Top 10 Anime Films (Redux)

In this film, from the director of Perfect Blue, Satoshi Kon, two documentary filmmakers seek out Chiyoko Fujiwara, an actress long missing from the spotlight. Upon finding her, the two are thrust in to a tale through time, as Chiyoko reminisces about her acting career. Although Kon traded the dark and bleak atmosphere of Perfect Blue for a much more optimistic and celebratory tone in this work, Millennium Actress still sports the directors highly engaging, and trippy, storytelling style you’d expect.

It's a fairy tale romance with an unexpected dose of reality. 19-year-old Hana falls in love with a mysterious “Wolf Man” and ends up having two children, Snow and Rain. Though she tries to hide her children’s unique heritage from the world, there’s only so much Hana can do when her kids are energetic, ahem, Wolf Children. Told mostly through the animation, with minimal dialogue, Wolf Children is a fantasy for sure. But the film isn’t devoid of real world problems like raising a family, being different in society and finding ones place in the world.

This hot-blooded feature follows a racer named JP, who enters the Redline, a deadly space race where staying alive may be the ultimate victory. So much blood, sweat and tears clearly went into making Redline the marvel that it is. The story may be pretty thin, but what really gets your attention is the absolutely stunning animation being thrown your way. If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush of an anime, Redline is the perfect choice.

As the Anime film that redefined the Cyberpunk genre, Ghost in the Shell follows Major Kusinagi and her elite Section 9 unit as they track down an infamous hacker. Besides an amazing blend of 2D and 3D animation, Ghost in the Shell features a darker take on the possibilities of man and machine coming together in the near future. With a powerful combination of philosophy and action, it’s no wonder this film has become such an inspiration beyond the realm of Anime and into cinema.

After accidentally offending a witch, a young girl named Sophie is cursed to look like an old woman. Her only hope for a cure is to seek out the feared wizard, Howl, and –of course- his moving castle. As one of Studio Ghibli’s higher-end movies, the animation quality speaks for itself. However, it’s the characters that prove the real draw of this whimsical fantasy. From the curious and straight-laced Sophie, to the suave but childish Howl, this eclectic group of characters are easily one of the most recognizable in anime film.

Picking up where the TV Series leaves off, SOS Brigade member Kyon wakes up one morning to discover the heroine no longer exists. But is this a blessing or a curse? Disappearance trades much of the humor the series is known for in exchange for a very deep, and surprisingly emotional, character study. It also works as a stand-alone story, without much need of prior knowledge to enjoy. Plus, you’ll be sucked in by the visuals, which are some of Kyoto Animations absolute best.

When war erupts between Forest Spirits and Industrialized Humans, it’s up to a Wolf Princess and a cursed Prince to restore peace and balance. Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli are at their best with this epic fantasy adventure. The animation stands the test of time, the characters are well written, and the eco-friendly message never hits the preachy level. Princess Mononoke has been hailed as cinematic brilliance, not just as an Anime but as a film in general.

Two teenagers, Mitsuha and Taki, find themselves in a body swapping paradox that will change their lives forever. Although director Makoto Shinkai was not completely satisfied with his work, “Your Name” has become an immediate success, already hitting the spot as the highest grossing anime film. The film constantly exceeds your expectations of what exactly it’s about, shifting genre at every key point in its plot but still retaining its messages of love and growing up. Honestly, the less you know about this film going in, the better – so we’ll just keep it short.

Neo Tokyo 2019. A war is about to erupt between a psychically powered teenager and the Japanese military. Almost thirty years later, its still awesome. Akira remains a powerful staple in the world of Anime. It’s mature storytelling and visual brilliance make it a hallmark. Factor in some intense action, one of the best musical scores attached to an Anime, and the legendary battle-cries of the two leads, and you’ll see why, for a long time, Akira has been held in such high regard.

Before we reveal our Top Pick, here are some Honorable Mentions:

“Sword of the Stranger” (2007)

“The Girl Who Leapt Through Time” (2006)

“Paprika” (2006)

Akira showed the world the more mature side of Anime. Spirited Away, Hayao Miyazaki’s masterpiece, showed the world the true extent of its magic. In order to free her parents from a curse, young Chihiro must enter a mystical world of spirits. The Bathhouse is a storytellers playground, so diverse and with so much to explore. And with this much imagination, coupled with a story that is just as exciting for kids and adults, it’s easy to see why this is the only Anime in history to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature… Also… Sorry Kanye.