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Best anime movies that offer an incredible theatrical experience

best anime movies of all time

Anime movies provide a great opportunity for fans to indulge themselves in breathtaking visuals along with epic stories. Anime creators have been pushing boundaries and outdoing themselves when it comes to creating magic on the screen.

The drawing style and character designs can vary in different films depending on the studio producing the project. However, each one has the capability to mesmerize viewers and provide them with an otherworldly experience.

Whether it’s a classic like Akira from 1988 or the recent hit Demon Slayer: Mugen Train from 2020, each of these movies offers a unique animation style and transitions.

In this article, we will explore some of the best anime movies that provide incredible theatrical experiences to the watcher.

Note: The list reflects the writer’s view.


10 anime movies with amazing visuals

Here’s our list of amine movies with great visuals.

1) Akira (1988)

  •  Genre: Sci-fi, Action, Drama
  • Voice Actors: Mitsuo Iwata, Nozomu Sasaki, Mami Koyama, Taro Ishida and Mizuho Suzuki
  • Runtime: 2 hours
  • Release Date: July 16, 1988

Directed by Katsuhiro Otomo, the 1988 action movie is one of a kind. Created ahead of its time, Akira is set in a Cyberpunk world and follows the story of Shotaro Kaneda. 

The story takes place in the year 2019, ten years after a hazardous blast has destroyed Tokyo and given birth to Neo-Tokyo. The current city is filled with violence fueled by bike gangsters, criminals, and rioters. 

Amid the chaos, Kaneda, a bike gang leader, has to fight rampaging villains who escaped from one of the government’s experimental labs. These villains have special abilities that make it very difficult to subdue them, resulting in a grotesque, gruesome, and enthralling action film. 

Akira has a great storyline with complex visuals and astounding animation. The old-school drawing style and bright colors make it a visual delight.


2) Your Name (2016)

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  •  Genre: Fantasy, Drama, Romance
  • Voice Actors: Ryunosuke Kamiki and Mone Kamishiraishi
  • Runtime: 1 hour and 47 minutes
  • Release Date: August 26, 2016

Your Name is a one-of-a-kind film that was the highest-grossing anime movie after its release. The romantic fantasy film follows a teenage couple who switch bodies while sleeping. Mitsuha and Taki do not know each other, but they keep switching bodies. Sadly, they forget the other person’s name right after waking up.

The movie’s director, Makoto Shinkai, is able to draw in his audience into the story, making them root for the characters and their journey of finding each other. 

The movie has a great twist and features mesmerizing visuals, with special emphasis on the stars and the night sky, as it plays a big part in the climax. The movie is a great watch both in terms of story and visuals.


3) Paprika (2006)

  •  Genre: Fantasy, Drama, Thriller
  • Voice Actors: Megumi Hayashibara, Toru Emori, Katsunosuke Hori, Toru Furuya, Akio Otsuka, Koichi Yamadera and Hideyuki Tanaka
  •  Runtime: 1 hour and 30 minutes
  • Release Date: November 25, 2006

Paprika is another classic, the 2006 psychological thriller, which is filled with visuals that play with the viewer’s mind. In the movie, a psychiatrist uses a unique but uncertified technology to probe into her patient’s psyche through their dreams. Things go sour when the “dream terrorists” find a way around the device and use it for their own gain.

Directed by Satoshi Kon, the movie is filled with bizarre-looking scenes that catch you off guard, making it an interesting watch. Viewers also enjoy the movie for its bright and colorful visuals.

Note: Paprika contains images of s*xual abuse, thus reader’s discretion is advised. 


4) Spirited Away (2001)

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  •  Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Family
  • Voice Actors: Rumi Hiiragi, Miyu Irino, Mari Natsuki, Takashi Naito, Yasuko Sawaguchi, Tsunehiko Kamijō, Takehiko Ono and Bunta Sugawara
  •  Runtime: 2 hours and 5 minutes
  • Release Date: July 20, 2001

We cannot talk about anime movies without mentioning Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away.

The 2001 Hayao Miyazaki film is the great example of complexity within simplicity. In the movie, a 10-year-old girl named Chihiro and her family lose their way and end up in a spirit village. Chihiro asks her parents to return, but they decide to eat some of the decadent food in a restaurant and end up turning into pigs. The rest of the movie deals with our little protagonist going on big adventures to bring her parents back to normal.

At first glance, the movie seems to be a simple story about a girl working in an otherworldly bathhouse filled with otherworldly creatures. However, each scene of the movie contains interesting details taken from Japanese mythology and folklore. Viewers can notice new details every time they watch the movie.


5) Ghost in the Shell (1995)

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  •  Genre: Sci-fi, Action, Crime
  • Voice Actors: Atsuko TanakaAkio Ōtsuka and Iemasa Kayumi
  • Runtime: 1 hour and 22 minutes
  • Release Date: November 18, 1995

A cyberpunk-style sci-fi movie from the 90s, Ghost in the Shell deserves all the praise it receives. It is directed by Mamoru Oshii. The anime movie is set at least a hundred years in the future, where cyborgs are a part of society. Half human and half machines, they are capable of accomplishing various feats impossible for a normal man.

The story follows a cyborg federal agent, Maj, who is investigating a criminal but finds herself against the movie’s villain, Puppet Master. The movie is filled with philosophical questions about self-awareness and identity. In addition to being an immersive story, the movie is filled with compelling action sequences and thrilling cinematography.


6) Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba The Movie: Mugen Train (2020)

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/ClSUZk5o3UP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

  •  Genre: Action: Action, Adventure, Period-drama
  • Voice Actors: Natsuki Hanae, Akari Kito, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Hiro Shimono, and Satoshi Hino
  • Runtime: 1 hour and 59 minutes
  • Release Date: October 16, 2020

The 2020 movie by Ufotable set new records for the Japanese anime film industry. The movie was released worldwide and became a huge success.

The happenings of Mugen Trains take place right after the first Season of the series. Tanjiro and his team join Flame Hashira Rengoku in pursuit to capture a Lower Moon demon.

A big part of the success can be attributed to the movie’s splendid visuals. The action scenes in the movie are a delight to watch on the screen.


7) Perfect Blue (1997)

  •  Genre: Action:  Psychological Horror, Drama, Thriller
  • Voice Actors: Junko Iwao, Rica Matsumoto, Shiho Niiyama, Masaaki Okura, Shinpachi Tsuji and Emiko Furukawa
  • Runtime: 1 hour and 21 minutes
  • Release Date: February 28, 1998

Another Satoshi Kon thriller that deals with psychology, mental health, and trauma is “Perfect Blue.” The movie’s heroine, Mima Kirigoe, is an aspiring pop idol looking to make a career in acting when she delves into the adult film industry. This leads Mima to develop multiple personalities. 

Simultaneously, Mima’s new ventures affect her reputation among her fans and colleagues. The anime movie has very adult themes, exploring trauma, depression, and self-harm. The shocking visuals of the movie provide a mind-numbing experience for viewers. Although the movie delves into dark themes, its color palette includes bright and vivid hues.

Note: The movie contains images of s*xual abuse, thus reader’s discretion is advised. 


8) Suzume (2022)

  •  Genre:   Action, Adventure
  • Voice Actors: Nanoka Hara, Hokuto Matsumura, Eri Fukatsu, Shota Sometani, Sairi Ito, Kotone Hanase, Kana Hanazawa and Matsumoto Hakuo II
  • Runtime: 2 hours and 2 minutes
  • Release Date: November 11, 2022

“Suzume” is directed by Makoto Shinkai, the director of “Your Name.” It has similar visuals to its predecessor, emphasizing natural surroundings and adding minute details to bodies of water.

The story is set in modern Japan, where Suzume finds and opens an abandoned door standing in the middle of a damaged house. She discovers a different world through the door and closes it up. 

Later, she learns that these doors are the key to disasters and must be closed. Thus, leading to a fantasy adventure with numerous twists and turns. The storyline grips viewers and offers highly detailed animation.


9) Belle (2021)

  •  Genre:   Action, Adventure, Drama
  • Voice Actors: Kaho Nakamura, Ryo Narita, Shota Sometani, Tina Tamashiro, Lilas Ikuta, Koji Yakusho and Takeru Satoh
  • Runtime: 2 hours and 4 minutes
  • Release Date: July 16, 2021

Belle is a 2021 movie that follows the story of an awkward teenage girl, Suzu Naito. Suzu is considered unpopular in her school and is alienated by her classmates. However, she has a close friend, Shinobu Hisatake, who urges Suzu to play an open-world, metaverse game called “U.”

Suzu enters the game as a beautiful character and becomes popular thanks to her singing skills. Everything seems fine until she is introduced to Dragon, a strong and popular character. This leads Suzu and Shinobu to begin a secret investigation to find the character’s real-world identity.

Mamoru Hosoda, the creator of the movie, has given special emphasis to the in-game world of the movie. The stunning visuals of the movie have a certain 3D effect that is integrated well into the anime.


10) Bubble (2022)

  •  Genre:   Action, Adventure, Drama
  • Voice Actors: Jun Shison, Riria, Alice Hirose, Mamoru Miyano, Yuki Kaji, and Tasuku Hatanaka
  • Runtime: 1 hour and 40 minutes
  • Release Date: April 28, 2022

Bubble is set in a fictional, post-apocalyptic Tokyo where the law of gravity has no effect and bubbles float around in the sky. The city is unhabitable and becomes the playground for back alley parkour tournaments. The movie follows Hibiki, a parkour champion, and his newly made friend Uta. Uta is made from bubbles and learns parkour in a jiff. However, as fate has it, she will have to return to bubbles. 

The film has stunning landscapes paired with animation that offers VR-like graphics, very similar to Attack on Titan. The movie is a bit bland story-wise but offers a great theatrical experience.

There are numerous other anime movies, that have amazing visuals and great animations. Tell us which movies deserve a place on this list.


You can also share any questions you have about anime movies. Until then, stay with us here at Spiel Times for more content.

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