Japanese animation - anime, is one of the best representations of Japanese culture around the world. Like other visual entertainment, anime comes in many flavours: action, adult, prophetic, and poetic. Miyazaki Hayao is tops in the anime genre, particularly in Western countries. But, let's not discount other, equally talented creators and their films.
| 🎦Film title | 👘Japanese title | 📅Year released | 🎬Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind | Kaze no Tani no Naushika | 1984 | Miyazaki Hayao |
| Castle in the Sky | Tenkû no shiro rapyuta | 1986 | Miyazaki Hayao |
| My Neighbor Totoro | Tonari no totoro | 1988 | Miyazaki Hayao |
| Akira | Akira | 1988 | Otomo Katsuhiro |
| Graves of the Fireflies | Hotaru no haka | 1988 | Takahata Isao |
| Porco Rosso | Kurenai no buta | 1992 | Miyazaki Hayao |
| Ghost in The Shell | Kôkaku kidôtai | 1995 | Oshii Mamoru |
| Perfect Blue | Pāfekuto burū | 1997 | Kon Satoshi |
| Princess Mononoke | Mononoke-hime | 1997 | Miyazaki Hayao |
| Spirited Away | Sen to chihiro no kamikakushi | 2001 | Miyazaki Hayao |
| Metropolis | Metoroporisu | 2001 | Hayashi Shigeyuki, AKA Rintaro |
| Wolf Children | Ōkami Kodomo no Ame to Yuk | 2012 | Hosoda Mamoru |
| The Wind Rises | Kaze Tachinu | 2013 | Miyazaki Hayao |
| Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms | Sayonara no Asa ni Yakusoku no Hana o Kazarō | 2018 | Okada Mari |
| Demon Slayer | Gekijō-ban Kimetsu no Yaiba Mugen Ressha-hen | 2020 | Haruo Sotozaki |
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (Kaze no Tani no Naushika) - 1984
In a post-nuclear world, the Valley of the Wind's teenaged princess scours her domain for signs of life and healing. One of her outings reveals a conflict brewing between the aggressive Tolmekia and the Ohms, large insects intent on protecting the jungle.
Our list features many of his titles because, from the beginning, output from this anime master was the most acclaimed, abundant, and the most accessible to western audiences.
Castle in the Sky (Tenkû no shiro rapyuta) - 1986
Sheeta, an inhabitant of the city in the skies, escapes a crew of pirates by jumping over their zeppelin. She is caught in extremis by Pazu, an amateur pilot. Together they attempt to flee their ill-intentioned pursuers.
The first of the many Studio Ghibli classics, it was not until 1989 that this film was released in the UK. At the time, Studio Ghibli and the popularity of Japanese anime were not as significant as they are today.
My Neighbor Totoro (Tonari no totoro) - 1988
This Miyazaki masterpiece was officially released in Great Britain in 2013, 25 years after its Japan debut. At the time, Europe was still trying to catch up with all the amazing animation movies from Japan.
The story: a father and his daughters move to the countryside to be near the hospital where the mother is. After moving into their new house, the girls meet creatures that lead them on fantastic adventures, and connect them to the natural world.
Miyazaki Hayao always includes social themes such as peace and environmentalism in his movies.
Akira - 1988
Testsu is a young teenager living in a post-apocalyptic city called Neo-Tokyo, in 2019. After a motorcycle accident, he acquires telekinetic powers. How will he put them to use?
The movie is the adaptation of the manga - the Japanese comic books of the same name. Many otaku (anime and manga obsessed people) consider it one of the best Japanese animation movies ever.
Graves of the Fireflies(Hotaru no haka) - 1988
In 1945, following the bombing of Kobe, Seita and his little sister are orphans. Their aunt rejects them, so the siblings flee and try to survive in a bunker, surrounded by thousands of fireflies.
Nosaka Akiyuki wrote about his experiences during the war, including losing his sister.
Studio Ghibli used the same title as the short story for their film. It's widely hailed as a masterpiece of animation, both for its story and its graphics.
One of the co-founders of the Ghibli Studio, Takahata passed away in April 2018. He leaves behind him a legacy of at least 13 movies. This title was the very first Studio Ghibli release. It received much praise for its message of peace and the emotional response it triggered.
Porco Rosso (Kurenai no buta) - 1992
Marco, an Italian pilot who fought during World War I, now lives as a bounty hunter, chasing pirates in the skies over the Adriatic Sea. But a mysterious curse has turned him into a pig. He is known to the world as Porco Rosso, the Red Pig.
This Miyazaki offering has clear historical and geographic settings. It conveys a strong anti-fascist message while paying tribute to early aviators.
Ghost in The Shell (Kôkaku kidôtai) - 1995
In 2029, Kusanagi Motoko, an officer of a public-security force, hunts for a terrorist called The Puppet Master, who wreaks havoc all over Japan.
This anime ranks among the best known in the U.K., thanks to the 2017 remake starring Scarlett Johanson. The original anime, released in 1997, was an international production between Japan and Great Britain.
This film is one of the best anime of all time, inspiring directors James Cameron, the Wachowski siblings, and others.
Perfect Blue (Pāfekuto burū) - 1997
Mima leaves her J-pop band for a small role in a TV show as she wants to become an actress. Her decision angers a few of her fans. One of them starts to stalk her and publish details of her private life on the Internet while threatening people close to her.
This anime deals with serious, sometimes violent themes.
Princess Mononoke (Mononoke-hime) - 1997
During the Muromachi Period of Japan, a demon is set to attack an Emishi village. The last prince of the Emishi people stops the beast but his right arm his cursed. He has to leave his homeland to go and find the Great Forest Spirit, the only animal god that can save him.
This animation movie was a break-through for Miyazaki and his studio. In Japan, it was one of the biggest commercial blockbusters, grossing 19.3 billion yen (almost 130 million pounds). It is still number 7 on the list of highest-grossing films in Japan, 20 years after it was released.
This anime is an excellent example of Jidaigeki, the Japanese period-drama genre.
If you watch carefully, you might catch glimpses of traditional tattoo artwork Japanese tattoo traditions have deep meaning, and are often on display in jidaigeki.
Spirited Away (Sen to chihiro no kamikakushi) - 2001
Heading to her new home, Chihiro's family goes through an awkwardly long tunnel. At the end of it, a ghost city appears. When Chihiro's parents eat at a restaurant, they're transformed into pigs. Chihiro will have to face Yubaba, the witch if she wants her parents back.
The story's main theme is the transition from childhood helplessness to resourcefulness and self-reliance. The second major theme is the dangers of excess and gluttony.
On a wholly secular note, this film, with its heaps of roasted meats and other delicacies, may convince you to try your hand at Japanese Cuisine.
Miyazaki wanted to create a character that young girls could look up to.
He worried about his friends' daughters, who were steeped in shojo manga - about school romances and the like.
This anime is the most successful of all time in Japan and around the world. It grossed more than 30 billion yen (200 million pounds) in its country of origin.
Metropolis (Metoroporisu) - 2001
In a city with equal robot and human populations, the people resent their mechanical counterparts. They live squalid lives because the robots took all the jobs and command all the resources.
Their lot is made worse by the wealthiest person, who schemes to rule the world.
This anime might feel a little too close to our current reality at times, but its hopeful ending makes watching it worthwhile.
Wolf Children (Ōkami kodomo no ame to yuki) - 2012
Hana and her two children live a quiet life in Tokyo. But they hide a big secret: they're werewolves. When Hana's husband mysteriously disappears, she decides to take her two half-werewolf children to the countryside.
The Wind Rises (Kaze Tachinu) - 2013
As a child, Jiro Horikoshi dreamt of flying with his hero, the Italian aircraft designer Giovanni Battista Caproni. However, his nearsightedness blocks him from any kind of flying experience and, when he finally meets his hero, he learns that designing aircraft is better than flying them.
This is a fictionalised tale of the renowned aeronautical engineer, Jiro Horikoshi. It details his journey from 1925, when he was in school, to the Mitsubishi KA-14's maiden flight, in 1935.
Once again, Miyazaki delivers us a breathtaking example of jidaigeki.
Maquia (Sayonara no Asa ni Yakusoku no Hana o Kazarō)- 2018
This film's title is as long in English as in Japanese: Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms, but otaku call it by its name only. Maquia is a remarkable being, a member of the lorph race, whose members enjoy extremely long lives.
One day, Maquia finds a newborn baby amidst the ruins of war, and cares for him as her own.
Anime, a traditionally male-dominated industry, is seeing growing output from female artists.
This film demonstrates that women are equally capable of weaving social commentary into appealing stories.
Demon Slayer: Mugen Train (Gekijō-ban Kimetsu no Yaiba Mugen Ressha-hen) - 2020
How should one act and what should one do after their family is murdered, and their remaining sister turns into a demon? Becoming a demon-slayer is one option.
This film expands the popular Demon Slayer anime series. It focuses on action from the second series, starting with the Demon Slayer gang boarding the train. Unfortunately, it's filled with demons, and the gang immediately falls under attack.
Ordinary passengers and demon slayers step into the dream world to slay their foes.
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