Anime has a reputation for being impossible to enter. Two hundred episodes, a cast of forty and a power system that needs a diagram. Movies are the cheat code. Two hours, a beginning, a middle and an end.
These ten films are widely loved, gorgeously made and entirely watchable without prior knowledge. Start anywhere.
Spirited Away
A girl wanders into a spirit world and has to work in a bathhouse to save her parents. It is dreamlike, funny and strange, and it won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
It’s the film most people name when asked for a first anime.
My Neighbor Totoro
Two sisters move to the countryside and meet a giant, fuzzy forest spirit. There’s no villain, just wonder, rain and a bus with cat legs.
It’s the coziest film ever made, and we will not be taking questions.
Princess Mononoke
A prince is drawn into a war between humans and the gods of the forest. It’s epic, beautiful and refuses to give easy answers.
It is more serious than Totoro, and just as memorable.
Your Name
Two teenagers swap bodies across distance and time. The animation is stunning, the music is catchy and the story builds to a emotional finish.
Bring tissues and a willingness to be moved.
Akira
A landmark of sci-fi animation set in a future Tokyo, full of motorcycles, psychic powers and chaos. It is a technical marvel, and its influence on cinema is huge.
It is also a lot, in the best way.
Howl’s Moving Castle
A young woman is cursed to look old and ends up living in a wizard’s walking castle. It’s whimsical, romantic and visually delightful.
The fire demon, Calcifer, steals every scene.
Kiki’s Delivery Service
A young witch moves to a new town and starts a delivery business. It’s gentle, charming and a lovely story about independence.
It’s a good pick for a lazy Sunday.
Perfect Blue
A pop idol turns to acting and loses track of reality. It’s a psychological thriller that is intense, stylish and unsettling.
Not for kids. Perfect for adults who like to be disturbed.
A Silent Voice
A former bully tries to make amends with a deaf classmate he tormented. It is a thoughtful, emotional film about guilt and forgiveness.
It’s heavy, honest and rewarding.
Weathering With You
A runaway teenager meets a girl who can control the weather. The visuals are gorgeous, and the story is a romantic fantasy about choices and consequences.
It’s a rainy-day movie in every sense.