Recommended for you

Start writing a post

Top 15 Anime Movies To Check Off Your Bucket List

And they're not all Studio Ghibli movies either.

kdennehy

Dec 13, 2018

Ithaca College

1499

Top 15 Anime Movies To Check Off Your Bucket List

MyAnimeList

It must be said, either you love anime... or you hate it. I haven't met many people who don't fit into either category (Studio Ghibli movies don't count, they're all classics). It's usually associated with words like weeaboo and fujoshi, but recently anime creator shave been making strides toward new and amazing stories and works of art. Regardless of your preference, whether it be plot or characters or animation, here are 15 movies that will knock your Totoro patterned socks off. Each of these movies is on the list for a different reason, but all of them are on here because of their art style. I'm not really the type of anime fan that's all for the ships, I love movies that take liberties with their art style, whether that be an animation choice or an experimental style altogether.

Kimi No Na Wa. – Your Name

The story of a boy and girl who wake up I each other's bodies occasionally which, naturally, causes chaos and an interesting and magical love story. Also, the animation is beautiful and it's one of the top movies in Japan right now.

MyAnimeList

Koe No Katachi - A Silent Voice

A heartbreaking story about a boy attempting to make up for bullying a deaf girl in grade school by learning sign language. Trigger warning for suicide and anxiety on this one.

MyAnimeList

Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi - Spirited Away

Do I even need to explain?

MyAnimeList

Ookami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki - Wolf Children

A college student marries a wolf/man? And has two kids who are also wolf children? And I cried? Really amazing animation style.

MyAnimeList

Boku no Hero Academia the Movie: Futari no Hero - My Hero Academia the Movie: The Two Heroes

A story that goes along with the My Hero Academia franchise wherein people live with superhuman abilities called a Quirk but one Quirkless boy has power given to him instead of being born with it and sets out to become the best superhero there ever was.

MyAnimeList

Howl no Ugoku Shiro - Howl's Moving Castle

A man with an attitude problem takes in a girl in the body of an old woman and they live inside his magical, metal, moving castle.

MyAnimeList

Classmates – Doukyuusei

An honors student and a delinquent fall in love and try to balance their relationship. The art style on this one is also really cool and has a manga-esque vibe.

MyAnimeList

Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo - The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

A girl realizes she has the ability to turn back time as she pleases and thinks it's just all fun and games but eventually comes to realize she's a part of something much bigger than that.

MyAnimeList

Hotarubi no Mori e - Into The Forest Of Fireflies' Light

A story of a forest nymph who falls in love with a girl that comes to visit him every summer. The catch? If she touches him, he will disappear.

MyAnimeList

Perfect Blue

An idol falls into psychological demise after she's stalked, and the producers of her show get murdered. The art in this one is really creepy and oh so cool. Trigger warning for blood, murder, and mentions of rape.

MyAnimeList

Kotonoha no Niwa - Garden of Words

ART! SO! PRETTY! This one is on the list because it's just so cinematically beautiful. I mean, just look at that cover art! It's about a student infatuated with a woman that he meets under a pavilion every time it rains. He's an aspiring shoemaker and hopes to one day make her the perfect pair of shoes. They fall in love, etc., etc.

MyAnimeList

Omoide no Marnie - When Marnie Was There

A mansion, a mystery, a friendship, and a ghost?

MyAnimeList

Tonari no Totoro - My Neighbor Totoro

Some sisters find a giant animal names Totoro living in their backwoods. They befriend him and his buddies.

MyAnimeList

Mononoke Hime - Princess Mononoke

A demon is attacking a village. It's a boar god. Someone is cursed. There are wolves and one badass warrior girl.

MyAnimeList

Byousoku 5 Centimeter – 5 Centimeters Per Second

This is last because the animation is beautiful, but the ending is not happy so sorry y'all. It's a love story within a love story within a love story and it doesn't end well for one of the characters.

MyAnimeList

The descriptions may be brief and biased since I'm the one that wrote them, but trust me, all the movies on this list are worth checking out whether you are an anime pro or just a beginner. Enjoy your ventures into the wonder of alternative and genius animation.

Report this Content

This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

Student Life

Things I Am Actually Going To Do This Semester

Or at least try to do.

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

164

CampusExplorer

New year, new semester, not the same old thing. This semester will be a semester to redeem all the mistakes made in the previous five months.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

Let's face it, last semester you woke up with enough time to brush your teeth and get to class and even then you were about 10 minutes late and rollin' in with some pretty unfortunate bed head. This semester we will set our alarms, wake up with time to get ready, and get to class on time!

Keep Reading...Show less

new year

Student Life

The 5 Painfully True Stages Of Camping Out At The Library

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

Southwestern University

919

woman reading a book while sitting on black leather 3-seat couch

Photo by Seven Shooter on Unsplash

And so it begins.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

Camping out at the library is not for the faint of heart. You need to go in as a warrior. You usually have brought supplies (laptop, chargers, and textbooks) and sustenance (water, snacks, and blanket/sweatpants) since the battle will be for an undetermined length of time. Perhaps it is one assignment or perhaps it's four. You are motivated and prepared; you don’t doubt the assignment(s) will take time, but you know it couldn’t be that long.

Keep Reading...Show less

library

Student Life

The 14 Stages Of The Last Week Of Class

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

Michigan State University

683

Photo by Estée Janssens on Unsplash

December... it's full of finals, due dates, Mariah Carey, and the holidays. It's the worst time of the year, but the best because after finals, you get to not think about classes for a month and catch up on all the sleep you lost throughout the semester. But what's worse than finals week is the last week of classes, when all the due dates you've put off can no longer be put off anymore.

Keep Reading...Show less

Student Life

Top 20 Thoughts College Students Have During Finals

The ultimate list and gif guide to a college student's brain during finals.

University of Vermont

Thanksgiving break is over and Christmas is just around the corner and that means, for most college students, one hellish thing — finals week. It's the one time of year in which the library becomes over populated and mental breakdowns are most frequent. There is no way to avoid it or a cure for the pain that it brings. All we can do is hunker down with our books, order some Dominos, and pray that it will all be over soon. Luckily, we are not alone in this suffering. To prove it, here are just a few of the many deranged thoughts that go through a college student's mind during finals week.

Keep Reading...Show less

finals

Student Life

28 Daily Thoughts of College Students

"I want to thank Google, Wikipedia, and whoever else invented copy and paste. Thank you."

Kennesaw State University

1375

group of people sitting on bench near trees duting daytime

Photo by Naassom Azevedo on Unsplash

I know every college student has daily thoughts throughout their day. Whether you're walking on campus or attending class, we always have thoughts running a mile a minute through our heads. We may be wondering why we even showed up to class because we'd rather be sleeping, or when the professor announces that we have a test and you have an immediate panic attack.

Keep Reading...Show less

daily life

Recommended for you

Top 15 Anime Movies To Check Off Your Bucket List

And they're not all Studio Ghibli movies either.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Or at least try to do.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

2. I will look decent for class.

3. I will go to the gym more.

4. I will go to the library and study more.

5. I will meet new people.

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

2. Disappointed you let it get this bad

3. Distracted: When a 10-Minute Break Becomes an Hour

4. When the Yearning for Sleep Sneaks Up

5. In the words of Lorelai Gilmore "Coffee, Coffee, Coffee"

Oh, so done.

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

1. When it's December 1 and you have seven things due, three exams, and haven't slept in three days.

2. So you stress.

3. And cry.

4. Then call your mom to cry some more.

5. After the pep talk, you feel determined to get everything done.

6. But, now you're tired.

7. And really hungry.

8. Suddenly, it's 2 a.m. and you have only written three sentences and your paper is due in the morning.

9. You've made it to Friday... somehow.

10. Then Sunday hits and you find yourself back at the Lib.

11. So you cry some more.

12. But, you fight through the tears to get everything done because you're determined.

13. In the end, you feel on top of the world because you made it through the last week of class alive.

14. But, now it's finals week so good luck.

The ultimate list and gif guide to a college student's brain during finals.

What does the world outside the library look like?

Can I read this entire book tonight?

I should have gone to class more often.

Did the professor even teach this?

What is the lowest grade I can get on this exam and still pass the class?

Should I just drop out of school now?

Finals are ruining Christmas.

Just wrote three sentences so time for a break.

Need. More. Coffee.

What is sleep?

I'm too stupid for college.

Brain hurts.

Time for a Facebook Break.

I think I'm dying.

When will I ever need this information in the real world?

I can't read any of my notes.

I need my mom.

When was the last time I showered?

I need study snacks.

The struggle is so real right now.

"I want to thank Google, Wikipedia, and whoever else invented copy and paste. Thank you."

1. I'm so tired. I need a nap. Maybe I can sleep with my eyes open in class? Or pretend I'm not napping?

2. We have a test today? Why didn't anyone tell me? Did I know this?!

3. Can I quit school yet? It's only October, and I need a vacation.

4. The struggle is so real.

5. I'm so broke. SOS.

6. Stressed? Eat everything you own in your pantry and stuff your face with all your feelings.

7. "Did we have anything due in class today? Homework? Quiz? Test?" "Not that I know of..."

8. I need food. Where is the closest place to get food? I need it stat.

9. This is the longest day of my life. I need a drink, or two, or three.

10. Sleep? What is sleep? What a foreign concept.

11. When someone suggests going and studying in the library, let alone studying in general.

12. When the cafeteria or student center is packed and you can't find a seat anywhere so you literally have to sit in an abandoned corner.

13. When you see someone you used to hook up with. They see you, and approach you; so you have to pretend like everything is normal.

14. When you get your exam and realize you didn't study as much as you should have.

15. When you crush it on an exam or paper that you totally bullshitted.

16. I need a grande, extra strong coffee to get me through today.

17. When the professor announces you have a project due the following week with no instruction on what it's on and how to do it.

18. Is it Friday yet? Where's the weekend when you need it most?

19. It's freezing in here. I feel like I'm sitting in an igloo. I should have brought a jacket or worn long pants.

20. Did I remember my book? Damn, I forgot the book, and of course I need it for that quiz in class.

21. I would pay a million dollars to not go to class today; or actually never again.

22. I need a hoverboard to ride to class. Maybe then I wouldn't be running 15 minutes late to class every day.

23. Oh she/he's cute! I wonder if they're single. Who are they texting? They're BF/GF? I wonder if they think I'm cute. Could they be a potential new bae?

24. Why is there never any parking? I pay thousands of dollars a year for one parking spot to be open.

25. When it feels like you've been in class for an hour and you look at your phone and it has only been five minutes (I'm crying on the inside).

26. When the professor asks if there are any more questions at the end of class and someone raises their hand.

Subscribe to our
Newsletter