What would be the best anime movies you have watched? The ones that stick with you through the years and some that are fond childhood memories. This list does not have anime movies from your favorite anime titles. Instead, we thought of bringing you some of the most memorable and popular anime movies of all time. Studio Ghibli deserves its own list so we don’t have movies like Spirited Away or Pom Poko in here. We will definitely be bringing you the best of Studio Ghibli too.
Here are the anime movies that made it into everyone’s lives. Some are based on the manga and some inspired further adaptations. You must have heard of a lot of them but we promise you some hidden gems that you must know about. Without further ado, check out the best anime movies you should know about!
1. A Whisker Away
Released in 2020, A Whisker Away blends in fantasy and romance to create a warm story. The anime movie was released on Netflix worldwide and is produced by a giant like Toho Animation. With a run time of 104 minutes, A Whisker Away makes for an amazing watch.
The story revolves around Miyo Sasaki, an unhappy girl living in a town. She does not get along with her family and likes a boy at school who she thinks hates her. A mysterious mask seller gives her a Noh mask which lets her become a cat. As a cat, she gets a chance to bond with Hinode, her crush. As the cat Taro, Miya accompanies him to places and stays close to him even at his home. trouble ensues when Miyo gives up her life as a human and wants to become a cat forever. The story between Miyo and Hinoda unfolds with a lot of twists.
A Whisker Away is one of the best anime movies at least in terms of aesthetics, music score, and a novel storyline. The movie has a rating of 7.4/10 on My Anime List.
2. Weathering With You
Weathering With You released in 2019 as a landmark release in anime movies. The theatrical release grossed over $100 million worldwide and was nominated for many film awards. The fantasy-romance film can be termed a heart-breaking but beautiful watch.
The film revolves around a young high school boy Hakoda Morishima who runs away from home and befriends an orphan girl named Hina who can control the weather. The sunshine girl takes pity on him and offers him food. In a series of unfortunate events in losing and finding each other again, Weathering With You is a must-watch. As visually pleasing as it is an amazing story, don’t leave this out if you like anime movies!
The movie has a rating of 8.4/10 on My Anime List! Rotten Tomatoes too agreed on an approval rating of 91%.
3. Ni No Kuni
The franchise is definitely one that you cannot miss. From movies to a video game franchise, Ni no Kuni is doing it all. We said no Ghibli in this list and we’re sticking to that. No ni Kuni is not a Studio Ghibli film, but the animation of the movie was a collaboration between Level 5 Studio and Studio Ghibli. The game franchise takes primacy in popularity but the games too are well known.
Ni no Kuni brings in the most enchanting elements of fantasy role-playing games and translates them into anime films. While the games are still better known and have an overall better reception, The story for the movie revolves around high-schoolers Yuu, Haru and Kotona as they travel from their world to another and must act with their friend’s life in danger.
While IMDb and My Anime List have average reviews for the film, the gaming franchise can definitely be a more welcome entry into the world of Ni No Kuni.
4. Flavours Of Youth
Flavours of Youth makes it to the best anime movies without much effort. The Netflix release is a drama anthology is a Japanese-Chinese co-production that is true to its title. The movie actually consists of snippets of three different people. The stories are titled The Rice Noodles, The Little Fashion Show, and Love in Shanghai.
Flavours of Youth may not be considered a masterpiece but paints a touching picture of the lives of these seemingly unconnected young people and serene images of the Chinese landscape. The lives of these three individuals connecting by a thread is a fleeting coincidence even they are not aware of. The aesthetics of the movie are absolutely stunning, with many YouTubers recreating the food from the movie.
This movie has a rating of 7.1/10 on My Anime List!
5. A Silent Voice
Any list that claims to have the best anime movies is incomplete without this film. A Silent Voice or Koe no Katachi is one of the best anime releases of the past decade with only a few titles which can compete with it. Released in 2016, the film deals with the plights of guilt, bullying and a portrayal of disability in its authenticity.
Shoya is a sixth-grader who is introduced to Shoko Nishimiya, a new girl in his class who happens to be deaf. She tried her best to fit in but seems to become Shoya’s target for bullying. The situation gets out of hand to a point where Shoko needs to transfer schools and Shoya is marked as a bully for the rest of his school life. he grows into a depressed loner, and eventually meets Shoko again. their journey takes them through grief, second chances, redemption, and a chance at friendship.
The emotional journey of a Silent Voice is like none other. This is a movie that is sure to make you cry and leave you somber. The movie has a rating of 9/10 on My Anime List, pushing it straight up the list of the best anime movies ever.
6. Your Name
Your Name or Kimi no Nawa is regarded as one of the best anime movies there are and definitely of the most successful anime movie releases. The soundtrack by RADWIMPS included titles like Nandemonaiya, Sparkle, and Zen Zen Zensei. The 2016 romance fantasy screened worldwide and grossed over $350 million. The movie was the recipient of a number of awards including the Bst Animation of the Year at the 40th Japan Academy Prize.
The story for the film revolves around Mitsuba, a high-school girl living in a rural town Hida, and Taki, a boy from Tokyo. In a mysterious series of events, they switch bodies time and again and somehow end up communicating with one another despite having never met. time passes by as they get closer. During the Autumn festival, the comet Tiamat destroys the town Mitsuba lives in. With the traces of Mitsuba disappearing, Taki sets out to find her and in doing so, discovers the truth of their existence.
The anime movie has a rating of 8.92/10 on My Anime List! This is one of the competing titles for the best anime movies to date along with A Silent Voice.
7. Paprika
Paprika is the hidden gem of our best anime movies list. This 2006 psychological thriller is a must-watch for lovers of the genre. Satoshi Kon’s masterpiece Paprika confirms a place in our list without much hesitation. The animation of the anime feels relatively old but reminds one of the legendary movies like Perfect Blue and anime from the 90s and the 2000s. Even with a run time of just 90 minutes, Paprika is sure to leave a mark on you.
The movie revolves around a team of psychiatric professionals who revolutionize therapy with a machine called DC Mini. When someone starts using the machine outside the official organization illegally, Doctor Atsuko Chiba and her allies set to find the one behind this. A danger scheme is about to unfold as Doctor Chiba and her alter ego ‘Paprika’ get caught up in a tangle of dangerous dreams and find themselves in the middle of battle using their own consciousness.
Paprika is rated as an 8/10 on My Anime List and is recommended as a must-watch for all anime fans out there.
What are the Best Anime Movies You Have Watched?
Our list hoped to cover some of the most memorable anime movies in recent times along with a little dash of Paprika (get it?). This list is definitely not exhaustive and is expected to have a lot of versions. As promised, Studio Ghibli will have its own list of spectacular movies which are timeless, breathtaking, and food for the soul. Hayao Miyazaki’s work will have its own showcase.
Another version will bring the best movies from your favorite anime fandoms like the upcoming movie My Hero Academia Movie 3: World Heros’ Mission. With more to come like Perfect Blue, Millennium Actress, and Tokyo Godfathers, a legendary list for the best anime movies are also in order.
Check our lists for Best Summer 2021 Anime Series and upcoming subs and dubs! Let us know which titles you are excited about and stay tuned for more from us!
