult. Whereas Miyazaki’s films more often skew towards the fantastical, Takahata has a penchant for directing more human dramas that are distinguished with wildly varying and experimental art styles. Only Yesterday follows Taeko Okajima, a 27-year-old unmarried office worker who takes a holiday to visit her extended family in the rural farmlands of Yamagata where she helps to harvest safflowers. While there, she reflects back on her time as a young girl growing up with her parents in Tokyo and how her experiences back then have come to shape her life in the present. Only Yesterday was a rarity when it was first released in 1991: an animated drama tailored for adult audiences near-entirely absent of the gloss of magical realism that defined the majority of Studio Ghibli’s (and most of the anime industry’s) work up to that point. An endearing story of the power of nostalgia and how it shapes perception of the world and of ourselves well into adulthood, Only Yesterday defied expectations and went on to become the highest grossing Japanese film of that year, inspiring a wave of similar “slice-of-life” features and earning Takahata immense critical acclaim. Only Yesterday remains something special nearly twenty-five years later: an earnest and affecting story of a woman continuing to grow and learn well past becoming an adult.

What is the significance of Panda and the Magic Serpent?

Hiroshi Okawa, president of Toei films at the time, had hoped to emulate the personality-driven marketing of Walt Disney with the film, aiming to transform the studio into the so-called “Disney of the East.” Despite receiving honors at the Venice Children’s Film Festival in 1959, the film performed poorly in the states and received a very small theater run. The film’s significance doesn’t stop there though, as Panda and the Magic Serpent is credited by Hayao Miyazaki as one of the films that first inspired him to become an animator and Rintaro, who would later become an influential director in his own right for such films as Galaxy Express 999 and Metropolis, got his first animation job as an in-betweener working on this very film.

What is the name of the studio that made the Nausicaä?

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is, quite simply, the film responsible for the creation of Studio Ghibli. The film not only signaled Miyazaki’s nascent status as one of anime’s preeminent creators, but also sparked the creation of an animation studio whose creative output would dominate the medium for decades to come. Following the release of The Castle of Cagliostro, Miyazaki was commissioned by his producer and future long-time collaborator Toshio Suzuki to create a manga in order to better pitch a potential film to his employers at Animage. What resulted was Nausicaä, a fantasy epic, inspired by the works of Ursula K. Le Guin and Jean “Moebius” Giraud, starring a courageous warrior princess trying to mend a rift between humans and the forces of nature while soaring across a post-apocalyptic world. The success of Nausicaä as a serialized manga would culminate in a film adaptation that would then go on to be heralded as one of the greatest animated films of all-time. Nausicaä was the film that introduced the world to motifs and themes by which Miyazaki would become universally known for: a courageous female protagonist unconscious of and undeterred by gender norms, the surmounting power of compassion, environmental advocacy, and an unwavering love and fascination with the phenomenon of flight. The essentialness of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind ’s placement within the greater canon of animated film, Japanese or otherwise, cannot be overstated. It spawned an entire generation of animators, among them Hideaki Anno, whose lauded work on the film’s climactic finale would later inspire him to go on to create Neon Genesis Evangelion. If you haven’t seen this film yet, do so immediately. And if you have already, it only gets better with age.

What is the theme of Satoshi Kon's Millennium Actress?

Satoshi Kon’s second film, Millennium Actress, builds off the themes of cinema and celebrity previously explored in his debut Perfect Blue, instead casting them in the mold of a metafictional fairytale quest for love . Inspired by the lives of Setsuko Hara and Hideko Takamine, two of Japan’s premiere early-century stars, Millennium Actress follows the story of Chiyoko Fujiwara, a reclusive septuagenarian who recounts the story behind her illustrious career as a film actress when approached by a pair of interviewers eager to film a documentary. One of Kon’s signature motifs as a director is the mutability of reality and fantasy, exploring how the two constantly dovetai into one another, creating works that speak to the multiplicity of the human experience. Millennium Actress is a prime example of this, with the film’s presentation constantly assaulting the fourth wall, blending factual events and cinematic flair until the two are inseparable. Unlike most of his contemporaries, Kon was not satisfied to look only toward the insular vacuum of genre anime for inspiration, but instead looked to such works as George Roy Hill’s 1972 adaptation of Slaughterhouse-Five, a film whose use of scene cuts and transitions play a huge role in distinguishing Millennium Actress among other films of its time. Combining references to the physical comedy of Buster Keaton, Akira Kurosawa’s Throne of Blood and Hiroshi Inagaki’s Rickshaw Man, Millennium Actress is a testament to Kon’s enduring love of cinema. It deserves to be seen, examined and cherished for years to come.

What is the ninja scroll about?

Set during the Tokugawa era of Japan, Ninja Scroll follows the story of Jubei Kibagami, an itinerant samurai warrior (partly inspired by the real-life folk hero, Jubei Yagyu) who is recruited by a government agent to defeat the Eight Devils of Kimon, a cabal of demonic ninja who conspire to overthrow the Tokugawa regime and plunge Japan into destruction. Along the way he meets Kagero, a beautiful and mysterious poison eater, and is forced to confront the demons of his past as he fights to preserve the present. Produced during the boom of anime’s foreign markets, Ninja Scroll was one of the first titles released by Manga Entertainment in the West. Its well-defined animation, unflinching hyper-violence, and impressively creative fight sequences made it a requisite gateway title for early anime fans and is rightfully looked upon as a cult classic to this day. The film qualifies as a time capsule for one of anime’s heyday periods, with exquisite production values married to impeccably crafted set pieces. Ninja Scroll pushed the boundaries of excess, with unflinching depictions of sensuality and sexual violence shown alongside showers of gore and decapitation. The film was front-and-center for the argument that anime “wasn’t just for kids” in the mid-’90s, and qualifies today as a must-see title for a serious anime fan. Yoshiaki Kawajiri’s Ninja Scroll is the quintessential anime chanbara action film, no question.

What is the Tekkonkinkreet anime about?

Tekkonkinkreet follows the stories of Black and White, two orphaned thieves and street fighters who “rule” over the metropolitan sprawl known as Treasure Town. When a small army of extraterrestrial land developers move into town to destroy the low-income housing in and around the city, the brothers attempt to defend their turf and fight back. But lightning-fast punches and death-defying leaps can only delay the inevitable for so long, and Black and White must both eventually come to grips with the consequences of trying to live in the past. Inspired by his time exploring the cityscapes of Hong Kong, Shanghai and Colombo, Treasure Town is almost a character itself—a love letter to the unique chaoticism of pan-Asian industrialism. Tekkonkinkreet is a complicated and compelling story of love and friendship amid a constantly crumbling and reshaping world that feels intimately tied to the communities through which it was inspired. It’s a story about the uneasy turmoil of emotional growth, of holding close to the core of what makes you who you are while learning to let go of everything else that holds you back.

What are some examples of silent animation?

Perhaps the most famous example from this era of animation was Fantasia, produced by Walt Disney and released to critical acclaim in 1940. Robot Carnival is anime’s answer to that film, a collection of nine short films produced by nine of the most esteemed anime directors and character designers of their time. For sure, not every short shines as a pillar of canonical greatness, e.g., Hiroyuki Kitazume’s “Starlight Angel” or Hidetoshi Omori’s “Deprive.” But when a short does shine, it’s a sight to behold. Koji Morimoto’s “Franken’s Gear” is a brilliant choice for an opener, while Manabu Ohashi’s “Cloud” is a melancholic gem that memorably experiments through the use of scratchboard animation. Hiroyuki Kitakubo’s “Strange Tales of Meiji Machine Culture: Westerner’s Invasion” is a imaginative take on the Giant Robot subgenre that’s as ridiculous as its name, and Takashi Nakamura’s “Chicken Man and Red Neck” is the true anime analog to Fantasia ’s iconic “Night on Bald Mountain.” Even if Robot Carnival was not an awesome collection—and it is—it would still be a remarkable timestamp of when a constellation of talented young director align to create a project born completely out of a love for the medium.

What island is Sheeta from?

Later in the quest, you learn more about Sheeta’s origins and that of the mysterious island of Laputa. It’s a great anime movie for those who crave adventure with Hayao Miyazaki’s patented, iconic style of animation. One scene I loved was when Sheeta gets her braids to get shot off has to be one of my favorite in all of the animation, check it out!

What is anime movie?

Anime movies are some of the most breathtaking spectacles in film. The painstaking attention to detail and the mix of drama, action, romance, and other genres really sets them apart as a tour de force when it comes to the art form. Directors like Hayao Miyazaki have enchanted audiences for decades with his work.

How many Metacritic points does Nausicaä have?

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind comes in with an impressive 86 on Metacritic, no small feat. Publications like The New Yorker, IGN, and the AV Club have praised it as a remarkable animation feat.

What is the story behind Grave of Fireflies?

Grave of the Fireflies tells the emotionally harrowing story of brother and sister Seito and Setsuko trying to survive in the during and in the aftermath of World War II.

How much money did Ghost in the Shell make?

It originally was a box office failure, but thanks to dedicated fans, it ended up making up its budget by raking in $43 million in sales since its release. If you love drama, thrillers, and a wild story that’ll keep you guessing, Ghost in the Shell is right up your alley.

Where does Ninja Scroll take place?

Taking place in feudal Japan, a lone swordsman, Jubei has to fight against a demonic clan of warriors trying to overthrow the shogunate. With the help of others, namely Dakuan and Kagero. Dakuan is a former spy and Kagero is a ninja. Ninja Scroll has been cited as being one of the most influential anime movies, influencing movies like Ghost in the Shell and The Matrix.

Where does Momo live?

Momo is a young girl who travels to the island of Shio and begins to live among its people, learning their ways and customs. However, all is not as it seems.

What is the second Yoshiaki Kawajiri movie?

The second Yoshiaki Kawajiri film on this list is his solo directorial debut, 1987's "Wicked City." The film takes place in a world where Earth and the demon-filled "Black World" have struck a tenuous peace treaty to maintain some semblance of order. The Black Guard, a special police force made up of humans and demons, makes sure the treaty is upheld. But that treaty is about to expire, and agents Taki, a human, and Makie, a demon, must protect the diplomat charged with its renewal. However, a radical group of demons don't want that to happen, and Taki and Makie must use their combined abilities to protect humanity from complete destruction.

What is perfect blue about?

Satoshi Kon's 1997 directorial debut "Perfect Blue" is a horrifying psychological thriller about the effects of fame and obsession. The film, based on the novel of the same name by Yoshikazu Takeuchi, follows Mima Kirigoe, lead singer of the girl group CHAM!, which has a very dedicated fanbase. When Mima decides to move from singing to acting, fans are thrown into an uproar, constantly judging her choice on message boards. As Mima tries to cope with the backlash, as well as make it in the sleazy world of acting, she discovers that she has a stalker named Me-Mania and that someone is murdering those around her.

What is the movie Bio Hunter about?

Directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri, the 1995 film "Bio Hunter" takes place in a world where a malady called the Demon Virus is ravaging Japan. Those infected with the virus transform into horrific creatures with a taste for human flesh. Human bodies are ripped to shreds and blood spurts from open throats.

How many people survive the King of Thorn?

Only seven survive, and they must figure out what happened, what year it is, and how they can save the world. "King of Thorn" utilizes both 2D and 3D animation, which helps capture the scale of this world. The 2D work creates detailed characters, while the 3D work better illustrates the vast number of creatures and their seemingly impossible size. It makes "King of Thorn" feel big, and the characters' mission all the more futile.

How many volunteers are in cold sleep?

In a last-ditch effort to save humanity, 160 volunteers who have been diagnosed with the disease are placed in cold sleep while scientists develop a cure. But when they wake up, the facility is changed, covered in thorns and full of horrific creatures that immediately tear into the newly awakened group.

What is the movie about a boy who dreams of becoming a military officer?

Finally, there's "Cannon Fodder," directed and written by Otomo, about a young boy who dreams of becoming a military officer and firing cannons against a seemingly nonexistent enemy. These three unrelated films come together to create three very different imaginings of the future, and yet are united by gorgeous animation and thoughtful writing. These horror tales are psychological and haunting, focusing more on the cerebral experience of terror than visceral violence.

What is the beginning of Gyo?

The beginning of "Gyo" involves the invasion of a seaside Japanese town by the fish, led by a massive, walking great white shark. And it doesn't stop there. It's revealed that these fish are byproducts of Japanese experiments in biological warfare during World War II. "Gyo" is Ito at his wackiest and nastiest, and that tone is beautifully translated to the screen by Hirao. "Gyo" has something for everyone, especially lovers of horror comedy, aquatic horror, and body horror.