mjf314's Guide to Anime Movies
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.
Pssst, want to check out the mjf314's Guide to Anime Movies list in our new look?
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1 new
Manga: Kobutori
1929 — a.k.a. The Stolen Lump, in 0 top lists Check -
2 new
Kuronyago
1931 — a.k.a. The Black Cat, in 0 top lists Check -
3 new
Norakuro gochô
1934 — a.k.a. Corporal Norakuro, in 0 top lists Check -
4 new
Tengu taiji
1934 — a.k.a. Hyoei and Heibei's Tengu Hunt, in 0 top lists Check -
5 new
Kumo to chûrippu
1943 — a.k.a. The Spider and the Tulip, in 0 top lists Check -
6 new
Suteneko tora-chan
1947, in 0 top lists Check -
7 new
Koneko no rakugaki
1957 — a.k.a. The Scribbling Kitten, in 0 top lists Check -
8 new
Hakuja den
1958 — a.k.a. Panda and the Magic Serpent, in 1 top list Check -
9 new
Aru machikado no monogatari
1962 — a.k.a. Story of a Certain Street Corner, in 0 top lists Check -
10 new
Wanpaku ôji no orochi taiji
1963 — a.k.a. Little Prince and the Eight Headed Dragon, in 0 top lists Check -
11 new
Ninja bugei-chô
1967 — a.k.a. Band of Ninja, in 0 top lists Check -
12 new
Taiyô no ôji: Horusu no daibôken
1968 — a.k.a. Horus: Prince of the Sun, in 0 top lists Check -
13 new
Sen'ya ichiya monogatari
1969 — a.k.a. One Thousand and One Nights, in 1 top list Check -
14 new
Sora tobu yûreisen
1969 — a.k.a. Flying Phantom Ship, in 0 top lists Check -
15 new
Kiseichuu no Ichiya
1972 — a.k.a. The Midnight Parasites, in 0 top lists -
16 new
Kanashimi no Beradonna
1973 — a.k.a. Belladonna of Sadness, in 3 top lists Check -
17 new
Tabi
1973 — a.k.a. The Trip, in 0 top lists Check -
18 new
Dôjôji
1976 — a.k.a. Dojoji Temple, in 1 top list Check -
19 new
Chirin no suzu
1978 — a.k.a. Ringing Bell, in 0 top lists Check -
20 new
Ginga tetsudô Three-Nine
1979 — a.k.a. Galaxy Express 999, in 1 top list Check -
21 new
Rupan sansei: Kariosutoro no shiro
1979 — a.k.a. Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro, in 3 top lists Check -
22 new
Sekai meisaku dôwa: Mori wa ikiteiru
1980 — a.k.a. Twelve Months, in 0 top lists Check -
23 new
Unico
1981 — a.k.a. The Fantastic Adventures of Unico, in 0 top lists Check -
24 new
Natsu e no tobira
1981 — a.k.a. The Door Into Summer, in 0 top lists Check -
25 new
Jarinko Chie
1981 — a.k.a. Chie the Brat, in 0 top lists Check -
26 new
DAICON III Opening Animation
1981 — a.k.a. Daicon III Opening Animation, in 0 top lists Check -
27 new
DAICON IV Opening Animation
1983, in 0 top lists Check -
28 new
Hadashi no Gen
1983 — a.k.a. Barefoot Gen, in 2 top lists Check -
29 new
Urusei Yatsura 2: Byûtifuru dorîmâ
1984 — a.k.a. Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer, in 3 top lists Check -
30 new
Kaze no Tani no Nausicaä
1984 — a.k.a. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, in 10 top lists Check -
31 new
Ginga-tetsudô no yoru
1985 — a.k.a. Kenji Miyazawa's Night on the Galactic Railroad, in 2 top lists Check -
32 new
Tenshi no tamago
1985 — a.k.a. Angel's Egg, in 4 top lists Check -
33 new
Grim
1985, in 0 top lists Check -
34 new
Purojekuto A-ko
1986 — a.k.a. Project A-Ko, in 0 top lists Check -
35 new
Jûichi-nin iru!
1986 — a.k.a. They Were Eleven, in 0 top lists Check -
36 new
Ôritsu uchûgun Oneamisu no tsubasa
1987 — a.k.a. Wings of Honneamise, in 1 top list Check -
37 new
Mori no densetsu
1987 — a.k.a. Legend of the Forest, in 0 top lists Check -
38 new
Hi no tori: Uchû-hen
1987, in 0 top lists Check -
39 new
Hotaru no haka
1988 — a.k.a. Grave of the Fireflies, in 21 top lists Check -
40 new
Tonari no Totoro
1988 — a.k.a. My Neighbor Totoro, in 23 top lists Check -
41 new
Akira
1988, in 22 top lists Check -
42 new
Top wo Nerae!
1988 — a.k.a. Gunbuster, in 0 top lists Check -
43 new
Omohide poro poro
1991 — a.k.a. Only Yesterday, in 3 top lists Check -
44 new
Ningyo no mori
1991 — a.k.a. Rumik World: Mermaid Forest, in 0 top lists Check -
45 new
Otaku no video
1991, in 0 top lists Check -
46 new
Shôjo tsubaki: Chika gentô gekiga
1992 — a.k.a. Midori, in 0 top lists Check -
47 new
Aa! Megamisama!
1993, in 0 top lists Check -
48 new
Mimi wo sumaseba
1995 — a.k.a. Whisper of the Heart, in 4 top lists Check -
49 new
Golden Boy: Sasurai no o-benkyô yarô
1995 — a.k.a. Golden Boy, in 0 top lists Check -
50 new
Kôkaku Kidôtai
1995 — a.k.a. Ghost in the Shell, in 12 top lists Check
Last updated on Jun 23, 2015;