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What are the best anime movies? This is a question that many people have been asking for years. There are lots of great movies out there, but these 59 best anime movies represent the best of the best. From Spirited Away to Ponyo, this comprehensive list will help you decide what movie to watch next in USA! The world of anime films cannot be complete without talking about vampires, and when it comes to vampires, watching Twilight movies in order should be your top priority.
Check out our recommendations of the best anime movies for you to Watch in USA!
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2000)
Genre: Fantasy/Sci-fi
Director: Yoshiaki Kawajiri
Runtime: 1h 8m
In the far distant future, it is thousands of years since vampires held sway over the night. Vampires were once numerous, but brave bounty hunters have killed a significant number of them. In particular, a legendary vampire hunter named D has been responsible for killing hundreds of vampires. D was the half-vampire offspring of a human mother and vampire father. When Meier Link kidnaps a young woman from her wealthy family, her father hires both D and the Markus brothers (rival hunters) to recover her. The heroes’ suspicions that the girl may have gone with him willingly when they fought their way through Meier’s mercenaries grow stronger when they discover that Meier is now a vampire.
Short Peace (2013)
Genre: Sci-fi/Fantasy
Director: Katsuhiro Otomo, Shuhei Morita, Hiroaki Ando, Koji Morimoto
Runtime: 1h 8m
A ghost haunts an abandoned temple, a historical tale of loyalty and firefighting in ancient Japan; a white bear protects the royal family from a terrible red devil; ragtag troops wage war against a mechanical army in the future. These are the tales told in four animated shorts from Studio Ghibli and director Katsuhiro Otomo. In these stunning best anime movies, master storytellers unite to create a remarkably compelling anthology of modern animation. In the end, Short Peace is a fantastic current entry in the illustrious history of great collections of anime short films, despite the fact that it provides a bit more for the eyes than the brain.
The fantasy genre is very popular in recent times. We’ve got some top picks for you on our list of the best fantasy movies of all time.
The Cat Returns (2002)
Genre: Fantasy/Adventure
Director: Hiroyuki Morita
Runtime: 1h 15m
Haru (Chizuru Ikewaki) is a high school student who saves a cat that was about to be run over by a car and finds that it is, in fact, Prince Lune. Haru is invited to the Cat Kingdom by Queen Toto and, while there, must marry Prince Lune. Haru meets Muta (Toru Emori), a cat who turns into a human when he sneezes; the best friend of Baron Humbert von Gikkingen (Shinichiro Miki); and best friend of cat Haru becomes best friends with Cat.
Giovanni’s Island (2014)
Genre: Drama/Anime
Director: Mizuho Nishikubo
Runtime: 1h 44m
As a result of the most devastating war in history, the little island of Shikotan was incorporated into the Sakhalin Oblast… and friendship between kids from two different countries on this remote border corner of the globe timidly bloomed, attempting to surmount language barriers and the tides of history. Based on the true story of friendship between Japanese and Russian children.
Giovanni’s Island (2014) is one of the best anime movies that we recommend to everyone, no matter your age or interests; it will bring you an unforgettable experience about love for family, friends, peace…and humanity! It provides both entertainment and valuable life lessons; this movie is also a must-see masterpiece in USA.
Summer Wars (2009)
Genre: Sci-fi
Director: Mamoru Hosoda
Runtime: 1h 54m
The main purpose of OZ, which is a virtual cyberworld linked to the internet, has grown quite well-known across the world as a location where individuals may immerse themselves in a broad range of activities, including sports and shopping, using avatars that have been developed and customized by the user. In Oz, near-impossibility takes on a new meaning. This is the narrative of Kenji Koiso, a skittish eleventh-grade math prodigy and part-time Oz moderator who is called to Natsuki Shinohara’s great-grandmother’s 90th birthday at her family home in Ueda by a twelfth-grade Natsuki (who is best friends with Kenji’s cousin, Ayumi).
A Wind Named Amnesia (1990)
Genre: Action/Anime
Director: Kazuo Yamazaki
Runtime: 1h 20m
In 1999, the planet’s population was reduced to an apocalyptic wasteland as a mysterious gust of wind cleansed even the most basic recollections, such as language and courtesy, from the minds of the world’s people. Wataru encounters a young man named Johnny who was part of a government study looking to boost human memory capacity and thus be able to fight against the wind but was left for dead when his best friend abandoned him during an early experiment. Wataru names Johnny “Windom,” after a soccer move of which he is particularly fond, and together they set out across wastelands to find answers in this tale that transcends language barriers. Johnny aids Wataru in regaining his ability to talk and teaches him other basic skills. Johnny, on the other hand, dies after encouraging Wataru to see the world because of the physical suffering his body has endured as a consequence of government experiments.
Ponyo (2008)
Genre: Fantasy/Adventure
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Runtime: 1h 43m
During a forbidden journey to behold the surface world, Ponyo, a goldfish princess, meets Sosuke, a human boy who gives her the name Ponyo. Ponyo longs to be human, and as her friendship with Sosuke grows, she becomes more like one. Her father returns her to their seaside kingdom, but due to her desire to be with her best friend, Ponyo breaks free of the underwater world and is swept into the ocean’s currents. Sosuke must go on a journey to find his best friend Ponyo in this movie that will make you believe in magic again!
Wolf Children
Genre: Fantasy/Drama
Director: Mamoru Hosoda
Runtime: 1h 57m
Hana, a young woman in a big, bustling city who studies full-time while working part-time at a dry cleaner, is introduced to the story. One day, while she’s at school, she encounters a tall young man who doesn’t attend university. They begin dating after chatting with him in several discussions. Hana finds a job as a hostess at a restaurant. In the following few days, she befriends Shouta and becomes his wife. However, when Shouta tells her that he is going to leave for America after taking care of their newborn daughter Yuki, Hana becomes upset. She runs away from home and invites Shouta to stay with her. A while later, she gives birth to Ame, their second child. The father vanishes that same day, and he is discovered dead in a river while attempting to gather food for the children. With the money left over by the wolfman, Hana tries to raise Yuki and Kona with limited success.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba The Movie: Mugen Train
Genre: Action/Fantasy
Director: Haruo Sotozaki
Runtime: 1h 57m
The Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (Sarutobi Sasuke) The Movie: Mugen Train is a sequel to the critically and commercially successful TV drama Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba (2019), which aired in April 2019 and was based on Koyoharu Gotouge’s comic, which has over 100 million copies in print. Ufotable’s animation production features the story of Tanjiro Kamado, who is sent on a journey as a demon slayer after his family is murdered and his sister is transformed into a hellish monster. The film starts with Tanjiro and Nezuko, Zenitsu and Inosuke, as well as Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku, joining the Demon Slayer Corps’ most powerful swordsman, Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku, on the Mugen Train to battle the demon.
We’ve compiled a list of some of the best action movies that combine adventure and suspense with thrilling action scenes and stunning visuals.
The Disappearance Of Haruhi Suzumiya (2010)
Genre: Sci-fi/Comedy
Director: Tatsuya Ishihara, Yasuhiro Takemoto
Runtime: 2h 44m
On December 18, Kyon discovers that several remnants of the SOS Brigade have gone amiss from his life. Mikuru and Yuki recall having met him, but Haruhi and Itsuki do not attend North High School. Furthermore, all of the previous Brigade members have reverted to their usual selves. Finally, Yuki’s alien counterpart contacts Kyon. He learns that he has been “placed” in an alternate reality created by the “new Haruhi,” who is obsessed with finding mysterious beings called “Spice” and maintaining the status quo of closed space. She, along with Kyon’s high school friend Koizumi Itsuki, is given powers to alter this reality.
Night On The Galactic Railroad (1985)
Genre: Fantasy/Adventure
Director: Gisaburō Sugii
Runtime: 1h 53m
Giovanni, a young villager in rural Italy, is going through a difficult period: his father has gone on a hunting trip and hasn’t yet returned, his mother has recently become ill, he must balance schooling and employment at a printing press while also dealing with the stress of being picked on by his classmates all day long. Giovanni is also too preoccupied with his best friend’s problems, as she is unable to come to terms with her father abandoning the family. In an effort to lift both their spirits, he takes her on a trip into town for ice cream, and they find themselves sitting at a cafe next door, where they overhear two men discussing going home by train. Giovanni assumes that one of them will be his father, but he is wrong.
Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone (2007)
Genre: Sci-fi/Action ‧
Director: Hideaki Anno, Kazuya Tsurumaki, Masayuki
Casts: Kotono Mitsuishi, Megumi Ogata, Megumi Hayashibara
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
Runtime: 1h 38m
In 2015, fifteen years following a worldwide catastrophe known as the Second Impact, three teenagers awakened from amnesia in NERV’s headquarters in Tokyo-3. Shinji Ikari is called to Tokyo-3 by his estranged father, Gendo, the Nerv commander, who believes that strange events have been occurring in the world. Shinji is caught in the crossfire between UN forces and a mysterious being named Angel; Misato Katsuragi rescues him and brings him to Nerv headquarters. Gendo orders Shinji to pilot Evangelion Unit 01, a biomechanical monster, against the Angel. When Gendo has Rei Ayanami, a wounded Eva pilot, ready to go instead of Shinji, he concedes. Because Evangelions sympathize with their pilots’ pain and automatically reactivate after sustaining severe injuries, Shinji passes out while his Evangelion destroys the Angel. Shinji wakes up in a hospital with Misato at his side, and he learns from her that Rei is Gendo’s daughter rather than an assistant, as she had led him to believe.
Into the Forest of Fireflies’ Light (2011)
Genre: Animation/Drama
Director: Takahiro Omori
Runtime: 45m
The manga and first film of Hotarubi no Mori e Shjo follow the tale of a six-year-old girl named Hotaru Takegawa, who goes missing in a forest inhabited by a yamagami, or mountain spirit, as well as ykai (strange apparitions from Japanese folklore). She is discovered by Gin, a 45-year-old doctor who works at a nearby clinic. Gin finds her unconscious in the forest, and she manifests supernatural powers when he takes her back to his home. Gin then escorts Hotaru out of the woods. Despite the limitations on their interactions, Hotaru returns to visit Gin in the forest over the next several days. Although she must return to the city and her studies at summer’s end, Hotaru vows to return every summer holiday to see him. Gin does not age as time goes by while Hotaru matures.
When Hotaru reaches puberty, the budding relationship and their uncertain future together begin to cause problems for her. Meanwhile, Gin wishes he could touch and hold the young woman that Hotaru has become. When Hotaru reaches high school, Gin takes her on a date to a festival in the woods hosted by the spirits. The night ends in tragedy when Gin inadvertently becomes intoxicated by an alcoholic beverage and falls into a river. When Hotaru finds him, Gin almost dies in her arms.
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)
Genre: Sci-fi/Romance
Director: Mamoru Hosoda
Runtime: 1h 38m
Konno Makoto is a petite senior high school student who has grown up without much excitement or romance in her life. One day she takes some leftover medicine and discovers that it causes her to leap back in time. She uses this effect to avoid being late and other inconveniences but soon realizes she must deal with the consequences of her actions as they unforeseeably change people’s lives around her. Makoto struggles not only with how best to use her ability but also whether or not she should try to alter the past so that she can live out her life with best friend Chiaki Mamiya, who had always loved Makoto from afar.
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006) is a Japanese animated film based on the novel Toki o Kakeru Shoujo by Yasutaka Tsutsui. The movie was made in commemoration of Studio Ghibli’s 30th anniversary, and it was directed by Mamoru Hosoda.
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2001)
Genre: Sci-fi/Action
Director: Shinichirō Watanabe
Runtime: 1h 55m
In the year 2071, Cocky Spike Spiegel and his crew of bounty hunters come to Mars in search of a huge financial reward. The four-person team includes Jet Black, fearless Faye Valentine, and tech expert Edward, as well as towering cyborg Edward. Vincent is sought after by Edward and co. After becoming a biological terrorist with an experiment, Vincent’s girlfriend is killed.
The movie is based on the 1998 Japanese anime television series Cowboy Bebop created by Sunrise animation studio and written and directed by Shinichir? Watanabe. It follows Spike Spiegel (Koichi Yamadera), a bounty hunter or “cowboy” in the year 2071.
Colorful (2010)
Genre: Fantasy/Drama
Director: Keiichi Hara
Runtime: 2h 7m
On the other side of death, however, there is a train station. Not all who come onto the platform will be deemed ready to continue on their way. It’s up to a strict gatekeeper named Black (voice of Fumihiko Tachiki) and his assistants White (Makoto Naruse), Gray (Hiroshi Iwasaki), and Purple (Atsuko Tanaka) to determine which souls will be allowed into heaven or sent back to Earth for another chance.
For one unprepared person, there will be a test and a second opportunity. Instead of being reborn, this soul will awaken in the body of Makoto Kobayashi, age 14, where it must not only adjust to Makoto’s life but also solve two mysteries. What was the secret of Makoto’s suicide, and what is the significance of his death? While some may believe the facts to be as obvious as black and white, “Makoto” quickly discovers that even the most evident of “truths” are not always what they appear. The answers to all life’s questions may now be found with time.
Cat Soup (2001)
Genre: Anime/Short
Director: Tatsuo Sato
Runtime: 34m
The younger sister of Nyatta, named Nyāko, is bedridden and critically ill in her room. By accident, Nyatta drowns in the bathtub while being clinically dead, sees his sister leaving home holding hands with Japanese Ksitigarbha (called Jizo in Japanese), and follows them. The brother and sister are able to break free from Jizou but can’t do so right away. He attempts to reclaim his sister from Jizo, but it hangs on to her stubbornly. Nyako separates into two halves, leaving half of her soul with Jizo and the other with her brother. With the half-soul lost, Nyatta is now incomplete and can’t return to his human form.
Weathering with You (2019)
Genre: Fantasy/Romance
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Runtime: 1h 54m
In 2021, the protagonist, first-year high school student Hodaka Morishima, flees Kōzu-shima in order to get away from his turbulent family life in Tokyo. When his ferry is sunk by a downpour, he is picked up by Keisuke Suga, who offers him his contact card. Hina Amano, a McDonald’s employee, takes pity on him and feeds him. Later, Hodaka discovers an abandoned Makarov PM pistol in a waste bin he fell into after becoming unemployed. After ridding himself of his supernatural abilities, he takes a job as an assistant at a publishing company that tracks down urban myths connected with the unusually rainy weather in Tokyo. They come across the tale of a “sunshine girl” who has control over the weather from a psychic.
Dead Leaves (2004)
Genre: Sci-fi/Action
Director: Hiroyuki Imaishi
Runtime: 55m
Two unlikely renegades, Retro and Pandy, awaken on Earth completely naked with no recollection of their past but with greater physical capabilities than anyone else. When they start their crime spree for food, clothing, and transportation in downtown Tokyo (which lasts at least five minutes), the pair are arrested by authorities and sent to the notoriously harsh Dead Leaves facility on the half-collapsed moon. Here, they plan their escape and uncover the secrets of why they were put away in the first place.
Sword Of The Stranger (2007)
Genre: Action/Adventure
Director: Masahiro Andô
Runtime: 1h 43m
A young boy and his dog are forced into the path of an ancient foreign empire that will stop at nothing to destroy them. One day, a quiet and serious fighter comes across their lives, and he becomes irreversibly linked with the two. A bargain is struck, and the warrior agrees to take the youngster to a secluded Buddhist temple where he can begin to learn the ways of a monk. However, as time begins to pass by and more characters enter the story, it becomes apparent that this journey will not be an easy one with many obstacles along the way.
Gyo: Tokyo Fish Attack (2012)
Genre: Horror/Animation
Director: Takayuki Hirao
Runtime: 1h 10m
The opening of Gyo shows a crew of fishermen aboard a trawler hauling up a collection of odd-looking fish in the net. They attempt to inspect the strange fish when they find that they have legs. The unusual sea creatures then sprint away, diving back into the water. This, of course, leads to a series of events that result in the discovery and usage of zombified fish as weapons. Gyo is best described as Japan’s answer to “Sharknado.”
Meanwhile, on Okinawa, Tadashi and his girlfriend Kaori arrive for a scuba-diving holiday. A fish with legs irritates Kaori, who has a hyper-sensitive sense of smell, and she begs Tadashi to remove it. Tadashi catches the fish, but it works its way out of the bag and into the surf. The next day, a legged great white shark terrorizes the characters as huge amounts of sea life with legs invade Okinawa, including a lagged great white shark that menaces them. Tadashi and Kaori are able to return to Tokyo, despite Kaori’s growing irritation and paranoia about the fish with legs.
The Tale Of Princess Kaguya (2013)
Genre: Fantasy/Drama
Director: Isao Takahata
Runtime: 2h 17m
Okina, an elderly farmer, stumbles into a mysteriously gleaming bamboo shoot in the midst of a swaying and lush bamboo grove, which from within emerges a tiny fairy-like creature enfolded in a royal gown. The elderly couple rushes to their spouse, Ona, only to discover that the little sprite has changed into a baby. In the end, as the tiny girl matures into a beautiful young woman, the modest family will transport her to Kyoto to turn her into an elegant and well-mannered lady deserving of Japan’s most eligible bachelors.
The Animatrix (2003)
Genre: Sci-fi/Action
Director: Shinichirō Watanabe, Yoshiaki Kawajiri, Takeshi Koike
Runtime: 1h 41m
The Matrix trilogy and the Lethal Weapon series were produced by the Wachowskis and Joel Silver, who are the brains behind this ground-breaking feature-length anthology of nine original short stories. The Animatrix is an anthology of seven short films created by famous directors using cutting-edge computer animation and Japanese anime. The film was inspired by the Matrix movie.
The shorts include Final Flight of the Osiris by Andy Jones and Yoshiaki Kawajiri; Program by Peter Chung; World Record by Takeshi Koike; Beyond by Shinichiro Watanabe and Mahiro Maeda (Blue Submarine No. Six); Matriculated directed by Peter Cheung, The Second Renaissance directed by Mahiro Maeda (Blue Submarine No. Six), and Kid’s Story by Shinichiro Watanabe.
5 Centimeters Per Second (2007)
Genre: Romance/Drama
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Runtime: 1h 3m
Takaki and Akari are two elementary school students in Japan. During their time together, they have established a strong friendship. When Akari’s parents’ employment requires her to relocate to another city, their bond is put to the test. Because of her parent’s occupations, she must depart for a new home. Both of their battle to preserve their relationship as time and distance pull them apart slowly. When Takaki finds out that he will be travelling further away, he decides to visit Akari. Facing this change with fear and sadness, Takaki decides he will travel by train to see Akari one last time. However, as he continues to visit her and tries not to think about the future, Takaki interprets his best friend’s actions in a different way than intended.
My Neighbors The Yamadas (1999)
Genre: Family/Comedy
Director: Isao Takahata
Runtime: 1h 44m
The Yamadas are a typical middle-class Japanese family living in urban Tokyo, and this film follows their numerous years. We see this family handle life’s little issues, difficulties, and pleasures in their own distinct way as we witness their tales that range from funny to devastating.
The film is made up of segments that follow the Yamada family’s daily activities: Takashi and Matsuko (the father and mother), Shige (Matsuko’s mother), Noboru (age 13, the son), Nonoko (age 7, the daughter), and Pochi (the family dog).
The best-known and best-loved works of Isao Takahata, the world’s most popular animation director deserves to be on the list of the best anime movies.
Just to add to more laughter, we have some of the best comedy movies in USA that will make you laugh hard.
Interstella 5555 (2003)
Genre: Sci-fi/Adventure
Director: Leiji Matsumoto, Kazuhisa Takenouchi
Runtime: 1h 30m
A music video for a solar system band called “Zooz” goes horribly wrong when the Solar Wizard hires interplanetary mercenaries to capture alien smurf rock stars. The aforementioned rock stars are kept under mind control, cognitive implants, and cosmetic surgery, protected by cyborgs. As a devotee of the rock genre, he is eager to save Earth and becomes a space guitar player with a super fan-boy enters his area guitar and follows mercenaries to Earth, where he lives among the oppressed as he awaits an opportunity to rescue them. In a super concert sponsored by the space wizard, the fan-boy flies down in a spaceship with a guitar which he uses to challenge the wizard, who responds by summoning his personal guard of space samurai.
Appleseed (2004)
Genre: Sci-fi/Action
Director: Shinji Aramaki
Runtime: 1h 43m
Deunan Knute (Ai Kobayashi) is a female soldier who has survived the Global War. When she encounters her old flame, Briareos Hecatonchires (Jûrôta Kosugi), he has been transformed into a cyborg as a result of his injuries from the war. Deunan quickly discovers that a new species of cyborgs known as Bioroids has been manufactured in the idyllic metropolis of Olympus. However, Deunan also discovers that something is disrupting the Bioroids’ lives, reducing them to little more than machines.
Steamboy (2004)
Genre: Sci-fi/Adventure
Director: Katsuhiro Otomo
Runtime: 2h 6m
The film takes place during the Victorian era and follows an inventor named Ray (Anna Paquin), who is attempting to rebuild England, which it used to be in the 1860s. Anna Paquin plays Ray, a young scientist who follows in the footsteps of her father, Edward (Alfred Molina), and grandfather, Lloyd Steam (Patrick Stewart). Ray’s grandfather sends him a weird ball with mysterious powers in it. The ball turns everything upside down. It appears that numerous individuals want that energy, and not all of them are good.
Ghost In The Shell 2: Innocence (2004)
Genre: Sci-fi/Anime
Director: Mamoru Oshii
Runtime: 1h 39m
Batô is a cyborg who survives entirely through technological means. His body, including his arms and legs, is almost entirely manufactured by humans. The brain and memories of a woman are the only remaining components of his mind. Humans have forgotten that they are humans in an age when the distinction between man and machine has become nearly irrelevant. In a time when the boundary between humans and machines has vanished, people have lost sight of their humanity. Innocence… Is life as we know it?
Voices Of A Distant Star (2002)
Genre: Romance/Sci-fi
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Runtime:25 mins
“Voices of a Distant Star” is an unusual perspective on a love relationship destroyed by obligation and distance. It’s the distance in light-years that distinguishes a Mech-Pilot in space from her lover on Earth in this example. They can only keep in contact with each other through text messaging, which increases as the girl goes into space on a mission with a fleet of spacecraft looking for alien aggressors. She also ages more slowly in relation to him than she did before, but the undying love they have for each other just grows stronger after realizing their dream of reconnecting and sharing their feelings to the fullest.
The Place Promised In Our Early Days (2004)
Genre: Anime
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Runtime: 90 m
The story takes place in an alternate time, 1996 when Japan was divided. The “Union” rules in Hokkaido, whereas the United States has jurisdiction over Honshu and other southern islands. The giant tower was erected in Hokkaido, which may even be seen from Tokyo. Three middle-school pupils made a vow in the summer of 1996 that they would fly across the border with a self-built plane and unravel the tower’s mystery, but their endeavour was abandoned when Sayuri Sawatari, the girl who had become mysteriously ill and left the group, died just before her high school years. The three best friends split up after the incident and go their separate ways in life. This is definitely one of the best Anime movies you have ever seen
A Silent Voice (2016)
Genre: Romance/Drama
Director: Naoko Yamada
Runtime: 2h 9m
Shoko Nishimiya is a grade-schooler who has hearing difficulties. She enrols in a new school, where she is harassed by her classmates, particularly Shoya Ishida. When Shoya leads his classmates in ostracizing her, the class rep intervenes; they hatch a plan to get back at him. As tension mounts between the former best friends, will Shoya and Shoko manage to reconcile?
Mirai (2018)
Genre: Fantasy/Adventure
Director: Mamoru Hosoda
Runtime:1h 38m
When his little sister Mirai comes, a young boy named Kun feels neglected by his family. When he wakes up one morning, his mother and father are gone. The only clue left behind is a note saying they’re travelling. Kun misses them dearly, so when Mirai comes back to him in the future, she promises that this time together will be different than before because she’s seen all of their happy memories.
Tokyo Godfathers (2003)
Genre: Adventure/Drama
Director: Satoshi Kon
Runtime: 1h 28m
Gin (Darren Pleavin), a homeless adult, Miyuki (Candice Moore), a runaway teenager, and Hana (Myrta D’angelo), a former drag queen, are a trio of indigent people who live as a makeshift family on the streets of Tokyo. They try to get by with their limited resources and attempt a few petty thefts. When they discover an abandoned baby in the trash, however, they realize that this is more important than anything else they’re dealing with at the moment.
The Garden Of Words (2013)
Genre: Romance/Drama
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Runtime: 46m
Minoru visits a park in Tokyo to get inspiration for shoji, the traditional Japanese paper screens he makes by hand. There he meets Yukari Yukino, who is smoking and drinking beer even though she is a teacher at his school. They talk and share their feelings about the things they see in Tokyo, but he does not know that she is actually 30 years old.
Koe No Katachi (2016)
Genre: Romance/Drama
Director: Naoko Yamada
Runtime: 2h 9m
After transferring schools, Shouya Ishida is bullied by his classmates for being deaf and tries hard not to let it bother him because he feels that the best way out of this situation is to just do nothing. Unfortunately, he crosses paths with his former best friend Shouko Nishimiya, who is severely hearing impaired and has been ostracized by the other students since then.
The Boy And The Beast (2015)
Genre: Fantasy/Adventure
Director: Mamoru Hosoda
Runtime: 1h 59m
One day a young boy named Ren gets lost in an alleyway where he encounters Kumatetsu, a powerful beast from another world. He strikes a deal with him where he will become his apprentice and best friend even if it means that Ren must face the challenges of living in both otherworldly and human worlds.
One Piece: Baron Omatsuri And The Secret Island (2005)
Genre: Action/Anime
Director: Mamoru Hosoda
Runtime:1h 31m
While on a journey with his crew, Monkey D. Luffy falls for a trap set by one of their enemies who has been using mind control powers on pirates in order to make them join up as part of his army. After being captured, Luffy and his fellow pirates are trapped on a mysterious island where they must fight to escape.
Patema Inverted (2013)
Genre: Sci-fi/Adventure
Director: Yasuhiro Yoshiura
Runtime: 1h 39m
A princess named Patema lives in an underground world where everyone is upside down with their feet always pointing towards the sky. When she meets up with a boy from her village who has also come into contact with the sky, he helps her to navigate their new surroundings, and soon, they both learn more about each other’s worlds.
Your Name (2016)
Genre: Fantasy/Romance
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Runtime: 1h 52m
Mitsuha is the mayor’s unmarried daughter from a tiny mountain village. She’s a straightforward high school student who resides with her sister and grandmother, has no problem telling people she isn’t interested in Shinto customs and refuses to assist her father’s political campaign. Instead, she longs to escape the mundane town and see what happens in Tokyo. Taki is a high school student living in Tokyo who works part-time at an Italian restaurant and aspires to be an architect or an artist. Every night, he has the same strange dream: he transforms into…a high school girl in a tiny mountain community.
Tekkonkinkreet (2006)
Genre: Action/Anime
Director: Michael Arias
Runtime: 1h 51m
Life in Treasure Town may be peaceful or violent, depending on circumstances. This is never more true than for our heroes, Black and White – two street kids who claim to navigate the city like their own. However, an undercurrent of evil exists in this village, aiming its sights on the pair of brothers, forcing them to fight a slew of old-fashioned gangsters armed with a hoard of deadly weapons.
White Snake (2019)
Genre: Fantasy/Animation
Director: Jiakang Huang
Runtime:1h 39m
The plot begins with two twin sisters in a traditional Chinese bath, where one of them says she wishes to live forever. Blanca, the same mystifying woman who is on a mission to kill the general, is then seen being caught and engaged in battle. She submerges into the water and loses her memories as a result of this battle. The general decides to save her and bring her back home.
Blanca, on the other hand, was stumbled upon by a stranger named Xuan who brought her to his home in Snake Catcher Village, where the people capture snakes for the general because snakes were once thought to help you live forever. Blanca is hesitant at first but warms up to him after some time (as well as when she finds out he is a doctor who saves people).
Mind Game (2004)
Genre: Adventure/Comedy
Director: Masaaki Yuasa
Runtime:1h 43m
Nishi is a loser who has a crush on his childhood sweetheart. After an encounter with the Japanese mafia, Nishi travels to heaven and back, eventually getting trapped in an even more unlikely location. Nishi (and some pals) tries to escape from their prison, gaining knowledge of what it means to be alive along the journey. This fascinating film is best seen with an open mind.
Redline (2009)
Genre: Sci-fi/Action
Director: Takeshi Koike
Runtime: 1h 42m
In Sweet JP’s world, the best race in the galaxy is the Redline, a 500-mile dash through six cities across three different worlds. Despite two interplanetary conflicts, Sweet JP races in the Yellow Line car race to the most renowned race in the galaxy: The Redline. In a desert town called The Water Stop, an outdoor bar, Sweet JP and his best friend Ginkgo find a secret that turns their world upside down.
Belladonna Of Sadness (1973)
Genre: Fantasy/Drama
Director: Eiichi Yamamoto
Runtime: 1h 33m
In late-eighteenth-century France, the beautiful but deadly gift of beauty befalls Jeanne, a young peasant. Their love is forbidden, yet it blossoms. As a deluded medieval despot consumes his bride’s virginity on her wedding night, a terrifying plunge into a world of frightening hallucinations will bring Jeanne to make a Faustian bargain with the Prince of Darkness. Jeanne’s thirst for power and sweet retribution will eventually turn her into a black-robed, devilishly possessed evil entity.
To keep you entertained, we have also listed down some of the best drama movies that you will definitely love.
Millennium Actress (2001)
Genre: Fantasy/Drama
Director: Satoshi Kon
Runtime:1h 27m
In this feature-length film, director Genya Tachibana begins work on a documentary about Chiyoko Fujiwara, a well-known Japanese actress. Chiyoko has been a recluse for decades, but as she grows older and more introverted, Tachibana gradually warms up to her and begins telling her life story. Chiyoko transforms from a young woman with great ambitions into a major celebrity as the years go by, while her film characters range from ancient Japan to the distant future.
Macross: Do You Remember Love? (1984)
Genre: Sci-fi/Romance
Director: Shōji Kawamori, Noboru Ishiguro
Runtime: 1h 55m
In the future, a reconfiguring ship (a “Transformer” with a pilot) called Macross carries 50,000 refugees within its hold as it returns to Earth pursued by huge inhuman beings. Hikaru, a young military pilot, saves his idol, lovely singer Lynn Minmay, from the giants as they smash through the ship’s hull during a concert while the monsters are shocked to see females on a male vessel and are trapped for days in an aft chamber. Hikaru and Minmay continued their friendship until a joyride in a fighter trainer landed him in jail.
Metropolis (2001)
Genre: Sci-fi/Adventure
Director: Rintaro
Runtime: 1h 53m
In a post-apocalyptic future, humans and robots live together. Detective Shunsaku Ban and his assistant Ken-ichi are looking for rebel scientist Dr. Laughton to arrest him and seize his latest invention, a lovely young girl named Tima, amid the turmoil caused by anti-robot factions. When they discover them, Shunsaku sees Tima’s resemblance to his deceased daughter. Meanwhile, the evil Duke Red is looking for Laughton, too, to heal the comatose body of his granddaughter with robot technology.
The Wind Rises (2013)
Genre: War/Romance
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Runtime: 2h 6m
Jiro’s passion is aviation, which he admires in the form of Italian aeronautical designer Caproni. Jiro was nearsighted since his birth and could not be a pilot, so he joined a large Japanese engineering firm in 1927 and became one of the world’s most creative and successful aeroplane designers. Jiro is a film that chronicles much of his life, including the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and Japan’s plunge into war. He meets and falls in love with Nahoko, and their relationship develops as he grows and cherishes his friendship with Honjo.
Paprika (2006)
Genre: Sci-fi/Adventure
Director: Satoshi Kon
Runtime: 1h 30m
Dr. Atsuko Chiba is a scientist by day who, under the name “Paprika,” functions as a dream detective at night. The DC Mini is a device being developed by Dr. Atsuko and her colleagues that may assist psychiatric patients but, in the wrong hands, might cause serious damage to people’s minds. Before any more damage can be done, the device is stolen by a man named Konakawa and his partner with the help of an unwitting pawn. Paprika teams up with Detective Toshimi Konakawa to solve this case as well as catch a child murderer on the loose.
Ghost In The Shell (1995)
Genre: Sci-fi/Action
Director: Mamoru Oshii
Runtime: 1h 22m
In this Japanese anime, Major Motoko Kusanagi (Mimi Woods) investigates “The Puppet Master” (Abe Lasser), a cyborg who illegally penetrates the computerized brains of cyborg-human hybrids. Her search for a guy who can modify others’ identities leaves Motoko perplexed about her own makeup and what life would appear to be. She investigates the hacker (Richard George), but her interest in learning more about herself leads the case down an unexpected path.
Grave Of The Fireflies (1988)
Genre: War/Drama
Director: Isao Takahata
Runtime: 1h 29m
This animated fantasy depicts Seita (Tsutomu Tatsumi), a young boy burdened with the responsibility of his little sister, Setsuko (Ayano Shiraishi), after an American firebombing during World War II separates them from their parents. Their tale of survival is as gut-wrenching as it is authentic. Featuring hand-drawn animation by director Isao Takahata, the film proves to be a compelling story of brotherly love.
Spirited Away (2001)
Genre: Fantasy/Adventure
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Runtime: 2h 5m
In this Hayao Miyazaki-directed film, 10-year-old Chihiro (Rumi Hiiragi) and her parents (Takashi Naitô, Yasuko Sawaguchi) discover an apparently abandoned amusement park. Chihiro grows up in the countryside of feudal Japan, where she is unaware that her parents are being imprisoned within a mystical castle by supernatural pigs. After her mother and father are transformed into colossal pigs, Chihiro meets the enigmatic Haku (Miyu Irino), who explains that the park is a vacation spot for supernatural beings who need to recover their strength. Chihiro must work there to free her parents, all the while fighting to survive a number of dangerous challenges and creatures that stand in her way.
Akira (1988)
Genre: Sci-fi/Action
Director: Chris Weitz
Runtime: 2h 4m
The Japanese government deployed an atomic bomb on Tokyo in 1988 after ESP experiments on children went horribly wrong. In 2019, Kaneda, the leader of a bike gang, tries to rescue his friend Tetsuo from a covert government project, which has been 31 years in the making. He faces anti-government protesters, unethical politicians, irresponsible scientists, and a powerful military commander until Tetsuo’s supernatural abilities suddenly emerge. The final battle is fought in the bowels of the lab in which Tetsuo was held captive.
Mobile Suit Gundam F-91 (1991)
Genre: Sci-fi/Anime
Director: Yoshiyuki Tomino
Runtime: 1h 55m
The Earth Federation has launched a new space colony program in the aftermath of a generation of peace. However, a new organization calling itself the Crossbone Vanguard is attempting to take control of the Frontier Side’s newly constructed colonies for its own purposes. A war erupts within their house, forcing a handful of young civilians to flee the violence. Seabook and his friends fight back with the state-of-the-art Gundam F91…
You can also check out the best Best Sci-Fi Movies on Netflix in USA and the classic Sci-fic transformer movies in USA if you are a fan.
On-Gaku: Our Sound (2021)
Genre: Comedy
Director: Kenji Iwaisawa
Runtime: 71m
On-Gaku: Kenji, Asakura, and Ota are three teenagers who want to start a band one day. Kenji states he wants to start a band because he felt like it, but the other two agree to join in. Unfortunately, the three of them have no musical knowledge whatsoever. They meet other people who can’t play an instrument, but they’ve found ways to make music out of it. The best way for them would be if Kenji could provide the vocals and Asakura could change his image while playing the guitar. Ota would then work with a DJ’s turntable while also providing beats on drums that he built himself. Will they be able to make their dreams of starting a band come true?
Ah! My Goddess: The Movie (2000)
Genre: Fantasy/Anime
Director: Hiroaki Gōda
Runtime: 1h 45m
Three springs have passed since Belldandy came to Earth in order to grant Keiichi one wish. While residing in the temple with Belldandy’s sisters Urd and Skuld, things appear to be smooth, but they are unaware that a fallen deity from Belldandy’s history had escaped his lunar confinement. He has designs on everyone, including Belldandy, and he cannot be stopped unless the keys that were used to seal him away are found before his coming.
We have compiled a comprehensive list of the best Anime movies for you to watch in USA. We hope you enjoy watching them. Also, if you’re an anime lover, then do not forget to check out our blog on best anime movies on HBO Max in USA.
