Whether it be a good old Studio Ghibli movie or a recent blockbuster, anime movies are sure to break your heart. Beyond the plotline, these movies stand out for their stunning visuals, mesmerizing colors, tempting noodles, and unimagined fantasy worlds.
If you are a newbie to the world of anime, the list in this article is the right one for you to be going through. I have written down 9 of the best anime movies of all time, which are, let’s say, your initiating rituals into the world of anime movies.
Okay, I may have been a bit dramatic with that, but you definitely can’t walk around saying you watch anime movies while not watching the ones listed below. Hence, with further delay, let’s get started!
Spirited Away
| Director | Hayao Miyazaki |
|---|---|
| Cast | Daveigh Chase, Suzanne Pleshette, Miyu Irino |
| Duration | 2h 5min |
| Genre | Animation, Adventure, Family |
| Release Date | 12 December 2002 |
| IMDb Rating | 8.6/10 |
Brought to life by the magic of Hayao Miyazaki, the famed anime creator, ‘Spirited Away’ is a name you must’ve heard.
Chihiro, a young girl moving to another house with her parents, finds herself lost in another realm of humans and weird creatures after trespassing through a forbidden tunnel. And now she must survive in this world of spindly little creatures and a wrathful old witch.
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Ponyo
| Director | Hayao Miyazaki |
|---|---|
| Cast | Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, Liam Neeson |
| Duration | 1h 41min |
| Genre | Animation, Adventure, Comedy |
| Release Date | 27 August 2009 |
| IMDb Rating | 7.6/10 |
‘Ponyo’ signifies the beauty of friendship and magic through the relationship of a young boy named Sosuke and a spirited little fish, Ponyo.
Upon leaving the water and being entranced by the human world, Ponyo decides to transform to become human. And thus begins a series of fun and humorous adventures of the two friends.
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
| Director | Isao Takahata |
|---|---|
| Cast | Chloë Grace Moretz, James Caan, Mary Steenburgen |
| Duration | 2h 17min |
| Genre | Animation, Drama, Family |
| Release Date | 23 November 2013 |
| IMDb Rating | 8.0/10 |
Though a bit different in style from most anime movies, this one stirred up the anime world upon release and will cause a commotion in your heart once you watch it.
‘The Tale of The Princess Kaguya’ is based on a Japanese folk tale. Kaguya is magically born inside a bamboo shoot and is found by a childless farmer and his wife. The girl grows rapidly into a beautiful woman, but she is not of this world.
Howl’s Moving Castle
| Director | Hayao Miyazaki |
|---|---|
| Cast | Chieko Baishô, Takuya Kimura, Tatsuya Gashûin |
| Duration | 1h 59min |
| Genre | Animation, Adventure, Family |
| Release Date | 22 September 2005 |
| IMDb Rating | 8.2/10 |
Go and watch it for the sake of falling for the charms of Wizard Howl. Trust me when I say you won’t be able to resist his charisma the same way our protagonist, Sophie, couldn’t.
Sophie lives an uneventful life handling her late father’s hat shop. But suddenly, she finds herself cursed and in the body of an old woman. She meets the Wizard Howl and takes refuge in his moving castle as the two try to cure her.
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Big Fish & Begonia
| Directors | Xuan Liang, Chun Zhang |
|---|---|
| Cast | Guanlin Ji, Shangqing Su, Timmy Xu |
| Duration | 1h 40min |
| Genre | Animation, Adventure, Drama |
| Release Date | 8 July 2016 |
| IMDb Rating | 7.0/10 |
Full of captivating visuals and colors, this movie revolves around a young girl named Chun. She belongs to an underwater magical realm of ‘The Others’. As part of a traditional rite of passage, she transforms into a red dolphin to experience life in the human realm. However, after coming into contact with a boy, things take an unfortunate turn for her.
Tales From Earthsea
| Director | Gorô Miyazaki |
|---|---|
| Cast | Timothy Dalton, Willem Dafoe, Mariska Hargitay |
| Duration | 1h 55min |
| Genre | Animation, Adventure, Fantasy |
| Release Date | 26 April 2007 |
| IMDb Rating | 6.3/10 |
Created by Goro Miyazaki, son of Hayao Miyazaki, this movie tells the tale of the wizard Ged and Arren, a young prince fleeing from his kingdom after committing an act of violence.
The two begin their journey to uncover a mysterious darkness that is taking over their world and, on their way, encounter various creatures and challenges that try to stop them.
Belle
| Director | Mamoru Hosoda |
|---|---|
| Cast | Kaho Nakamura, Ryo Narita, Shôta Sometani |
| Duration | 2h 1min |
| Genre | Animation, Adventure, Drama |
| Release Date | 16 July 2021 |
| IMDb Rating | 7.1/10 |
Featuring a jaw-dropping spectrum of colors and visually appealing characters, ‘Belle’ is a musical journey that will make you inquire into the depths of your own heart.
In a futuristic Japan dominated by a virtual world called ‘U,’ Suzu is an average college girl but, in fact, a celebrity singer in the world of ‘U,’ famous by the name of Belle. Inside ‘U,’ she is challenged by the vicious villain, ‘ Beast.’ Suzu is determined to find the real-life person behind this virtual ‘Beast’ and help him.
You can start here if you’re still indecisive about which one of these 9 best anime movies to watch.
Princess Mononoke
| Director | Hayao Miyazaki |
|---|---|
| Cast | Yôji Matsuda, Yuriko Ishida, Yûko Tanaka |
| Duration | 2h 14min |
| Genre | Animation, Adventure, Action |
| Release Date | 8 February 2001 |
| IMDb Rating | 8.3/10 |
This Studio Ghibli classic is still a favorite among anime lovers. Enter the magical and lush green forest home to ancient gods, spirits, and magical creatures guarded by Princess Mononoke.
We follow the young prince Ashitaka as he is entangled amidst the conflict between Princess Mononoke and Lady Eboshi of Iron Town, an iron-mining town near the forest. Will he be able to bring peace between the two forces? Watch the movie to find out.
Drifting Home
| Director | Hiroyasu Ishida |
|---|---|
| Cast | Mutsumi Tamura, Asami Seto, Ayumu Murase |
| Duration | 1h 59min |
| Genre | Animation, Adventure, Drama |
| Release Date | 16 September 2022 |
| IMDb Rating | 6.3/10 |
This movie follows two childhood friends who step into an abandoned building and later find themselves floating in a vast expanse of water surrounding them.
Fortunately, the two are not alone and have other neighborhood kids accompanying them, including a strange boy, Noppo, whom no one has ever met. The kids must plan out their exit strategy without any adults around.
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Conclusion
Here is my list of the best anime movies of all time. All of these are loved by the audiences and will surely be loved by you, too. Created by Hayao Miyazaki or not, each movie features intricate details and colors that will keep you glued to the screen. Pick any one of these and start streaming right away.
