mjf314's Guide to Anime Movies

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Created by mjf314.

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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. 62 new

    Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi

    2001 — a.k.a. Spirited Away, in 39 top lists Check
  2. 40 new

    Tonari no Totoro

    1988 — a.k.a. My Neighbor Totoro, in 23 top lists Check
  3. 39 new

    Hotaru no haka

    1988 — a.k.a. Grave of the Fireflies, in 21 top lists Check
  4. 41 new

    Akira

    1988, in 22 top lists Check
  5. 30 new

    Kaze no Tani no Nausicaä

    1984 — a.k.a. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, in 10 top lists Check
  6. 50 new

    Kôkaku Kidôtai

    1995 — a.k.a. Ghost in the Shell, in 12 top lists Check
  7. 53 new

    Pâfekuto burû

    1997 — a.k.a. Perfect Blue, in 13 top lists Check
  8. 90 new

    Kaguya-hime no monogatari

    2013 — a.k.a. The Tale of The Princess Kaguya, in 8 top lists Check
  9. 88 new

    Kaze tachinu

    2013 — a.k.a. The Wind Rises, in 4 top lists Check
  10. 48 new

    Mimi wo sumaseba

    1995 — a.k.a. Whisper of the Heart, in 4 top lists Check
  11. 64 new

    Sennen joyû

    2001 — a.k.a. Millennium Actress, in 7 top lists Check
  12. 43 new

    Omohide poro poro

    1991 — a.k.a. Only Yesterday, in 3 top lists Check
  13. 70 new

    Toki o kakeru shôjo

    2006 — a.k.a. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, in 2 top lists Check
  14. 32 new

    Tenshi no tamago

    1985 — a.k.a. Angel's Egg, in 4 top lists Check
  15. 69 new

    Mind Game

    2004, in 6 top lists Check
  16. 86 new

    Ôkami kodomo no Ame to Yuki

    2012 — a.k.a. Wolf Children, in 7 top lists Check
  17. 72 new

    Byôsoku 5 senchimêtoru

    2007 — a.k.a. 5 Centimeters per Second, in 1 top list Check
  18. 21 new

    Rupan sansei: Kariosutoro no shiro

    1979 — a.k.a. Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro, in 3 top lists Check
  19. 93 new

    Omoide no Mânî

    2014 — a.k.a. When Marnie Was There, in 2 top lists Check
  20. 76 new

    Tsumiki no ie

    2008 — a.k.a. The House of Small Cubes, in 3 top lists Check
  21. 16 new

    Kanashimi no Beradonna

    1973 — a.k.a. Belladonna of Sadness, in 3 top lists Check
  22. 81 new

    Samâ uôzu

    2009 — a.k.a. Summer Wars, in 2 top lists Check
  23. 28 new

    Hadashi no Gen

    1983 — a.k.a. Barefoot Gen, in 2 top lists Check
  24. 82 new

    Redline

    2009, in 2 top lists Check
  25. 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
  26. 29 new

    Urusei Yatsura 2: Byûtifuru dorîmâ

    1984 — a.k.a. Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer, in 3 top lists Check
  27. 59 new

    Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust

    2000, in 2 top lists Check
  28. 51 new

    Memorîzu

    1995 — a.k.a. Memories, in 1 top list Check
  29. 68 new

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

    2003, in 3 top lists Check
  30. 61 new

    Metoroporisu

    2001 — a.k.a. Metropolis, in 2 top lists Check
  31. 57 new

    Jin-Rô

    1999 — a.k.a. Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade, in 1 top list Check
  32. 60 new

    Nekojiru-sô

    2001 — a.k.a. Cat Soup, in 2 top lists Check
  33. 31 new

    Ginga-tetsudô no yoru

    1985 — a.k.a. Kenji Miyazawa's Night on the Galactic Railroad, in 2 top lists Check
  34. 73 new

    Kappa no Kû to natsuyasumi

    2007 — a.k.a. Summer Days with Coo, in 2 top lists Check
  35. 36 new

    Ôritsu uchûgun Oneamisu no tsubasa

    1987 — a.k.a. Wings of Honneamise, in 1 top list Check
  36. 56 new

    Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan:...

    1999 — a.k.a. Rurouni Kenshin: Trust and Betrayal, in 1 top list Check
  37. 20 new

    Ginga tetsudô Three-Nine

    1979 — a.k.a. Galaxy Express 999, in 1 top list Check
  38. 58 new

    FLCL

    2000, in 0 top lists Check
  39. 75 new

    Kafuka: Inaka isha

    2007 — a.k.a. Franz Kafka's a Country Doctor, in 0 top lists Check
  40. 85 new

    Hotarubi no mori e

    2011 — a.k.a. To the Forest of Firefly Lights, in 1 top list Check
  41. 46 new

    Shôjo tsubaki: Chika gentô gekiga

    1992 — a.k.a. Midori, in 0 top lists Check
  42. 74 new

    Stranger: Mukô hadan

    2007 — a.k.a. Sword of the Stranger, in 1 top list Check
  43. 12 new

    Taiyô no ôji: Horusu no daibôken

    1968 — a.k.a. Horus: Prince of the Sun, in 0 top lists Check
  44. 65 new

    Atama-yama

    2002 — a.k.a. Mount Head, in 1 top list Check
  45. 79 new

    Genius Party Beyond

    2008, in 0 top lists Check
  46. 8 new

    Hakuja den

    1958 — a.k.a. Panda and the Magic Serpent, in 1 top list Check
  47. 33 new

    Grim

    1985, in 0 top lists Check
  48. 13 new

    Sen'ya ichiya monogatari

    1969 — a.k.a. One Thousand and One Nights, in 1 top list Check
  49. 19 new

    Chirin no suzu

    1978 — a.k.a. Ringing Bell, in 0 top lists Check
  50. 18 new

    Dôjôji

    1976 — a.k.a. Dojoji Temple, in 1 top list Check
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Last updated on Jun 23, 2015;