Animation isn’t just for kids; it’s a canvas where imagination runs wild, where every frame can tell a story and every scene can paint a world. Anime, in particular, has a unique way of blending art with emotion, creating unforgettable cinematic experiences that stay with you long after the credits roll. Whether it’s the striking visuals, the layered storytelling, or the universal themes that pull you in, anime can be as powerful and moving as any live-action film.
I’ve always believed that some anime movies don’t just entertain—they elevate animation to a true art form. The movies on this list aren’t just beautifully animated; they’re profound, filled with rich detail, unforgettable characters, and thought-provoking themes. These are the anime films I return to when I want to experience that rare, transformative magic that only great cinema can offer.
Your Name.
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Where to Watch:
I still remember the day when I first watched ‘Your Name’. I was excited to watch it the whole day and, in the night, it was magical. It still is one of the most beautiful moments of my life. I do not understand the lyrics, but the Radwimps songs still goes on in my mind unexpectedly and remind me of that beautiful night.
The movie starts with Mitsuha, a high school girl who lives in Itomori, who wakes up and is shocked to see she has girl parts. It is actually Taki, a boy living in Tokyo who suddenly wakes up in Mitsuha’s body without any notice. And like any teenager, the first thing he does is feels her breasts, just to make sure. On the other hand, Mitsuha wakes up in Taki’s body and is equally stunned to find herself in a boy’s body. Both think it is just a dream, but quite a realistic one. But slowly they and also we start to understand what actually is happening. It gets clear from the reactions the people around them have the next day. They don’t know why it is happening, because they’ve never even met each other in real life.
Shinkai brings many light-hearted comic scenes and has fun with the body-swapping concept. You become so much invested in the movie and its plot. You are pulled into this world and genuinely care about what is going to happen.
And at about the moment you’re ready to scream at them to just meet each other already, what has seemed like a glistening, teen rom-com turns into a much deeper, very different sort of story. Shinkai does the character and plot development very well.
To say that “Your Name” is visually striking would be a huge understatement. Shinkai has both an eye for detail and music. This movie is an absolute beauty to watch. Any scene from the movie could be a perfect wallpaper for your screen. Still, the plot remains the strongest pillar of the movie. It is just too damn good. Feels as if Nolan decided to make a movie with some too damn talented artists.
Perfect Blue
Director: Satoshi Kon
Where to Watch:
The first time I was contemplating to watch this movie, I was scrolling through some user reviews on google. Besides the obvious appreciation for it, all I was reading is how disturbing it is. And I really underestimated it back then. I was laughing at it thinking ‘what the hell are they even talking about? It is an animated movie after all.’ You are absolutely wrong if you are thinking the way I did. You might not even be ready for the places this movie is going to take you.
‘Perfect Blue’ is about Mima who is part of a pop band called Cham. We enter her life when she is announcing the end of her career as a pop star as she plans to enter the acting industry. Things start taking a wild turn as she grows the dilemma if she took the right decision by leaving her pop star career.
The plot is amazingly executed but it isn’t about ‘what’ but really about ‘how’ that the movie impresses me so much. It is visually creative on a level you really don’t see much. I haven’t seen much of Satoshi Kon except for Paprika. But I have admired him ever since I first watched ‘Perfect Blue’. One would need to watch it to understand the level at which this movie is at. No matter how much I tell you about different scenes you have to watch it to see the magic he creates in just 81 minutes. Yes, it is that crisp. And it is worth every minute (I know that is a big compliment).
Anyone who wants to start with anime movies – if you aren’t faint hearted, go watch this!
Princess Mononoke
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Where to Watch:
Ocean Waves is such an underrated gem from Studio Ghibli, beautifully showcasing the everyday experiences of youth and the complexity of relationships. Sadly it is a film that won’t come to most peoples’ mind when it comes to Studio Ghibli.
Created as a television film by the studio’s younger staff, it offers a fresh perspective on the themes that Ghibli is known for, but in a more grounded and relatable way. I went into it with not much expectations, but what I found was an intimate portrayal of adolescent life that resonated deeply with me.
The animation in Ocean Waves is strikingly beautiful, capturing the subtleties of human expressions and gestures with remarkable detail. The subdued color palette enhances the film’s nostalgic feel, drawing viewers into the characters’ world with a sense of warmth and familiarity. This focus on the ‘ordinary’ aspects of life allows the story to connect on a personal level.
If you’re a dedicated Ghibli fan or just someone in search of a heartfelt story, Ocean Waves is definitely worth your time. It is just over an hour and believe me its worth watching.
A Silent Voice
Director: Naoko Yamada
Where to Watch:
‘A Silent Voice’ was the first anime I watched and it just blew me away. The movie starts with Shoya Ishida, a high school student, trying to kill himself. The link to which we get in the latter part of the movie and then we are taken back to little Shoya in sixth grade. During his academic year, Shoko Nishimiya joins the school. She looks like a normal student until she reveals with the help of a notebook that she is deaf and requests the students to communicate with her via the notebook.
Shoya is initially curious about Shoko, but gradually it irritates him as he cannot figure things out and he becomes a bully. When you are small and silly, you do not know the consequences of your actions. In the flow or just for fun you do some very stupid things. And it is too frightening when you start realising things. Eventually Shoya is singled out to the extent that he becomes socially awkward. His friends turn up against him. He starts regretting his past actions so much so that it starts eating him up. He realises what comes around goes around and a high school Shoya decides to make amends for everything wrong he has done.
‘A Silent voice’ covers a lot of topic including bullying, disability, detachment, mental health, extreme regret, suicide, fake friendship and peer pressure. But what matters is how maturely it handles all this. It is touching, and sometimes heart achingly painful to watch it. ‘A Silent Voice’ in a way is a deeper and riskier project. I am really not sure if everyone is going to get it. But if you do, I will assure you that it is gonna stay with you for a long time. It has for me.
Summer Ghost
Summer Ghost is a story where three students- Tomoya, Aoi, and Ryo meet each other to try to meet the summer ghost- a spirit girl who appears during the summer when fireworks are lighted. But things take a turn when we get to know that the summer ghost appears to only those who are a step away from death.
No one has it easy. Nor do the characters of the movie. The relatable and difficult lives that the students lead, send some powerful emotions to the viewers. Why are we living right now? Would death be easy just because life is hard? What was the purpose of our birth anyway?
Summer Ghost raises questions and sends thoughts to ponder upon. And all this in just 40 minutes. Technically 2 minutes went into the credits, so just 38 minutes or so. Is that even believable? If I would have read this before watching it, I would have surely thought this to be not possible. But it is and it’s mind-blowing. Some movies take the entire runtime of ‘Summer Ghost’ just for characterization, but Summer Ghost does it all in that time. The main reason is how well structured the plot is.
Summer Ghost is an epitome of great story telling and masterful editing. ‘Summer Ghost’ is really underrated. If you have less than an hour to spare, believe me, just go and watch this!
Ocean Waves
Director: Masahiro Nakano
Where to Watch:
Ocean Waves is such an underrated gem from Studio Ghibli, beautifully showcasing the everyday experiences of youth and the complexity of relationships. Sadly it is a film that won’t come to most peoples’ mind when it comes to Studio Ghibli.
Created as a television film by the studio’s younger staff, it offers a fresh perspective on the themes that Ghibli is known for, but in a more grounded and relatable way. I went into it with not much expectations, but what I found was an intimate portrayal of adolescent life that resonated deeply with me.
The animation in Ocean Waves is strikingly beautiful, capturing the subtleties of human expressions and gestures with remarkable detail. The subdued color palette enhances the film’s nostalgic feel, drawing viewers into the characters’ world with a sense of warmth and familiarity. This focus on the ‘ordinary’ aspects of life allows the story to connect on a personal level.
If you’re a dedicated Ghibli fan or just someone in search of a heartfelt story, Ocean Waves is definitely worth your time. It is just over an hour and believe me its worth watching.
Whisper of the Heart
Director: Yoshifumi Kondo
Where to Watch:
Whisper of the Heart is really simple and yet somehow very special. It is a movie about a normal life. More than that about that urge to do something with our life. It is one of the more grounded of the Ghibli movies, where the small things in the movie particularly catch a place in your heart. Not like Princes Mononoke or Spirited Away. It is more of the type of a movie like Ocean Waves (but still very different).
Have you been in a place with so many obligations to complete? It may be your job, school assignments, college projects, or anything that feels like it’s holding you back. You want to break that cycle so badly to do something you want but are tied by a chain of responsibilities. We have all been there. All this is captured through Shizuku’s (the protagonist) journey.
It is the innocence of the movie that is the actual beauty of it. Even the way the movie starts where Shizuku is curious about an unknown boy who has been reading the same books she has been reading. How cute is that? There are just so many small things to smile about. And the best thing is we all go through things like this.
I am sure the Ghibli fans are going to appreciate this one. If you just want to relax and are tired this week, this is a perfect movie to watch that will cheer you up.
Grave of the Fireflies
Director: Isao Takahata
Where to Watch:
Grave of the Fireflies is a hauntingly beautiful yet deeply poignant film that captures the tragic realities of war and the resilience of the human spirit. Unlike many animated films, this Studio Ghibli masterpiece does not shy away from the darker aspects of life, offering a raw and emotional portrayal of the struggles faced by two siblings during World War II in Japan.
The story centers around Seita and his younger sister, Setsuko, as they navigate the horrors of war after losing their mother in an air raid. Their journey is one of survival, marked by love, sacrifice, and the devastating impact of conflict. As they face hunger, loss, and despair, the film serves as a reminder of the innocence shattered by war and the bond that ties family together, even in the most desperate circumstances.
Grave of the Fireflies is not an easy watch; it challenges us to confront uncomfortable truths about humanity and the impact of our choices. However, it is a film that stays with you, lingering in your heart long after viewing. I want to watch it again in order to add it to the ‘Great Movies’ list. But I just can’t gather the courage to watch it again. It is too painful.
I Want to Eat your Pancreas
Director: Shinichiro Ushijima
Where to Watch:
“I Want to Eat Your Pancreas” is a anime film based on a novel by Yoru Sumino. The story revolves around the relationship between two high school students, Sakura Yamauchi, and an unnamed protagonist referred to as “I.”
“I” is an introverted boy who keeps to himself, while Sakura is an outgoing girl known for her boundless energy. However, their lives take an unexpected turn when “I” discovers Sakura’s diary, which reveals a shocking secret. She is suffering from a terminal pancreatic illness with limited time to live.
Despite the initial shock, Sakura decides to confide in “I” about her condition, and the two embark on a journey together. As they spend time with one another, their friendship deepens, and they learn to live life to the fullest, embracing both the joys and sorrows it has to offer. Sakura’s determination to make the most of her remaining time has a profound impact on “I,” transforming him and teaching him valuable life lessons about love, friendship, and the importance of cherishing each moment.
“I Want to Eat Your Pancreas” is a touching and bittersweet experience. The fact that Sakura dies is revealed in the very first scene of the movie. And still it made me cry in the end. It really takes something for a movie to achieve such a feat.
Spirited Away
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Where to Watch:
The famous Hayao Miyazaki movie. I mean who hasn’t heard about Spirited Away. It gave Miyazaki his first Academy Award (since he got one more for ‘The Boy and the Heron’ this year).
Spirited Away is about Chihiro who is shifting to her new house with her parents. When they take a shortcut, things do not go as planned and Chihiro is trapped into a place not meant for humans.
Miyazaki, as a master he is, creates this magical and mystical world that would bring out the hidden child in you. I have seen this movie so many times and it still amazes me how beautiful it is. The characters, the environment, the soundtrack by Joe Hisaishi and the spatially precise place created and the creative blast it is. It is exciting, at times a little scary, enjoyable but above all it is a journey that it takes the viewers to. It makes you a part of this completely new world and somehow convinces you that it exists somewhere.
When Marnie Was There
Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Where to Watch:
“When Marnie Was There” is a captivating animated film from Studio Ghibli that is directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi. The story follows the journey of Anna Sasaki, a 12-year-old girl who is introverted and struggles with feelings of loneliness and self-worth. Due to her asthma and emotional difficulties, Anna is sent to live with her relatives in a rural seaside town for the summer.
During her stay, Anna discovers an abandoned mansion, known as the Marsh House, which holds secrets from the past and seems to be connected to a mysterious girl named Marnie. Marnie becomes Anna’s friend, and the two form a deep and heartwarming bond.
As Anna uncovers the mysteries surrounding Marnie and the Marsh House, she learns valuable lessons about friendship, family, and self-acceptance. Above all, When Marnie was there is very emotional and at the same time connects with the audience. It has been a while since I first watched it, but still I remember the end. You know those movies that leave that emptiness after watching it. This was one of them for me.