The best anime movies have inspired creators and influenced hundreds of productions. Odds are, you’ll recognize some of the famous scenes from the films below from how often they’ve been adapted and referenced in other works. These are much-watch movies, not only for anime fans but for anyone who loves cinema.

Best anime movies as of 2026

There are a ton of anime movies, but only a select few have been elevated to national treasures. These films went on to transcend their Japanese origin. They became known worldwide for their high-quality animation and poignant stories. Movies like Akira and Ghost in the Shell were key in anime gaining a foothold in the West and directly contributed to its popularity today. Others, like Your Name, became global sensations, drawing attention and profits comparable to those of a Hollywood blockbuster.

Akira (1988)

Released in 1988, Akira is set in a dystopian 2019 Neo-Tokyo, a city still recovering 31 years after the government dropped an atomic bomb following failed experiments on children. The film was made during a time when the anti-hero was the character to follow, so there’s plenty of ambiguity throughout. Kaneda, the leader of a biker gang, sets out to rescue his friend from a secret government project. But soon, he discovers that his own latent psychic powers are emerging. Directed by Katsuhiro Otomo, the film features plenty of nuclear devastation, dangerous genetic experiments, and an epic battle that exposes the government’s secrets.

Beyond being an incredible film in its own right, Akira played a huge role in introducing anime to Western audiences. It’s almost impossible to watch it without being blown away by the animation. The detailed drawings, the lighting, the movement, everything is exceptional. Pair that with heavy adult themes, and it’s easy to see why Akira has influenced countless filmmakers and animators ever since.

Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

Taking a turn to the darker side of Studio Ghibli, it’s impossible to talk about Japanese culture without acknowledging the atomic bombings in WWII and the lasting impact they’ve had. Grave of the Fireflies, released in 1988, is heartbreaking to watch. It goes far, far beyond any safety usually found in animated films.

Not only is Grave of the Fireflies one of the best anime films ever made, but it is also one of the most powerful war films featuring children as the primary characters, ranking alongside The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Really, I have no difficulty comparing this to Schindler’s List, and I wouldn’t be the first to do so. The film shows that anime isn’t limited to sci-fi and fantasy but can also take on painful, universally essential stories. Even Robert Ebert said this film is “an emotional experience so powerful that it forces a rethinking of animation.” He goes on to say that while some animated films, such as Bambi and The Lion King, inspire tears, they don’t inspire grief. Grave of the Fireflies, however, is very different. 

Directed by Isao Takahata, Grave of the Fireflies follows a brother and sister, two young war orphans, as they struggle to survive in the final days of World War II in 1945.

Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)

Here’s undoubtedly the most heartwarming movie on our list, but maybe one of the most feel-good movies ever. And no, it’s not just for kids. Hayao Miyazaki is a legend for a reason.

Kiki is a thirteen-year-old witch who sets out to spend a year alone, as is tradition for her witch training. Along with her familiar, a black cat named Jiji, she takes her mother’s old broomstick and finds her way to a seaside village. There, she ends up working at a bakery. Once she’s got a knack for flying her broomstick, she starts delivering bread for the bakery. Kiki works incredibly hard and soon faces the monster that hits all of us — sadness. Or is it burnout? Who can tell the difference, really, but the girl loses her powers. The story then follows her journey to rediscover the source of her magic.

Released in 1989, Kiki’s Delivery Service is one of those feel-good coming-of-age stories about self-discovery and perseverance. Decades later, this anime film remains a classic. It’s this writer’s go-to Halloween film when I’m looking for an animated movie that won’t creep me out like Coraline.

Ghost in the Shell (1995)

Easily one of the best anime movies, Ghost in the Shell can be tough to follow at first. No shade if it takes you a second to get into. But stay along for the ride, because it’s worth it. 

Released in 1995 by animation studio Production I.G., Ghost in the Shell was directed by Mamoru Oshii, with a screenplay by Kazunori Ito based on Masamune Shirow’s 1989 manga. Set in a futuristic, fictional New Port City circa 2029, cybernetic enhancements and AI have advanced enough to blur the line between humans and machines. The story follows Major Motoko Kusanagi, a cybernetic government agent whose brain is human but body completely artificial, as she hunts a mysterious hacker known as the Puppet Master.

Ghost in the Shell has had a massive influence on both anime and global pop culture. Its style and themes dig deep into the intersections of technology, reality, politics, and consciousness — think Dark City and The Matrix. Even decades later, it’s still a mind-bending classic. Personal take, but skip the 2017 adaptation.

Spirited Away (2001)

Winner of Best Animated Feature at the 2003 Academy Awards, Spirited Away is a masterpiece of animation from legendary director Hayao Miyazaki and the iconic Studio Ghibli. The film follows the melancholic 10-year-old Chihiro, who moves with her parents to the countryside. When out for a walk, they stumble upon what appears to be an abandoned amusement park. After discovering a seemingly unattended food stall, her parents indulge themselves in the treats. As they continue to eat, they soon transform into pigs. Suddenly alone in a strange and shifting spirit world, Chihiro must navigate a realm filled with witches, gods, and supernatural beings to save them.

Critically acclaimed for its breathtaking hand-drawn animation, intricate world-building, emotional depth, and fantastical storytelling, Spirited Away transcends age and genre. It’s not just one of the greatest anime films ever made — it’s one of the most celebrated films in cinema history, full stop.

Paprika (2006)

​For a sci-fi action pick on our lineup, Paprika is a visual feast and also one of the most intellectually daring anime films out there. We’re still not sure why this doesn’t find its way to most best-of lists for the form.

Directed by the late Satoshi Kon — the visionary behind two other fantastic anime movies, Perfect Blue and Tokyo Godfathers — Paprika is set in a near-future where a device known as the DC Mini allows therapists to enter and explore patients’ dreams. When the technology is stolen, the line between reality and the subconscious begins to fold in on itself, unleashing a surreal cascade of dreamscapes into the real world. Dr. Atsuko Chiba, who secretly uses an alter ego named Paprika to conduct these experimental treatments, must track down the culprit before reality itself is consumed. Often compared to films like Inception (which it notably predates and arguably influences), is a landmark achievement in animated sci-fi. It’s also just a blast to watch.

Wolf Children (2012)

Fortunately, not all recent werewolf movies are relegated to whatever was going on with the Twilight series. Directed by Mamoru Hosoda, the film follows Hana, a young woman who falls in love during her early college years with a man who eventually reveals himself to be a werewolf. The two build a life together and raise two children, Ame and Yuki, who inherit their father’s ability to transform. But after his sudden death, Hana is left to navigate the overwhelming reality of single motherhood and raising two children who exist between worlds.

Like other werewolf movies that have fallen into their own traps, Wolf Children finds its power in the everyday struggles of raising children who must ultimately choose their own paths. The film perfectly captures the painful intersection of grief, loss, healing, motherhood, and adolescence, without ever becoming cliche, campy, or too fantastical. Bring the tissues for this one. It’s a tearjerker in moments, but you’ll also get plenty of laughs out of it.

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013)

Based on a 10th-century Japanese folktale, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya is a breathtaking anime film directed by Isao Takahata and produced by Studio Ghibli. In a fully watercolor animation style — a reason enough for checking out the film — Princess Kaguya follows a tiny girl discovered inside a glowing bamboo stalk by an elderly bamboo cutter. Believing her to be a divine blessing, he and his wife raise her as their own. They watch with wonder as she rapidly grows into a young woman of extraordinary grace and beauty, soon attracting the attention of potential suitors. Though wildly wondrous, the film grows heavier as Kaguya is stripped of the simple joys of her rural upbringing and burdened by the expectations of noble life. Soon, she becomes increasingly alienated by the pressures placed upon her, as she’s caught between who she is and who the world insists she must be.

There’s so much to say about this film as a testament to both artistic ambition and the craft of moviemaking, not least its reputation as one of the most expensive anime films ever produced. Much of that cost stemmed from its painstaking, hand-drawn watercolor aesthetic in an era increasingly dominated by digital animation. Under the direction of Isao Takahata at Studio Ghibli, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya took years to complete. By the time of its release, the film’s budget had climbed to around $49 million. Despite critical acclaim and a worldwide gross of roughly $24.5 million, it ultimately failed to recoup its budget at the box office.

Your Name (2016)

Your Name is a romantic fantasy anime film by CoMix Wave Films that tells the story of two teenagers who mysteriously swap bodies. At first, the body-swap trope plays out with plenty of comedy, which checks out when two teens suddenly have to navigate each other’s lives. But it’s not all freaky-Friday. However, this strangeness quickly deepens as the cosmic connection grows. Soon, Mitshua and Taki find out that their bond isn’t just random, but tied to a catastrophic event. What starts as a lighthearted body-swap premise turns into a time-bending, reality-warping journey about love and destiny.

Visually, the film is breathtaking. Makoto Shinkai’s signature detail-rich animation provides a contrasting duality between bustling Tokyo and the quiet countryside. Both are beautiful, but feel incredibly different. When you watch it, you’ll know why Shinkai has become one of the most important names in modern animation. Your Name struck such a chord worldwide that it became the second-highest-grossing Japanese film of all time, surpassing even Spirited Away at the international box office.

A Silent Voice: The Movie (2016)

There aren’t many anime films we’d so easily call a 10/10, but A Silent Voice might be it. Directed by Naoko Yamada and produced by Kyoto Animation, A Silent Voice tells the story of Shōko Nishimiya, a deaf transfer student who is the target of relentless bullying at her new elementary school. At the center of that ring is a bully named Shōya Ishida. The actions escalate until Shōko snaps and physically retaliates, leading her to transfer away. In the aftermath, the blame falls squarely on Shōya, and he soon finds himself isolated and branded.

Years later, now in high school, Shōya is still consumed by guilt and crushing loneliness. Haunted by his mistakes and struggling with thoughts of ending his life, he instead decides to seek redemption by finding Shōko and making amends. With a beautiful story and masterful storytelling by Naoko Namada, A Silent Voice is a profoundly moving exploration of the power of forgiveness.

How we chose the best anime movies

We tried our best to pick movies that are fan and critic favorites, while covering multiple genres from the most respected anime studios and directors, so there’s something here for everyone. We also pulled in work from different studios and directors you should know, because half the fun of getting into anime movies is learning who made them and seeing their style show up again and again.