Highlights

  • Anime movies excel in breathtaking visuals, pushing boundaries and wowing audiences with stunning animation.
  • From charming romances to gripping dramas, anime films offer a variety of visually engaging experiences.
  • Studios like Ghibli and Madhouse consistently deliver masterpiece films with captivating animation.

People can be pretty picky about what movies they watch. This can range from genre or general preference to the length of the movies. However, there is another specific thing based on which people decide to watch a movie — visuals. This is especially true when it comes to anime. Truthfully, anime movies are the ones that experiment the most with their styles and visual depictions. Sometimes they end up with something decent, but at times, they can be one of the best representations of breathtaking visuals.

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Anime artists and studios continue to push the envelope for just how beautiful the medium can be. More often than not, people fall in love with certain anime movies because of how incredible the animation is, with studios pouring a ton of money to ensure that every frame of animation is as perfect as it can get. This has resulted in the development and release of many anime movies that constantly push the boundaries of this medium to new heights and wow audiences time and time again.

Updated March 13, 2024 by Ritwik Mitra: The realm of anime is graced with many stellar movies that fans should check out if they want to enjoy the very best of what this medium has to offer. With films enjoying a bigger budget than most serialized anime, it's easy to see why most fans would love to see the amazing animation that is displayed in some of the most visually engaging anime films around.

1 A Whisker Away

Beautiful, Charming Animation That Accompanies A Lighthearted Romance

A Whisker Away anime

Studio

Studio Colorido, Toho Animation, Twin Engine

Release Date

June 18, 2020

Where To Watch

Netflix

There are times when romance movies use a ludicrous premise to keep fans engaged, and that's precisely the case with A Whisker Away. The show focuses on a high school teenager who tries to get closer to her crush, eventually finding a porcelain mask that turns her into a cat and lets her spend some time with the love of her life, who is unaware of the fact that both the cat and the girl are the same person.

After spending some time together, the heroine tries to establish that both individuals are the same person, leading to moments of pure and utter hilarity. A Whisker Away doesn't shy away from tackling more dramatic scenes, but the levity and charming animation is what sell this experience to most viewers.

2 Whisper Of The Heart

A Ghibli Masterpiece With The Animation To Match

whisper of the heart Cropped

Studio

Studio Ghibli

Release Date

July 15, 1995

Where To Watch

Max

Studio Ghibli is a master of its craft known for animating some beautiful films, and Whisper of the Heart is no exception here. Featuring a screenplay from the legendary Hayao Miyazaki, it's easy to see why any fans of this studio's work will love what Whisper of the Heart has to offer.

The ending may not strike a tone with many fans, but that's a small price to pay for what is otherwise an unputdownable experience. The stellar animation breathes life into every scene and elevates this movie's enjoyment factor to new heights.

3 Flavors Of Youth

A Japanese-Chinese Anime With Beautiful Background Art That Makes The Cityscape Come To Life

fashion show in Flavors of Youth

Studio

CoMix Wave Films, Haoliners Animation League

Release Date

August 4, 2018

Where To Watch

Netflix

It's always nice to watch an anime film that treads new ground, and Flavors of Youth is a great example of the same. This movie is split into three self-contained stories that focus on the necessities of life — food, clothing, and transportation.

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The character animation might be slightly rigid at times, but that's never the focus of Flavors of Youth. Rather, it's the amazing artwork and visual design that helps each story stand out on its own.

4 Dragon Ball Z: Battle Of Gods

An Incredible Return To Form For The Legendary Shonen Series With The Animation To Match

Dragon Ball Goku vs. Beerus Battle of Gods

Studio

Toei Animation

Release Date

March 30, 2013

Where To Watch

Apple TV

After a lengthy hiatus, the fact that Dragon Ball was finally coming back with a new chapter in Goku's story excited many people to no end. It helped that this movie lived up to all the hype, introducing a new form along with fresh new characters who have completely changed the scale of power wielded by fighters for good.

The battle between Goku and Beerus is a major highlight, with the beloved Saiyan putting it all on the line to save Earth from the Destroyer God. It's an amazing chapter that marks the beginning of Super and lets fans enjoy a wealth of incredible battles that will make long-time fans feel all giddy inside.

5 A Silent Voice

An Emotionally Stimulating Movie With Amazing Visuals

a silent voice (2)

Studio

Kyoto Animation

Release Date

September 17, 2016

Where To Watch

Apple TV

Bullying is a serious issue, and A Silent Voice takes a look at how a man who bullied a deaf girl ends up regretting this heinous act for most of his life. It explores a wonderful friendship and deals with many powerful themes that will elicit a tear out of any viewer.

It helps that the movie looks incredible from a visual standpoint, elevating the quality of this cinematic experience. People interested in watching this movie should keep some tissues handy since they will shed many a tear throughout this emotional tale.

6 Jujutsu Kaisen 0

Incredible Fight Scenes With Great Direction

yuta-okkotsu-jujutsu-kaisen-0 Cropped

Studio

MAPPA

Release Date

December 24, 2021

Where To Watch

Crunchyroll

Jujutsu Kaisen has quickly climbed up the charts to become one of the most popular shonen series around right now. The combination of amazing animation, astounding action sequences, brilliant characters, and solid world-building has led to this show garnering a ton of fans who simply can't stop talking about how good it is.

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After the fandom was left salivating for more content following the end of this season, the release of Jujutsu Kaisen 0 must've been something truly special indeed. The movie chronicles the journey of Yuta Okkotsu as he slowly overcomes his trauma while understanding how his powers work. The movie's animation is simply off the charts, with some of the animation being truly mind-blowing and proving once again why MAPPA is a master of its craft.

7 Millennium Actress

Another Satoshi Kon Masterpiece With The Visuals To Match

Millennium Actress anime

Studio

Madhouse

Release Date

September 12, 2003

Where To Watch

Peacock

Satoshi Kon is a true master of his craft, known for creating some truly mind-bending movies that blur the lines between fantasy and reality time and time again. The surreal and unique nature of his storytelling is one of the biggest hallmarks of this director, with his creativity leading to the creation of amazing films like Perfect Blue and Tokyo Godfathers.

One of the many critically acclaimed films under his belt with amazing animation is Millennium Actress, one of the greatest anime movies of all time that fans should definitely check out. The storytelling is obviously in a class of its own, but what makes Millennium Actress such a special experience is the fact that the animation is simply sublime and will keep fans engaged till the very end.

8 The Tale Of The Princess Kaguya

A Classic Studio Ghibli Movie With Charming, Beautiful Visuals

Princess Kaguya walking through a bamboo forest

Studio

Studio Ghibli

Release Date

November 23, 2013

Where To Watch

Max

Another studio known for animating some truly wonderful movies is Studio Ghibli, with its amazing body of work pretty much speaking for itself. The sheer amount of love and passion that goes into their projects is truly unmatched, with the series' lofty reputation having barely any dents... barring some poor attempts at integrating 3D into modern animation.

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya is one of their many excellent movies that is chock-full of some of the best animation fans will have the pleasure of seeing. The fact that this movie is the most expensive Japanese film of all time to this day proves just how much money went into making this title as perfect as humanly possible.

9 Ghost In The Shell

A Cyberpunk Movie With Incredible Detail And Visual Flair

Motoko Kusanagi the main cyborg protagonist Ghost In The Shell Anime Movie

Studio

Production I.G, Bandai Visual, Manga Entertainment

Release Date

November 18, 1995

Where To Watch

Prime Video

For a movie that was released almost three decades ago, it's amazing to see just how brilliant Ghost in the Shell's animation really is. The movie is a visual extravaganza that still holds up to this day.

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It helps that the movie's story, setting, and presentation are in a class of their own. The fact that Ghost in the Shell was a major source of inspiration for movies like The Matrix goes to show that this cyberpunk adventure is indeed in a class of its own.

10 Bubble

Incredible Animation Elevates An Average Story

Bubble

Studio

Wit Studio

Release Date

April 28, 2022

Where To Watch

Netflix

Bubble is a pretty interesting film, using the concept of simple bubbles to tell a riveting story. It chronicles the story of Hibiki and a person made from these otherworldly bubbles, named Uta. The story is pretty tragic, although the presentation could've been way better. However, it's the animation of Bubble that is absolutely incredible and makes it well worth a watch.

11 Paprika

A Mind-Bending Movie With Amazing Visuals

The cover of Paprika

Studio

Madhouse

Release Date

November 25, 2006

Where To Watch

Mubi

Satoshi Kon is considered by many to be one of the greatest anime movie directors of his time. It's a shame that pancreatic cancer took this man and his genius away, but his amazing work is still present for everyone to see.

Paprika's story is obviously brilliant given the stellar reputation of its direction. However, it's the animation that's a pretty major highlight as well, with Paprika's visuals being astounding to this day.

12 Redline

Stylized Visuals That Carry A Movie That Doesn't Need A Great Plot

redline anime car

Studio

Madhouse

Release Date

October 9, 2010

Where To Watch

Apple TV

Madhouse was the production house behind Paprika, and they made an appearance once again with Redline. As expected from this studio, the animation is simply in a class of its own.

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The film was worked on for seven years, and this shows in every carefully animated frame of this movie. The racing scenes are an obvious highlight, with each scene feeling exhilarating and incredible to behold.

13 Dragon Ball Super: Broly

An Incredibly Well-Animated Movie That Gives A New Origin Story To A Beloved Character

Dragon Ball Super Broly
Dragon Ball Super: Broly Still 02. Courtesy of Funimation Films.

Studio

Toei Animation

Release Date

December 14, 2018

Where To Watch

Crunchyroll

The end of Dragon Ball Super left many fans starved for more content featuring their favorite Saiyans. This finally appeared in the form of Dragon Ball Super: Broly, which canonized a character who had played a central role in three great Dragon Ball Z films before.

Broly's character was revamped for the better, with this character's powers being a joy to witness firsthand. The fact that Goku and Vegeta had to fuse to tackle this threat showed that Broly was not someone to be messed with, and only time will tell how big of a role this character will play in later sagas.

14 Pokemon: Mewtwo Strikes Back - Evolution

A 3D Pokemon Movie That Looks Gorgeous

Pokémon Mewtwo Strikes Back

Studio

OLM, Inc.

Release Date

July 12, 2019

Where To Watch

Apple TV

Pokemon: Mewtwo Strikes Back - Evolution was released in 2019. The movie has an approval rating of 44% on Rotten Tomatoes and has an average rating on other websites. However, despite that, it is one of the most unique-looking Pokemon content out there.

The movie drops the anime's traditional 2D style and goes for a full-blown 3D while keeping the art style intact. It is one of the most colorful and detailed Pokemon movies ever made and is certainly worth watching.

15 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba The Movie: Mugen Train

Ufotable Shows Exactly Why Demon Slayer's Animation Is Praised Through The Roof In This Movie

Demon Slayer Mugen Train

Studio

Ufotable

Release Date

October 16, 2020

Where To Watch

Crunchyroll

Released in 2020, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train is an impressive anime film. The Japanese film is many steps up when it comes to traditional animation. It combines various techniques such as bloom, lens flares, and depth-of-field effects that aren't very much used in anime movies.

The movie tells the tale of Tanjiro, Nezuko, Zenitsu, and Inosuke going on a mission to hunt for a demon that has killed over forty passengers on a train.

16 Weathering With You

Incredible Animation That Elevates The Quality Of This Heartwarming Movie

Weathering with You

Studio

CoMix Wave Films, Story Inc.

Release Date

July 19, 2019

Where To Watch

Max

Weathering with You was released quite recently in 2019. With a 7.5 on IMDb and 91 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, it is clear that the film has received majorly positive reviews. One part of this can be given to its style of animation and visuals.

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This film is breathtaking by every means, especially when it comes to the over-the-top sequences such as falling from the sky. This Japanese anime film actually had a budget of ¥1.2 billion.

17 5 Centimeters Per Second

A Romantic Drama With Breathtaking Animation

5 Centimeters per Second

Studio

CoMix Wave Inc.

Release Date

March 3, 2007

Where To Watch

Apple TV

5 Centimeters per Second has a very similar rating to Weathering with You, coming at around 7.6 on IMDb and 88 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie clearly stands out for its use of incredible lighting.

The artistically painted environments topped with that animation give this one an ambient feel, unlike any other anime movie. Moreover, the rating is an exact reason this is a must-watch if not just the visuals.

18 My Neighbor Totoro

A Legendary Studio Ghibli Film Who's Stellar Animation Still Stands Out

My Neighbor Totoro

Studio

Studio Ghibli

Release Date

April 16, 1988

Where To Watch

Max

My Neighbor Totoro is such a popular film that there are many gifs of this anime on the internet. The fluffy, squeezy, and round creature is unique in its design and hard to not look at. The film is very popular, with positive reviews blowing off the roof.

The movie is set in 1958 Japan, and the visual depiction is just the right style. The film has a breathtakingly artistic environment, which is enough to make the whole movie worth watching.

19 Akira

A Legendary Movie That Set The Bar For Animation Standards

Akira

Studio

Tokyo Movie Shinsha

Release Date

July 16, 1988

Where To Watch

Crunchyroll

It is hard to believe that Akira was released in 1988. The sci-fi action movie is over two hours in length and is entirely hand-drawn. This gives Akira a visual identity, unlike any other movie on the list. First, it's a movie that has paved the way for many different anime movies to come.

Second, the movie's story is just as good as well, since it has 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and 8/10 on IMDb. Moreover, the antique nature of the film makes it all the more fascinating to watch.

20 The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

A Colorful Art Style That Makes The Movie Look Incredible

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

Studio

Madhouse

Release Date

July 15, 2006

Where To Watch

Crunchyroll

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is the story of 17-year-old Makoto Konno who gets the ability to leap through time, literally. It's an exciting sci-fi/romance anime film with a straightforward yet comic-like style.

With a saturated, yet not overbearingly bright color palette, the movie manages to look very modern for the time it was released. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time has an interesting style that becomes surreal as the story's events unfold.