Japanese animation comes in all shapes and sizes: epic, multi-season anime series spanning hundreds of episodes, tight 12-episode seasons, and seemingly endless possibilities for options in between. But sometimes, the thing that really hits the spot is a movie –– a full-on, well-animated story told end-to-end in two hours, give or take. Feels good, right? It also helps that they tend khổng lồ feature some seriously high production values & attract top talent from around the industry.
For the ultimate cinematic anime experience at home, here are 15 titles available lớn stream right now, sorted into categories for easy perusal.
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The Black Clover anime, based on the manga by Yūki Tabata, ran for a whopping 170 episodes from 2017 lớn 2021. But only in 2023 did Asta & his comrades make the leap khổng lồ the big screen with Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King — & what a glow-up it is. Aside from some intense battles on a massive scale, Sword of the Wizard King also introduces new lore khổng lồ the series, including four evil wizard kings from the past. With a story penned by Tabata himself, this is a continuation of the Black Clover saga you won’t want to miss.
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In Japanese, maboroshi means vision or illusion. Sounds about right to describe this mysterious 2023 film from acclaimed director & screenwriter Mari Okada (see also: A Whisker Away). The film centers around a Japanese mill town that’s stuck in time. The seasons don’t change, và no one ages. Amid this ennui, middle school student Masamune comes across a peculiar girl with the body of a teenager but the mind of a toddler who might be the key to this whole puzzle. In addition lớn its mysterious plot, maboroshi features some eye-popping animation from the folks at MAPPA (Jujutsu Kaisen) và all the painfully relatable teen angst for which Okada is famous.
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Also penned by Mari Okada, this đáng yêu teen fantasy was co-directed by Junichi Sato, known for his work on a little show called Sailor Moon. It centers around a sensitive eighth-grader named Miyo who just can’t seem khổng lồ get close lớn her crush, Hinode — until she transforms into a cat. From there, Miyo & Hinode embark on a feline-filled adventure with some serious Studio Ghibli vibes. Animated at Colorido, a young studio known for its cute, cozy films, A Whisker Away is great for mèo lovers and teen dreamers alike.
Studio Ghibli vibes are also front & center in Mary & the Witch’s Flower, the debut film from Studio Ponoc (whose latest, The Imaginary, is coming khổng lồ Netflix later this year). Ponoc was founded by former Ghibli folks, và it shows in this fantasy based on the novel The Little Broomstick by Mary Stewart. Mary (the character, not the author) is a young girl in England who happens khổng lồ pick up a flower that gives her magical powers, và before she knows it, she’s enrolled in a Hogwarts-style college for witches. What ensues is a great adventure full of broomsticks, transformations, and more than a few feels along the way.
The Mobile Suit Gundam franchise first hit Japanese airwaves back in 1979, và it’s still going strong with this recent cinematic entry. Taking place in the year UC 0105, 26 years after the original series, the film centers around Hathaway Noa, a young man with a terrible secret: He’s actually the leader of a group of rebels who will use any means to take down the corrupt Earth government. This Gundam isn’t for kids: Aside from political intrigue, it also features realistic scenes of violence and adult relationships. It is for those who lượt thích their anime dark, smart, and propulsive. Oh, & don’t forget the thumping soundtrack by Hiroyuki Sawano (Attack on Titan).
Based on the manga of the same name by Tsutomu Nihei (Knights of Sidonia), BLAME! takes place in a giant megastructure about a million miles in diameter. Main character Killy wanders this structure, searching for a way lớn access its control network. With all that square mileage, easier said than done — but at least Killy is equipped with a weapon called a Gravitational Beam Emitter. BLAME! has atmosphere khổng lồ spare và is great for fans of gritty, dystopian sci-fi like Blade Runner or Ghost in the Shell.
There are few anime that pull on the heartstrings quite like Violet Evergarden. The series, which aired back in 2018 (and is available on Netflix) was phối in a steampunk-adjacent alternate-universe Europe và traced the life of Violet, an ex-soldier who’s trained for war since she was a child. After the war, she becomes a typist, & along the way, begins to lớn unlock her buried emotions. The film provides the capstone for the series, giving Violet an emotional sendoff that’ll have you sniffling, if not bawling. Stunning animation by Kyoto Animation and a touching soundtrack by Evan hotline (Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End) seal the deal.
This colorful, thành phố pop-inspired piece is the feature film debut of Kyohei Ishiguro, who helmed the popular series Your Lie in April. Written by dai Sato (Cowboy Bebop), it tells the tale of two teenage misfits in a rural Japanese town who slowly bond over their quality interests. Those two teens are Cherry, a quiet boy who’s better at sharing his feelings in poetry than in person, and Smile, a bubbly influencer who hides her braces behind a mask. The unlikely duo come together khổng lồ help an elderly record siêu thị owner rediscover a classic piece of ’80s vinyl. If poppy visuals, nostalgic tunes, and fizzy teenage romance are your thing, this is the film for you.
A group of elementary school students stand on the roof of an old apartment building when a flash flood hits. Before they know it, the building is floating in the middle of the sea, và they must work together lớn try khổng lồ find a way home. That’s the fantastic premise behind Drifting Home, this coming-of-age film by director Hiroyasu Ishida at Studio Colorido (A Whisker Away). The movie pairs its improbable premise with huge attention lớn detail — director Ishida even lived in an apartment similar to one in the film khổng lồ get its look and feel just right.
What bởi vì you get when you pair up-and-coming Chinese animators và Co
Mix Wave Films, the studio behind the works of Makoto Shinkai (Your Name)? Try Flavors of Youth, a collection of three shorts about the way food, fashion, & music can bring back memories of long-lost moments in time. From a story of small-town beef noodle shops khổng lồ one about childhood secrets recorded lớn cassette tape, this film will make you feel pangs of nostalgia whether or not you’ve ever set foot in đài loan trung quốc — and will likely have you searching for your nearest noodle shop. You’ve been warned.
Another entry from the impressive animators at Studio Ponoc (Mary và the Witch’s Flower), Modest Heroes is a mix of three shorts centered around the kind of heroism that doesn’t always stick out. Our heroes include freshwater crab siblings who embark on their first adventure without their parents, a young boy who’s allergic to lớn eggs, and a man who finds himself rendered invisible to lớn others. The three shorts are helmed by directors with long ties to lớn Studio Ghibli who are legends in their own right, making for a modest but heroic effort that all wraps up in less than an hour: a perfect pick for a quick bite of anime.
Thanks to the wonders of streaming services & their expansions over the last few years, we now have much wider access lớn anime films and TV shows than ever before!
The story: This cult anime classic is mix in the distant future, & follows a man known as JP who takes on great risks for the chance to lớn win the titular underground race.
IMDb Rating: 7.5
My
Anime
List Rating: 8.28
The story: Based on the manga of the same name, this adult cyberpunk thriller anime is set in 2029 Japan, và follows a cyborg public security agent who hunts a mysterious hacker, known as the Puppet Master.
IMDb Rating: 7.9
My
Anime
List Rating: 8.27
Why it"s great: "Ghost in the Shell is an intricate masterpiece of cyber-punk fiction and storytelling, successfully melding intriguing philosophical ideas with a coherent, well-thought-out (albeit) confusing plot. Even more, it"s a nightmarish vision of a society that"s dominated by cyberspace and, looking back now, is eerily prescient of today"s computerized times." —IMDb user dee.reid
The story: An anime with sci-fi and romance themes, the film tells the story of a young girl who gains the power of time travel và repeatedly relives the same day in a time loop. Little does she know, her power nguồn is affecting the lives of others!
IMDB Rating: 7.7
My
Anime
List Rating: 8.13
The story: phối in Hiroshima và Kure, Japan, during World War II, an 18-year-old girl, Suzu, gets married và must look after her family, despite rationing and lack of supplies. One day, she meets a girl, Rin, whose secrets worry her.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
My
Anime
List Rating: 8.22
The story: The film is a direct sequel khổng lồ the first season of the anime TV series, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. After his family was brutally murdered và his sister was turned into a demon, Tanjiro Kamado became a demon slayer. Now, Tanjiro embarks on a new mission aboard the Mugen Train.
IMDb Rating: 8.2
My
Anime
List Rating: 8.65
Why it"s great: "If you liked the animation of first season of Demon Slayer you will simply adore this film. This is a true masterpiece with a captivating story và music that will make you cry; a must-watch for any fan of the show." —IMDb user rayanejelidi
The story: Based on the anime series, Cowboy Bebop, the film is set between episodes 22 & 23 of the original series, and centers on a mysterious terrorist planning to destroy the human population on Mars using a deadly pathogen. Only the bounty hunter crew of the spaceship Bebop may be able to stop the terrorist before the attack!
IMDb Rating: 7.8
My
Anime
List Rating: 8.38
The story: This psychological thriller anime follows a member of a Japanese idol group who retires from music to pursue an acting career, but as she becomes a victim of stalking và gruesome murders begin to occur, she starts to đại bại her grip on reality.
IMDb Rating: 8
My
Anime
List Rating: 8.53
Why it"s great: "To me personally, this movie is flawless. It is the embodiment of all the things that I love about Asian cinema. It has dark themes: emptiness, shallowness, hopelessness, etc. Satoshi Kon (the director) is a visionary; his movies are ahead of their time. I know that Perfect Blue và Paprika inspired many Western movies such as Inception, black Swan, Requiem for a Dream, and many others. I love the way that he handles such complex storylines." —IMDb user tadis90
The story: In Tokyo on Christmas Eve, three homeless people discover a newborn baby among the trash và set out khổng lồ find its parents.
IMDb Rating: 7.8
My
Anime
List Rating: 8.28
The story: A musical, coming-of-age, romantic drama film about a girl who loves reading books, và a boy who has previously checked out all of the library books she chooses.
IMDb Rating: 7.9
My
Anime
List Rating: 8.22
The story: The iconic young witch"s coming of age story is about finding your place in the world without losing your connection to where you came from. Kiki must navigate her newfound independence, a job, her waning powers, và increasingly awkward encounters with Tombo, who just wants to lớn be her friend.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
My
Anime
List Rating: 8.2
The story: Akira gained cult following upon its initial release and is said to lớn have impacted the Japanese cyberpunk sub-genre. In a dystopian world, it tells the story of the leader of a biker gang và his childhood friend who acquires telekinetic abilities. The result? His friend threatens the entire military complex in the futuristic metropolis of Neo-Tokyo.
IMDb Rating: 8
My
Anime
List Rating: 8.15
Why it"s great: "Akira is an astonishingly influential film, easily as much so as cinema"s touchstones Citizen Kane and Pulp Fiction." —IMDb user jpt27
The story: Only Yesterday is more of a realistic drama for anime and follows a 27-year-old unmarried office worker who travels to the rural countryside while reminiscing about her childhood in Tokyo.
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IMDb Rating: 7.6
My
Anime
List Rating: 7.44
The story: Sci-fi anime film, Belle, premiered at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival & received a standing ovation that lasted 14 minutes! The film is inspired by the 1756 French fairytale Beauty và the Beast and follows Suzu, a shy high school student living in a rural village. That is, until she enters a massive virtual world and escapes into her online persona as Belle, a globally-beloved singer.
IMDb Rating: 7.1
My
Anime
List Rating: 7.57
The story: Another Studio Ghibli favorite of mine, Howl"s Moving Castle focuses on a young woman who is cursed with an old body by a witch. Her only chance of breaking the spell lies with a self-indulgent and insecure young wizard and his companions who live in his walking castle.
IMDb Rating: 8.2
My
Anime
List Rating: 8.66
The story: Yup, this anime actually features stories relating to The Matrix, the classic 1999 film. The sci-fi anthology tells the backstory of The Matrix film series, including the original war between humanity và machines, and has numerous side stories that tie into the matrix universe and film series.
IMDb Rating: 7.3
My
Anime
List Rating: 7.30
The story: Based on the manga of the same name, the film follows the story of a former bully who decides to lớn reconnect và befriend the deaf girl he had victimized years prior. It"s a combination of a coming-of-age drama with psychological aspects that giảm giá khuyến mãi with themes of mental health, bullying, and platonic love.
IMDb Rating: 8.1
My
Anime
List Rating: 8.95
Why it"s great: "A Silent Voice is an emotional & beautiful movie that almost anyone can relate khổng lồ in some shape or form." —IMDb user lukesaner
The story: A young girl & boy possess a magic crystal and must race against pirates và foreign agents in search of a legendary floating castle in the floating đô thị of Laputa.
IMDb Rating: 8
My
Anime
List Rating: 8.26
The story: A high school boy runs away from his rural home to Tokyo và befriends an orphan girl who has the power lớn control the weather.
IMDb Rating: 7.5
My
Anime
List Rating: 8.31
The story: Spanning across 13 years of a young woman"s life, Hana falls in love with a werewolf whilst in college, and following his death, must raise their half-wolf, half-human children.
IMDb Rating: 8.1
My
Anime
List Rating: 8.59
Why it"s great: "This feels more like a thinly veiled version of real life than something fanciful. It touches your heart, not with big moments but with small ones. It is a movie about love of all kinds. While it is admittedly an idealized version of love, a story of the sort of unselfish, uncomplicated love that only exists consistently in movies, it is truly lovely." —IMDb user cherold
The story: Another entry into the dragon Ball Z world, this martial arts sci-fi film depicts the return of the villain Frieza, who, after his resurrection, goes into extensive training with the sole purpose of exacting his revenge against Goku.
IMDb Rating: 7.2
My
Anime
List Rating: 7.05
The story: A demonic clan of killers is hellbent on overthrowing the Tokugawa Shogunate, và so, Jubei, a mercenary swordsman, must defeat them with the help of a ninja girl và a government spy.
IMDb Rating: 7.8
My
Anime
List Rating: 7.61
The story: Barefoot Gen is a war drama anime loosely based on the manga series by Keiji Nakazawa. Taking place from a child"s point of view, the film depicts World War II in nhật bản and the events surrounding the bombing of Hiroshima.
IMDb Rating: 8
My
Anime
List Rating: 7.77
The story: My all-time favorite, Spirited Away, follows a young girl Chihiro who enters the spirit world of Kami. After her parents are turned into pigs by a witch, Chihiro must work in the bathhouse in order to free herself, and return her family to lớn the human world.
IMDb Rating: 8.6
My
Anime
List Rating: 8.78
The story: This historical drama film is a fictionalized biographical film of Jiro Horikoshi. Having longed to lớn become a pilot but unable to vị so because of his nearsightedness, he goes on khổng lồ become the designer of the tập đoàn mitsubishi A5M fighter aircraft & its successor, used by the Empire of nhật bản during WWII.
IMDb Rating: 7.7
My
Anime
List Rating: 8.10
The story: A high school girl living in a rural town wishes to be a Tokyo boy in her next life, that is until her wish comes true when she inexplicably begins to lớn switch bodies intermittently with a real high school boy in the city.
IMDb Rating: 8.4
My
Anime
List Rating: 8.86
Why it"s great: "Your Name could be the greatest love story of all time." —IMDb user A_Different_Drummer
The story: A professor"s two young daughters who have moved khổng lồ the country khổng lồ be near their ailing mother soon find wondrous adventures with the forest spirits who live nearby.
IMDb Rating: 8.1
My
Anime
List Rating: 8.26
The story: A lãng mạn drama following a young man named Takaki, told in three interconnected segments which explore his life và the relationships he has with the girls around him.
IMDb Rating: 7.5
My
Anime
List Rating: 7.59
The story: In the 1930s, an Italian World War I ex-fighter living as a freelance bounty hunter is cursed và transformed into an anthropomorphic pig.
IMDb Rating: 7.7
My
Anime
List Rating: 7.95
The story: This animated sci-fi film is a compilation of three standalone short films which encompass different genres:
Magnetic Rose is about two explorers in the far reaches of space who stumble across a derelict mansion.
Stink Bomb tells the story of a hapless lab technician who unintentionally consumes experimental drugs that enhance his flatulence lớn a dangerous degree.
Cannon Fodder sees a fortress city & a young boy who wishes lớn surpass his father by becoming a reverent artillery officer.
IMDb Rating: 7.5
My
Anime
List Rating: 7.72
The story: In an alternate world, bubbles raining down upon the world have broken the laws of gravity, and Tokyo has been completely cut off from the outside world. All that remains is a group of young people competing in parkour team battles across the Tokyo skyline after losing their families.
IMDb Rating: 6.3
My
Anime
List Rating: 7.30
The story: After a tragic accident took their parents away 13 years ago, Aoi Aioi lives with her elder sister Akane, but decides she wants to lớn move to Tokyo khổng lồ relieve her sister"s burden & pursue a musical career — aspirations which were inspired by Akane"s ex-boyfriend, Shinno, who left one day after moving khổng lồ Tokyo to become a professional guitarist.
One day, Aoi comes across the 18-year-old version of Shinno from 13 years ago, and the current 31-year-old Shinno returns to lớn town having changed drastically. Now, there are two Shinnos in existence, but why is the Shinno from the past present?!
IMDb Rating: 6.7
My
Anime
List Rating: 7.49
The story: Unfortunately for some, this is not an anime reboot of Fritz Lang"s influential Metropolis. But, it is a pretty cool futuristic story about a nephew và uncle who find themselves on the hunt for the mystery behind a robot girl called Tima.
IMDb Rating: 7.2
My
Anime
List Rating: 7.53
The story: An epic historical fantasy film mix in the late Muromachi period of Japan, which sees a young Emishi prince and his struggle between the gods of a forest and the humans who consume its resources. On his quest, the young prince meets San, a warrior princess adopted by the wolf goddess.
IMDb Rating: 8.4
My
Anime
List Rating: 8.67
The story: A young student becomes a sorcerer và seeks khổng lồ control the cursed spirit of his childhood friend.
IMDb Rating: 7.9
My
Anime
List Rating: 8.51
The story: In Kobe, Japan, two siblings face a desperate struggle to survive during the final months of the second World War.
IMDb Rating: 8.5
My
Anime
List Rating: 8.50
Why it"s great: "By the end, my friend and I were huddled together, pouring out tears I"ve never shed for any movie before. It was a mix of horror, empathy, sadness, and so many more emotions I can"t even begin to lớn list." —IMDb user Black Rainbow
What vày you think is the best anime movie on here? Or, can you think of any others you would have liked khổng lồ have seen on the list? Tell us in the comments!
