25 Best Anime Movies to Stream
Anime, a category of animation dating back to at least 1958’s The Tale of the White Snake , has nothing to prove at this point, although non-Japanese audiences are still sometimes surprised by the variety and depth of the films it includes. generally much broader and more varied than American animation (which is still largely considered just a children’s activity).
The word “anime” is just a form of the Japanese word for animation, and while Japanese filmmakers have excelled at creating animated films for decades, it is often taken to mean a specific and specific style or genre. That’s not true: films like Ghost in the Shell , The Red Turtle , Weathering with You , and Howl’s Moving Castle have very little in common beyond their status as cinematic classics in general and brilliant, usually hand-drawn animation.
Many of the best streaming anime movies will be familiar to animation fans, but for newcomers, any of them are a great place to dive into the wide world of anime.
Your Name (2016)
Country girl Mitsuha begins a mysterious trading alliance with Taki, a boy from Tokyo, and they gradually begin to understand each other and their separate lives. With stunning revelations in the second act taking what begins as a coming-of-age romantic comedy into deeper sci-fi waters, the film reveals there’s much more on the table than a metaphysical meet-cute. Director Makoto Shinkai ( Weathering With You ) and the animators play brilliantly with light, giving some of the film’s real-life locations a stunning glow. Never before has a body-swap story been so beautifully visualized, and the film holds a well-deserved place as one of the highest-grossing anime films of all time.
Where to watch: The Criterion Channel, Crunchyroll.
Ruzhin Z. (1991)
This wild ride from Hiroyuki Kitakubo, one of the animators on Akira , takes place in the near future, which, since it was made back in 1991, is in the early 21st century. An 87-year-old widower named Kijuro Takazawa is the first test subject of an experimental robotic hospital bed designed to meet all the patient’s needs. But then the bed begins to communicate his thoughts, and things get even more dramatic from there (if you thought this story about a dying man and the future of healthcare couldn’t turn into a mecha anime, you’re wrong). Despite all the wild plot twists, there are smart comments about our tendency to ignore the needs of older people and how even “humane” technological advances can be inhumane.
Where to stream: YouTube
Akira (1988)
Everyone’s heard of this movie, and for good reason: its wild, kinetic animation and highly detailed cityscape set a new standard for anime—writer/director Katsuhiro Otomo and company spawned a new world of animation with this film, and we’re still living in German Classic cyberpunk takes place in a dystopian 2019 (well, a different dystopian world than our 2019). Biker Kaneda is forced to fight his friend Tetsuo after the latter gains telekinetic powers in an accident. There’s more to Akira than just action, and it’s intense enough that the uninitiated may have a hard time following it, but it’s a film that gets bigger with every scene.
Where to watch: Hulu, Crunchyroll, Funimation.
Red Turtle (2016)
Technically, this Studio Ghibli production is a Japanese/French co-production with a Dutch director, perhaps stretching the definition of anime a bit (we tend to use that term around the world for animation clearly from Japan). But we’re not here to find fault, especially about something so sweet and touching. The dialogue-free film tells the story of a man who finds himself trapped on a desert island with only a giant turtle as his companion, and the turtle turns out to be guarding a secret that changes the man’s life. What begins as a story of survival takes on a deeper resonance as their bond deepens on this powerful emotional journey.
Where to watch: Starz
Paprika (2006)
Dr. Atsuko Chiba and her colleagues are working on a therapeutic tool – a device that allows people to share dreams. She is a scientist by day, and by night, like her titular alter ego Paprika, she is a dream detective who immerses herself in dreams to help her psychiatric patients. The device she uses can destroy the mind in the wrong hands, so when it is stolen, she knows it must be returned. Satoshi Kon’s mind-blowing masterpiece was a clear inspiration for Christopher Nolan’s Inception , playing with layers of emotion and reality without ever leaving audiences disorientated.
Well, maybe a little disoriented. You’ll definitely get a little lost at times, but the ride is worth it.
Where to watch: Tubi
Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2018)
For the uninitiated, this might be a tough sell considering this is the twentieth Dragon Ball film – and that’s not even mentioning the multiple series (and, of course, the long-running manga). However, as an introduction to the series, one could do a lot worse than this wildly action-packed film, which is probably the best of the films. In the series, Goku and Vegeta encounter an exiled and incredibly powerful Saiyan fighter named Broly, resulting in typically colorful chaos. Sensitive and out of control, Broly is a truly tragic antagonist, and the emotional stakes place him slightly above the Dragon Ball average.
Where to watch: Crunchyroll.
Tokyo Godfathers (2003)
Inspired by John Ford’s 1948 film The Three Godfathers , the film follows a transvestite, a teenage runaway and a kind-hearted, middle-aged alcoholic living on the streets of Tokyo. On Christmas Eve, the strange bedfellows stumble upon a baby in a trash can. With little evidence, the three spend the night searching for the child’s parents on the streets of Tokyo. This next heartwarming adventure comes from director Satoshi Kon, who in his all-too-short life and career also directed other classics on this list, including Perfect Blue , Millennium Actress and Paprika (he died of pancreatic cancer in 2010 glands at only 46 years old). years).
Where to watch: Tubi, Hoopla, The Roku Channel.
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)
Yasutaka Tsutsui’s 1965 novel of the same name is often cited as an early (and popular) use of the now familiar time loop narrative, and it has been adapted several times in Japan. The best version (even the author of the book liked it ) is a 2006 anime from director Mamoru Hosoda ( Mirai ), which tells the story of 17-year-old Makoto Konno, who, due to some clumsiness that puts her in the path of an oncoming train, discovers that She has the ability to send herself back in time. Quickly realizing that using force for her own benefit can have unexpected consequences, she begins to use force only for small and frivolous matters. And that’s fine until she realizes that she can only use her power a limited number of times. Potentially tragic circumstances soon threaten to leave her powerless when she most needs to change time. Unlike some more mature or action-oriented films, this one perfectly captures the atmosphere of a shoujo manga with a focus on the teenage girl lead.
Where to watch: Crunchroll.
Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie (1994)
For a newbie, it can be confusing trying to find the entry point into any of the Japanese mega-franchises. It’s an adaptation of Capcom’s Street Fighter II , but the film naturally has a bit more plot than the action film and is almost entirely self-contained. There’s not much social value or emotional resonance here… but the film does offer exactly what the title suggests: sweet violence, with enough character development to make the blows hit a little harder. All the action scenes are impressively choreographed and the 90’s animation style, although very 90’s, is beautifully maintained.
Where to watch: Prime Video
Mirai (2018)
Mirai feels ignored and abandoned when his new little sister is born, his feelings complicated by his father’s affectionate but emotionally awkward nature. But then Mirai wanders into a strange garden that transports him back in time. As a child he meets his mother, and as an adult he meets his new younger sister. There’s adventure to be found along the way, but the film’s real resonance comes in the quiet, emotional moments and its sensitivity to the complexities of growing up—both for us and for the families who have to deal with us. It always helps to look at the situation in a new way.
Where to watch: digital rental.
Red Line (2009)
The plot is minimal, but that’s by no means a disgrace: this beautifully hand-drawn attraction is nonetheless a work of art. On a distant planet in an exciting future, the most popular race in the galaxy is about to begin. The brave driver is determined to compete, but before he gets the chance, he will have to defeat a criminal cartel, the police and an army of robots. The film flopped at the box office back in 2009, but quickly became a cult classic. It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen before.
Where to stream: Voodoo
Ghost in the Shell (1995)
A true cyberpunk mindbender, Ghost in the Shell easily stands alongside spiritual cinematic siblings like Blade Runner or The Matrix (which it clearly inspired). In the film, directed by Mamoru Oshii and screenwriter Kazunori Ito, cyborg security officer Motoko Kusanagi hunts a seemingly invincible hacker. This incident forces her to question not only her own identity as a robot with a human mind, but also the very nature of reality itself. Along with Akira , this film was the gateway to anime for a generation of American fans, and it’s holding up well.
Where to watch: Prime Video, Tubi, Freevee
Demon Slayer – Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train (2020)
A dark fantasy with some old-school shonen style (albeit from a very R-rated perspective), Mugen Train picks up after the first season of the Demon Slayer series – that, and the over-the-top title, would seem to make it a strong recommendation, but in In 2021, it broke box office records and became the highest-grossing anime of the year, receiving excellent reviews and awards. While there is undoubtedly some added resonance when watching the film back-to-back, it works well on its own as the story of tragic protagonist Tanjiro Kamado, who boards the titular train determined to save his passengers. The film successfully combines stellar action scenes with real emotional consequences.
Where to watch: Funimation, Crunchyroll.
Only Yesterday (1991)
Although Only Yesterday became Japan’s highest-grossing film of 1991, it remains less well known than many of its Studio Ghibli siblings, and that’s unfortunate. From director Isao Takahata (also the director of the crime film Grave of the Fireflies ) , Only Yesterday tells the story of 27-year-old Taeko Okajima, who works for a company in Tokyo but takes a train to the countryside to visit relatives. and get away from the bustle of the city. The journey brings back memories, both good and bad, of her past life, forcing her to reconcile her present with the life she left behind. It’s a beautiful, melancholy look at life’s unexpected paths.
Where to stream: Max
The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)
Isao Takahata capped his career with an Academy Award-nominated film based on a thousand-year-old folk tale known as “The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter.” The deceptively simple pencil and watercolor style is endlessly gorgeous. The story itself is about a forester who finds a child in a bamboo and ultimately decides that it is his destiny to give her the life of a princess. The girl wants nothing more than the love of her family, but the film shows the dichotomy between this simple virtue and the need to satisfy the desires of family and society.
Where to stream: Max
Blame! (2017)
In the future, the City will grow like a virus, endlessly in all directions, and people will long ago lose control over the automated systems designed to manage things. The same systems now view humans as “illegals” to be purged, leaving flesh-and-blood survivors caught between the city’s murderous defense systems and the need to find food. One group of people is searching for a person with a genetic marker that they believe will allow them to gain access to the city’s control systems – the hunt is led by Killie, a synthetic human who may hold the key. There’s some really cool world-building and solid CG animation.
Where to watch: Netflix
Sky Crawlers (2008)
In a world that is mostly peaceful (imagine that!), mega-corporations hire fighter pilots to fly truly dangerous combat missions that serve, on one level, as entertainment, but also as a way for the world’s population to blow off steam and gain experience. intuitive feelings and nationalistic fervor of war without any destructive consequences. There’s a lot going on here, including stories about pilots genetically engineered to remain teenagers, but the highlight is the beautifully animated aerial scenes (featuring mysterious assailants who jeopardize what was originally intended to be a reconnaissance flight). Directed by Mamoru Oshii ( Ghost in the Shell ).
Where to watch: Tubi
Jose, Tiger and Fish (2020)
A sweet meeting between 22-year-old university student Tsuneo and Josie gives way to a more unconventional relationship: Tsuneo is hired as a nanny for the disabled Josie by his grandmother. Money, tragedy and the slow life threaten to get in the way of their budding relationship, but they are brought back together. Typical “inspirational” portrayals of disabled people are kept to a minimum: Jose is a thoroughly well-rounded character, and the film goes to great lengths to highlight the barriers that a wheelchair user can face in Japan, both culturally and practically.
Where to watch: digital rental.
Month Child of Kamiari (2021)
Kanna Hayama was a devoted runner until her mother’s death, after which she becomes withdrawn and joyless, refusing to share her feelings with friends and family. Of course, we’re in an anime fantasy, so it’s not long before she meets a fanged demon boy during a race, who tasks her with taking on her mother’s mantle as the literal deity of a running event and sends her on a quest with the help of a talking bunny. Her adventures helped her come to terms with her mother’s passing and rediscover her sense of joy.
Where to watch: Netflix
Weathering with You (2019)
Makoto Shinkai followed Your Name with an equally successful successor, a gorgeous view of rain-drenched Tokyo and a young woman who can control the weather (visually, this film beautifully does with water what Your Name did with light). Troubled fugitive Hodaka meets and befriends Hina, whose emotions influence the weather. All of this has life- and world-threatening consequences, but ultimately it’s about the triumphs and tragedies of first love.
Where to stream: Max
Words Bubble Like Soda (2020)
A sweet, music-filled teen love story. In this shy, haiku-writing Cherry, who works at a senior center, he meets Smile, an outgoing social media influencer who is secretly embarrassed about her teeth and braces. They are both deeply insecure in their own ways, and have each developed their own coping strategies. Their relationship soon takes a backseat to the couple’s story five decades earlier and the search for a record that will connect their love story to that of one of Cherry’s clients. The stakes are relatively low and completely personal, and that’s more than okay. This is a bright and fun film, one of the best modern examples of teen romance in modern anime.
Where to watch: Netflix
Memories (1995)
This sci-fi anthology consists of three short films, all of which are well made and darkly entertaining. The highlight is the opening segment, directed by anime master Satoshi Kon ( Perfect Blue , Tokyo Godfathers , Paprika ) – called “Magnetic Blue” and tells the story of space rescuers and engineers who discover a haunted and memorably haunted abandoned space station. . It’s the perfect blend of science fiction and existential horror.
Where to watch: Prime Video, Tubi
The End of Evangelion (1997)
Hideaki Anno ‘s Neon Genesis Evangelion series ended with a brilliantly abstract and shocking whisper that left many action-hungry fans cold. Perhaps they were careful what they wished for. The End of Evangelion coda offers a slice of hell through the eyes of its child protagonist, giant robot pilot Shinji Ikari. While the show ended with a well-done group therapy session, this alternate ending hinges on an apocalypse so terrifying that survival is the cruelest twist imaginable.
Where to watch: Netflix
Perfect Blue (1997)
Satoshi Kon ‘s Perfect Blue won’t be for everyone: it’s a blur of fantasy and reality that can be compared to the films of Darren Aronofsky – although, of course, it’s actually the other way around, since Perfect Blue came before both Requiem for a Dream and Black Swan. who echo her. ( Perfect Blue also inspired Madonna, so make of that what you will). If nothing else, it proves that anime can work in the psychological thriller genre at least as well as any other medium. Its story follows a young Japanese singer who is forced to give up her career to take a job in television, a move with horrifying consequences in the tradition of stories about the high price of fame.
Where to watch: Shudder
Hayao Miyazaki Collection
Hayao Miyazaki’s animation career began in the 1970s, but his work as a world-class artist began in earnest with 1984’s Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind , the first of a continuous line of masterpieces that would push subsequent animators into new territory. It can be easily argued that without Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli (which he co-founded), we would not have anything like the diverse world of animated films that we are privileged to see today. Miyazaki’s oeuvre could easily take up half of this list, so instead I’ll assume that all of his films are equally good, which is not the same as saying they’re all alike.
Some of the director’s most beloved films include Spirited Away (2001), which follows young Chihiro’s quest to save her parents from mischievous creatures in a fantasy world; Princess Mononoke (1997), an epic environmental parable; Howl’s Moving Castle (2004), about a young woman’s quest to break a curse and a castle on her feet; and My Neighbor Totoro (1988), a sweet story about two girls who meet fantastic creatures for the first time near their new home. However, there really aren’t any bad options: all but Miyazaki’s most recent film (Oscar winner The Boy and the Heron ) are currently streaming on Max. While there’s so much variety, each one is stunningly animated and richly detailed, and each one focuses on the trials and tribulations of growing up (at any age).
Where to stream: Max