Anime is an extremely versatile storytelling medium that's made a huge impact not only on television but also in movie theaters. There's an easy appeal in long-running anime series that have hundreds — or even thousands — of episodes to explore. That being said, the average anime fan may not have the necessary time to commit to such sprawling narratives as the ones seen in One Piece or Dragon Ball. A popular way to enjoy anime in a fraction of the time lies in the concise stories told in the top anime movies.

Some of the best anime movies are standalone feature film installments of popular series. However, many anime movies tell completely original stories that don't require any preexisting knowledge. It's not easy to sift through thousands of anime movies, but there are some special cinematic efforts that audiences owe it to themselves to check out.

Updated by Daniel Kurland on March 11, 2024: The list’s ranked order has been slightly adjusted as well as more up-to-date information for each film’s scores, where applicable. Additionally, CBR’s latest style changes are also reflected when it comes to the list’s formatting and presentation, so that it’s more informative and visually dynamic. Links have also been updated to present CBR’s most current content.

40 Redline Is an Adrenaline-Pumping Space Race For Fame And Fortune

Redline (2009) an anime movie
Redline
Not Rated
Anime
Action
Science Fiction

A story about the most popular racing event in the galaxy, the Redline, and the various racers who compete in it.

Release Date
October 9, 2010
Director
Takeshi Koike
Cast
Takuya Kimura , Yû Aoi , Tadanobu Asano
Runtime
1 hour 42 minutes
Main Genre
Anime
Writers
Katsuhito Ishii , Yoji Enokido , Yoshiki Sakurai
Production Company
Gastonia, Madhouse, Madhouse, Tohokushinsha Film Corporation (TFC)

MyAnimeList Rating

8.28

Anime-Planet Rank

#433

IMDb Rating

7.5

From Speed Racer to Initial D, anime has tackled the racing genre with endless enthusiasm and creativity over the years. The racing genre can grow repetitive over an extended anime series, but a feature film is the perfect medium to distill such a fast-paced story. Redline is the directorial debut of prolific animator Takeshi Koike in one of Madhouse's most heightened productions.

Redline is set in a futuristic world where contenders from across the galaxy come together for a high-stakes space race where anything goes. Redline is often style over substance when it comes to the animated artistry and theatrics that take precedence over deep, unique characters. That being said, Redline is still a purely fun anime experience, albeit one that amounts to a shallower experience than the rest of these anime classics.

39 Dragon Ball Super: Broly Is A Love Letter To Bombastic Shonen Action

Dragon Ball Super Broly Movie Poster
Dragon Ball Super: Broly
PG
Action-Adventure

Goku and Vegeta encounter Broly, a Saiyan warrior unlike any fighter they've faced before.

Release Date
December 14, 2014
Director
Tatsuya Nagamine
Cast
Masako Nozawa , Aya Hisakawa , Ryô Horikawa , Toshio Furukawa , Takeshi Kusao
Runtime
100 minutes
Main Genre
Anime
Studio
Toei Animation

MyAnimeList Rating

8.17

Anime-Planet Rank

#305

IMDb Rating

7.7

Related
Why Broly is One of the Best Dragon Ball Stories Ever
Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball has told many tales, but there's a reason that Dragon Ball Super: Broly's story stands out as the series' best.

Dragon Ball Super: Broly canonically introduces Legendary Super Saiyan antagonist, Broly, into the shonen series. Dragon Ball Super: Broly is Dragon Ball Super's first theatrical outing, and it received a positive reception, largely because of its expansion of the Super Saiyan lore. Vegeta and Goku are in prime form, and the film's battles benefit from a proper cinematic budget.

Accordingly, Dragon Ball Super: Broly manages to thrill fans with a unique mixture of cinematography and high-octane action. This is an even greater achievement when considering that Broly is the 20th Dragon Ball movie and the fourth film to tackle Broly's story.

Super Saiyan Blue Goku and Vegeta power up attack against Broly in Dragon Ball Super: Broly.

38 Summer Wars Is A Coming-Of-Age Drama Wrapped In An A.I. Conundrum

Natsuki Shinohara and the others in Summer Wars (2009)
Summer Wars
PG
Anime
Action
Adventure

A student tries to fix a problem he accidentally caused in OZ, a digital world, while pretending to be the fiancé of his friend at her grandmother's 90th birthday.

Release Date
August 1, 2009
Director
Mamoru Hosoda
Cast
Ryûnosuke Kamiki , Nanami Sakuraba
Runtime
1 hour 45 minutes
Main Genre
Anime
Writers
Mamoru Hosoda , Satoko Okudera
Production Company
Madhouse, Nippon Television Network (NTV), Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co., D.N. Dream Partners, Warner Bros., Yomiuri Television, Video Audio Project (VAP)

MyAnimeList Rating

8.02

Anime-Planet Rank

#391

IMDb Rating

7.4

Mamoru Hosoda is the perfect anime storyteller for a tale about fantastical creatures and a metaverse apocalypse that could spill over into the real world. Hosoda cut his teeth on the first Digimon movie and Summer Wars very much feels like an evolution of the ideas and themes in Digimon Adventure: Our War Game!

Summer Wars unpacks how humanity is both indebted to technology and artificial intelligence but also destined to become obsolete because of it. Summer Wars effectively blends a coming-of-age story about young love with its larger-than-life A.I. dilemma, all of which looks absolutely beautiful.

Summer Wars cast outside together with trucks and TVs.

37 Tekkonkinkreet Fights To Protect A Rich Utopia From Corrupt Criminals

Michael Arias in Tekkonkinkreet (2006)
Tekkonkinkreet
R
Anime
Action
Adventure

Original title: Tekkon kinkurîto
Two boys defend Treasure Town and Yakuza try to take over and clear it for new development.

Release Date
December 23, 2006
Director
Michael Arias
Cast
Kazunari Ninomiya , Yû Aoi , Yusuke Iseya
Runtime
1 hour 51 minutes
Main Genre
Anime
Writers
Anthony Weintraub , Taiyo Matsumoto
Production Company
Aniplex, Asmik Ace Entertainment, Beyond C., Shogakukan, Studio 4°C, Tokyo MX

MyAnimeList Rating

7.95

Anime-Planet Rank

#1405

IMDb Rating

7.5

Directed by The Animatrix producer Michael Arias, Tekkonkinkreet is a Studio 4°C feature that's a stunning examination of community, pride, and the lengths that people will go to protect what they love. It's not unusual for a city or location to become a character itself, but Tekkonkinkreet really celebrates this idea as two orphans — White and Black — do everything in their power to protect their home from falling into corruption by the Yakuza.

Underdog stories can be a lot of fun, and Black and White are fully-formed characters who nicely complement one another. Beyond Tekkonkinkreet's emotional story and passionate characters, it's just a visual marvel that's rich in creative, expressive architecture.

36 Jujutsu Kaisen 0 Begins Geto And Gojo's Clash

Jujutsu Kaisen 0 Film Poster
Jujutsu Kaisen 0
PG-13
Anime
Action
Fantasy

The prequel to Jujutsu Kaisen (2020), where a high schooler gains control of an extremely powerful cursed spirit and gets enrolled in the Tokyo Prefectural Jujutsu High School by Jujutsu Sorcerers.

Release Date
March 18, 2022
Director
Seong-Hu Park
Cast
Chinatsu Akasaki , Aya Endo , Kana Hanazawa , Shō Hayami , Satoshi Hino
Runtime
112 minutes
Main Genre
Anime
Writers
Gege Akutami , Hiroshi Seko
Studio
MAPPA
Where to watch
Crunchyroll

MyAnimeList Rating

8.5

Anime-Planet Rank

#57

IMDb Rating

7.8

Jujutsu Kaisen 0 is a film that precedes the events of the first season. The story follows a young man named Yuta Okkotsu who is possessed by the Cursed Spirit of his deceased best friend. Haunted by his constant companion, Yuta is taken in by Satoru Gojo and the other students of Jujutsu High. Yet, as Yuta learns how to handle his powers, Suguru Geto has plans in store for the world of Sorcery.

Jujutsu Kaisen 0 continues the show’s bombastic action mixed with horror. At its heart is a coming-of-age story as Yuta not only grows into his powers but deals with his grief enough to let his friend Rika Orimoto’s spirit go. The movie also beautifully sets up the events of the show’s second season by giving audiences even more context to the complicated relationship between Gojo and Geto. Its gorgeous animation only adds to the story, making it one of the best anime movies.

Yuta Okkotsu brandishes a cursed blade in Jujutsu Kaisen 0.

35 The Girl Who Leapt Through Time Is A Cautionary Tale About Accepting Mistakes

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
TV-PG
Anime
Adventure
Comedy

A high-school girl named Makoto acquires the power to travel back in time, and decides to use it for her own personal benefits. Little does she know that she is affecting the lives of others just as much as she is her own.

Release Date
July 15, 2006
Director
Mamoru Hosoda
Runtime
1 hour 38 minutes
Main Genre
Anime
Writers
Satoko Okudera
Production Company
Madhouse, Happinet(I)., Kadokawa Pictures

MyAnimeList Rating

8.11

Anime-Planet Rank

#407

IMDb Rating

7.7

Time travel tales are prevalent in anime, but Mamoru Hosoda's The Girl Who Leapt Through Time uses this heightened sci-fi concept to tell a deeply human story about independence, free will, and why imperfections are a necessary part of life. Makoto Konno is a 17-year-old high school student who learns that she can jump through time and change the past. Makoto relishes the ability to re-write mundane mistakes from her life, whether they're embarrassing social situations or just doing better on a test at school.

However, Makoto learns that these leaps that improve her life result in other people's suffering. Newly inspired, Makoto tries to reapply her power to help others rather than selfishly focus on herself.

Makoto leaping through the air from The Girl Who Leapt Through Time.

34 I Want To Eat Your Pancreas Grapples With Death

I Want To Eat Your Pancreas
I Want To Eat Your Pancreas
Not Rated
Drama
Romance
Family

A high school student discovers one of his classmates, Sakura Yamauchi, is suffering from a terminal illness. This secret brings the two together, as she lives out her final moments.

Release Date
September 1, 2018
Director
Shin'ichirô Ushijima
Cast
Lynn , Mahiro Takasugi , Yukiyo Fujii
Runtime
1 hour 49 minutes
Main Genre
Animation
Studio
Studio Voln
Producer
Shin'ichirô Kashiwada, Yûma Takahashi
Production Company
ABC Animation, Aniplex, East Japan Marketing & Communications Inc.

MyAnimeList Rating

8.6

Anime-Planet Rank

#110

IMDb Rating

8.0

I Want To Eat Your Pancreas is a haunting anime film about the inevitability and unpredictability of death. When a teen boy meets a classmate named Sakura Yamauchi and discovers she has a terminal pancreatic illness, she ropes him into helping her complete her bucket list before she dies.

Despite her deteriorating condition, Sakura has a positive outlook on death and shares it with the main character. Although they know their time together is short, the protagonist and Sakura fall in love as they learn more about each other. This anime movie is a touching view of grief and death, while also giving audiences a powerful love story.

Haruki and Sakura eating ramen in I Want to Eat Your Pancreas

33 Paprika Is A Kaleidoscopic Dream Heist Through The Human Mind

A poster for the anime, paprika
Paprika
R
Anime
Drama Fantasy

When a machine that allows therapists to enter their patients' dreams is stolen, all hell breaks loose. Only a young female therapist, Paprika, can stop it.

Release Date
June 22, 2007
Director
Satoshi Kon
Cast
Megumi Hayashibara , Tōru Emori , Katsunosuke Hori , Tôru Furuya , Koichi Yamadera , Akio Otsuka , Hideyuki Tanaka , Satomi Kôrogi
Runtime
90 Minutes
Main Genre
Anime
Writers
Yasutaka Tsutsui , Seishi Minakami , Satoshi Kon
Production Company
Madhouse, Sony Pictures Entertainment

MyAnimeList Rating

8.04

Anime-Planet Rank

#956

IMDb Rating

7.7

All of Satoshi Kon's anime works are masterpieces, but Paprika — the director's final feature film — hits especially hard and feels like the synthesis of his entire career. A powerful device that's meant to be a psychiatric aid falls into the wrong hands and becomes a dangerous tool that can brainwash individuals through their dreams.

The heist to acquire this controversial tech blurs the lines between the real world and the subconscious, which results in surreal, exciting visuals that represent Kon at the top of his game. Paprika gets into the whole "dream heist" concept long before Christopher Nolan's Inception, and anyone who loves that sci-fi/action film owes it to themselves to check out Paprika.

32 Weathering With You Reflects The Fragile Human Condition Through The World's Weather

Hodaka and Hina in the rain in Makoto Shinkai's Weathering With You
Weathering With You
PG-13
Romance
Fantasy

Set during a period of exceptionally rainy weather, high-school boy Hodaka Morishima runs away from his troubled rural home to Tokyo and befriends an orphan girl who can manipulate the weather.

Release Date
July 19, 2019
Director
Makoto Shinkai
Runtime
112 minutes
Main Genre
Animation
Studio
Toho Animation
Production Company
CoMix-Wave Films

MyAnimeList Rating

8.28

Anime-Planet Rank

#234

IMDb Rating

7.5

Makoto Shinkai's filmography is full of heartbreaking love stories that are greatly interested in society's relationship with the natural world. Weathering With You unites two psychologically lost teens who find kinship and community in each other's company during a season of intense rainfall.

Hodaka learns that his new friend, Hina, can actually control the weather, which turns into a compelling story about the complicated circle of life and the roles that everyone plays. While not as emotionally resonant as Shinkai's Your Name or Suzume, Weathering With You is still top-tier anime storytelling with photo-realistic visuals that are easy to get lost in.

Hodaka and Hina looking at the sun in Weathering With You

31 Pom Poko Is An Enlightening Exploration Of Nature’s Endless Wonders

A family of tanuki play music together in Studio Ghibli's Pom Poko.

MyAnimeList Rating

7.30

Anime-Planet Rank

#3907

IMDb Rating

7.3

Related
10 Most Realistic Anime Movies, Ranked
Grave of the Fireflies and Garden of Words are among some of the best anime films to examine real-world problems in a believable way.

Isao Takahata is a landmark name in animation, and one of Studio Ghibli's fundamental pillars. Takahata's most acclaimed Ghibli film is Grave of the Fireflies, but Pom Poko is a '90s gem that tackles urban sprawl and mankind's negligent relationship with the environment that feels like the successor of Miyazaki's Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and a stepping-stone to Princess Mononoke. Pom Poko focuses on a lovable clan of tanuki — mythical creatures from folklore who are supposed to bring good fortune — who see their forest home in jeopardy of destruction from overbearing urban development.

Pom Poko effortlessly uses fantastical creatures to illuminate audiences — particularly children — to a very real problem in the world that's liable to only get worse without proper intervention. It's the undeniable power of a Studio Ghibli movie.

30 Howl's Moving Castle Is A Magical Movie About Youthfulness And Power

The cover art for Hayao Miyazaki's Howl's Moving Castle anime film
Howl's Moving Castle
PG
Adventure
Family

When an unconfident young woman is cursed with an old body by a spiteful witch, her only chance of breaking the spell lies with a self-indulgent yet insecure young wizard and his companions in his legged, walking castle.

Release Date
June 17, 2005
Director
Hayao Miyazaki
Cast
Takuya Kimura , Tatsuya Gashûin , Chieko Baisho
Runtime
1 Hour 59 Minutes
Main Genre
Animation
Studio
Studio Ghibli
Writers
Hayao Miyazaki , Diana Wynne Jones

MyAnimeList Rating

8.66

Anime-Planet Rank

#57

IMDb Rating

8.2

Howl's Moving Castle is a Hayao Miyazaki movie that's inspired by the novel of the same name. The story is set in a world where magic and 20th-century technology co-exist, but this has resulted in a bitter war between two disadvantaged kingdoms. A conflict between magic and nature is prime material for Studio Ghibli, but it occasionally leans a little too far into the limitless nature of Howl's magic.

Howl's Moving Castle begins with Sophie, a young girl, who gets cursed by a jealous witch to live out her days as an elderly woman. A courageous wizard named Howl becomes Sophie's champion and her only hope of returning to normal. Howl's Moving Castle looks stunning and is proof of how much each Studio Ghibli movie visually improves from the last. However, this chaotic magic occasionally results in a story that's style over substance.

Young Sophie and blonde Howl and holding hands walking through the air from Howl’s Moving Castle.

29 Kiki's Delivery Service Is A Fantasy Coming-Of-Age Story

Kiki's Delivery Service
Kiki's Delivery Service
G
Drama
Family
Fantasy

A young witch, on her mandatory year of independent life, finds fitting into a new community difficult while she supports herself by running an air courier service.

Release Date
December 20, 1990
Director
Hayao Miyazaki
Cast
Kirsten Dunst , Phil Hartman , Janeane Garofalo , Matthew Lawrence
Runtime
1 Hour 43 Minutes
Main Genre
Animation
Writers
Eiko Kadono , Hayao Miyazaki
Studio
Studio Ghibli
Production Company
Kiki's Delivery Service Production Committee, Nibariki, Nippon Television Network (NTV)

AnimeList Rating

8.22

Anime-Planet Rank

#481

IMDb Rating

7.8

Kiki’s Delivery Service is another Hayao Miyazaki classic from Studio Ghibli. The story of a young witch learning to find her place in the world is both relatable and fantastic. It’s full of Miyazaki’s signature aerial sequences and it has a lot of heart as well.

The characters in this film are endearing as they help Kiki on her journey to become a fully-fledged witch. Her new friends may not be her biological family, but they stand up for and protect Kiki during her most trying times. By the end of the film, Kiki has regained her confidence and seems to have finally found a place to belong.

Kiki and Jiji From Kiki’s Delivery Service riding her broom

28 Wolf Children Is A Touching Tale About What It Means To Be A Family

Japanese movie poster featuring a woman and two children. Wolf Children (2012)
Wolf Children
PG
Anime
Drama
Family

After her werewolf lover unexpectedly dies in an accident while hunting for food for their children, a young woman must find ways to raise the werewolf son and daughter that she had with him while keeping their trait hidden from society.

Release Date
July 21, 2012
Director
Mamoru Hosoda
Cast
Aoi Miyazaki , Takao Osawa , Haru Kuroki
Runtime
1 hour 57 minutes
Main Genre
Anime
Writers
Mamoru Hosoda , Satoko Okudera
Production Company
Nippon Television Network (NTV), Studio Chizu, Madhouse

MyAnimeList Rating

8.57

Anime-Planet Rank

#79

IMDb Rating

8.1

Related
Wolf Children Celebrates 10th Anniversary With Heartwarming New Art
Studio Chizu is commemorating the 10th Anniversary of their hit film Wolf Children with brand new artwork featuring Yuki, Ame and their mother Hana.

Wolf Children is a strong contender for best anime movie and an early glimpse of Mamoru Hosoda's skills as a storyteller. Wolf Children follows Hana, a single mother who raises two very peculiar half-human, half-wolf children after the death of their werewolf father. Wolf Children highlights the selfless sacrifice that's necessary to be a family. Hana's task isn't easy, and she faces difficulties when it comes to hiding her adoptive children's true nature.

Wolf Children tells a sweet, heartwarming story that mixes fantasy with grounded hope. Hosoda's film reminds audiences that families come in many shapes and sizes. There's nothing wrong with being different, and sometimes the greatest love comes from those who have lost the most.

Wolf Children farming

27 Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' On Heaven's Door Matches The Heights Of The Anime Series

Spike, Faye, and Elektra on the Cowboy Bebop The Movie (2001) poster
Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' On Heaven's Door
TV-14
Anime
Crime
Action

Original title: Cowboy Bebop: Tengoku no tobira
A terrorist explosion releases a deadly virus on the masses, and it's up to the bounty-hunting Bebop crew to catch the cold-blooded culprit.

Release Date
May 16, 2003
Director
Shinichirô Watanabe , Mary Elizabeth McGlynn
Cast
Beau Billingslea , Melissa Fahn , Nicholas Guest
Runtime
1 hour 55 minutes
Main Genre
Anime
Writers
Keiko Nobumoto , Shinichirô Watanabe , Hajime Yatate
Production Company
Bandai Visual Company, BonesBones

MyAnimeList Rating

8.38

Anime-Planet Rank

#355

IMDb Rating

7.8

Shinichiro Watanabe's Cowboy Bebop is one of anime's greatest triumphs, and it concludes with a satisfying epilogue in the form of a feature film, Knockin' on Heaven's Door. Set between the anime's 22nd and 23rd episodes, the Cowboy Bebop movie tells a massive sci-fi tale of chemical terrorism on Mars. Cowboy Bebop: The Movie captures all of the series' magic with this suspenseful standalone story that still feels important.

Every character shines, but Knockin' on Heaven's Door contains absolutely stunning visuals that are at their best during Spike's hand-to-hand fight sequences and the film's jazzy slice-of-life opening theme song. It's a movie that will entertain both hardcore Cowboy Bebop fans and complete newcomers.

26 Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind Is A Nihilistic Look At Nature's Decay

The poster of Nausicaa: Of The Valley Of The Wind
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
NR
Adventure
Science Fiction

Warrior and pacifist Princess Nausicaä desperately struggles to prevent two warring nations from destroying themselves and their dying planet.

Release Date
March 11, 1984
Director
Hayao Miyazaki
Cast
Sumi Shimamoto , Hisako Kanemoto , Gorô Naya , Yôji Matsuda
Main Genre
Anime
Studio
Studio Ghibli
Writers
Hayao Miyazaki

MyAnimeList Rating

8.36

Anime-Planet Rank

#313

IMDb Rating

8.0

Released in 1984, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind tells the touching story of a young princess who dedicates her life to a better understanding of the world she lives in. Nausicaä covers an ambitious, broad timeline that begins 1000 years prior to its central character's antics. An apocalyptic war is triggered by industrial and technological advancements, which leave civilization's natural wonders in ruin.

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind dwells on the toxicity that this war has caused and how it continues to infect the world. These are important ideals that Miyazaki would return to and expand upon in Princess Mononoke, but they're still rich in Nausicaä. Nausicaä is one of Miyazaki's most charming protagonists, and it's hard not to empathize with her mission to save and share the world against those committed to its destruction.

Nausicaa stands with Teto on her shoulder in Ghibli's Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

25 The Tale Of Princess Kaguya Is An Aesthetic Marvel That's Full Of Heart

The Tale Of Princess Kaguya
The Tale of Princess Kaguya
PG
Drama
Family

Found inside a shining stalk of bamboo by an old bamboo cutter and his wife, a tiny girl grows rapidly into an exquisite young lady. The mysterious young princess enthralls all who encounter her, but ultimately she must confront her fate, the punishment for her crime.

Release Date
November 23, 2013
Director
Isao Takahata
Cast
Chloe Grace Moretz , James Caan , Mary Steenburgen
Runtime
2 Hours 17 Minutes
Main Genre
Animation
Writers
Isao Takahata , Riko Sakaguchi
Production Company
Studio Ghibli, Dentsu, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners

MyAnimeList Rating

8.21

Anime-Planet Rank

#644

IMDb Rating

8.0

The Tale of Princess Kaguya is guaranteed to evoke intense emotions in its viewers. The heavy film intentionally aims to bring its audience to tears, and it achieves this goal in a manner that feels genuine rather than manipulative. The titular Princess Kaguya experiences a tough lot in life as her adoptive parents come to learn that she's an ethereal being and no ordinary child.

Princess Kaguya's attempts to integrate herself into society among humans drive the film forward. Kaguya connects with the people around her in a way that highlights what it truly means to be human and how emotions are what give existence purpose. The film's powerful message, in addition to its gorgeous watercolor-esque art style, helped it resonate with audiences and also earn an Academy Award nomination.

Princess Kaguya in her room looking peaceful in The Tale of Princess Kaguya

24 Whisper Of The Heart Is A Quiet Look Into A Humble Romance

Whisper Of The Heart
Whisper of the Heart (1996)
G
Drama
Family

A love story between a girl who loves reading books, and a boy who has previously checked out all of the library books she chooses.

Release Date
December 13, 1996
Runtime
1 Hour 51 Minutes
Main Genre
Animation
Story By
Characters By
Yoko Honna, Issei Takahashi, Takashi Tachibana
Production Company
Tokuma Shoten, Nippon Television Network (NTV), Hakuhodo

MyAnimeList Rating

8.22

Anime-Planet Rank

#441

IMDb Rating

7.8

There's an overpowering trend where anime gets shoehorned into the action genre, which can begin to feel repetitive. Whisper of the Heart breaks free of this stasis as an inventive subversion of romantic comedies and their emotional tropes. Whisper of the Heart banks on lovable characters and an effortless story where it's hard not to get invested in their growing, earnest union.

Whisper of the Heart crafts a touching relationship between a bookworm and a violin maker that's likely to resonate with audiences who aren't typically won over by anime movies. Whisper of the Heart highlights the tender side of cinematic anime love stories.

Seiji playing violin as Shizuku sings in Whisper of the Heart

23 Castle In The Sky Depicts Grandiose Adventures That Defy Gravity

Castle in the Sky (1986)
Castle in the Sky
PG

Original title: Tenkû no shiro Rapyuta
A young boy and a girl with a magic crystal must race against pirates and foreign agents in a search for a legendary floating castle.

Director
Hayao Miyazaki
Cast
Mayumi Tanaka , Keiko Yokozawa , Kotoe Hatsui
Runtime
2 hours 5 minutes
Writers
Hayao Miyazaki , Jonathan Swift
Production Company
Tokuma Shoten, Studio Ghibli

MyAnimeList Rating

8.26

Anime-Planet Rank

#484

IMDb Rating

8.0

All of Hayao Miyazaki's feature films deserve accolades, and Castle in the Sky caused a significant stir back during its release in the '80s. Miyazaki's cinematic efforts always push visual boundaries, but Castle in the Sky is a technical marvel that still stands out nearly four decades later. Castle in the Sky tells the moving story of a boy and girl who long to locate a mysterious floating castle. Aerial innovation is a consistent theme in Miyazaki's works, and Castle in the Sky begins to push these interests to rewarding places.

Castle in the Sky isn't lacking when it comes to scope or its sense of adventure. That being said, there's also lyrical dialogue and infinitely quotable conversations that celebrate these characters' humanity just as much as the fantastical journey that they find themselves on. Castle in the Sky is an exceptional Studio Ghibli gateway movie, but Miyazaki's follow-up films do more with these themes.

22 My Neighbor Totoro Combines Cute Creatures With Coming-of-Age Catharsis

Satsuki and Totoro at the bust stop in the rain in Studio Ghibli's My Neighbor Totoro
My Neighbor Totoro
G

When two girls move to the country to be near their ailing mother, they have adventures with the wondrous forest spirits who live nearby.

Release Date
April 16, 1988
Director
Hayao Miyazaki
Main Genre
Anime
Studio
Studio Ghibli

MyAnimeList Rating

8.25

Anime-Planet Rank

#258

IMDb Rating

8.1

Related
10 Best Name Meanings In Studio Ghibli Movies, Ranked
A name says a lot about a character's personality and motivation. Writers and Studio Ghibli creators put careful thought into the names they choose.

My Neighbor Totoro is one of Hayao Miyazaki's greatest accomplishments at Studio Ghibli, and it's become a permanent fixture of pop culture. Totoro and the other magical creatures in this fantasy adventure have not just been referenced countless times over in other anime but even in American productions like South Park.

My Neighbor Totoro doesn't stray far from classic Studio Ghibli sensibilities. Satsuki and Mei are initially discouraged by their family's move to the quiet countryside. Their boredom comes to a close once they befriend Totoro and many other adorable forest creatures. My Neighbor Totoro isn't as deep as some of Miyazaki's other films, but it more than makes up for it in the fantasy department.

Totoro and children fish from a tree branch in Ghibli's My Neighbor Totoro

21 Only Yesterday Is An Emotional Escapade Into Youth & Regret

Only Yesterday
Only Yesterday
PG
Drama
Romance

A twenty-seven-year-old office worker travels to the countryside while reminiscing about her childhood in Tokyo.

Director
Isao Takahata
Release Date
February 26, 2016
Cast
Miki Imai , Toshirô Yanagiba
Writers
David Freedman
Runtime
1 Hour 59 Minutes
Main Genre
Animation
Production Company
Nippon Television Network (NTV), Polyphony Digital Animation, Studio Ghibli

MyAnimeList Rating

7.44

Anime-Planet Rank

#3102

IMDb Rating

7.6

Only Yesterday is an early '90s masterpiece that again reiterates the raw power and emotional honesty of Isao Takahata's stories. There are many anime feature films that consider the adage of how "the grass is always greener on the other side," but Only Yesterday combines the concept with a sheltered, simple lifestyle that undergoes a radical paradigm shift. Taeko Okajima leaves her comfort zone — and Tokyo — when she visits her sister and her family. This trip prompts Taeko to reflect on her childhood, for better and for worse, and if the current life that she lives would delight or disappoint her younger self.

Only Yesterday indulges in extended flashbacks as Taeko escapes into her mind, but there's a painful bluntness to the story that's heavy in regret and questions over what constitutes the "perfect life." It's a stark story that hit even harder during its initial release in 1991.

Taeko, from her past, in Studio Ghibli's Only Yesterday.