If you are a fan of animation movie then you already know that Japan famous for animation movies from the very beginning of this kind of movies in the world. They have already presented some excellent anime (animation is known as anime in
Japan) movies to the fans around the world. Here, I am going to give a list of top ten famous animation films produced in
Japan. You know that the phrase “Top Ten” always creates controversy as there are many movies left which also deserve to be placed in the list. Here goes the list:
Akira
Directed by Katsuhiro Ōtomo, a notable Manga artist and anime (animation) creator in Japan, the movie Akira has become of the greatest Japanese anime (animation) movies ever released. The movie is credited for increasing popularity of Japanese anime worldwide especially in the West. The movie could break the traditional characteristics of anime film. Katsuhiro Ōtomo gave some extra effort to make the film more realistic to the fans. Earlier, the Japanese anime (animation) movie shows lip movement of the characters where the face remained static. However, in the movie Akira, viewers got introduced with the face movement with while reciting the dialogue. The movie was made in 1988.
The story was also written by director Katsuhiro Ōtomo. The complexity of the story can be overshadowed by the animation quality of the movie. All of the characters are well-organized and the characters are easily introduced to the viewers. The story is based on the unsettle situation of post World War II Japan. The destruction of the nuclear explosion is clearly seen in the movie. Above all, you will find a new Japan in the movie.
Image Source: Wikipedia
Spirited Away
The Academy Award winning movie Spirited Away is another trade mark anime (animation) movie produced in Japan. I would like to introduce you with the director before going though the movie. Yes, Hayao Miyazaki, creator of many famous Japanese anime, is the pioneer of the movie ‘Spirited Away’. He directed the movie and wrote the story of the movie. The movie is based on a girl named Chihiro and a mysterious town full of spirits. While returning to their new house, Chihiro and her parents take a brake in the town to eat some delicious items arranged in the restaurants. It was not till sun set, she saw faceless spirits roaming around the city. Moreover, Chihiro gets shocked to see that her parents have turned into pigs. Now, with the help of a boy Haku, Chihiro tries to go back to their house before their parents become food of the spirits.
The movie was first released in Japanese language in 2001 and later on translated in to English and released in US, Canada, Australia and England. In 2001, the movie got Oscar and became the first anime film to win this award. The movie got released under the banner of famous Japanese studo “Studio Ghibli, Inc.”
Image Source: Wikipedia
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence
The movie is one of the greatest ever anime produced in Japan. Initially there was a TV series by this name. However, director Mamoru Oshii has showed an impressive work in the movie Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence. The movie has gone beyond its cartoon image with an outstanding design and interesting characters. The movie Innocence got some international recognition for its interesting story and well-designed characters. The movie was one of the featured films in the Cannes film festival in 2004 becoming the sixth animated film in the festival.
The movie depicts the future technology and plotted in 2032. You already know about the movie Terminator, a super block bluster movie of Hollywood, where the fight between man and machine was screened. You can find a similarity between terminator and Innocence as the movie Innocence is also depicts a war between man and machine.
The movie was released in 2004 in Japan and later on the movie was showed in several countries including USA, South Korea, UK, France, Germany and Italy. I hope you will enjoy the movie.
Image Source: IMDb
Princess Mononoke
Princess Mononoke is one of the greatest anime ever made in Japan and before Titanic; it was the highest gross movie in Japan. If you are not so interested about the movie then I would like to introduce you the director of the movie- Hayao Miyazaki. If you have a least idea about Japanese animation movie that you mist have head that Hayao Miyazaki is one of the greatest ever creator of anime in Japan. Released in several countries, the movie was critically acclaimed by both critics and fans. Computer animation and 3D technology was used in the movie that made the movie more attractive to the viewers.
The movie is based on an interesting story. Ashitaka is the prince of Emishi. He saved his village from a demon God and eventually he was suffered from a dangerous disease. Aiming to be cured from the disease, the price set out for Far East and reached in a battle between animals of a forest and iron mining town. Later, Price Ashitaka leads the animals in the battle.
The movie was released in 1997 and at that time it was the most expensive animation movie with a production cost of US$20 million. The movie was a mixture of traditional technology of making anime and computer technology. Among the 144,000 drawn cells, about 80,000 cells were re-drawn by the director.
Image Source: IMDb
Ninja Scroll
The movie is based on a story of feudal Japan and the action scenes are really something to be observed. The characters are well-designed by the Yutaka Minowa and the story was written by the director Yoshiaki Kawajiri, a notable figure in Japanese anime industry. Though the movie was initially released in Japan in 1993, it was released in Australia, Canada, UK, USA and other countries later on. Till date, Ninja Scroll has been one of the widely known Japanese anime outside Japan.
You will find an attractive love story between the two protagonist roles of Kagero, a beautiful Ninja, and the hero Jubei. The story is plotted in a national crisis of the country. A giant man is emerged in the movie with an evil power and the couple tries to save themselves from this evil power.
Image Source: Wikipedia
Grave of the Fireflies
Based on the World War II, the movie has been critically acclaimed both in Japan and abroad. To many, Grave of the Fireflies is one of the best anti-war movies ever made and the design of the characters is really praiseworthy. This was the third movie of Studio Ghibli, most famous anime studio in Japan. The movie was directed and written by Isao Takahata. The movie was released in 1988 in Japan.
The movie depicts the post World War II destroyed Japan and its poor socio-economic situation. Two orphans named Seita and his younger sister Setsuko find themselves in a famine. The siblings lost their parents in the recently concluded war. You can find a heart beating story of struggle in life and can assume how much effect a war can have on the entire nation.
Image Source: Wikipedia
Perfect Blue
The story of the movie Perfect Blue is little complicated but the story explores a mysterious serial killer. Mima Kirigoe is a popular pop star who wants to be an actress. That is why, she left his group. At that time, she finds a autobiographical website which seems to her own autobiography and the most interestingly the name of the website is Miam’s Room. She suspects her manager Rumi. Then through a drama series, Mima rises to stardom as an actress. However, a serial killer emerges in the movie and the situation starts changing overnight. The quality of the animations is really very good and the characters are well designed too.
The movie was directed by Satoshi Kon. At first the movie was released in Japan and later on the movie was also released in US. The movie has the quality of being one of the greatest movies ever made in Japanese anime.
Image Source: Wikipedia
Vampire Hunter D
The movie is one of the forerunners of the Japanese anime outside Japan. Vampire Hunter D is based on the story of a series of novel by Hideyuki Kikuchi. The movie was released in 1985 in Japan and later on in other countries. The movie is regarded as the cult classic in English speaking countries.
In the movie, the anime fans were first introduced with the dark future which has become a common topic of the science fictions now-a-days. The movie shows the fight between human and vampires. The movie starts in 12,090 A.D. where vampires dominate the world and humans are seen struggle for their survival. The movie was released in three languages- Japanese, English and Spanish.
Image Source: IMDb
My Neighbor Totoro
The movie is another great anime of Hayao Miyazaki, the most famous anime creator in Japan. Hayao also wrote the story of the movie. The story can lead you to an imaginative world where you can find some magical figures. Two sisters Satsuke and Mei get associated with Totoros, some magical creatures. The sisters have some magical experience with Totoros.
My Neighbor Totoro was produced by Studio Ghibli in 1988 and later on the movie was released in USA by Fox in 1993 and in 2006 by Disney. My Neighbor Totoro has become successful in US too. A carton based on the movie was released in English in 2004.
Image Source: Wikipedia
Cowboy Bebop
This anime series was directed by Shinichiro Watanabe. The movie was released in 2001 in Japan. In USA, Cowboy Bebop could earn a substantial amount. Observing the huge success both in Japan and abroad, a magna (carton) series in TV and two video games were released based on the movie.
The movie is based on the bounty hunter cowboys. The story of the movie starts in 2071. Some crews visits solar system in search of bounties. Each of the 26 episodes of the anime is based on a particular bounty.
The martial art action scenes are really something attractive for the viewers. The background music is largely dominated by both Americaan jazz and rock music. The well-organized characters are impressive and music used in the movie helped the movie get such a huge success. Besides the two counties, the movie was also released in Brzil and Germany.
Image Source: Wikipedia
Besides these ten films, I would like to name some more films which are popular both in Japan and abroad. The movie names are given below:
Metropolis
Tokyo Godfathers
Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer
Street Fighter II
Steamboy
Midori: The Girl in the Freak Show
Howl’s Moving Castle
The Wicked City
The Castle of Cagliostro
To get regular update of this blog, subscribe to feed of this blog:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/TechnologyBusinessBlogging
Gungrave? Hellsing OVA? Death Note? Samurai Champloo?
ReplyDeleteC'mon. These all deserve to be listed. Especially Gungrave. I'm quite surprised that Bebop is there, but Gungrave isn't. Personally, I believe Gungrave depicts life much more realistically than Bebop, and has a greater depth to its theme.
But that's just my opinion.
uh it was movies not series derp
DeleteIt's a list of MOVIES not SERIES. Get it right to not look stupid when posting.
DeleteAre u kidding me Look at the adress it says movie list dumb ass your the stupid looking one
DeleteWow, suddenly they're stupid? Way to take it personally people. A person can simply state their opinion, without unnecessary criticism/assumptions about one's intellect.
Deletecorrection *can't lol
Deletewhat a spastic haha
DeleteAtleast from what i know, there are MOVIES from Death Note. I don't know about Hellsing OVA, Gungrave and Samurai Champloo, but Death Note has about. .3-4 movies. Making you incorrect, in at least a single point.
Deleteahh hauls moving castle? thats like the greatest
Delete@Wow, suddenly they're stupid? Way to take it personally people. A person can simply state their opinion, without unnecessary criticism/assumptions about one's intellect.
DeleteOf course I can, you and the first post is stupid and ignorant. Because Anonymous and TheCodeArchitect are the same.
japanese people do NOT call it anime thats a GIANT WRONG they call it manga prenounced muhn-gah
Deletewhat about Macross
Delete@japanese people do NOT call it anime thats a GIANT WRONG they call it manga prenounced muhn-gah
DeleteYou dumbass, that's something completely different. Anime is /not/ manga.
Of all the years I've watched anime, I've never heard o gungrave. Your suprised cowboy bebop is up there? Why wouldn't it be? It's one of the most popular anime's here in the US and not to mention really damn good.
ReplyDeleteAs far as hellsing and the others you listed, they aren't near good enough to make the top 15
your righ cowboy bebob def deserves to be up on the list
DeleteIf you didnt notice... It is Anime Movies... not anime series. geez!
ReplyDeleteExactly!
DeleteWHAT?! DOES ANYONE HAVE A LIST OF PERFECT JAPANESE ANIMME!?
Deleteermm ya should all shut up cuz noone ask ya to go to this web page soz...
Deleteermm ya should all shut up cuz noone ask ya to go to this web page soz...
Deletea very big yes, better they go to other sites.
DeleteIt's more like "Top Ten Japanese Animation Movies that you'll most likely find in a Wyoming video rental"
ReplyDeleteIf you going to use "all time", I expect a list compiled by experts who, combined, have seen all anime movies ever. Not a list by some dude who just knows how to search on imdb.
And it's Lupin the 3rd: The Castle of Cagliostro.
Oh, and Gungrave is slow and boring, and Hellsing TV is better than the OVA.
Nice list. These movies are very popular- no doubt about that.
ReplyDeletewhat the fuck is wrong with you shouting ill take you to the hospital if you like lol LMFAO
DeleteYou are an idiot.
DeleteSeen all but mononoke, and im amazed that they chose Ghost in the Shell 2 over Ghost in the shell ??? The original is at least as good, if not better than the sequel. Fair enough Innocence has some amazing scenery, but you cant just pretend Ghost 1 was never made. Without it there would be no matrix, no terminator, no robocop.
ReplyDeleteAnd as for champloo and death note .... ive never heard of them in my 12 years of anime/manga viewing, so maybe they arent that great after all.
Ghibli rules, but Mamoru Oshii is still the king.
Watch monoke
DeleteJust FYI - Terminator (1984) and Robocop (1987) were released oh... a decade or so before GitS (1995). Make sure you do the easiest thing and google before you post silliness. If in fact, the predilection to another work is actually prevalent in any of the mentioned films about AI -- it is, in fact, Isaac Asimov's "I, Robot" that should be given the nod here. That is all.
DeleteJust FYI - Terminator (1984) and Robocop (1987) were released oh... a decade or so before GitS (1995). Make sure you do the easiest thing and google before you post silliness. If in fact, the predilection to another work is actually prevalent in any of the mentioned films about AI -- it is, in fact, Isaac Asimov's "I, Robot" that should be given the nod here. That is all.
DeleteErm... Terminator (1984) and Robocop (1987) both considerably pre-date GitS (1995) in any form. If there's a nod to be given here, it's to Isaac Asmiov's "I, Robot" - published waaaaay back in 1950. None of the AI stuff are new ideas, and GitS certainly isn't pioneering there. However its visual style and pure scope should bring it into the top 5 when considering any anime movie G.O.A.T. list. Miyazaki is great, but I say pick one and move on. I vote for Spirited Away. As for Oshii, my personal opinion is that he's rested a bit on his GitS laurels - Has he done anything *but* GitS since then? Sky Crawlers just doesn't have the weight of his GitS work, unlike Miyazaki that continually reinvents himself.
Deletewhy is tekkonkinkreet (if thats how you spell it)
DeleteChamploo rocks dude
DeleteDude, if you've never seen Samurai Champloo or Death Note, then you obviously aren't very tuned in to the anime community. Champloo is ten years old and groundbreaking in its hip-hop themed take on traditional ronin/rurouni... Death Note is dark, super stylistic, and captivating from the get go.
DeleteBUUUUUUTTT..... It's obvious your perspective is very narcissistic. No Robo-cop or Terminator? Uh... those movies were first. Just like you didn't realize this OBVIOUS and FUNDAMENTAL TRUTH, you have completely missed the powerful and prolific presence of Champloo and Death Note. Your narrow minded ignorance smells all the way over here.
just because you havent heard of it doesnt mean its not that good. thats just plain ignorant. and i second that shit champloo is groundbreaking. a must see. and death note is rad because how dark that shit gets.
DeleteHere's a REAL list compiled by Japan's Cultural Affairs Agency
ReplyDeletehttp://www.japanprobe.com/?p=2088
What, none of the 'Urotsukidoji' movies made it? I guess the 'adult themes' in those films would keep them off the list.
ReplyDeletePretty embarassing that Naussica isnt on the list, let alone at the top. Japan itself ranked Naussica number 2 movie of all time (and rumours suggest they rated it number 1 but they bumped seven samurai above it as they didnt want a anime on the top of the list). Maybe the writer should actually try watching some Anime some time and not just regurgitate the ones that pop up on google first.
ReplyDeleteNaussica is still my first and favorite from like 16+ years ago.
ReplyDeletefist of the north star ?!?
ReplyDeleteyeah... that list is rather cookie cutter
ReplyDeletesure they are all great pieces of animation but as a whole theres hardly any real personal touch to it...
gungrave, if you havent had the pleasure of watching it, is one of the most harrowing animes ive ever seen.... each episode is crafted to perfection
i agree with the one who said that the first ghost in the shell should be on the list..it is far better than some of the movies on the list...
ReplyDeleteAlso Rurouni Kenshin The Movie could have made the list..i would have liked it anyway
I personally think Akira, Mononoke Hime and Ghost In the Shell will always appear in any top anime ranking.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised no one seemed to have mentioned the brilliant Jinroh - The Wolf Brigade.
Of course Princess Mononoke will be on top man. c'mon a prince's arm that becomes possessed by the touch of a demon bore and on his journey to find a solution his arm thrives to kill!! Plus you have awesome animal spirits which are seen as Gods and Demons who hate the humans so much even with their head decapitated they still try to rip them to shreds. O and Billy Bob Thorton trying to steal the forest spirit's head..very funny
DeleteI have finished watching Spirited Away last weekend and I almost fell off my barstool.
ReplyDeletei tink he is judging based on popularity...personally i would recommend omohide poro poro, nitaboh, ushiro no shoumen dare(movie), hotori-tada saiwai wo koneigau, n of cos those made by the FATHER OF ALL ANIME, TEZUKA OSAMU>>ningyo, osu, memory, legend of the forest, senya ichiya monogatari....they deserve 2 be mentioned as well or at least the pioneers of animation
ReplyDeleteFor clarity's sake it's nausicaa, not naussica. Not a big deal but it sucks when your torrent search brings back 0 results.
ReplyDeleteum duh howl's moving castle.
ReplyDeletesif its not in the list.
and i thought it was ment to be movies not series coz um bebop is a series.
Cow boy bebop is indeed a series and also a movie called knocking on heavens door
DeleteVery good
ReplyDeleteUm, well i like Inuyasha alot. i've never seen all the series or even any of the movies but the shows i have seen are very funny and full of action and serious matters i believe.also i love Kiki's Delivery Service, Howl's Moving Castle, and Spirited Away so much in the messages, wonder, and magic put in them.well theres alot more series i like to talk about since i just love them for about the same reasons as Inuyasha but this is a MOVIE thing...and i don't really like trash talking unless someone does it to me i mean afterall everyone is entitled to their opinions and it should be respected in any case.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I think Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind could have bumped a few. Ive watched it more than many of the others. Ghost in the Shell I found to be more entertaining than the sequel.
ReplyDeleteMost of those animated movies i agree with ,but never seen Cowboy Bebop or ghost in shell but have heard of them. I also am planing on watching Naussica. I think Rourouni Kenshin movie, Princess Mononoke, and spirited away are the best!!!!
ReplyDeleteHas anyone seen Appleseed? I thought that movie was terrific!
ReplyDeleteAre Paprika and Tekkon Kinkreet too obscure to mention? Personally coming from a person who has seen everything so far mentioned, I believe that both were very well done for Japanese animation. For that matter there is so much more that is missing.
ReplyDeleteWTF??!!
ReplyDeleteMakoto Shinkai - 5 cm per second, Miyazaki The Girl who leapt through time!
The list looks more like the ones with a commercial success.
agreed
Deleteyahh.. the is THE GIRL WHO LEAPT THROUGH TIME>!!
Deleteyah the best is THE GIRL WHO LEAPT THROUGH TIME
DeleteFist of the north star was bomb!! Ur not old.... But that is a classic I agree with u 100%
DeleteI understand that I am a little late with this post but... did anyone of you hear of Appleseed? Or did the writer of this article hear of it? I guess not.
ReplyDeleteI believe Appleseed to be the best anime ever (both parts). I admit the AppleSeed - ExMachina was made in 2007 but still... the first one is from 2004.
Whatever...
Appleseed is as I agree one, no two counting both, at the top of any true anime lovers' list!!! Finally, some new people commenting that have a unique and fresh eye and understanding more flics need to be brought up that are hi quality and countless other reasons.... Appleseed, caught me off guard since I wasn't expecting much to which I was and am happily surprised! Anyone into anime needs to look up both Appleseed flics and watch them right now before they comment even if its been a while. tons of crap out there and it can be expensive to try and guess if a movie is going to be good for you as an individual. Afterall, Anime typically makes a statement no matter the film and usually several deep ones at that while at the same time you find ourself having 'fun' and truly enjoying the time your unaware of as you escape into the world the creators and you have now formed inside your own magnificent mind. It takes a creator and a watcher to create a meaningful and happy experience that you just might find you've grown as a person as your own creativity has just been secretly increased. Who cares what the majority says and screw all those negative types which so commonly post a reply or twenty! Akira is another great film: just an fyi to any who are seeking something beautiful and full of color to lose oneself for just a while and escape our amazing world outside the screen. Thx for the post btw! Enjoy you future escaped!
Deleteiv watched spirited away last summer and it was soo good.
ReplyDeletei agree with the guy that said howls moving castle. cant believe its not in the list.
ReplyDeleteand i agree with you
Deletewhat about top shows like Blood Plus. in my own opinion i think that Blood Plus beats half of the shows that actually made it. who like that dumb show Cowboy Bebop. that is dumb as hell!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteOMG! nobody mentioned Fist of the North Star! Shame on you!!
ReplyDeleteDid everyone forget Fist of the North Star? Or am I getting too old?
ReplyDeleteBTW, anyone who says he's been watching anime for 15 years and hasn't heard of Death Note or Gungrave should... well... keep watching, I guess...
ReplyDeletei love all the angry ners posting comments about their favorite anime
ReplyDeleteSERIES when this posting is about anime MOVIES
if you are gonna, at least do so in an intelligent manner.
all of you complaining your favorite series wasnt included are making yourselves look stupid.
Yes agreed. If you post about SERIES on this you are full on retard.. its about MOVIES not SERIES get it into your BRANE MORAN
DeleteI absolutely love princess mononoke. and spirited away
ReplyDeletei just really really like japanese cartoons lol. theyre just awesome :)
I feel like I hate 95% of everyone who has posted before me, so I just wanted to get that off my chest. I agree with the complaints about Nausicaä not being on the list, and could personally do without Perfect Blue on the list. I think it's pretty overrated. My Neighbor Totoro is a great flick, but I don't necessarily think it deserves to be on the list. Some good movies that haven't been mentioned are A Place Promised in Our Early Days, Summer Wars, Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone, and Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance, Oh My Goodness, Paprika, 5 Centimeters Per Second, along with anything else out of studio Ghibli (The Cat Returns, Porco Rosso, etc.).
ReplyDeletei am years late but it for future reference to any who happen to see this post it it "oh my goddess" not oh my goodness lol
DeleteMr beans those were some preety gay movies u posted there
DeleteWhat about Samurai X?
ReplyDeletePlease tell me any good animated movies like dragon ball z, samurai x, street fighter 2 the animatied movie etc. I haven't watched the ninja scroll and the Cowboy Bebop which I plan to see. If there are any other anime movies related to ninja or samurai, please inform me.. I link super powers also...
ReplyDeletenaruto
DeleteOh you have to watch nInja scroll....if u love action and love story, then that's the movie :)
DeleteThis is just plain stupid. every body has a favorite so stop acting like kids and grow up yours didnt make it to the top then it sucks. If your talking about anime and most view in the world you should look at DBZ and POkemon. they make the most views.
ReplyDeleteGeneric Viagra, sorry to tell you my friend, but Cowboy Bebop the series i s far superior than the film and I find it hard to understand your assertions. to Everybody, do not be fooled by this fool, he clearly doesn't know much about anime. And also, stop asking why your fav. series aren't listed because this is a Movie list, feature film, filme, pelicula, NOT short episode series.
ReplyDeletesprited away's the best!!
ReplyDeleteis there any other animes.. like i just looked for these things cuz when i was small i watched em, but i forgot the tittles, so like there are some more that i watched that are created around the time of totoro. IF you can plz send me some tittles with puc to rbin.hood@hotmail.com
ReplyDeletegood movies..in all but my fav one of all time not in there(Castle In The Sky)but i like em all so idc any ways =D
ReplyDeleteI watched an anime movie on "Rita Bell's Prize Movie" in Detroit around 1966. It was a story about a young prince?, I remember him as a donkey, not sure though, that was spoiled, and another magician imprisoned him. He was released by a human prince, who put a gold band around his head. Not sure what it did, I think it blocked his powers. He then had to fight a giant bull. Does anyone have an idea what it was called?
ReplyDeletepeeete said""
ReplyDeleteI like cowboy but it is just a short story""
hello??i totally agree with those who said you're just making a fool out of yourselves, complaining that your fave animes weren't listed..duhh, I recognized some, and dudes, they are not MOVIES, they're SERIES..actually, i'm just a kid, 15 yrs..but i'm a sucker for animes, be it a movie or a series..does someone want to argue with my comment?ok, quit fidgeting and just watch animes..!
ReplyDeleteill argue
Deleteomg! totoro's so cute
ReplyDeleteCodeArchitect:
ReplyDeletethe titles you named aren't on this list because they're series, dumb ass. While you're at it, why don't you simply say, "I like Adult Swim, and everything they've shown me." You're an idiot.
In fact, most of what I see on people's lists is pretty much AdultSwim related. There are soooo many great series and movies out there. Dig a little deeper, people. And isn't the whole mecha thing a little played out?
I have seen everything on the list AND listed in the comments, and love all of those movies on the list(except Beebop), but I think only Akira, Princess Mononoke, and Grave of the Fireflies deserve to make the list. There is no excuse for Nausicaa not being on this list; it should replace Spirited Away, which is a great film but in my opinion overrated.
ReplyDeletePatlabor should be on here as well, but I am an admitted Oshii fan.
The only other film besides Nausicaa that should wihtout a doubt be on this list is 5 centimeters per second. This film floored me, and had me thinking about it days after I watched it. It is the best love story I've seen on film (yes, including live action), and the characters/setting seem too real for an animation. It is unlike 95% of anime in that there is no science fiction or fluff in it whatsoever to make it interesting, nothing but real life characters dealing with real life interpersonal issues. Simply brilliant.
5 Centimeters Per Second was good until the 3rd chapter when they played that stupid song! That totally ruined the potential of that movie...
ReplyDeletei would have to say that spirited away and princess mononoke are two of my favorite movies of all time.
ReplyDeleteI'm an amateur movie buff. I do a lot of research typically before I watch a movie. I can confirm the quality of this list based on the fact that I have seen a fair number of the films here and really, I only watch a select number of critically acclaimed films (perhaps that's snobbish). I perhaps wouldn't include a few of these films in my personal list (Akira, which I've seen twice and Ninja scroll which I've seen scenes from). These two films are primarily action driven and I feel a little too violent for my taste while simultaneously lacking in substance of theme and thought provoking elements. But, other than that, nice list, I've seen at least a dozen lists already and this one I think is most representative of critically acclaimed films rather than popular ones.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Ghost in the Shell 2 good choice, seen both, 2 definitely dives deeper than the first and elaborates on the philosophy of the first.
Very good inclusion with Cowboy Bebop, I was very hesitant to watch it because I hadn't heard much about it but it lives up to the quality of the series.
"Grave of the Fireflies" make me cry
ReplyDeleteit totally sad ..........
The Place Promised in Our Early Days and Paprika deserve to be on here. Amazing films.
ReplyDeleteAnd they didn't list Fist of the North Star?
ReplyDeleteWell, i guess you can rename it "Top 10 Yuppie Anime Movie List Of All Time".
Any list with FOTNS is just...well...ignorant of anime foundation.
fist of the north star is horrible though
DeleteAnd they didn't list Fist of the North Star?
ReplyDeleteMight as well call it a top 10 yuppie anime list.
Without FOTNS, it's just ignorant of anime foundations.
entertaining good movies!:D
ReplyDelete@TheCodeArchitect: watch the movies above first then you will know the reason why. a good movie isn't all about guns or actions.it's about connecting the movie with the audience.and also.i guess the movie above is the one that is well accepted by all people around the world.not only for anime fans.and also the movies above are animation instead of a mere anime.ANIMATION OWNES.if u get what i mean.the story in the animation above is high stake.not a repeatable stuff like anime.i'm a gigantic fan of hayao miyazaki.so i guess i'm a bit biased.summer wars should be included.n i agree with the girl who leapt through time.but it kinda lost in the end.like.the meaning of it.just a piece of my mind.they drag it too long for the ending.
ReplyDeleteguys.please please please do not compare animation to anime.it's an insult for the animation industry.
ReplyDeletepeople.go enlighten yourself.animation and anime is a two different things.it's animation list for god's sake!!!!!!!!not an anime list.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't listen to this person in the first place considering all the spelling mistakes and lack of sources. This person yanked lists from other sites and through them all into one list he randomly made. Btw if you have never heard of Death Note, then that's is like saying you live under a rock, I haven't ever watched it but I know what the hell it is.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, sorry for my poor english, not a native speaker.
ReplyDeleteWell thank you for this list, I agree with most of them and the others I just added them to my "to watch" list =)
Im actually living in Japan now (yep, im not japanese as well) and I noticed a new animation on theaters called Buddha. Do you now something about it? Telling from the list tou just gave your movie taste is similar to mine, so if you already have saw it can you give me some reviews?
Oh and totally agree with some comments up here about Nausicaa, great movie
So what are we giving credit to? Are we in agreement that some of the best is based on the story? Or is it the quality of the movie's art. For both you can't beat the master of story And art: Hayao Miyazaki! For a beautiful story that will stay with you for days, if not forever, Grave of the Fireflies touches you like no live action or "cartoon" can. For pure imagination,most of his others are spectacular. For the most exact painstaking detail even to a single blade of grass..you can't beat his movies.
ReplyDelete*Silvershadow*
You hit some of the best ones, but it's severely lacking in some aspects. At least you have some Satoshi Kon but it can't fully save the list. My personal favorite is at http://www.filmcrave.com/list_genre_movie.php?genre=Anime
ReplyDeletewhat happened to howl's moving castle???
ReplyDeleteI agree!!!
Deleteu can watch it on animeratio.com
DeleteLove Spirited Away and Ghost in the Shell I, too bad Appleseed didn't make this list.
ReplyDeleteI love Spirited Away,and I can say that I like all Japan animation movies! ^_^
ReplyDeleteA very solid top 10. I'm iffy with only a few listed. I know Ninja scroll is a classic, but it wouldn't be in my top 10. I can definitely think of other films that are better in story and style than it, but dont get me wrong it was very good when it came out. I'm lucky to have a cousin that works in the animation industry so he sends me movies from japan monthly. Anyways I thought some that should have definitely been listed like Appleseed (very cool futuristic film), Summer Wars (surprisingly liked it), Nausicca, Kiki/Majo no takkyûbin (really surprised its not there I guess it wasnt that big in US.. should be a top film), The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, ponyo (very cute by miyazaki you can't go wrong with watching his films), mimi wo sumaseba, lupin (hilarious classic?), 5 centimeters per second, etc just to name a few.
ReplyDeleteI'm very glad to see Princess Mononoke is up there, that has to be my favorite Anime movie of all time. Although this is a pretty OK list, the one who said -
ReplyDelete"If you going to use "all time", I expect a list compiled by experts who, combined, have seen all anime movies ever. Not a list by some dude who just knows how to search on imdb." -
was totally right... it's not a bad list.
Spirited Away & Howl's Moving Castle are also two great films.
princess monokee try
DeleteOf course Princess Mononoke is one of the best of all time. C'mon a prince's arm that becomes possessed by the touch of a demon bore and on his journey to find a solution his arm thrives to kill!! Not only that there are animal spirits that are seen as Gods and Demons who hate the humans so much even with their head decapitated they still try to rip them to shreds. O and Billy Bob Thornton trying to steal the head of a forest spirit..tisk tisk
DeletePonyo was great! :D
ReplyDeletewicked city
ReplyDelete... wheres Paprika?
ReplyDeleteWoah.
ReplyDeleteI came here to delve into anime films after watching Spirited Away (which I genuinely think is a masterpiece. It's nothing like I've ever seen before and I was blown away) but seeing how hard you guys go on the comments....
Anyway, I'm already amazed by Hayao Miyazaki and I feel the need to see his other works. Nothing beats this feeling of discovering unknown territory.
What about Howl's Moving Castle?! thats my FAVORITE! And Whisper of the Heart?
ReplyDeletesprited away & princess monokee try
Deleteyou might have missed it, maybe i am mistaken too, but I think this list is more about "best animation quality" than "best anime movie" :)
ReplyDeletehi i am new to watching anime movies., but thanks for the list., your kind of debate here helped me pile up a list., can anyone tell me where i can constantly view reviews?
ReplyDeleteWhat about "WOLFS RAIN" I loved it from the first time I watched it.
ReplyDeleteanyone who has not seen tekken kinkreet NEEDS to watch it....awesome film my favorite of all time
ReplyDeleteAngel's Egg
ReplyDeleteTales of Earth Sea
Cowboy Bebop The Movie
Sword of the Stranger
A Tree of Palme
Metropolis
Spirited Away
Princess Mononoke
Ghost in the Shell
Tokyo God Fathers
Blood the Last Vampire
Vampire Hunter D: Blood Lust
Patlabor 111
Twilight of the Dark Master ( Dirty Scenes)
Ninja Scroll
Akira
Porco Rosso
Howl's Moving Castle
Brave Story
Children Who listen to Voice From Deep Below
Legend of the Millenium Dragon
The Secret World of Arrietty
Tekkonkinkreet
Castle in the Sky
Nausicaa Of the Valley of the Wind
Paprika
5 cent. meters per min.
The Girl Who leaped Through Time
only some that I know I highly recommend ''Children who listen to voice from Deep Below'' For people who Like Ghibli films.
A Tree of Palme'' very good anime as well very abstract
This is a really good read for me, I really enjoy reading your posts as I learn a lot from them. Thanks for guiding me about it.
ReplyDeleteWe are Anonymous
ReplyDeleteWe are Legion
We do not Forgive
We do not Forget
Expect Us....
Well this argument can be really one-sided, you can't just say which is best without watching the others. After watching most of them, then you would know which film you liked more. On the other hand... WATCH PRINCESS MONONOKE, its something that can't be overlooked. So far my favourite, the plot and characters are simply amazing. The music is beyond anything I have ever experienced watching an Anime film. Music was timed so well almost perfectly with the movie. 10/10
ReplyDeleteman ain't now way i'd throw a list out there. some of you guys are like ants on food with these posts. couldn't have had more fun if i was at six flags reading you guys stuff. cracked me up. anyway, i love anime films as well as series and all you guys did was provide some more titles for me to check out. so thanks for that and the laughs.
ReplyDeleteMy Neighbor Totoro - excellent.
ReplyDeletewhy does a dog of flanders is not here?.. the most touching animated movie ever, it has japanese origins so it deserve to be in this list probably on the top
ReplyDeletewho's talkin about NARUTO here?,Nobody
ReplyDeletewhat about break blade?
ReplyDeleteOk, really? First of all, this is a list of MOVIES! Not TV shows, or some crap like that. Second of all, the movies are all in his opinion, and he has a right to express his own opinion. If you guys made a list of japanese movies you think are really good movies, it obviously would be different. I think this is a pretty good list of movies, and am going to get them.
ReplyDeleteu missed the movie named. laputa the castle in the air. i love that movie....
ReplyDeleteI don't think he/she did. It just didn't make the top 10
DeleteThe shitest 10 ever to not mention tekkonkinkreet makes me think you don't know anime at all
ReplyDeleteThis is of all time. You do not compare Matrix and the Terminator. Both Movies broke barriers but are 15 years apart
DeletePeople take things too personally. Of cause Top 10 will be different for everybody; but anyone who knows anything about Anime knows that the 10 movies on the list are some of the best Anime movies ever. If your favorite Movie is not on there, it's because there is only room for 10
DeleteI have seen all the movie on the list plus the once mention by everyone who posted above. Of cause everyone's opinion will vary slightly but I think the list is fair. However, I would mention that Ghost in a shell is the best animated series I have personally seen. There was so much going on, on screen outside of the main character. If you are fortunate to watch it again, pay attention, to the regular characters in the background. it is amazing!
ReplyDeleteit's grave of the fireflies.it is the only anime which made me cry.u get it?
ReplyDeleteOH MY GAWD I LUV PRINCESS MONONOKE
ReplyDeleteTHE CAT RETURNS! Has no one mentioned how awesome this movie is, or am I crazy? I thought you people were anime fans! The Baron is also in "Whisper of the Heart" but that's not as good as "The Cat Returns"....and it may be cheezy but I kinda liked "Kiki's Delivery Service" too.
ReplyDeletewhat about Windaria? that movie was awesome.
ReplyDeleteSPIRITED AWAY DEFINITELY.Anything by Hayao Miyazaki. PAPRIKA, ABSOLUTELY. Oh and also, if you're looking for really in depth, complex films- though they may not be for everyone, I suggest Sion Sono's films. They're not anime and I know this is an anime post but they're mind boggling and good as hell (But adult themes- be warned)- Himizu is one of his less adult themed films, but the story lines are always interesting. ANYWAY back to the topic of anime films, Japanese > American. In a philosophical sense.
ReplyDeleteOMG JUST SAW The girl who leapt through time. *SPOILER* the ending reminds me kind of spirited away's ending, the way that it's left to the reader's interpretation. :) I LOVED IT! I agree with the people above, definitely see THE GIRL WHO LEAPT THROUGH TIME
ReplyDeleteSHAT AP ALL AM JAPANESE!!!
ReplyDeletethis all r woooow
ReplyDeleteNinja Scroll is probably the best anime. I liked Akira until I tried to explain it to my film class and realized that the plot is way too difficult to explain.
ReplyDeletei really enjoy studio ghibli's movies
ReplyDeleteepic stuff
SHIT!! What times is it? Damn! What day is it? Oh my look at all the above entries...it was me talking to myself. Shit should really stop this!!
ReplyDeleteGoodness I am hungry. Ok no more talking to myself. Damn I can say stupid things.
I am off to the kitchen...so hungry.
I saw Metropolis when i was around 12-13 for the first time. Even when I have seen alot of anime since, Metropolis will always bee my nr 1. Anime, itself, is so diffrent from what is made where I come from. I found Metropolis to bee somthing amaizing, prob. why I think it`s still the best.
ReplyDeleteIt's a pity you don't have a donate button! I'd certainly donate to this brilliant blog! I guess for now i'll settle
ReplyDeletefor book-marking and adding your RSS feed to
my Google account. I look forward to new updates and will talk about this website with my Facebook group.
Talk soon!
Here is my webpage ; mosaic poster maker
Love this list. Totally agree with it. Maybe not it's order, but great movies. Only surprised Fist of the north star was not mentioned any where. It's the first Japanese anime "movie" I ever saw. Back in 86' So it deseves to be mentioned.
ReplyDeleteWhat about Howls moving castle? Its my faovirte!
ReplyDeleteWhat about The Girl Who Leapt Through Time ???
ReplyDeleteWhat about Paprika !!!!!!?????
ReplyDeletetoo good not to be on this list!
please update this great list.
Love every movie on this list, I've never heard of Perfect Blue, so I intend on watching that now, thanks :)
ReplyDeleteNowadays animated movies have become so popular and demanding. About Japanese animated movies, I have no idea. Those have experience. Please share here.
ReplyDeletecartoon movies list
Any top 10 list of animated films is bound to have a few Japanese films, they are so good. My favorite Japanese animated films include “Akira”, “Spirited Away” and “Princess Mononoke”.
ReplyDeleteWhat can we said about Animated Japanese movies, except i grow up with them. Even today when i see some of them it gives me pleasure and good memories from childhood and countless hours spend on watching movies online. In last few years i think Hollywood started to take over animation but I hope Japanese Animation industry will go on next level.
ReplyDelete