Anime remains an incredibly versatile and creative form of entertainment that’s led to some of the most entertaining animated content from the past decades. There are dozens of new anime series that come out every year, but what’s considerably rarer is the number of anime feature films that get released. The stories told in anime movies sometimes can’t compare with the more drawn-out narratives present in the series.
Some amazing talents had built names for themselves in the anime film industry. The 2000s, in particular, feature some remarkable movies that are just as strong now as they were back when they were originally released and titles that have not aged as gracefully.
10 Has Aged Well: Summer Wars Expands On Mamoru Hosoda’s Fascination With The Artificial
Mamoru Hosoda is one of the most exciting names currently working in anime, and he’s frequently considered a successor to Hayao Miyazaki. Hosoda has put together an enviable filmography where each of his movies shows growth and maturity. Hosoda’s Summer Wars is far from a bad movie, but it seems somewhat simple compared to the director’s other works, even from the same decade, like The Girl Who Lept Through Time. Summer Wars juxtaposes a fantastical virtual world against reality and creates a tense ticking clock scenario, but it becomes more about the visuals and energy than the powerful themes.
9 Hasn’t Aged Well: Pokémon 3: The Movie Begins Diminishing Returns For The Franchise
The Pokémon franchise is still going strong decades after its debut, and feature films in the franchise are a regular event, with nearly two dozen movies released at this point. The first two Pokémon movies were massive theatrical successes outside of Japan, but Pokémon 3: The Movie begins to show franchise fatigue set in. It’s what caused the movies to no longer get regular theatrical releases outside of Japan. Pokémon 3: The Movie is standard storytelling for a Pokémon movie where new Legendary creatures appear, but it feels highly disposable now that so many other, superior Pokémon movies exist.
8 Has Aged Well: Ponyo Is A Loving, Underrated Classic From Hayao Miyazaki
All of Hayao Miyazaki's works are masterpieces, but 2008’s Ponyo often gets overlooked compared to Miyazaki’s other directorial efforts from the decade, like Howl’s Moving Castle and especially Spirited Away. Ponyo presents a delicate fish out of water story that explores freedom and labels themes remarkably.
The premise where Ponyo is pulled between two worlds isn’t exactly original, but Miyazaki’s execution is sublime, and there’s such clear passion in this project. Ponyo looks like a cute movie, but it’s so much more, and its message is even stronger now.
7 Hasn’t Aged Well: Blood: The Last Vampire Is Paint-By-Numbers Storytelling
Blood: The Last Vampire was a big deal during its release back in 2000, but it doesn't feel like anything special when viewed through a current lens. There's a pedestrian storyline where a half-vampire hunter pledges to eradicate as many vampires as possible on the eve of Halloween. Blood: The Last Vampire got attention because of its brutal and gory action sequences by Production I.G. Blood's art design now looks dated, and other vampire movies from the same decade, like Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, do a better job with comparable material.
6 Has Aged Well: Redline Is A Visual Extravaganza That’s Not To Be Missed
Sometimes an anime movie connects because of its deep story, but other films exist purely as visual spectacles that try to push the medium to new places. Redline is a fast-paced adrenaline ride about a dangerous race where mysterious racers will stoop to anything to win. Redline streamlines its story and character motivations in favor of remarkable sequences that turn this race into kaleidoscopic bliss. Redline is a movie that definitely grows on its audience, and many of its visual tricks are still being done now with new animated films.
5 Hasn’t Aged Well: Sword Of The Stranger Is Style Over Substance
Stories about samurai and revenge are incredibly prolific in anime, which means that a movie has to work extra hard to make such a story stand out from the crowd. Sword of the Stranger is a 2007 movie that doesn't reinvent the wheel and focuses on a troubled swordsman that struggles with his values as he also tries to keep a young boy and his dog safe.
Standard animation and script work don't do Sword of the Stranger any favors, and what could have been an emotionally charged narrative instead feels like a rough draft for a better movie.
4 Has Aged Well: Mind Game Is A Stunning Anthology From A Modern Master
Masaaki Yuasa is one of the most groundbreaking voices in anime, and every one of his films breaks the rules and redefines character designs, color palettes, and animation styles. Yuasa consistently crafts hyperbolized animation that exceeds expectations and falls back on tender characterization. Mind Game follows a man’s messy journey to share his love with his crush and avoid the yakuza's execution in the process. Mind Game is such a trip because it uses an anthology approach with many art styles, yet they all tell a common story and are helmed by Yuasa rather than multiple voices.
3 Hasn’t Aged Well: Ghost In The Shell 2: Innocence Becomes Too Heady For Its Own Good
Mamoru Oshii is a master storyteller, and Ghost in the Shell remains one of the most formative anime cyberpunk narratives. Many movies are worse than Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, but the sequel amounts to an overly ambitious project that doesn't completely hit its mark. Innocence's story revolves around several mechanical pleasure robots that rebel against their masters, which is considerably more shallow than the previous movie's plot. Ghost in the Shell 2 still has stunning animation and teases some compelling ideas, but it feels increasingly less essential as more Ghost in the Shell content comes out.
2 Has Aged Well: Paprika Is A Surreal Mystery Where Anything Is Possible
Satoshi Kon was one of the strongest and most creative voices of his generation, and honestly, most of his filmography could fit on this list from the 2000s. Kon doesn’t have a weak link in his career, but his final film, Paprika, is easily one of the most visually stunning and psychologically rich. The film dives into the abstract world of imagination and fantasy as a “dream detective” tries to recover an important and dangerous piece of stolen tech. Other modern masterpieces, like Inception, owe a lot to Kon’s Paprika.
1 Hasn’t Aged Well: The Place Promised In Our Early Days Is Novice Work From Makoto Shinkai
Makoto Shinkai is another true anime auteur, and his theatrical contributions from the past decade, like Your Name and Weathering With You, are some of the best anime films of all time. The Place Promised in Our Early Days is a relatively weaker Shinkai contribution when in contrast to his other movies. Shinkai loves stories where romance is separated through impossible circumstances. The Place Promised in Our Early Days explores an alternate history where Japan is divided and controlled by the United States. The film is still emotional, but Shinkai has perfected this formula in his later movies.