50 Best Anime Movies of All Time, Ranked

For many years now, the Japanese movie business has produced a number of the most outstanding animated motion pictures of all time, to the purpose the place the time period “anime” has come to outline animation particularly from Japan. Many of those nice movies have come from the thoughts of Hayao Miyazaki and others on the famed Studio Ghibli, however that is removed from the one supply of nice anime motion pictures. What follows is an effort to rank a number of the biggest examples of anime from the medium’s wealthy historical past.

Japanese animation stays as fashionable as ever, with 2023 arguably being a very large yr for the medium, due to the discharge of Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron. It is nearly as good a time as any to have a look at the perfect anime motion pictures on the market; certainly, the types of anime motion pictures that you do not even must be an enormous fan of anime to understand. It is not possible to cowl all the nice ones inside a single listing, and it must also be famous that the next are motion pictures solely, with loads of nice anime additionally being launched within the type of a TV collection or miniseries. The next will spotlight a number of the finest and hottest motion pictures on this distinctive style, and all present good beginning factors for these eager to discover the world of Japanese animation.

50 ‘The Secret World of Arrietty’ (2010)

Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi

Rating up there as one in all Studio Ghibli’s biggest earners at the box office, The Secret World of Arrietty is one in all many fantastical motion pictures by the studio that goals to move viewers to an uncommon world… sort of. The Secret World of Arrietty does largely happen inside and simply outdoors of an abnormal nation home, however lots of the characters are tiny, and reside in hiding from the regular-sized inhabitants of the home.

It is a movie that strikes slowly, ultimately introducing some battle when the 2 differently-sized households conflict, however in any other case seeming completely happy to maintain issues targeted on aesthetics and an general fantastical really feel. That’s in line for Studio Ghibli, no less than for a great deal of its output, and these wanting a reasonably relaxed (and probably immersive) anime movie will seemingly discover issues to understand inside The Secret World of Arrietty.

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49 ‘Pom Poko’ (1994)

Directed by Isao Takahata

On the floor, you may not count on Pom Poko to be a particularly sad Studio Ghibli movie, as a result of it’s about shape-shifting raccoons waging struggle on the human race as a result of how the latter decimates the land the previous lives on. It will get fairly unusual and goofy at instances, however it additionally unpacks environmental themes severely, and doesn’t shrink back from highlighting the environmental devastation the principle characters take care of.

At two hours lengthy, and with some unusually paced moments, it’s not probably the most constant of Studio Ghibli motion pictures, however it may nicely be one of the crucial artistic. For the components that work, Pom Poko is undoubtedly value watching, as a result of a few of it’s fairly humorous, shocking, and transferring. It’s all usually well-animated, too, and, ultimately, actually scores factors for its distinctive qualities.

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48 ‘When Marnie Was There’ (2014)

Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi

When Marnie Was There begins a little bit like The Secret World of Arrietty, with an unwell younger character going to reside in a brand new place and assembly somebody sudden, kicking off one thing of a fantastical journey. However with When Marnie Was There, there aren’t any tiny folks, with the individual right here as an alternative – the titular Marnie – being somebody mysterious who could also be actual, or may simply be a figment of the protagonist’s creativeness.

It is up there as one in all the best anime films of the past couple of decades, proving to be patiently paced but in the end rewarding to stay with, to not point out strikingly emotional when it must be. When Marnie Was There is pretty grounded, as even the fantasy parts are underplayed, however the method works and the expertise it provides is in the end fairly highly effective.

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47 ‘Experience Your Wave’ (2019)

Directed by Masaaki Yuasa

Displaying that Studio Ghibli isn’t the be-all and end-all in terms of anime motion pictures, the Science Saru-produced Ride Your Wave is artistic and visually distinct, to not point out novel in terms of the story it tells. In actual fact, describing that story seems like doing the film a disservice. It’s one thing of an animated romantic dramedy, and does comprise some fascinating fantasy parts, although describing them would power one to wade into spoiler territory.

It is superb ultimately, and profitable at offering an emotional rollercoaster for anime watchers keen to take an opportunity on one thing a little bit non-traditional. That being mentioned, a number of the different movies by the director of Experience Your Wave, Masaaki Yuasa, are a lot trippier and certainly more durable to elucidate, so Experience Your Wave would possibly nicely be value watching earlier than going again and watching a number of the director’s older titles.

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46 ‘Suzume’ (2022)

Directed by Makoto Shinkai

Suzume was an immensely successful anime film from 2022, and deservedly so, clearly having a large quantity of attraction owing to its placing visuals, transferring thematic content material unpacking grief and loss, and entertaining narrative. Mentioned narrative includes a teenage lady getting concerned in saving Japan from a big worm that causes earthquakes. Additionally, her would-be companion is was a chair that may stroll, staying that means for many of the film.

It has some uncommon parts and will be humorous and shocking owing to a number of the turns it takes, however Suzume does nonetheless have severe themes at its core, and finally ends up proving surprisingly dramatic in its second half. It’s a film that’s making an attempt to do loads abruptly, and it largely succeeds in pulling all of it off, feeling like among the finest anime movies to return out in recent times.

45 ‘Kiki’s Supply Service’ (1989)

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki

An excellent fantasy movie by Hayao Miyazaki, Kiki’s Delivery Service may not get fairly as a lot love as different movies by the legendary Japanese filmmaker, however it’s nonetheless worthy of its traditional standing. It’s a couple of younger lady coping with life on her personal for the primary time… and he or she’s additionally a witch, which makes her stand out and provides additional to the sentiments of isolation she has.

Kiki’s Supply Service, regardless of its fantastical parts, additionally works as a surprisingly grounded narrative about coming of age, and is straightforward to advocate to anybody who’s both going by way of younger maturity or remembers the highs and lows of that point in a single’s life. It ought to go with out saying, given that is Miyazaki we’re speaking about, however Kiki’s Supply Service is additionally lovely to have a look at all through, and expertly scored by frequent Miyazaki collaborator Joe Hisaishi.

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44 ‘Reminiscences’ (1995)

Directed by Koji Morimoto, Katsuhiro Otomo, and Tensai Okamura

There are a complete of three tales featured all through Reminiscences, a singular and quite underrated anthology movie from 1995. The primary leans towards horror/thriller, the second is a darkly funny science fiction story, after which the third additionally seems like sci-fi with a satirical spin, solely in a bleaker and extra unnerving means.

Nobody may fault Reminiscences for being spinoff or predictable, and though every of its three segments will be outlined as belonging to the sci-fi style, every half provides one thing fascinating, visually creative, or unnerving. Reminiscences is a little bit of a deep lower so far as anime motion pictures from the Nineties go, however anybody who significantly likes the fashion of animation that outlined that decade must test it out, and it’s arguably one of many extra constant anthology motion pictures on the market, too.

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43 ‘Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance’ (2009)

Directed by Hideaki Anno

Anybody who enjoys fiction that explores existentialist themes is probably going nicely conscious of Neon Genesis Evangelion, a groundbreaking and endlessly compelling anime collection that first aired in 1995 and 1996. Evangelion has since change into a franchise that stretches nicely past the unique collection, and was reimagined/rebooted within the type of 4 motion pictures launched between 2007 and 2021 which might be referred to as the Rebuild of Evangelion collection.

Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance isn’t fairly the perfect of those, however it’s undoubtedly up there as one of the crucial compelling entries for Evangelion as a complete. It retells some narrative beats that might be acquainted to Neon Genesis Evangelion followers, but additionally branches out into some sudden instructions, all of the whereas wanting severely spectacular from a visible standpoint, and undoubtedly extra cinematic than the preliminary collection ever was.

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42 ‘Tekkonkinkreet’ (2006)

Directed by Michael Arias

An eye-popping animated crime movie, Tekkonkinkreet is unusual, dizzying, and typically overwhelming as a viewing expertise, however it’s nonetheless compelling and greater than a little bit underappreciated. It’s about two younger boys residing in an enormous metropolis, each making an attempt to get by in their very own methods and ultimately clashing with a strong company that desires to reconstruct a lot of the city, all within the pursuit of revenue.

The narrative typically feels secondary in Tekkonkinkreet, however the feeling of the movie being – arguably – fashion over substance is greater than forgivable when the fashion is that this trendy, and all the pieces seems this colourful and visually spectacular. It’s one thing of a deep lower throughout the world of Japanese animation, however is value in search of out for anybody who’s seen their justifiable share of anime and is within the temper for one thing quite distinctive.

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41 ‘Ponyo’ (2008)

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki

By 2008, Hayao Miyazaki was well-established as a filmmaker who’d mainly mastered the fantasy style, with Ponyo simply making that clearer than ever earlier than. It’s a contemporary fairytale that’s maybe the director’s most family-friendly film to this point, however not in a means that can flip off older viewers. There’s one thing to be loved for everybody inside Ponyo, no matter age.

Plot-wise, Ponyo revolves round a younger boy assembly an odd goldfish with a shocking historical past, and the 2 find yourself happening an journey that builds in scale. It begins small and humble, and finally ends up being expansive and even epic, and by no means in a means that feels overdone or abrupt. Ponyo simply works very well as a easy and satisfying household film, and stands as yet one more winner throughout the filmography of Miyazaki.

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40 ‘On-Gaku: Our Sound’ (2019)

Directed by Kenji Iwaisawa

The plot of On-Gaku: Our Sound is gleefully easy, centering on three associates who don’t appear to be doing a lot in life, and someday collectively agree to start out a band collectively. They do that regardless of not having a lot by the use of musical expertise, however take their inexperience and switch it right into a energy, enjoying minimal, fundamental music that finally ends up feeling very punk, in a means.

As a movie, On-Gaku: Our Sound general additionally has a punk spirit, with restricted however placing animation, little concern about telling a fancy story, and a intentionally offbeat humorousness that most likely gained’t be for everybody. However for anybody who likes understated deadpan comedy punctuated with moments of borderline surreal absurdity, this quirky musical anime film would possibly nicely be surprisingly interesting.

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39 ‘Gunsmith Cats’ (1995)

Directed by Takeshi Mori and Kazuya Murata

Anybody in search of one thing to scratch the itch solely a blending of comedy and action can ought to look into the underrated Gunsmith Cats, which features as a film – and is roughly 90 minutes lengthy – but was launched as an OVA in three components. The 2 lead characters are a pair of younger ladies who run a gun store, with the plot revolving round what occurs once they’re roped into taking down a gun-running ring.

What follows is a breezy and by no means too severe trip, mixing stable banter with surprisingly good animation and some well-executed motion sequences besides. Gunsmith Cats is an efficient time for anybody who desires to unwind with one thing that feels traditional anime in some methods however surprisingly fashionable in different methods. Relating to the latter, the actual fact it doesn’t get practically as sleazy as another anime motion pictures from round this similar time would get (significantly these with feminine essential characters) does must be acknowledged.

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38 ‘Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust’ (2000)

Directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri

Placing an additional darkish, brooding, violent, and operatic spin on vampire lore in a lot the identical means Francis Ford Coppola did with Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust isn’t associated to Dracula, however does have that very same sort of spirit. The protagonist is a half-human/half-vampire, and his objective within the movie is an easy one: observe down a vampire and rescue the younger lady he’s kidnapped.

Alongside the way in which, there are different rivals and threats, in fact, however the story feels secondary to the immensely well-crafted world and environment on supply in Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust. It’s among the many most striking-looking anime motion pictures of the early 2000s, and efficiently seems darkish and ominous with out ever feeling drab or colorless. The essential vampire anime movie is a feast for the eyes, and actually, the stable storyline and characters connected to the entire thing actually simply find yourself serving as icing on an already great-looking cake.

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37 ‘In This Nook of the World’ (2016)

Directed by Sunao Katabuchi

Whereas it’s not probably the most well-known anime movie to have a look at World War II through the eyes of younger characters, In This Nook of the World does do that successfully, and in a means that proves oftentimes transferring. It takes place over quite a few years, starting within the Nineteen Thirties and concluding with the tip of World Conflict II, displaying how a younger lady perseveres with life in Kure whereas Japan continues to battle within the world battle.

In This Nook of the World works as a coming-of-age story, offers with household drama, seems at tragedy and the processing of grief that follows, and likewise turns into about discovering reference to others throughout darkish instances. It’s introduced in an fascinating means that largely works in getting the viewer inside the pinnacle of the principle character, making the extra emotional scenes hit even more durable whereas feeling extra intimate.

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36 ‘The First Slam Dunk’ (2022)

Directed by Takehiko Inoue

There are recognizable sports activities film tropes and conventions found in The First Slam Dunk, however it might be unfair to name the movie clichéd or formulaic. For one factor, its construction is fascinating, given the film runs for 2 hours but focuses on a single sport of highschool basketball. With the match enjoying out in what seems like real-time – or typically even slower – there are frequent flashbacks utilized to flesh out the gamers, with such backstories making the sport much more compelling to observe, as soon as viewers work out increasingly who these guys are as folks.

The First Slam Dunk builds to a implausible climax, too, with the ultimate scene being value sitting by way of the entire film simply to get to. It helps that the remainder of the film can also be superb, thoughts you, with the well-animated basketball sequences being equally compelling because the flashbacks, which take care of themes/concepts of household battle, rising up, and dealing with – in addition to ultimately overcoming – life-altering tragedies.

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35 ‘Wolf Youngsters’ (2012)

Directed by Mamoru Hosoda

The premise of Wolf Youngsters would possibly sound outlandish on paper, however the movie itself makes it work… in some way. It begins by telling a narrative a couple of younger lady falling in love with a werewolf, and even having two youngsters with him, solely to search out herself compelled into the place of elevating two distinctive youngsters as a single mother or father after he abruptly passes away.

That fantastical set-up is vital to getting the entire narrative in movement, however a lot of Wolf Youngsters performs out like a grounded and oftentimes emotional household drama, being merely introduced and advised but remaining efficient in terms of creating fascinating characters and feeling emotional. It’s additionally noteworthy for having a surprisingly good English dub, for English-speaking viewers who is perhaps involved in regards to the act of studying subtitles distracting from the visuals.

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34 ‘Patlabor: The Film’ (1989)

Directed by Mamoru Oshii and Kouji Sawai

Patlabor: The Film is area of interest sufficient to most likely qualify as a cult classic sci-fi/anime movie, and so it stands to motive that it’s unlikely to be the sort of factor that’ll attraction to everybody. It takes a reasonably dry method to the science fiction style, and positively options much less motion than most anime motion pictures or exhibits that take care of mecha (massive humanoid robots), however this does assist it stand out.

It’s one a part of the general Patlabor franchise, and tells a narrative about varied robots being probably contaminated with a software program virus that might result in societal collapse in a futuristic Tokyo the place such robots are important to most areas of life. It explores participating sci-fi concepts inside a well-realized and introduced world, and those that don’t thoughts mecha anime keen to take its time pacing-wise ought to discover a whole lot to latch onto right here.

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33 ‘Neo Tokyo’ (1987)

Directed by Katsuhiro Otomo, Yoshiaki Kawajiri, and Rintaro

An offbeat animated anthology movie that in the end runs for lower than an hour (but doesn’t waste a second), Neo Tokyo is made up of three fascinating tales that really feel typically fantastical, and typically sci-fi-centered. The primary exhibits a surreal fantasy journey, the second revolves round a high-stakes futuristic race, and the third exhibits a office turned the other way up by the introduction of robots tasked with doing the types of issues people used to do.

The primary story is trippy, the second might be probably the most explosive, and the third manages to be darkly humorous and even a bit satirical. If something, Neo Tokyo may most likely get away with being an excellent deal longer – it might need been even higher that means – however because it stands, it’s nonetheless fairly nice general, and undoubtedly value a look ahead to any anime followers pressed for time who nonetheless wish to watch one thing that may technically be referred to as a film.

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32 ‘Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time’ (2021)

Directed by Hideaki Anno

The Neon Genesis Evangelion collection/franchise is an odd one which’s been constantly mutating and rewriting itself over a few years at this level, with Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time being one in all many endings for the collection. It’s the fourth movie within the Rebuild of Evangelion spin-off/remake collection, which started by retelling occasions from the unique TV collection with a much bigger price range and improved animation, however ultimately branched off to seemingly change into its personal factor.

On account of the way in which this four-film collection progressed, Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time feels in contrast to the rest discovered inside Neon Genesis Evangelion as a complete. It’s noteworthy for being one in all the longest animated movies of all time, and for feeling an important deal extra hopeful than a lot of the collection – on TV or in movie – had felt, which makes it a clear and oddly crowd-pleasing finish (most likely of the definitive selection… or possibly not) for the franchise general.

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31 ‘Lupin the Third: The Citadel of Cagliostro’ (1979)

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki

Not only a nice animated film, but additionally a surprisingly nice crime/comedy film on the whole, Lupin the Third: The Citadel of Cagliostro can also be notable for being Hayao Miyazaki’s debut feature film. It follows a grasp thief happening a grand journey to steal varied valuables from the titular fortress, enjoying out like a humor-heavy heist film.

It may not have the identical stage of polish in animation as future Miyazaki motion pictures have, however it’s nonetheless dazzling to have a look at and creatively assembled. Those that need extra Lupin the Third are in luck, too, contemplating it is an enormous franchise that started as a manga and now incorporates quite a few motion pictures (live-action and animated, and a few surprisingly latest, too), anime collection, and tv specials.

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