Animation, a category of animation that dates back at least to 1958's The Legend of White Snake , has little to prove yet - although non-Japanese viewers are still sometimes surprised by the variety and depth of the films it contains. Generally broader and more diverse than American animation (which is still mostly considered just a kids' thing).
The word "anime" is simply a form of the Japanese word referring to animation, and although Japanese filmmakers have been adept at making animated films for decades, it is often thought of as representing a specific style or genre. Not so: films like Ghost in the Shell , The Red Turtle , Weathering with You and Howl's Moving Castle , aside from their status as cinematic classics and their brilliant, often hand-drawn animation Apart from that, they have almost nothing in common.
Many of the best anime movies will be familiar to anime fans, but for newcomers, any of them will be a great place to dive into the vast world of anime.
your name (2016)
Mitsuha, a country girl, and Taki, a boy from Tokyo, started a mysterious trading organization. The two gradually learned about each other and their lives. A heartbreaking reveal in the second act takes this coming-of-age rom-com into a deeper realm of science fiction, and the film reveals that its ideas run much deeper than metaphysics meets cuteness. Director Makoto Shinkai ( "Weathering With You ") and the animators' clever use of light brings a stunning sheen to some of the film's realistic scenes. There has never been such a gorgeous body-swapping story, and this film deserves its place among the all-time animated box office toppers.
Live broadcast location: The Criterion Channel, Crunchyroll
Soft Gold Z (1991)
The wild ride of Hiroyuki Kitakubo, one of Akira 's animators, takes place in the near future - since this was a 1991 work, it's the beginning of the 21st century. An 87-year-old widower named Kijuro Takazawa is the first test subject of an experimental robotic hospital bed designed to meet all the patient's needs. But then Bed starts passing on his thoughts, and things get more dramatic from there (if you thought this story about dying people and the future of healthcare couldn't possibly be turned into a mecha anime, you're wrong). For all the crazy plot developments, there are some smart comments about our rush to ignore the needs of the elderly, and how even "humane" technological advances can be dehumanizing.
Where to stream: YouTube
Akira (1988)
It's one that everyone has heard of, and for good reason: its insanely dynamic animation and highly detailed cityscapes set a new standard for animation - writer/director Katsuhiro Otomo and company with this film A new animated world was born and we're still living in it. This cyberpunk classic is set in the dystopia of 2019 (well, not like our 2019), with biker Kaneda forced to face his friend Tetsuo after the latter gained a mind in an accident transmission capacity. "Akira" isn't just about its action, it's dense enough that it can be hard to follow for those unfamiliar with it - but the film just keeps getting bigger with every scene.
Where to stream: Hulu, Crunchyroll, Funimation
Loggerhead Sea Turtle (2016)
Technically speaking, this Studio Ghibli production is a joint production between a Japanese and a French-Dutch director, perhaps pushing the definition of animation a little (globly we tend to use animation terms that are unequivocally Japanese). But we're not here to find fault, especially with something so endearing and touching. This dialogue-free film tells the story of a man stranded on a desert island with only a giant sea turtle for company, who turns out to be guarding a secret that changes his life. What begins as a tale of survival resonates on a deeper level as their relationship deepens on this powerful emotional journey.
Live broadcast location: Starz
Chili (2006)
Dr. Atsuko Chiba and her colleagues are working on a therapeutic tool, a device that can share dreams. By day, she is a scientist, and by night, her alter ego Paprika is a dream detective, venturing into dreams to help her fellow psychopaths. The device she uses can be emotionally draining if it falls into the wrong hands, so when it's stolen, she knows she has to get it back. Satoshi Kon's mind-bending masterpiece was clearly inspired by Christopher Nolan's Inception, and it works on an emotional and realistic level without leaving the viewer feeling disoriented.
Well, maybe a little disoriented. You'll definitely get lost from time to time, but it'll be worth it.
Where to play: Tubi
Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2018)
To the uninitiated, this movie might be a hard sell, since it's the twentieth Dragon Ball movie, and that's without even mentioning the multiple TV series (and, of course, the long-running manga). Still, you could do a lot worse than this action-packed entry into the series, which is probably the best movie around. Series protagonists Goku and Vegeta encounter the powerful, exiled Saiyan warrior Broly, leading to some typically colorful mayhem. Sensitive and out-of-control Broly makes for a truly tragic antagonist, and the emotional stakes make him slightly above average for Dragon Ball .
Live broadcast location: Crunchyroll
Tokyo Godfathers (2003)
Loosely inspired by John Ford's 1948 The Godfather , the film centers on a drag queen, a runaway teenager and a kind-hearted middle-aged alcoholic living on the streets of Tokyo. On Christmas Eve, strange companions discover a baby in a trash can. With few clues, the trio spends the night searching the streets of Tokyo for the baby's parents. What follows is a touching adventure from director Satoshi Kon, who in his short life and career also directed other classics on this list, including Perfect Blue , Millennium Actress and Paprika ( He died of pancreatic cancer in 2010 at the age of 46).
Where to watch: Tubi, Hoopla, Roku Channel
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)
Tsutsui Yasutaka's 1965 novel of the same name is often cited as an early (and popular) use of the now-familiar time loop narrative, and has been adapted numerous times in Japan. The best version (even the author of the book loves it) is this 2006 anime from director Mamoru Hosoda ( Mirai ), about 17-year-old Makoto Konno, whose slight clumsiness causes her to get in the way of an oncoming train. On the way, she discovers that she has the ability to go back to the past. She quickly deduced that using this power for her own benefit could have unintended consequences, and she began using it only for small and trivial things. This is fine until she also realizes that she can only use her powers a limited number of times. When she needs a change of time the most, the potentially tragic circumstances quickly overwhelm her. Unlike some of the more mature or action-oriented films here, this one perfectly captures the vibe of a shojo manga, with an emphasis on a teenage girl protagonist.
Live broadcast location: Crunchroll
Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie (1994)
For newcomers, trying to find an entry point into any of the big Japanese franchises can be very confusing. It's an adaptation of Capcom's game Street Fighter II , but the movie naturally has more plot than Fighter and is almost entirely standalone. There's not much social redemptive value here, nor emotional resonance... but the film does deliver what the title suggests: sweet violence, with enough character work to make the punches land a little harder. The fight scenes are impressively well choreographed and the animation style, while very '90s, is beautiful.
Where to play: Prime Video
Future (2018)
When his new sister arrives, Millay feels neglected and abandoned, feelings complicated by his father's affectionate but emotionally awkward nature. But then Millais walks into a strange garden that takes him through time and space. He met his mother as a child and his new sister as an adult. There are adventures along the way, but the film's true resonance comes from its quiet, emotional moments and its sensitivity to the complexities of growing up—both for us and for the families with whom we must deal. It always helps to get a new perspective.
Where to Stream: Digital Rental
Red Line (2009)
The plot is simple, but that's by no means a disparagement: this gorgeously hand-drawn thrill ride is still a work of art. On a distant planet, in an evocative future, the most popular race in the galaxy is about to begin. A brave driver is determined to compete, but before he gets the chance, he must defeat crime syndicates, the police and an army of robots. The film flopped at the box office back in 2009, but quickly became a cult classic. It looks like nothing you've ever seen before.
Where to watch: Vudu
Ghost in the Shell (1995)
As a true cyberpunk-minded nerd, Ghost in the Shell easily ranks alongside its spiritual cinematic brethren like Blade Runner or The Matrix (which it was clearly inspired by). The film, from director Mamoru Oshii and screenwriter Kazunori Ito, follows cyborg security officer Motoko Kusanagi as she hunts down a seemingly invincible hacker. The case makes her question not only her identity as a robot with a human mind, but the very nature of reality itself. Along with Akira , the film became the gateway to anime for an entire generation of American fans, and it endures.
Where to stream: Prime Video, Tubi, Freevee
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train (2020)
Mugen Train is a dark fantasy with some old-school shounen flair (albeit from an R-rated perspective), and it picks up after the first season of the Demon Slayer series - which, again, That, coupled with the over-the-top title, might seem to make this a tough recommendation, but it broke box office records in 2021 and became the highest-grossing anime of the year, while garnering critical acclaim and winning awards. While watching the film in order will undoubtedly have some additional resonance, it does a good job on its own telling the story of tragic protagonist Tanjiro Kamado, who boards the titular train determined to save its passengers. The film satisfactorily balances its great action scenes with some real emotional consequences.
Live broadcast location: Funimation, Crunchyroll
Just Yesterday (1991)
Even though Yesterday was the highest-grossing film in Japan in 1991, it's still not as well-known as many of its Studio Ghibli sibling films, which is unfortunate. "Yesterday's Mystery," from director Isao Takahata (who also wrote the non-streaming crime film "Grave of the Fireflies "), tells the story of 27-year-old Taeko Okajima, who works at a company in Tokyo but takes a train to visit family in the countryside. and escape the hectic pace of the city. The journey brings back good and bad memories of her past life, forcing her to reconcile her present with the life she left behind. It's a lovely, melancholic take on life's unexpected paths.
Where to stream: Max
The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)
Takahata capped off his career with this Oscar-nominated film based on the 1,000-year-old folktale "The Tale of the Bamboo Sword". The deceptively simple pencil and watercolor style is endlessly gorgeous. The story itself tells of a woodcutter who discovers a baby in bamboo and ultimately decides that it is his destiny to give her a life like a princess. All this girl wants is the love of her family, but the film plays up the dichotomy between this simple virtue and the need to fulfill the wishes of her family and community.
Where to stream: Max
blame! (2017)
In the future, cities will grow endlessly in all directions like viruses, and humans have long lost control of the automated systems that run things. These systems now view humans as "illegals" to be purged, leaving flesh-and-blood survivors caught between the city's murderous defenses and the need to find food. A group of humans are searching for a genetically marked individual who they believe has access to the city's control systems - a hunt led by Keely, a synth who may hold the key. There's some really cool world-building here, as well as solid CGI animation.
Where to stream: Netflix
Skycrawler (2008)
In a mostly peaceful world (imagine that!), large corporations hire fighter pilots to engage in truly dangerous combat operations that serve as entertainment in part, but also as a way for the people of the world to vent their emotions and experience war. Inner excitement and nationalistic fervor without any devastating consequences. There's a lot going on here, including the pilot's story of being genetically modified to remain a teenager, but the beautifully animated aerial sequence (involving a mysterious attacker endangering an initial reconnaissance flight) is a highlight. Directed by Mamoru Oshii ( "Ghost in the Shell ").
Where to play: Tubi
Josie, the Tiger and the Fish (2020)
A cute encounter between 22-year-old college students Tsuneo and Josee gives way to a more unconventional relationship: Tsuneo is hired by his grandmother as a caregiver for the disabled Josee. Money, tragedy, and a normal life threaten to get in the way of their budding relationship, but the two find themselves drawn back together. Typical "inspirational" disability tropes are kept to a minimum - Josie is a well-rounded character, and the film spends a lot of time highlighting the obstacles that wheelchair users can face in Japan, both culturally and practically.
Where to Stream: Digital Rental
Moon of Kamiyali (2021)
Kanna Hayama was a dedicated runner until her mother passed away, after which she became withdrawn, boring, and refused to share her feelings with friends and family. Of course, we're in an anime fantasy, so she soon meets a fanged demon boy in a race, who's tasked with taking up her mother's mantle and becoming a true racing god, and in a talking race Send her on a mission with the help of people. rabbit. Her adventure sets her on the path to coming to terms with her mother's death and rediscovering her own joy.
Where to stream: Netflix
Weathering With You (2019)
Makoto Shinkai followed up Your Name with an equally successful follow-up, a gorgeous vision of rain-soaked Tokyo and a young woman who can control the weather (visually, the film does as much to water as "Your name does the same thing as light"). A troubled runaway, Hodaka meets and befriends Hina, whose mood affects the weather. All of this has life- and world-threatening consequences, but ultimately, it's about the triumphs and tragedies of first love.
Where to stream: Max
Words bubble like soda (2020)
This is a cute, music-filled teen love story in which shy, haiku-writing Cherry works at a senior center and meets Smile, an outgoing social media influencer who privately struggles with her teeth and braces. Feel embarrassed. They were all deeply insecure in different ways, and each developed their own strategies for coping. Their relationship soon gives way to the story of a couple from five years ago and the pursuit of a record that connects their love story to that of one of Cherry's clients. The stakes are relatively small and entirely personal, which is totally fine. It's energetic and fun, and one of the better modern examples of teen romance in modern anime.
Where to stream: Netflix
Memories (1995)
This sci-fi anthology consists of three short films, each of which is well-crafted and darkly entertaining. The highlight is the opening sequence, titled "Magnetic Blue," directed by animation master Satoshi Kon ( "Perfect Blue," "Tokyo Godfathers , " "Paprika" ), about space recyclers and engineers who discover a haunted and haunting The story of an abandoned space station. It's the perfect blend of science fiction and existential horror.
Where to stream: Prime Video, Tubi
The End of Evangelion (1997)
Hideaki Anno's "Neon Genesis Evangelion" TV series ended in an extremely abstract and shocking whisper, leaving many action-hungry fans cold. They may be cautious about their wishes. The ending of "Neon Genesis Evangelion" shows a side of hell through the perspective of the child soldier protagonist and giant robot pilot Shinji Ikari. The play ends smoothly with images of group therapy, and this alternate ending hinges on an apocalypse so horrific that survival takes the cruelest twist imaginable.
Where to stream: Netflix
Perfect Blue (1997)
Satoshi Kon's "Perfect Blue" isn't for everyone, blurring fantasy and reality and drawing comparisons to Darren Aronofsky's films - of course, the opposite is true, as "Perfect Blue" Appears before the two "Requiem" films, "The Dream" and "Black Swan," echoing them. ( The perfect blue also inspired Madonna, so take your pick). If nothing else, it proves that anime can at least do as well as any medium in the psychological thriller genre. Its story follows a young Japanese singer who is forced to give up her career and work on television, a move that has dire consequences in the best tradition of high-fame stories.
Play location: Shudder
Hayao Miyazaki Collection
Hayao Miyazaki's animation career began in the 1970s, but his work as an artist of global stature really began with 1984's Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind , the first in a series of uninterrupted masterpieces , these masterpieces pushed subsequent animators into new territories. One can easily make the case that without Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli (which he co-founded), we wouldn't have the colorful world of animated films we are lucky enough to see today. Hayao Miyazaki's work could easily take up half of this list, so instead I'd suggest that all of his films are equally great, which is not the same as saying they're all similar.
Among the director's favorite works are Spirited Away (2001), which follows young Chihiro as she rescues her parents from playful creatures in a fantasy world; Princess Mononoke (1997), a An epic environmental fable; Howl's Moving Castle (2004), about a young woman who breaks a curse and a castle with legs; My Neighbor Totoro (1988), a sweet story about two The story of a girl who encounters a strange creature for the first time near her new home. There's really no bad choice, though, and with the exception of Hayao Miyazaki's latest (Oscar winner The Boy and the Heron ), all of them are currently streaming on the Max. While the variety is vast, each is filled with stunning animation and rich detail, and each touches on the trials and challenges of growing up (at any age).
Where to stream: Max
