The 30 Top Anime Movies Of All Time

Anime is a bit of a catch-all term. Outside of Japan, it usually refers to animation produced in Japan. In Japanese, it simply describes something animated. However, it has become synonymous with a particular style of animation that is popular in Japan. For this list, anime is not defined by aesthetics but rather by where the animation was produced (namely, Japan). While many associate Anime with TV shows, many incredible Anime movies are must-watches for those more generally interested in animated films. While Japanese animation history goes back to the early 1900s (and arguably longer with precursors like kage-e and Emakimono), the modern age of anime started with TV shows in the 1960s. Since then, anime has exploded in popularity both in Japan and abroad. Recently, anime movies have established themselves as a popular medium, and the best anime movies come in all genres, including coming-of-age, fantasy, and romance. Jumping into anime can feel daunting, but these top anime movies are great for fans and newcomers alike.

The Greatest Anime Movies

While the highest-grossing anime film (and highest-grossing Japanese film of all time), Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train, doesn’t appear on this list, the following three highest-grossing Japanese films do.

Studios like Studio Ghibli, Madhouse, Toei Animation and CoMix Wave Films have produced many of the movies on this list and have made a name for themselves in anime films. This ranking considers historical significance, influence and artistic approach. However, it prioritizes the overall quality and viewing experience of the film.

30. A Whisker Away (2020)

A Whisker Away is a fantasy romance about a girl who swaps bodies with a cat, and the boy she is obsessed with. Directed by Junichi Sato and Tomotaka Shibayama, the film’s theatrical run was cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the picture was sold to Netflix.

The film was well-received and currently holds a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. Nick Allen wrote in his review for RogerEbert.com, “A wholesome fantasy built of serene settings and cute animals is more fun when it gets a little wacky, and thankfully A Whisker Away has some left-field ideas to make the tale more magical as it goes along.” It is streaming on Netflix.

29. Miss Hokusai (2015)

Based on the Hinako Sugiura manga of the same name, Miss Hokusai follows a woman who hopes to escape her famous father’s shadow to make her own art. The film takes place during the early 1800s Edo period and has a reverence for the art and artists of the period.

Directed by Keiichi Hara, the film is unique not only as an animated biopic but also as one that centers on women’s art. However, it isn’t for everyone, and its slightly disjointed and episodic narrative structure will turn some off. The film is appropriately visually beautiful, especially in its depictions of the city of Edo and traditional art styles. Unfortunately, it is currently not available on streaming in the U.S.

28. Sailor Moon R: The Movie, The Promise of the Rose (1993)

Many millennial fans will be nostalgic for 1990s anime movies based on the TV shows of their youth. Many of these movies are more nostalgic than good, like Pokemon: The First Movie, or good films that need a fair amount of knowledge of the series they are based on to enjoy, like Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan. Sailor Moon R: The Movie, however, is both a good film and one that can be enjoyed without too much familiarity with the TV show it is based on.

Sailor Moon R: The Movie is the first Sailor Moon film and led directly to two stand-alone sequels, Sailor Moon S: The Movie (1994) and Sailor Moon SuperS: The Movie (1995). The film follows the Sailor Guardians as they battle an alien who has a past with Tuxedo Mask, when it comes to earth hoping to be with him. The film was re-dubbed and updated in 2017. It is also usually paired with a short film, Make Up! Sailor Guardians. Sailor Moon R isn’t a perfect film, but it will do more than just scratch the nostalgia itch for fans of a certain age. The film is available to rent on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, YouTube and Google Play.

27. Belladonna of Sadness (1973)

Eiichi Yamamoto’s Belladonna of Sadness comes with a pretty big trigger warning. The film is not an easy watch, nor is it appropriate for children. It is the final entry into the Animerama trilogy, following A Thousand and One Nights (1969) and Cleopatra (1970) and is by far the best of the three.

The film follows a peasant woman who makes a Faustian deal with the devil to take revenge on a local lord for a sexual assault. The film explores eroticism, religion, violence, misogyny and feudal oppression through mind-bending psychedelic imagery. While some have called it dated and exploitative, it is still a beautiful and strange piece of anime history worth watching. It is available to rent on YouTube and Google Play.

26. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)

Directed by Mamoru Hosoda, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is a sweet coming-of-age anime about a girl who finds out she has the power to travel backward in time. However, this gift comes with some unintended consequences.

The film has one of the more interesting approaches to the nature of time travel. While it is not the most eye-catching anime, there are some great visual sequences and the characters and quick story pace more than make up for it. It is currently streaming on Crunchy Roll.

25. Violet Evergarden: The Movie (2020)

Directed by Taichi Ishidate, Violet Evergarden: The Movie is based on the Violet Evergarden light novel series by Kana Akatsuki. It technically comes after the series Violet Evergarden, which ran for one season in 2018, but functions well as a stand-alone film.

The film follows Violet, a soldier turned letter writer, as she struggles with life after a great war. The film is one of the most beautiful pictures on this list, and has a delicately beautiful style that combines 1900s nostalgia with robotics. Famed Japanese game designer Hideo Kojima tweeted about the film in 2021, “I’d never seen Violet Evergarden, either on TV or in theaters, and only knew the title from a commercial for the movie version. I’m glad I watched it. I cried a little at the end. I used to be a letter writer, but I don’t think I’ve written a letter in about 10 years.” It is currently streaming on Netflix.

24. Wolf Children (2012)

Mamoru Hosoda’s Wolf Children follows a human mother who must raise her children after the death of their wolfman father. The film isn’t very complex, but it is incredibly charming. While it walks the line of being overly sentimental, it packs enough heart to keep the watcher engrossed.

The film won the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year. While some prefer Hosoda’s previous film, Summer Wars, Wolf Children is better. Chris Michael wrote of the movie for the Gaudian, “It’s a fairytale in a real-life setting, photorealistically drawn in shifting light that rivals Monet or GTA5.” It is currently streaming on Crunchy Roll.

23. Pom Poko (1994)

Pom Poko is easily Studio Ghibli’s strangest film. While the English dub calls the characters “raccoons,” the film is actually about tanukis. It follows a tanuki army as they rise up against a housing development being built on the outskirts of Tokyo.

Directed by Isao Takahata, the film is about environmentalism, modernization and Japanese folklore, which features Tanuki prominently. Many jokes and themes would be understood by Japanese audiences, but they don’t really translate for audiences abroad. In traditional art, tanukis are often depicted with large magical testicles, so the film prominently features Tanuki “you know whats.” However, most Americans will not be familiar with this folklore. While it might not be for everyone, it is a profoundly creative film that is worth a watch. Pom Poko is currently streaming on Max.

22. Night is Short, Walk On Girl (2017)

Night is Short, Walk On Girl is one of the most creatively animated films on this list. One of several great animes directed Masaaki Yuasa (including Ride Your Wave and Inu-Oh), Night is Short, Walk On Girl is based on the 2006 novel of the same name. The film follows a girl on a night out drinking and a boy determined to confess his love for her.

The film won the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year and is a spiritual sequel to another great anime based on another Tomihiko Morimi novel, The Tatami Galaxy. Night is Short, Walk On Girl is pure fun and never takes itself too seriously. It is currently streaming on Max.

21. Metropolis (2001)

Metropolis follows a detective and his nephew searching for a scientist who has created a beautiful girl robot in a technologically advanced future city. The film is based on the 1949 Osamu Tezuka manga of the same name. Rintaro directed it, and Katsuhiro Otomo of Akira fame wrote the screenplay.

The animation of this film is impressive, especially considering that it came out the same year as Shrek. Roger Ebert said of the film, “If you have never seen a Japanese anime, start here. If you love them, Metropolis proves you are right.” While it can be found on the internet, it is unfortunately not available for streaming.

20. Weathering With You (2019)

Directed by Makoto Shinkai, Weathering With You is a romance between a troubled high school runaway and an orphan girl with the power to manipulate the weather. The film is engaging and beautifully animated, especially the multiple scenes of rain and sunshine.

While some were disappointed with Weathering With You, most of the detractions had to do with it being Shinkai’s follow-up to the extremely popular Your Name and the public’s sky-high expectations. While it may not be as good as Your Name, Weathering With You is still a great entry into the romance/fantasy anime genre. The film was selected as Japan’s entry for the Oscar for Best International Feature Film. However, it was not nominated. Weathering With You is currently streaming on Max.

19. Only Yesterday (1991)

Directed by Isao Takahata, Only Yesterday follows Taeko as both a child in 1960s Tokyo and as an unmarried 27-year-old on a summer trip to work as a farmer in the countryside. The film flashes back and forth between the two Taekos as it explores the place of women and tradition in a rapidly changing Japan.

While there are some moments that will connect with children viewers, this film is far more for young women. It is a masterpiece that will connect with women in their late 20s today, just as it did in the 1990s. While the most recent 2016 dub features Daisy Ridley and Dev Patel, the Japanese version is better, mainly because the explanatory inner monologue feels clunky in English. It currently holds a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, and is currently streaming on Max.

18. In This Corner of the World (2016)

2016 was an excellent year for anime with such great films as A Silent Voice, Your Name, Doukyusei and The Red Turtle. And In This Corner of the World is among the best of them. In This Corner of the World is a heartbreaking war drama from Sunao Katabuchi. The film is based on the Fumiyo Kōno manga of the same name and follows a young girl growing up in a small town outside of Hiroshima in the 1930s and 1940s. The film juxtaposes traditional Japanese life against the horrors of war.

The film was a critical darling in Japan, winning three Japan Academy Prizes. Katabunchi worked as the assistant director to Hayao Miyazaki on Kiki’s Delivery Service, and there is a classic Ghibli approach to visuals in this film. However, that isn’t a bad thing and even evokes a sense of nostalgia for fans of 1990s coming-of-age animes. Brian Tallerico said of the film for RogerEbert.com, “Ultimately, In This Corner of the World is a stark reminder of what wartime does to those ethereal elements of humanity that we truly need to survive: dreaming, art, love, etc.” It is currently available to stream for free on Tubi, Peacock and Amazon Prime.

17. Belle (2021)

Belle follows a high school student turned virtual pop star who has to uncover the truth about a mysterious beast. Technically, it was inspired by Beauty and the Beast; however, it doesn’t read like a Disney princess movie or 1700s fairytale. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, where it received a 14-minute standing ovation.

Directed by Mamoru Hosoda, the film was a financial and critical success. It was nominated for two Japan Academy Film Prizes and won one. The film features excellent music and genuinely breathtaking visuals. Belle is available to stream on Max.

16. Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms (2018)

Mari Okada’s Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms follows a humanoid girl whose mystic race is attacked by humans who wish to use their blood as an elixir for life. In the chaos, she finds a baby and decides to raise him in human society.

The film was Okada’s directorial debut, and other anime directors praised her for her work, including Makoto Shinkai, who tweeted, “It was a wonderful movie that stirred up memories that I had usually forgotten. Directed by Mari Okada, who has continued to show the newness of anime as a scriptwriter. As a first-time director, when faced with such quality, I feel both jealous and impatient. We have to be fired up too.” The film is available to stream for free on Tubi, Amazon Prime and Pluto TV.

15. Mirai (2018)

Another film directed by Mamoru Hosoda, Mirai follows a young boy who finds a magical garden that allows him to time travel to meet future and past versions of his mother and sister. It is a heartwarming film about family, belonging and perspective that will delight kids, parents and even other adults.

Mirai was the sixth anime and first non-Ghibli anime to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film. It also won the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year. In a review for Variety, Peter Debruge wrote, “[It’s] the work of a true auteur (in what feels like his most personal film yet) presented as innocuous family entertainment.” It is available to rent on YouTube, Google Play, Amazon Prime and Apple TV.

14. Angel’s Egg (1985)

Directed by Mamoru Oshii, Angel’s Egg is a cult classic. It is very sparse when it comes to dialogue, which isn’t everyone’s favorite. However, it is a gorgeous film that allows viewers to make their own conclusions. Viewers who are not opposed to biblical references and allegorical fantasy will find a lot to love about Angel’s Egg, even if it is not for everyone.

The film takes place in a land of primordial ruins and follows a young girl who protects a giant egg that she believes will birth an angel and a boy who hopes to smash it. The film has been rarely shown in theaters. However, a 4K restoration has been announced for its 40th anniversary. Unfortunately, it is not available on streaming.

13. Paprika (2006)

Based on the novel of the same name, Paprika is the last film from acclaimed anime filmmaker Satoshi Kon. Kon became known for iconic films like Perfect Blue, Millennium Actress and Memories. While many of Kon’s movies could have made this list, Paprika is arguably his most creative and visually stimulating film.

Paprika follows a dream detective on the trail of a criminal who steals a device that can influence other people’s dreams. If that sounds a little like Inception, many have said so. The two films share many plot elements and themes. However, Christopher Nolan has not cited it as a reference. Paprika is currently available to rent on YouTube, Google Play, Amazon Prime and Apple TV.

12. Porco Rosso (1992)

Porco Rosso is a film noir about a former seaplane pilot who is cursed to live as a pig in the 1930s-era Adriatic Sea. While it sounds odd, it all really works. The film was directed by Hayao Miyazaki. While usually subs are preferred, Porco Rosso is the rare anime film that should be watched in English, specifically, the 2005 English redub, which stars Michael Keaton, Cary Elwes and Susan Egan. The noir style lends itself well to the redub, and Keaton’s work as Marco “Porco Rosso” Rossolini feels straight out of Casablanca.

The film is arguably the funniest movie that Studio Ghibli has made to date. However, it also functions as a heartbreaking look at PTSD and the rise of fascism in Europe. The end of the film is especially heartbreaking and impactful. While several lines from the film have become iconic, “Better a pig than a fascist” became a rallying cry in Spain’s 2023 election. Porco Rosso is currently streaming on Max.

11. Suzume (2022)

Suzume is a romantic and adventure anime directed by Makoto Shinkai. The film follows a girl who teams up with a handsome stranger to seal supernatural doors that unleash earthquake-causing creatures.

Like many Shinkai films, Suzume combines coming-of-age and romantic themes with the threat of natural disasters. The film was a critical and box office hit and became the fourth highest-grossing Japanese film worldwide. The film won a Japan Academy Film Prize and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film. It was also nominated for seven Annie Awards, tying it with The Boy and The Heron for the most-nominated anime. It is available to stream on Netflix and Crunchyroll.

10. Ghost in the Shell (1995)

Not to be confused with the controversial 2017 live-action film of the same name, the original Ghost in the Shell is an anime classic. The film follows a cyborg agent trying to stop a criminal who is illegally hacking into the minds of cyborg-human hybrids. It explores the nature of self and technology.

The film, directed by Mamoru Oshii, is based on the manga of the same name. It is considered a cult film because it was initially a box office failure before being released on video. The film inspired the Wachowski sisters, specifically their film The Matrix. James Cameron also once called Ghost in the Shell “the first truly adult animation film to reach a level of literary and visual excellence.” It is available to stream for free on Tubi and Pluto TV.

9. Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion (1997)

Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion is arguably the best film to come out of a TV anime franchise. The film functions as an end to the series Neon Genesis Evangelion, which aired 1995-1996. Technically, it is the last two episodes of the franchise, but it was sold as a film and was released in theaters.

While the film is better if you have seen the series, watching the show is not a prerequisite to enjoying the movie. Notably, the Evangelion franchise is surprisingly good at making “stand-alone films.” The 2021 film Evangelion: 3.0+1.01 Thrice Upon a Time is also well worth a watch, even for those unfamiliar with the show. The film was directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki and Hideaki Anno and featured several of the series’ voice actors, including Megumi Ogata, Yuko Miyamura and Megumi Hayashibara. It follows a group of teens who pilot mechas to fight Angels. The last scene is simply iconic and more than impressive. It is available to stream on Netflix.

8. The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)

The Tale of Princess Kaguya is the final film of the legendary Isao Takahata. It is based on the 10th-century folklore The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter and follows a bamboo cutter who finds a tiny glowing girl in a bamboo shoot. He raises the girl to be a princess even though she yearns for the forest and village of her childhood. Like many other movies from Takahata, the film looks at the place of women and how to live.

While the film is stunning, it uses a far more simplistic style than other Ghibli films and evokes traditional painting styles, especially Sumi-e watercolor paintings. Until 2023’s The Boy and The Heron, The Tale of Princess Kaguya was the highest-budget film in Japanese history, with a budget of around $49 million. The film is Takeo Chii’s final film and also features a special appearance by Yukiji Asaoka. The film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Feature and currently has a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. The Tale of Princess Kaguya is currently streaming on Max.

7. Your Name (2016)

Your Name is a romance anime with a twist. The film follows two high schoolers who swap bodies as a rare comet comes to Earth. It is beautiful both visually and thematically, and has a weirdly catchy soundtrack and a unique narrative approach. It balances goofy teen romance with the themes of culture and disaster in a super satisfying way.

Directed by Makoto Shinkai, Your Name was popular both in Japan and abroad. Japan’s Toho Studios is reportedly working on a live-action version. It currently holds a 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and is available to stream on Crunchyroll.

6. My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

My Neighbor Totoro is a classic childhood anime. The film follows two sisters who run into the spirit of the forest in 1950s rural Japan. It is not only a great coming-of-age film but also captures a reverence for tradition and nature. Outside the film itself, the character of Totoro has become a cultural icon and also serves as the mascot for Studio Ghibli.

The film was initially dubbed in English in 1989 for Japan Airlines. While there is a 2004 re-dub starring Dakota and Elle Fanning, as well as Timothy Daly, many (especially millennial fans) prefer the original dub. The film is beautiful and also captures a nostalgia for a time and place that most viewers have likely never been. The film is available to stream on Max.

5. Tokyo Godfathers (2003)

Another film written and directed by Satoshi Kon, Tokyo Godfathers, follows three homeless people who find a baby in a trash can on Christmas Eve. The film has a little bit of everything and works as a Christmas film, Yakuza movie and tragicomedy. It has also taken on a bit of a cult classic status in the U.S.

While, generally, the subtitled version is recommended over the English dubs for most of the animes on this list, the most recent English dub is notable for having a trans actress, Shakina Nayfack, play the trans character of Hana (in the Japanese version, Hana is unfortunately voiced by a man). It currently has a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and is streaming for free on The Roku Channel and Amazon Prime.

4. Princess Mononoke (1997)

Arguably, the film that established Studio Ghibli outside of Japan, Princess Mononoke, is another film from Hayao Miyazaki. The film is set in the Muromachi period (around 1400 AD) and follows an epic war between kami (forest deities) and humans. Princess Mononoke has a strong environmentalist message and doesn’t shy away from nuance and moral ambiguity.

Princess Mononoke was a critical and box office juggernaut, holding Japan’s box office record for domestic films until 2001’s Spirited Away. It was also the first animated film to win the Japan Academy Film Prize for Picture of the Year. It is currently streaming on Max.

3. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

One of the darkest animes on this list, Grave of the Fireflies, somewhat surprisingly, comes from Studio Ghibli and director Isao Takahata. The film follows two children struggling to survive in wartorn 1940s Japan. It is an anti-war masterpiece that still feels important over 35 years later.

While the film is not appropriate for children, it was strangely shown initially as a double feature with the much lighter My Neighbor Totoro. The film was director Akira Kurosawa’s favorite Ghibli film, and he even once wrote a letter to Hayao Miyazaki singing its praises, having mistakenly believed that Miyazaki had directed it. Roger Ebert said it is an “emotional experience so powerful that it forces a rethinking of animation.” Unfortunately, it is not currently available to rent or stream in the U.S.

2. Akira (1988)

Directed by Katsuhiro Otomo, Akira is a landmark film of the genre. The film helped popularize anime films abroad and is among the most famous anime films ever made. Set in the dystopian future of 2019, the film follows the leader of a biker gang and his telekinetic friend during a rebellion in Neo-Tokyo.

Akira’s violent yet beautiful visuals are iconic and have been directly or indirectly referenced in many other films and TV shows. It also popularized a sliding motorcycle stop, the “Akira slide,” which has become a stable of action film imagery. From the music to the action sequences, Akira is highly influential. Tom Usher wrote for Vice, “[Akira] was the first time the West had engaged with Japanese culture en-masse, and it made quite an impact: the film’s influence is still apparent everywhere.” It is available to stream on Hulu.

1. Spirited Away (2001)

Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, Spirited Away held the record for the highest-grossing film in Japan for 19 years. It was also the first non-English-language animated film to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature (it was also the only one until another Miyazaki film, The Boy and the Heron, won in 2024).

Spirited Away follows a 10-year-old girl who must save her parents from the spirit realm and an evil witch who runs a spirit bathhouse. It is arguably Miyazaki’s masterpiece and the best film that Studio Ghibli has released to date. The film is one of the most beautifully animated films of all time and is currently streaming on Max.

Bottom Line

From coming-of-age to romance to robots, anime films capture beauty, excitement and emotion. The best animes aren’t just amazing animated movies but great movies in general.