DVD Corner

10 Recommended Anime Films

Anime films have exploded in popularity at the international box office as of late and are becoming more and more popular with audiences. Anime can be an overwhelming world to get into (especially television) so I thought I would whip up a list involving anime films. This isn’t a definitive top 10 anime film list but rather 10 recommendations for newbies or devoted fans (in no particular order).

1. My Neighbor Totoro- Truthfully, this whole list could be Hayao Miyazaki and or Studio Ghibli films. They are the gold standard of anime. Miyazaki has a wide range of styles and tones, but Totoro is the most magical and accessible.

2. A Silent Voice- An emotional story about a teen bully and a deaf girl.

3. Ninja Scroll- If you’re looking for an anime with sword fighting action, you needn’t look any further than this renowned 1993 classic.

4. Mind Game- In need of a more “out there” anime film? This cult classic has you covered.

5. The Animatrix- The 2nd best Matrix film behind the original. An inventive and creative anthology film that deserves more recognition.

6. Grave Of The Fireflies- If you think anime is all about robots, tournament fights, and love triangles, scope out this film. It’s a truly heartbreaking story about siblings during the Pacific War. This is the type of film that shows you how powerful the medium can be. 

7. Tokyo Godfathers- A poignant character study.

8. 5 Centimeters Per Second- A thematically rich character piece from Makoto Shinkai.

9. Perfect Blue- Anime films don’t get much better than this complex psychological thriller.

10. Belle- Mamoru Hosoda is one of the best anime filmmakers around and this twisty take on “Beauty And The Beast” is one of his finest works. 

January 4, 2026 - Posted by nicklyons1 | List | 10 Recommended Anime Films, 5 Centimeters Per Second, A Silent Voice, Belle, Grave Of The Fireflies, Mind Game, My Neighbor Totoro, Ninja Scroll, Perfect Blue, The Animatrix, Tokyo Godfathers