Anime usually get released as a series given that they cover generally large source material and fans are so used to this format. However once in a while, anime movies get released that are supposed to cover chapters that are too compact to break up into episodes. Some are well-received and some aren’t but they usually generate tons of excitement whenever they are announced. In today’s article, we will cover the best anime movies of all time we believe you should definitely watch.
- My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission
- The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
- The Last: Naruto the Movie
- Boruto: Naruto The Movie
- One Piece Film: Red
- Akira
- Weathering with You
- Nausicaä: Valley of the Wind
- Rebuild of Evangelion
- Demon Slayer: Mugen Train
- Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’
- Belle
- A Silent Voice
- Jujutsu Kaisen 0
- Howl’s Moving Castle
- Wolf Children
- Spirited Away
- Princess Mononoke
- Ghost in the Shell
- Cowboy Bebop: The Movie
Best Anime Movies of All Time
My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission
Featuring the cast of Khei Horikoshi’s My Hero Academia manga series, My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission is a 2021 Japanese animated superhero movie. In this tale, Japan’s finest heroes must cooperate to find the perpetrator of a deadly chemical attack.
Related: Top 3 My Hero Academia Movies
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time: One of the Best Anime Movies of All Time for Time Travel
A teen girl tries to make use of her newly discovered capacity for time travel. We won’t go much further into the plot but it definitely is one of the best movies of all time.
Related: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time Anime Locations
The Last: Naruto the Movie
Naruto: The Last, one of the few canon Naruto movies, fills in the time between the pivotal battle between Naruto and Sasuke at the conclusion of Naruto Shippuden and the epilogue that kicks off the Boruto: Naruto Next Generations sequel series.
Toneri, an Otsutsuki clan member, kidnaps Hinata’s sister two years after Shippuden ends in order to steal her Byakugan eyes. The Last not only demonstrates how far Naruto has gone in those two years. But it also establishes their romance, which had been teased for the entirety of the series prior.
Boruto: Naruto The Movie
Another Naruto canon film, Boruto, was released soon after The Last. Following Naruto’s son, the titular ninja, who must deal with his father’s job as the Seventh Hokage taking him away from his family.
While also training with Sasuke to free his father from new Otsutsuki clan members who have returned to claim Kuruma. Boruto takes place several years after the events of Shippuden.
The plot of the movie was later developed and parts of the events were changed for the first season of the spin-off series.
Anime Merchandise: Uchiha Clan logo Embroidery Bag
One Piece Film: Red
The film, which is a part of the anime series One Piece, is about Uta, the most adored singer in the entire world. Her voice has come to be referred to as “otherworldly,” and she is renowned for keeping her identity a secret while performing.
Uta will now present herself to the public in a live concert for the first time ever. The voice that the entire world has been waiting for is ready to echo as the theater fills with all different types of Uta fans—excited pirates.
The Navy watched intently, and the Straw Hats were led by Luffy who simply came to enjoy her thunderous performance. When Luffy discloses that she is his childhood friend and the “daughter” of Red-Haired Shanks, the chapter opens with a startling revelation.
Related: Ultimate Guide to Watch One Piece
Akira: Best Classic Anime Movies of All Time
After ESP tests on kids went wrong, the Japanese government dropped an atomic weapon on Tokyo in 1988. A bike gang leader named Kaneda strives to protect his pal Tetsuo from a top-secret government project in 2019, 31 years after the city was nuked.
Before Tetsuo’s superhuman abilities unexpectedly appear, he fights off anti-government demonstrators, avaricious politicians, reckless scientists, and a strong military leader. In the Tokyo Olympiad, a decisive fight is fought that reveals the experiment’s secrets.
Weathering with You: Ome of the Best Anime Movies of All Time for Romance Lover
Hodaka Morishima, a high school student, flees from his troublesome rural home to Tokyo during a particularly wet period. There, he encounters an orphan girl who has the ability to control the weather.
Related: Real-Life Locations of Weathering with You
Nausicaä: Valley of the Wind
In a distant future, after an apocalyptic struggle has largely destroyed the ecosystem of the globe, the few remaining humans dwell in isolated, semi-hospitable areas amid what has turned into a “toxic jungle.”
Young Nausicaä is able to converse with the enormous insects that live in the perilous forest and live in the dry Valley of the Wind. Nausicaä attempts to restore peace to the devastated planet under the direction of the reflective veteran warrior, Lord Yupa.
Rebuild of Evangelion
Rebuild of Evangelion, which ran from 2007 to 2021, was first advertised as a different take on the Neon Genesis Evangelion anime series. The first three films were to be an “alternative retelling,”. The fourth and final movie was to be a completely different take on the series’ conclusion.
In this story, Millions of people died as a result of a global disaster that transformed the structure of the entire planet at the dawn of the 21st century. The Second Impact is the name given to this occurrence.
A young youngster by the name of Shinji Ikari comes to the freshly constructed city of Tokyo-3, which is home to the headquarters of the paramilitary group NERV, fifteen years later. His father, who also happens to be the leader of NERV, issues the summons on his behalf.
He finds himself involved in an extraterrestrial conflict between humans and aliens known as Angels as soon as he arrives. Only people born after the second impact could operate the enormous bio-machine known as Evangelion, which was the only means of combat against the Angels.
As soon as he arrives, Shinji is ordered to command the Evangelion Unit 01 in the battle against the Angel. From that point forward, Shinji Ikari would battle both his personal demons and the Angels.
Demon Slayer: Mugen Train, Best Anime Movies of All Time Trends
Released in 2020, the movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Mugen Train is based on the “Mugen Train” arc of the shonen manga series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. The movie, which is a direct continuation of the anime television series’ first season, was made under the direction of Haruo Sotozaki.
On the Mugen Train, Tanjiro Kamado, his sister Nezuko, and his companions Zenitsu Agatsuma and Inosuke Hashibira join the Flame Hashira Kyjur Rengoku in his quest to find the demon that has been responsible for the disappearance of forty people.
Except for Nezuko, all of them are enchanted and fall into a deep sleep shortly after boarding. It currently holds the top spot for box office grossing amongst anime movies. Its international reception makes it one of the best anime movies of all time. Check these real-life demon slayer locations that still exist in Japan
Related: Demon Slayer Review
Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’
One of the most well-known Japanese animated series, Dragon Ball Z has long been a favorite of both kids and adults. There are numerous anime film titles as well. 2015’s Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ is one of the most well-liked Dragon Ball movies. Sequel to Battle of Gods from 2013.
It is the nineteenth Dragon Ball-based movie, the fifteenth to include the Dragon Ball Z branding and the second in the franchise that series creator Akira Toriyama directly oversaw.
When Tagoma and Sorbet, two of Frieza’s supporters, arrive on Earth with the purpose of resurrecting him, Vegeta and Goku take immediate action to stop them.
Related: Dragon Ball Z Vs Dragon Ball Kai
Belle
The story is based on Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont’s 1756 French fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, with Hosoda drawing inspiration from the 1991 Disney animated film.
The movie had its global premiere on July 15, 2021, at the Cannes Film Festival in France. The critics gave the movie a standing ovation for 14 minutes. In this anime film, a high school kid enters a magnificent virtual world and emerges as a well-known musician around the world.
She quickly sets out on an epic and emotionally draining journey to discover the identity of a mystery beast that is evading brutal vigilantes.
A Silent Voice
The 2016 Japanese animated drama film A Silent Voice was created by Kyoto Animation. In addition to psychological drama and coming-of-age themes, the movie also touches on bullying, mental illness, forgiveness, suicide, and platonic love.
In this story, a grade school student with hearing loss leaves one school after being brutally tormented. One of her old tormentors decides to make amends years later.
Jujutsu Kaisen 0, Best Anime Movies of All Time Recently
Based on the manga series Jujutsu Kaisen 0, Jujutsu Kaisen 0 is a 2021 Japanese animated dark fantasy film. Yuta Okkotsu, the lead character in the film, is given control of a cursed spirit that is incredibly powerful.
In order to help him control it and keep tabs on him, sorcerers enroll him in the Tokyo Prefectural Jujutsu High School. We covered Jujutsu Kaisen in our article on 15 Best Anime for Beginners to Add to Watch List. For those who will like the movie equally check out these real-life locations of the anime in Japan.
In addition, you could check out the sites to read Jujutsu Kaisen Manga. Last but not least here are great places to buy Jujutsu Kaisen Figurines
Related: Jujutsu Kaisen 0 Review
Howl’s Moving Castle
Hayao Miyazaki is the author and director of the 2004 Japanese animated fantasy film Howl’s Moving Castle. It is partially based on English author Diana Wynne Jones’ 1986 book of the same name. Toho distributed the movie, which was produced by Toshio Suzuki and animated by Studio Ghibli.
At her late father’s hat shop, Sophie leads a routine life until she makes friends with the wizard Howl, who resides in a fantastic flying castle. However, the wicked Witch of Waste objects to their developing bond and uses a spell on little Sophie to prematurely age her.
To defeat the envious hag and bring Sophie back to her previous youth and beauty, Howl must now employ all of his magical skills. It is widely appreciated as one of the best anime movies of all time.
Related Real-life Locations of Some Ghibli Movies
Wolf Children
Japanese anime drama Wolf Children was released in 2012. College student Hana meets a mysterious man in Tokyo and falls in “fairy tale” love. They subsequently have two wolf/human children: a daughter named Yuki and a son named Ame.
The man confesses that he has the ability to shift into a wolf. Soon after, while out scavenging for food for the kids, their father is fatally injured in an accident.
Yuki and Ame frequently flip between their human and wolf forms and get into conflicts. Hana needs to keep them hidden from the public, making her life as a single mother challenging.
Hana relocates the family to the country to get away from nosy neighbours after receiving noise complaints and a visit from social workers worried that the kids haven’t received vaccinations.
Spirited Away: One of the Best Ghibli Anime Movies of All Time
Everybody surely agrees that this should appear in the best anime movies of all time. Hayao Miyazaki is the author and director of the Japanese animated fantasy film Spirited Away. Distributor Toho initially presented the film on July 20, 2001, in Japan.
So, with a total of $305 million, it became the most popular and lucrative movie in Japanese history. For 19 years, it held the record before Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train beat it in 2020.
Many critics consider Spirited Away to be among the best anime movies of all time. And one of the greatest movies of the twenty-first century. It became the first and only hand-drawn, non-English-language animated picture to get the prize when it won Best Animated Feature at the 75th Academy Awards.
Related: Discover some of Spirited Away’s Real-life Locations in Japan
Princess Mononoke
Hayao Miyazaki wrote and directed the Japanese animated historical fantasy film Princess Mononoke, which Studio Ghibli animated. Toho released the movie on July 12, 1997, in Japan, and on October 29, 1999, in the US.
It was a critical and financial success, becoming the highest-grossing movie in Japan in 1997. Until the release of another Miyazaki movie, Spirited Away, in 2001, it also held the record for domestic box office in Japan.
In the fourteenth century, when the story is set, the equilibrium that has existed between people, animals, and gods starts to break down.
Young Ashitaka, the main character, gets sickened by an animal attack and turns to the god Shishigami, who resembles a deer, for help. He observes in his travels how humans are destroying the planet and inviting the wrath of the wolf god Moro and his human companion Princess Mononoke.
His attempts to broker peace between her and the humans bring only conflict.
Related: Exploring Some Real-life Locations of Princess Mononoke
Ghost in the Shell
Mamoru Oshii’s 1995 adult-animated neo-noir cyberpunk thriller film Ghost in the Shell is one of the best anime movies of all time. A Japanese-British international co-production, the movie is based on Masamune Shirow’s manga of the same name.
When Ghost in the Shell first came out, it was well-received by critics, who praised the film’s plot, graphics, and soundtrack. In this Japanese anime (which is set in 2029), “The Puppet Master” (Abe Lasser), who forcibly hacks into the electronic minds of cyborg-human hybrids, is pursued by cyborg federal agent Maj. Motoko Kusanagi (Mimi Woods).
Motoko has several internal discussions about her nature and what life may be like if she had more human traits as she pursues a man who can change the identity of strangers.
She corners the hacker with her partner (Richard George), but her interest in learning more about her identity sends the case in an unforeseen direction.
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, Another Best Classic Anime Movie of All Time
We recently covered the anime series in our article on 15 Anime Recommendations to watch before the end of this year.
The 2001 Japanese anime science fiction action film Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, last but not the least best anime movie of all time recommendation, is also known in Japan as Cowboy Bebop: Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door, is based on the 1998 Hajime Yatate anime series Cowboy Bebop.
Between episodes 22 and 23 of the original series, Cowboy Bebop: The Movie takes place.
Jet Black, Faye Valentine, and the passengers on board the Bebop, an intergalactic spacecraft, have their sights set on a sizable reward. But if they want to get their hands on it, they’ll have to round up the man who poisoned Mars.
However, it appears that catching up to the infamous Vincent Volaju is their toughest challenge. Here in the 2070s, the skies are even more troublesome than members of the Bebop team realize.
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