Anime is an appealing, captivating, and profound artform that few have had the chance to explore. Even if you aren’t an anime enthusiast yourself, these movies are worth your time and deserve your consideration.
Princess Mononoke
Princess Mononoke, widely considered Miyazaki’s international breakthrough film, is an epic cinematic adventure set against an environment in which humans clash with nature, progress meets superstition, trust is broken and betrayals occur.
Studio Ghibli excelled at depicting characters with complex motivations and convictions who don’t fall neatly into either good or evil categories, resisting an easy dichotomy between right and wrong. Even in its many battle scenes featuring arms being cut off or blood-soaked tentacles emerging from wounded beasts bursting out, the overall tone remains upbeat and optimistic.
San, more commonly known as Princess Mononoke-hime, is an iconic female protagonist raised by forest gods (wolves) and has an intense hatred of humans for their environmental destruction. After meeting Ashitaka she slowly begins showing kindness towards certain animals which ultimately helps her rediscover herself as human. Miyazaki would further explore these themes in his next film “Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind”.
Ghost in the Shell
Cyberpunk fiction that explores the boundaries between humanity and technology in a futuristic setting. While known for being violent, there’s more going on here: contemplation on consciousness and soul in relation to modern technologies such as robotics.
This timeless classic has had a lasting cult following and been an influencer on filmmakers such as the Wachowskis (of The Matrix fame) and Christopher Nolan, both drawing upon its visuals in their respective movies. Additionally, its story stands as one of the most philosophically sophisticated anime works ever made.
This film was initially met with mixed reception upon its initial release, yet soon became a cult classic on home video. This can be attributed to its stunning visuals and complex narrative and themes about humanity’s slow demise – something anyone interested in science fiction or anime should see for themselves! However, its age might turn some viewers off; some young audiences might find its violence offensive while the live action adaptation may not compare as favorably but still boast impressive visuals.
Grave of the Fireflies
Grave of the Fireflies was written and directed by Isao Takahata as an adaptation of his semi-autobiographical short story, making it one of the finest early movies from Studio Ghibli. A gripping tale about two orphans struggling for survival during World War II’s final stages, Grave of the Fireflies powerfully captures both war’s horrors as well as nationalism blinding people to others needs.
Grave of the Fireflies stands out among animated movies by being able to convey a wide range of emotions without becoming saccharine or sentimental. When Seita and Setsuko find themselves lost in a destroyed city, their emotions don’t allow for tears or self-pity – rather, ghosts of the children watch over them while recounting their stories back to a narrator.
Even for viewers accustomed to sentimental schmaltz and posturing brutality, this film will undoubtedly break your heart. It stands as one of the most stunning and potency films ever produced.
Summer Wars
Summer Wars is an emotionally moving movie with some moving scenes, seamlessly blending family drama with an entertaining virtual world/Facebook/second life type of thing being compromised and then being hacked. The animators did an outstanding job integrating modern day technology with Japanese tradition into this animated flick.
Kenji Koiso is a 17-year-old math genius and one of the only members of his family with any technological acumen. When Natsuki Shinohara asks him to pose as her older boyfriend at a family reunion so she can impress her grandmother, Kenji agrees – only to become embroiled in a massive family feud and an impending hacker’s rampage that threatens real world destruction.
Mamoru Hosoda’s film manages to capture the heart and spirit of what makes family special, with characters who boast charming banter that keeps viewers interested throughout its entirety. Though there are some predictably cliched elements such as an unnecessary love triangle and miscommunication between members regarding who might be hacking, Summer Wars remains well worth watching despite some predictable cliches like these.
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away stands as one of its most critically-acclaimed and visually breathtaking films. An epic tale filled with fantasy, beauty, and emotion woven seamlessly through Japanese folklore and mythology as it follows teenage girl Chihiro working at her parents’ bathhouse which have been transformed into pigs; she must face off against terrifying boss Yubaba while also encountering mysterious shapeshifter Haku.
Makoto Konno lives with two hot-blooded best friends: Chiaki Mamiya and Kousuke Tsuda, whom she meets by chance after an accident. After realizing she can ‘leap backward in time, she uses this power ditzily – to take tests over again, avoid embarrassing situations, even serve as matchmaker for her friends! However, her leaps do have consequences and she soon learns she cannot simply go backward to fix things again.
Mamoru Hosoda’s most ambitious film blends heartwarming coming-of-age tale with sci-fi adventure and mind-boggling creativity. Unlike most American animation, this movie doesn’t dumb down its audience or adhere to any corporate formula; all its characters are fully developed and makes watching the film an absolute pleasure.