It is a selection of some of the great and significant works in a medium as prominent as it is prodigious. Only one Studio Ghibli film as to avoid over-ghiblifying the piece (at least 20% of this list would be work from the acclaimed animation house if we didn’t set out this rule).Īnd with that, we can commence - as we dive headfirst into the deep well of anime film history, pulling out pieces that highlight the varied styles, eras and genres of the medium in order to celebrate and share the eclectic visions of Japan’s most prolific art form.īear in mind, however, that THIS IS NOT A TOP 40 LIST.
We can’t have them all be Satoshi Kon movies, right? So, don’t expect to see such famed works as Katsuhiro Otomo’s Memories or Rintaro’s Neo TokyoĪ maximum of two films per director.
Yet, before we begin, let’s set out some rules:Įach inclusion must be feature-length (at least 1 hour and 10 minutes at runtime) Presenting a medium that transcends genre conventions and illustrates aspects of culture, colour and craftsmanship that are arguably unmatched in terms of ambition and impact. With that being said it’s high time we set off on our journey of anime discovery, as we list 40 anime movies of many eras and styles throughout the past 100 years. It was a different time, and due to its overabundance of outdated politics and bygone ideals, we’ve decided to leave it off this guide and simply make mention to it in the introduction.