Anime was once a niche interest that has steadily grown into a global phenomenon, gaining more popularity than ever before. Now millions of fans around the world tune in to their favorite series and pack theaters for major anime releases.
In the past year, anime films have proven that the medium is more than capable of standing on par with major Hollywood hits. With countless films to choose from spanning every genre imaginable, it can be hard to determine which anime films to choose next.
However, there are some films that absolutely cannot be missed, even by audiences who don’t typically choose anime as their preferred form of entertainment. These films are must-watch masterpieces that deliver unforgettable moments that resonate with audiences and leave behind a lasting impact.
Wolf Children
Wolf Children follows Hana, a college student who falls in love with a mysterious man who can transform into a wolf. They have two children, Yuki and Ame. However, shortly following Ame’s birth, tragedy strikes, and Hana is left to raise their kids alone, learning to navigate motherhood with two extraordinary children who inherit their father’s ability to transform.
Hana moves to the countryside, facing the challenges of parenthood and rural living as she guides her kids through life. The film is full of heartwarming moments as Hana watches Yuki and Ame grow up and forge their own paths, culminating in a bittersweet finale that resonates with audiences.
Paired with its gorgeous animation and attention to detail, Wolf Children is a beautiful narrative about sacrifice, parenthood, identity, and letting go. With its Ghibli-esque charm and style, Wolf Children is perfect for audiences who enjoy heartfelt magical realism films.
Jujutsu Kaisen 0
Jujutsu Kaisen 0 centers on Yuta Okkotsu, a teenage boy burdened by the presence of a powerful cursed spirit, Rika Orimoto, his childhood friend who died years earlier. Struggling to live a normal life, Yuta is brought to Tokyo Jujutsu High, where he learns how to control the destructive spirit at his side.
The story is action-packed, filled with emotional moments, and stands out for its thrilling animation and focus on love, grief, and personal growth, making it universal and deeply resonant.
Jujutsu Kaisen 0 is a prequel to the modern classic Jujutsu Kaisen; however, it can be watched as a standalone and serves as a good spot to jump into the series. The story is action-packed, filled with emotional moments, and stands out for its thrilling animation and focus on love, grief, and personal growth, making it universal and deeply resonant.
A Silent Voice
A Silent Voice centers on Shoya Ishida, a high school student who struggles with the consequences of his past as a school bully. Years earlier, he had tormented Shoko Nishimiya, a deaf girl in the same class, leaving them both scarred in different ways as he became a social outcast.
Burdened by guilt, Shoya seeks atonement and redemption, finding Shoko again and trying to make amends. A Silent Voice deals with heavy themes, including suicidal ideation, depression, and the impact of bullying, and effectively creates a deeply emotional experience that culminates in an ending that highlights the character’s growth, strength, and resilience.
Suzume
Suzume follows the titular character, 17-year-old Suzume Iwato, whose ordinary life in Kyushu is upended when she meets Souta and discovers a mysterious door in a deserted ruin. When she removes a Keystone, she unknowingly unleashes a force that looms over Japan in the form of massive earthquakes that begin to threaten the country.
When Souta, a Closer who protects Japan by sealing these doors and preventing destruction, is magically turned into a chair, Suzume takes it upon herself to take up the helm and help close these doors before tragedy strikes.
The film is renowned for its gorgeous animation, soundtrack, and themes. As Suzume works to protect Japan alongside Souta, she also confronts long-buried memories, grief, and trauma. Suzume is a must-watch film for everyone and a true visual and narrative masterpiece.
Your Name
Your Name follows Mitsuha Miyamizu, a girl from the rural town of Itomori, and Taki Tachibana, a boy living in Tokyo. When the two begin to mysteriously swap bodies, they must find ways to navigate each other’s lives and communicate with one another. As their bond deepens, they plan to meet, leading them to realize that space is not the only force separating them.
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Mitsuha and Taki must race against time to prevent a catastrophic tragedy, ultimately leading to a heartfelt finale that is as moving as it is unforgettable. With stunning animation, meaningful character arcs, and universal themes, Your Name stands out as a must-watch film that no one can afford to overlook.
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya is a retelling of the Japanese folktale The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. The story begins with a humble bamboo cutter who discovers a tiny, radiant baby girl inside a stalk of bamboo. As she grows at an extraordinary pace, Kaguya, nicknamed Little Bamboo by other village children, enjoys the freedom of rural life.
However, believing that she is divine and destined for luxury, her father moves the family to the capital, where she is raised as nobility and stripped of her freedom, forced into a life of expectation and opulence. Kaguya struggles to adapt to her new life, and when she begins to attract suitors, she assigns them impossible tasks to prevent her from marrying.
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya is not only a visually gorgeous movie but a resonant retelling of a devastating classic. The film’s themes of freedom, agency, and impermanence are poetically handled, elevating it to a true work of art from start to finish. Its masterful storytelling is reflected in its perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Only Yesterday
Only Yesterday follows Taeko, a 27-year-old office worker from Tokyo, who takes a trip to the countryside to assist with the safflower harvest. During her journey, she reflects on her 10-year-old self, revisiting her formative experiences and memories that shaped her into the person she became.
As Taeko immerses herself in rural life, she reflects on how those experiences have impacted her, creating a slow-paced, introspective meditation on time, childhood, memories, and self-discovery. Through her memories of school, friendships, first crushes, and family moments, viewers follow Taeko’s experiences that influence her decisions and priorities.
Only Yesterday is an underrated Ghibli masterpiece that stands apart from most of the studio’s other works. Its realism and attention to detail capture memory and personal reflection in a way that is beautiful, moving, and universally understood.
Spirited Away
Spirited Away centers on Chihiro, a 10-year-old girl who stumbles into a mysterious spirit world while moving to her new home with her mom and dad. However, when her parents are transformed into pigs, Chihiro must find a way to survive in an unfamiliar realm surrounded by spirits.
Guided by Haku, she begins to work at the bathhouse run by a powerful witch who steals her name. Determined to save her family, she begins to adapt to her new surroundings and grow from a shy girl to someone far more resilient, resourceful, and courageous.
The film is a landmark in animated storytelling, standing as the first anime film to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2003. Spirited Away is a Ghibli classic that is imaginative, thrilling, and excellently paced. It’s perfect for audiences of all ages, making it accessible for families.
Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc
Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc centers on Denji, a young devil hunter whose life is upended by a mysterious girl named Reze. As the two grow closer, their budding romance becomes the emotional core of the film, ultimately leading to the tense showdown between him and the Bomb Devil, whose true goal is to steal Denji’s heart.
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While Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc follows the first season of Chainsaw Man, it can also be watched on its own as a self-contained story. However, some character interactions would make far more sense and have a greater impact on audiences already familiar with the story.
That said, Reze Arc stands out as a must-watch film for its artistry and the careful development of the relationship between Reze and Denji. The characters are authentic and incredibly relatable, making the film’s deeper themes far more powerful and resonant with audiences. Viewers who haven’t watched Chainsaw Man and don’t intend to should at least give the Reze Arc an honest chance.
Perfect Blue
Perfect Blue follows Mima Kirigoe, a pop idol who leaves her music career behind to pursue acting. As she steps away from her wholesome image to take on more mature roles, she attracts unwanted attention from an obsessive stalker, discovers a mysterious website called “Mima’s Room” that documents her personal thoughts and daily life, and begins to see hallucinations of her former self.
Perfect Blue is an unforgettable psychological thriller that is filled with suspense and tension from start to finish.
Her sense of self and reality begin to increasingly blur, leading to a slow descent into growing paranoia. As she battles public scrutiny, a fracturing identity, and the pressures of fame, audiences must also question which events are real and which are figments of Mima’s collapsing psyche.
Perfect Blue is an unforgettable psychological thriller that is filled with suspense and tension from start to finish. The story is fast-paced, immersive, and discomforting, with themes that push audiences to consider the toll of living a public life. Perfect Blue is aimed at adults, and its mature themes are gripping and thought-provoking.
Ghost in the Shell
Ghost in the Shell follows Major Motoko Kusanagi, a highly advanced cyborg operative who is tasked with tracking down an enigmatic hacker known as the Puppet Master. This hacker has the skills necessary to hack into the minds of cyborg-human hybrids, leading Kusanagi to question her own makeup and identity.
The film is a classic that has been reimagined in live action and has been followed by several sequels and spin-offs. Its themes explore memory, consciousness, and what it means to be human, delivering an experience that prompts audiences to reflect. Ghost in the Shell is a cyberpunk narrative packed with action and existential themes that viewers can’t afford to skip.
Akira
Akira takes place in a dystopian Neo-Tokyo, decades after a catastrophic psychic event destroyed the original city. The story follows biker gang leader Shotaro Kaneda, whose friend Tetsuo Shima unexpectedly gains psychic powers after a motorcycle accident linked to a secret government experiment.
As Tetsuo’s abilities grow, he struggles to control forces beyond comprehension, drawing attention from military authorities and sparking chaos around the city. Determined to protect his friend, Kaneda must find a way to stop Tetsuo while battling corrupt government officials and activists.
The film is another must-watch classic, celebrated for its groundbreaking animation, making it a landmark for cyberpunk anime. Its themes cover authority, alienation, and the consequences of unchecked power, making it best suited for a mature audience. Its action-packed narrative and philosophical undertones promise an unforgettable experience for viewers everywhere.