A new year brings a lot of new anime to the forefront. Whether it is mainstream series returning for new seasons, like The Promised Neverland or Beastars, or completely new anime titles like Sk8 the Infinity and Horimiya, 2021 is giving fans a lot to look forward to.
Seasonal anime is not the only thing on the menu for 2021. The year is also filled with many anime movies that will be dropping in the next twelve months. There are completely new titles coming along as well as movies from some of our favorite anime series. Fans may not know for certain how viewing anime movies in 2021 will look like, but they know for sure there are a lot of great titles coming their way.
10 Anticipated: My Hero Academia Movie 3
After the mega-hit that was the My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising movie, fans were left waiting for the big thing in My Hero Academia. Luckily, they did not have to wait too long as it was announced in November 2020 that a third My Hero Academia movie is in the works.
The studio behind the anime and the previous two movies confirmed that the third movie, which features Bakugo, Deku, and Todoroki on the teaser image, will be releasing in the summer of 2021 in Japan. While there isn't any information on when it will be releasing in the United States, fans have the 5th season of the series to hold them over until then.
9 Not Talked About: Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop
A love story about a boy who struggles with communication and a popular content creator girl who hides her braces behind a mask is what awaits fans in the movie Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop, or Cider no You ni Kotoba ga Wakiagaru. This love story from the director of the hit Your Lie In April, Kyohei Ishiguro, was originally set to premiere in May but was pushed back to June due to COVID-19.
Starting teens Cherry and Smile, this slice of life romance follows the meeting of these teens and the adventures that ensue as they connect through music and text.
8 Anticipated: Sailor Moon Eternal 1 & 2
Since its debut in 1991, Sailor Moon has had a tight hold on fans and 31 years later, there is no sign of stopping. Originally set to premiere in September 2020, the Sailor Moon Eternal movies pick up after season three of Sailor Moon Crystal.
The first part of Sailor Moon Eternal premiered in Japan on January 8, 2021, and the second part is slated to premiere on February 11, 2021. There has not been an announcement for the United States releases dates but fans are hopeful they will be coming soon.
7 Not Talked About: Shika no Ou
The film Shika no Ou, or The Deer King, is based on a best-selling Japanese light novel of the same name. The story follows Van, a lone survivor of The Lone Antlers warriors, and his journey with a little girl he rescues named Yuna.
Production I.G, the studio behind Haikyuu!! and Run with the Wind, is responsible for bringing the story to life. Originally, it was set to open in Japanese theaters on September 18 2020 but was pushed back to 2021. While not a lot is known about the project and no trailers have been released, the light novel has gained a lot of traction and has fans curious to see the movie adaptation.
6 Anticipated: Evangelion 3.0 + 1.0 Thrice Upon A Time
Since it was brought to Netflix in 2019, the Neon Genesis Evangelion series has remained at the forefront of the conversation. What once had a cult following, now has resurged old fans and reeled in new ones to await the next chapter in the story. While there are many Evangelion movies, Evangelion: 3.0 + 1.0 Thrice Upon A Time, is the conclusion of the "Rebuild of Evangelion" movie series.
The movie was also set to be realized in 2020 but due to COVID-19 is now getting a release date of January 23, 2021. With 10 minutes of the film being available online and a bunch of trailers out, this movie has fans buzzing with high expectations of what's to come.
5 Not Talk About Enough: Misaki no Mayoiga
From David Production, the studio behind Fire Force and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure comes an adaptation from a novel, Misaki no Mayoiga, or The Abandoned House by the Cape. The story by author Sachiko Kashiwaba followers a 17-year-old girl, Moeka, living in a home surrounded by new people after losing her parents in an earthquake.
The story is part of a project that honors the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami that occurred 10 years ago in Japan. There is not an official release date as of yet aside from the year 2021.
4 Anticipated: Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash
The Mobile Suit Gundam series is nothing short of a household name even for non-anime fans. Since the inception of the anime series in 1979, there have been many anime, OVAs, movies, and specials all taking place in the Gundam universe. This year, a new trilogy based on the Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway novel is on its way.
The first movie produced by Sunrise studios, which is behind fan favorites Inuyasha and Code Geass, among other titles, will be released on May 7, 2021. The following two movies do not have release dates yet.
3 Not Talked About Enough: Aria The Crepuscolo
The latest movie in the Aria franchise is also making its way to Japanese theaters this year. Aria The Crepuscolo. The Aria franchise which debuted in 2005, has a few anime, OVA's, and movies under its belt and is a slice of life series that takes place on the planet formally known as Mars.
The movie was set to premiere in 2020 to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the anime, Aria the Animation. The movie was pushed back and will be opening in spring 2021 in Japan.
2 Anticipated: Sword Art Online: Progressive Movie
For fans of Sword Art Online, 2021 will bring them an in-depth look at the events from the first season in the Sword Art Online game from point of view of Kirito and Asana. The Sword Art Online: Progressive The Movie is based on the light novels by the same name. The movie will follow the journey from each floor more closely, especially detailing a lot of Asana's struggles in the game.
The movie, which's official title is Sword Art Online The Movie: Aria of a Starless Night is set to drop sometime in 2021 in Japan.
1 Not Talked Enough About: Pompo the Cinephile
Set in the fictitious town of Nyallywood, Pompo: The Cinephile (or Eiga Daisuki Pompo-san) is the story of Gene Fini, an assistant under the director Joelle Pomponette, aka Pompo-san. Pompo-san has only been able to make B-class films and has not found her footing yet in the competitive movie industry.
The movie follows Gene trying to help bring Pompo-san's script to life and create an amazing movie, as Pompo-san has given him the power to direct it. The movie is set to open in Japanese theaters on June 4, 2021.