100 Greatest Anime Movies
Background: Japanese anime movies have a rich history that dates back to the early 20th century, with the first known animated film, *Namakura Gatana*, produced in 1917 (See video below list). Anime, derived from the English word "animation," refers to a distinct style of animated films and series originating from Japan, characterized by vibrant visuals, imaginative storytelling, and diverse genres. The medium gained significant momentum in the post-World War II era, with pioneers like Osamu Tezuka, often called the "God of Manga," playing a pivotal role in shaping its modern form. Landmark films such as Hayao Miyazaki's *Spirited Away* (2001) and *My Neighbor Totoro* (1988) brought global recognition to anime, showcasing its ability to blend artistic innovation with profound narratives. Japanese anime movies remain a cultural phenomenon, celebrated for their ability to explore complex themes ranging from fantasy and science fiction to romance and social commentary.
Criteria: These Greatest Japanese Anime Movies were chosen and ranked considering their Popularity, Influence and Impact on Animated Cinema, Innovation, Originality, and Acclaim from both critics and the public.
Criteria: These Greatest Japanese Anime Movies were chosen and ranked considering their Popularity, Influence and Impact on Animated Cinema, Innovation, Originality, and Acclaim from both critics and the public.
Rank: Title: English - (Title: Japanese) (Year, genre, keywords) (Directors)
- Spirited Away
千と千尋の神隠し (2001, fantasy, folklore spirits, young girl) (Hayao Miyazaki) - My Neighbor Totoro
となりのトトロ (1988, fantasy, wood spirits) (Hayao Miyazaki) - Akira
アキラ (1988, action, cyberpunk biker gang) (Katsuhiro Otomo) - Grave of the Fireflies
火垂るの墓 (1988, children, survival, Kobe Japan after bombing in WWII) (Isao Takahata) - Princess Mononoke
もののけ姫 (1997, epic fantasy quest) (Hayao Miyazaki) - Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
風の谷のナウシカ (1984, post-apocalyptic fantasy adventure) (Hayao Miyazaki) - Ghost in the Shell
攻殻機動隊 (1995, cyberpunk action thriller) (Mamoru Oshii) - Howl's Moving Castle
ハウルの動く城 (2004, fantasy, technology) (Hayao Miyazaki) - Castle in the Sky
天空の城ラピュタ (1986, fantasy adventure) (Hayao Miyazaki) - Your Name.
君の名は (2016, romantic fantasy) (Makoto Shinkai) - Perfect Blue
パーフェクトブルー (1997, psychological thriller) (Satoshi Kon) - Ninja Scroll
獣兵衛忍風帖 (1993, period drama) (Yoshiaki Kawajiri) - Vampire Hunter D
バンパイアハンターD (1985, far-future dark fantasy) (Hideyuki Kikuchi) - The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
かぐや姫の物語 (2013, historical fantasy) (Isao Takahata) - The End of Evangelion
新世紀エヴァンゲリオン劇場版 Air/まごころを、君に (1997, apocalyptic science fiction) (Hideaki Anno) - Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Movie: Mugen Train
劇場版「鬼滅の刃」無限列車編 (2020, dark fantasy action) (Haruo Sotozaki) - Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro
ルパン三世 カリオストロの城 (1979, action adventure comedy) (Hayao Miyazaki) - The Boy and the Heron
君たちはどう生きるか (2023, fantasy) (Hayao Miyazaki) - Only Yesterday
おもひでぽろぽろ (1991, family drama) (Isao Takahata) - The Wind Rises
風立ちぬ (2013, historical drama) (Hayao Miyazaki) - Evangelion: 3.0+1.01 Thrice Upon a Time
シン・エヴァンゲリオン劇場版: 𝄂 (2021, epic science fiction) (Hideaki Anno) - Barefoot Gen
はだしのゲン (1983, war drama) (Mori Masaki) - Look Back
ルックバック (2024, coming-of-age drama) (Kiyotaka Oshiyama) - Metropolis
メトロポリス (2001, cyberpunk drama) (Katsuhiro Otomo) - Kiki's Delivery Service
魔女の宅急便 (1989, young witch fantasy) (Hayao Miyazaki) - Paprika
パプリカ (2006, science fiction psychological thriller) (Satoshi Kon) - Tokyo Godfathers
東京ゴッドファーザーズ (2003, adventure comedy) (Satoshi Kon) - Porco Rosso
紅の豚 (1992, adventure fantasy) (Hayao Miyazaki) - The Secret World of Arrietty
借りぐらしのアリエッティ (2010, fantasy) (Hiromasa Yonebayashi) - Whisper of the Heart
耳をすませば (1995, coming-of-age drama) (Yoshifumi Kondō) - Ponyo
崖の上のポニョ (2008, children fantasy) (Hayao Miyazaki) - Millennium Actress
千年女優 (2001, coming-of-age showbiz drama) (Satoshi Kon) - Galaxy Express 999
銀河鉄道999 (1979, science fiction) (Rintaro) - Wolf Children
おおかみこどもの雨と雪 (2012, drama, fantasy) (Mamoru Hosoda) - Belle
竜とそばかすの姫 (2021, science fantasy) (Mamoru Hosoda) - Wicked City
妖獣都市 (1987, adult neo-noir, action, gothic horror) (Yoshiaki Kawajiri) - A Silent Voice: The Movie
聲の形 (2016, coming-of-age psychological drama) (Naoko Yamada) - Solo Leveling: ReAwakening
俺だけレベルアップな件 (2024, dark fantasy) (Shunsuke Nakashige) - Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone
ヱヴァンゲリヲン新劇場版: 序 (2007, science fiction, action) (Hideaki Anno, Masayuki, Kôbun Shizuno) - The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
時をかける少女 (2006, science fiction romance) (Mamoru Hosoda) - Robot Carnival
ロボットカーニバル (1987, 9 short stories) (Hidetoshi Ōmori, etc.) - Mirai
未来のミライ (2018, drama) (Mamoru Hosod) - The First Slam Dunk
ザ・ファーストスラムダンク (2022, sports, basketball) (Takehiko Inoue) - Space Adventure Cobra
スペースアドベンチャーコブラ (1982, epic space opera) (Osamu Dezaki) - Suzume
すずめの戸締まり (2022, coming-of-age fantasy adventure) (Makoto Shinkai) - Pom Poko
平成狸合戦ぽんぽこ (1994, fantasy) (Isao Takahata) - Belladonna of Sadness
哀しみのベラドンナ (1973, adult drama) (Eiichi Yamamoto) - A Thousand and One Nights
千夜一夜物語 (1969, adult fantasy) (Eiichi Yamamoto) - Dan Da Dan: First Encounter
ダンダダン (2024, science fiction action comedy horror) (Fūga Yamashiro) - Penguin Highway
ペンギン・ハイウェイ (2018, science fiction) (Hiroyasu Ishida) - One Piece Film: Red
ワンピース フィルム レッド (2022, musical, fantasy, action-adventure) (Gorō Taniguchi) - Cowboy Bebop: The Movie
カウボーイビバップ 天国の扉 (2001, science fiction action) (Shinichirō Watanabe) - Fist of the North Star
北斗の拳 (1986, post-apocalyptic martial arts) (Toyoo Ashida) - In This Corner of the World
この世界の片隅に (2016, war drama) (Sunao Katabuchi) - The Colors Within
きみの色 (2024, drama) (Naoko Yamada) - My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising
僕のヒーローアカデミア THE MOVIE ヒーローズ: ライジング (2019, superhero) (Kenji Nagasaki) - Promare
プロメア (2019, science fiction action) (Hiroyuki Imaishi) - Inu-Oh
犬王 (2021, musical) (Masaaki Yuasa) - The Little Prince and the Eight-Headed Dragon
わんぱく王子の大蛇退治 (1963, fantasy adventure) (Yūgo Serikawa) - Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence
イノセンス (2004, cyberpunk psychological thriller) (Mamoru Oshii) - Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise
王立宇宙軍~オネアミスの翼 (1987, science fiction) (Hiroyuki Yamaga) - Robotech: The Movie
ロボテック: 語られざる物語 (1986, science fiction) (Noboru Ishiguro, Carl Macek) - Angel's Egg
天使のたまご (1985, post-apocalyptic science fantasy) (Mamoru Oshii) - Sword of the Stranger
ストレンヂア 無皇刃譚 (2007, action adventure) (Masahiro Andô) - Urotsukidôji: Legend of the Overfiend
超神伝説うろつき童子 (1989, erotic horror) (Hideki Takayama) - Jujutsu Kaisen 0: The Movie
劇場版 呪術廻戦 0 (2021, dark fantasy) (Sunghoo Park) - Mary and the Witch's Flower
メアリと魔女の花 (2017, fantasy, child, witch) (Hiromasa Yonebayashi) - Nutcracker Fantasy
くるみ割り人形 (1979, fantasy, stop-motion, Tchaikovsky) (Takeo Nakamura) - Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms
さよならの朝に約束の花をかざろう (2018, fantasy drama) (Mari Okada) - Ocean Waves
海がきこえる (1993), coming-of-age romantic drama) (Tomomi Mochizuki) - Blood: The Last Vampire
ブラッド ザ ラスト ヴァンパイア (2000, action horror) (Hiroyuki Kitakubo) - When Marnie Was There
思い出のマーニー (2014, psychological drama) (Hiromasa Yonebayashi) - Weathering with You
天気の子 (2019, romantic fantasy) (Makoto Shinkai) - Sakura Wars: The Movie
サクラ大戦 活動写真 (2001, action-adventure) (Mitsuru Hongo) - The Boy and the Beast
バケモノの子 (2015, adventure fantasy) Mamoru Hosoda() - Conan the Future Boy: The Big Giant Robot's Resurrection
未来少年コナン 特別編 巨大機ギガントの復活 (1984, adventure) (Hayao Miyazaki) - Spy x Family Code: White
劇場版 SPY×FAMILY CODE: White (2023, spy action comedy) (Takashi Katagiri) - Josee, the Tiger and the Fish
ジョゼと虎と魚たち (2020, coming-of-age romantic drama) (Kotaro Tamura) - The Garden of Words
言の葉の庭 (2013, romance drama) (Makoto Shinkai) - Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust
バンパイアハンターD (2000, dark fantasy, vampire) (Yoshiaki Kawajiri) - Liz and the Blue Bird
リズと青い鳥 (2018, teen drama, school) (Naoko Yamada) - The Cat Returns
猫の恩返し (2002, fantasy, ability to talk with cats) (Hiroyuki Morita) - The Anthem of the Heart
心が叫びたがってるんだ (2015, youth drama) (Tatsuyuki Nagai) - Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle
劇場版ハイキュー!! ゴミ捨て場の決戦 (2024, high school sports) (Susumu Mitsunaka) - Patlabor: The Movie
機動警察パトレイバー the Movie (1989, science fiction, robots) (Mamoru Oshii) - Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade
人狼 JIN-ROH (1999, sci-fi thriller, police) (Hiroyuki Okiura) - Patema Inverted
サカサマのパテマ (2013, science fiction, fantasy) (Yasuhiro Yoshiura) - The Night Is Short, Walk on Girl
夜は短し歩けよ乙女 (2017, romantic comedy, Kyoto nightlife) (Masaaki Yuasa) - The Animatrix
アニマトリックス (2003 - 9 animated stories, science fiction) (Andy Jones, etc.) - Redline
レッドライン (2009, science fiction, car race) (Takeshi Koike) - My Neighbors the Yamadas
ホーホケキョとなりの山田くん (1999, comedy) (Isao Takahata) - Memories
(1995, three manga stories, science fiction) (Kōji Morimoto, Tensai Okamura, Katsuhiro Otomo) - Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - To the Swordsmith Village
鬼滅の刃 刀鍛冶の里編 (2023, dark fantasy action) (Haruo Sotozaki) - Midori
地下幻燈劇画 少女椿 (1992, horror drama, freak-show circus) (Hiroshi Harada) - 5 Centimeters per Second
秒速5センチメートル (2007, coming-of-age romantic drama) (Makoto Shinkai) - Steamboy
スチームボーイ (2004, action, steampunk) (Katsuhiro Otomo) - I Want to Eat Your Pancreas
君の膵臓をたべたい (2017, romance drama) (Sho Tsukikawa) - Tekkonkinkreet
鉄コン筋クリート (2006, crime drama) (Hiroaki Andô, Michael Arias) - The Imaginary
屋根裏のラジャー (2023, fantasy drama, adventure) (Yoshiyuki Momose) - Lensman
SF新世紀 レンズマン (1984, space sci-fi adventure) (Yoshiaki Kawajiri, Kazuyuki Hirokawa)
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10 Best Anime Movies from 2025
- Demon Slayer - Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Movie: Infinity Castle
劇場版「鬼滅の刃」無限城編 第一章 猗窩座再来 (dark fantasy) (Hikaru Kondô, Haruo Sotozaki) - Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc
劇場版『チェンソーマン レゼ篇 (dark teen fantasy) (Tatsuya Yoshihara) - Princess Principal: Crown Handler: Chapter 4
プリンセス・プリンシパル (action, sci-fi, spy thriller) (Masaki Tachibana) - JUJUTSU KAISEN: Hidden Inventory/Premature Death - The Movie
劇場版 呪術廻戦 懐玉・玉折 (fantasy, action) (Shouta Goshozono) - Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye
ダン・ダ・ダン：邪眼 (action, sci-fi, horror) (Abel Gongora, Fûga Yamashiro) - Zombie Land Saga: Yumeginga Paradise
ゾンビランドサガ ゆめぎんがパラダイス (fantasy, horror) (Megan Shipman) - 100 Meters
ひゃくえむ。(sport drama) (Kenji Iwaisawa) - Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid: A Lonely Dragon Wants to Be Loved
小林さんちのメイドラゴン さみしがりやの竜 (fantasy, adventure) (Tatsuya Ishihara, Jad Saxton, Yasuhiro Takemoto) - The Last Blossom
ホウセンカ (family drama) (Baku Kinoshita) - All You Need Is Kill
オール ユー ニード イズ キル (alien invasion, time travel) (Ken'ichirô Akimoto, Yukinori Nakamura)
なまくら刀 Namakura Gatana (The Dull Sword) 1917
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Edited By: Lew
List Begun: 2026-05-03
List Begun: 2026-05-03
