mjf314's Guide to Anime Movies

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Created by mjf314.

Favorited 4 times, disliked 0 times, added to 11 watchlists.

This is a guide for anyone who wants to learn about the history of anime movies, short films, and OVAs, from the 1920s to the present.

While creating the list, I took several factors into account:
1. Quality, based on a combination of critical acclaim and my personal opinion. This is the most important factor, because I want it to be a list that's enjoyable to work on.
2. Variety. This list covers a wide variety of genres, styles, and trends throughout the entire history of anime, and covers all of the most important anime film directors. Some unusual films are included mainly for variety, but I did take quality into account when making my choices. Additionally, I tried to avoid picking too many similar films or too many films by the same director. If your favorite Miyazaki or Takahata or Kon film is missing, it doesn't mean that I don't like it. I just thought it would be pointless to include every single one.
3. Popularity and historical importance. This wasn't a major factor, but it did play a role for some choices.

Most of the movies/OVAs are standalone, but I included a few that are based on series (Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro, Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer, Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuiokuhen, Cowboy Bebop: The Movie), because I think you can understand them without watching the series. I included Hi no Tori: Uchuu Hen, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, and You Are Umasou because I think they feel more like new adaptations rather than sequels.

I excluded some remakes such as Rebuild of Evangelion and Madoka Magica because I think it's better to watch the series first. However, I included Galaxy Express 999 and The Dog of Flanders even though they're remakes, because the movies are (arguably) at least as important as the series, and a lot of people have seen only the movies. I excluded the movie series Kara no Kyoukai because I didn't want it to take up so many spots on the list, although the 5th one is very good.

I included some short OVAs with (3 hours total or less). I wanted to include some OVAs because they're an important part of anime history and they don't take long to watch, but this list is just an introduction, so I don't want to overwhelm people with longer series. This means that I left out some important OVAs, but I had to draw the line somewhere.

I'm using a fairly broad definition of anime, so I included films which are mostly still images (Band of Ninja, Fantascope: Tylostoma). I also included Grim, which doesn't really look animated, but it was photographed frame by frame, so it sort of fits the definition of stop motion.

Missing from IMDb:
Hana to Mogura (1970)

If you want a list that's purely based on my personal taste, see this list.

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  1. 47 new

    Aa! Megamisama!

    1993, in 0 top lists Check
  2. 41 new

    Akira

    1988, in 22 top lists Check
  3. 9 new

    Aru machikado no monogatari

    1962 — a.k.a. Story of a Certain Street Corner, in 0 top lists Check
  4. 65 new

    Atama-yama

    2002 — a.k.a. Mount Head, in 1 top list Check
  5. 72 new

    Byôsoku 5 senchimêtoru

    2007 — a.k.a. 5 Centimeters per Second, in 1 top list Check
  6. 19 new

    Chirin no suzu

    1978 — a.k.a. Ringing Bell, in 0 top lists Check
  7. 63 new

    Cowboy Bebop: Tengoku no tobira

    2001 — a.k.a. Cowboy Bebop the Movie: Knockin' on Heaven's Door, in 1 top list Check
  8. 26 new

    DAICON III Opening Animation

    1981 — a.k.a. Daicon III Opening Animation, in 0 top lists Check
  9. 27 new

    DAICON IV Opening Animation

    1983, in 0 top lists Check
  10. 78 new

    Detoroito Metaru Shiti

    2008 — a.k.a. Detroit Metal City, in 0 top lists Check
  11. 18 new

    Dôjôji

    1976 — a.k.a. Dojoji Temple, in 1 top list Check
  12. 80 new

    Elemi

    2009, in 0 top lists Check
  13. 77 new

    Eve no jikan

    2008 — a.k.a. Time of Eve, in 0 top lists Check
  14. 71 new

    Fantascope 'Tylostoma'

    2006, in 0 top lists Check
  15. 58 new

    FLCL

    2000, in 0 top lists Check
  16. 52 new

    Gekijôban Furandaasu no inu

    1997 — a.k.a. The Dog of Flanders, in 1 top list Check
  17. 79 new

    Genius Party Beyond

    2008, in 0 top lists Check
  18. 20 new

    Ginga tetsudô Three-Nine

    1979 — a.k.a. Galaxy Express 999, in 1 top list Check
  19. 31 new

    Ginga-tetsudô no yoru

    1985 — a.k.a. Kenji Miyazawa's Night on the Galactic Railroad, in 2 top lists Check
  20. 55 new

    Glassy Ocean: Kujira no Chôyaku

    1998, in 0 top lists Check
  21. 49 new

    Golden Boy: Sasurai no o-benkyô yarô

    1995 — a.k.a. Golden Boy, in 0 top lists Check
  22. 33 new

    Grim

    1985, in 0 top lists Check
  23. 28 new

    Hadashi no Gen

    1983 — a.k.a. Barefoot Gen, in 2 top lists Check
  24. 8 new

    Hakuja den

    1958 — a.k.a. Panda and the Magic Serpent, in 1 top list Check
  25. 38 new

    Hi no tori: Uchû-hen

    1987, in 0 top lists Check
  26. 39 new

    Hotaru no haka

    1988 — a.k.a. Grave of the Fireflies, in 21 top lists Check
  27. 85 new

    Hotarubi no mori e

    2011 — a.k.a. To the Forest of Firefly Lights, in 1 top list Check
  28. 68 new

    Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar...

    2003, in 3 top lists Check
  29. 25 new

    Jarinko Chie

    1981 — a.k.a. Chie the Brat, in 0 top lists Check
  30. 57 new

    Jin-Rô

    1999 — a.k.a. Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade, in 1 top list Check
  31. 35 new

    Jûichi-nin iru!

    1986 — a.k.a. They Were Eleven, in 0 top lists Check
  32. 75 new

    Kafuka: Inaka isha

    2007 — a.k.a. Franz Kafka's a Country Doctor, in 0 top lists Check
  33. 90 new

    Kaguya-hime no monogatari

    2013 — a.k.a. The Tale of The Princess Kaguya, in 8 top lists Check
  34. 16 new

    Kanashimi no Beradonna

    1973 — a.k.a. Belladonna of Sadness, in 3 top lists Check
  35. 73 new

    Kappa no Kû to natsuyasumi

    2007 — a.k.a. Summer Days with Coo, in 2 top lists Check
  36. 30 new

    Kaze no Tani no Nausicaä

    1984 — a.k.a. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, in 10 top lists Check
  37. 88 new

    Kaze tachinu

    2013 — a.k.a. The Wind Rises, in 4 top lists Check
  38. 66 new

    Kigeki

    2002 — a.k.a. Comedy, in 1 top list Check
  39. 15 new

    Kiseichuu no Ichiya

    1972 — a.k.a. The Midnight Parasites, in 0 top lists
    Check
  40. 50 new

    Kôkaku Kidôtai

    1995 — a.k.a. Ghost in the Shell, in 12 top lists Check
  41. 7 new

    Koneko no rakugaki

    1957 — a.k.a. The Scribbling Kitten, in 0 top lists Check
  42. 5 new

    Kumo to chûrippu

    1943 — a.k.a. The Spider and the Tulip, in 0 top lists Check
  43. 2 new

    Kuronyago

    1931 — a.k.a. The Black Cat, in 0 top lists Check
  44. 87 new

    Little Witch Academia

    2013, in 0 top lists Check
  45. 83 new

    Maimai Shinko to sennen no mahô

    2009 — a.k.a. Mai Mai Miracle, in 0 top lists Check
  46. 91 new

    Majokko shimai no Yoyo to Nene

    2013, in 0 top lists Check
  47. 1 new

    Manga: Kobutori

    1929 — a.k.a. The Stolen Lump, in 0 top lists Check
  48. 51 new

    Memorîzu

    1995 — a.k.a. Memories, in 1 top list Check
  49. 61 new

    Metoroporisu

    2001 — a.k.a. Metropolis, in 2 top lists Check
  50. 48 new

    Mimi wo sumaseba

    1995 — a.k.a. Whisper of the Heart, in 4 top lists Check
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Last updated on Jun 23, 2015;