Anime is often an overlooked medium when it comes to film, but you may not realize that a lot of your favorite Hollywood features are directly inspired by anime movies. In recent years, anime films have even managed to carve their own path in the US and become successful both critically and financially. Whether you’re a seasoned anime veteran or brand new to the medium, there’s something here for everyone to appreciate. These are 5 of our favorite anime movies.
Spirited Away
The truth is, this list could easily be exclusively made up of Studio Ghibli films, but let’s stick with one for today. Spirited Away, centering around a 10-year-old girl who wanders into a world filled with – you guessed it, spirits – is significant for many reasons. It became the first, non-American animated movie to win Best Animated Feature at the Oscars as well as raking in $395.8 million at the global box office.
Spirited Away, as well as all of the other Ghibli films, is streaming now on Max.
Akira
Looking for something a little more adult? Then Akira is perfect for you. Akira‘s plot centers around a biker gang member who turns into a rampaging psychic psychopath who can only be stopped by a teenager, his gang of biker friends, and a group of psychics. Why is an animated movie from 1988 still a must-watch? Simply put, it’s a cultural touchstone that many don’t even know exists. Akira is credited for creating the sci-fi futurist style we see frequently in mainstream films today, like those from Marvel. It’s even cited as an important inspiration for fan favorites like Looper and Stranger Things.
Akira is streaming now on Hulu.
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
At once funny, cute, and heart-warming, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is the kind of film anyone can enjoy. It’s about exactly what it sounds like – a girl who acquires the power to travel back in time. She finds along the way that she’s not the only one affected by her choices, leading to some deep philosophical musings and dramatic storytelling. If you haven’t watched any anime movies yet, this is a great place to start.
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is streaming now on Crunchyroll.
Weathering with You
Weathering with You, simply put, is a delightful watch. Directed by the acclaimed Makoto Shinkai, who’s known for creating the kinds of films that are so beautiful you can pull any frame from them and hang it on your wall like a painting, Weathering with You is a cute and romantic movie about a high-school boy who runs away from home and befriends an orphan girl with the power to manipulate the weather. Every Makoto Shinkai film could easily be on this list, but this one is a great entry to his style, and it’s available to stream for US audiences.
Weathering with You is streaming now on Max.
Tokyo Godfathers
It’s a bold statement, but here goes: Tokyo Godfathers is one of the best Christmas films of all time. One Christmas Eve, three homeless people living on the streets of Tokyo find a baby in the trash and begin the search for the parents. Tokyo Godfathers is funny, adventurous, cheerful, and ultimately, full of meaning.
Tokyo Godfathers is streaming now on Tubi, Pluto TV, and The Roku Channel.
