Eiichiro Oda's One Piece ranks among the most successful franchises of all time. With a highly regarded manga and a popular anime adaptation, the adventures of the Straw Hat Pirates are unlikely to end anytime soon. Alongside the weekly episodes, the anime has spawned 13 movies, including 2012's Film Z.

This time around, Luffy and company are tasked with taking down a rogue Marine Admiral named Z, who stole the powerful Dyna Stones and plans to shake the New World down to its core. In a rare situation, the Straw Hat Pirates and the Marines are striving towards the same goal, as they try to stop Z's reign of terror.

When it comes to animation, One Piece Film: Z is gorgeous. The battles are fantastically choreographed and the story is rather interesting. Z makes for a decent villain, while each member of the Straw Hats is allowed their moment to shine. Similarly to Gintama, One Piece has its fair share of comedy, although the action scenes tend to take priority.

It cannot be understated just how big of an impact Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann left on the industry. Gainax's ambitious mecha series introduced viewers to the inspirational Kamina, the likable Simon, and the awesome Yoko Littner. Divided into three main arcs, Gurren Lagann started off as a relatively small-scale action series before eventually growing to span the entire universe. If there was one anime that deserved to be seen on the big screen, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann would be that anime.

Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann Movie: Gurren-hen answers that call. It should be noted that Childhood's End is not a standalone product, as it generally retells the anime's first arc. While this might disappoint a couple of people, Gainax altered the plot just enough to make this worth a watch. Putting aside Gurren Lagann's story, the animation was always the anime's main selling point. As films tend to have a bigger budget than a television series, this retelling is visually mesmerizing.

Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann was always about breaking through boundaries to reach for the heavens. Childhood's End is a highly entertaining alternative to the original, and Gintama fans are likely to appreciate the slapstick humor and thrilling battles.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a near-perfect anime. The series told a cohesive and complete story, with the Elric brothers getting a proper send off. With nowhere left for the narrative to go, how did Bones plan to continue Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood? Like Gintama Movie 2: Kanketsu-hen - Yorozuya yo Eien Nare, The Sacred Star of Milos is a stand-alone movie set somewhere in the anime's timeline.

Ordered to track down a fugitive, the Elric Brothers end up in a strange valley housing the Milos, a group of people discarded and oppressed by the government. With the smell of rebellion in the air, Edward and Elric are caught in the middle of a dangerous struggle that could lead to the death of hundreds of people. At the heart of the conflict lies a young alchemist named Julia, who is willing to use the Philosopher's Stone to achieve her goals.

The Sacred Star of Milos is a solid addition to the franchise. While very little can match Brotherhood's quality, Bones crafted an enjoyable romp that brings back fan favorites like Roy Mustang and Riza Hawkeye. As is typical with Fullmetal Alchemist, the blistering action scenes are punctuated with a couple of hilarious moments.

Kyoto Animation's The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is a slice of life comedy that is not afraid to get philosophical or experimental. Similarly to Gintama, this light novel series has a quirky and irreverent sense of humor, led by the arrogant but lovable title character. While not a shounen or action series, Haruhi Suzumiya tackles sci-fi and supernatural themes like alternate realities.

Gintama's The Final Chapter was not the anime's epic conclusion, but the same cannot be said for the Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya. Set after the events of the series, Kyon wakes up to learn that Haruhi has disappeared and he is the only one who remembers her or the SOS Brigade. Stuck in this strange world, Kyon has to find a way to revert things back to normal!

Everything that happened in the anime was leading up to this moment. Suzumiya Haruhi no Shoushitsu might just be Kyoto Animations' crowning achievement. With a massive twist and more than a few emotional scenes, the plot is beyond exceptional. There is a sense of urgency and finality pervading the entire narrative. Putting aside their genre differences, Gintama Movie 2 and Suzumiya Haruhi no Shoushitsu both feature protagonists who are stuck in an alternate reality where nobody can recognize them.

After Fairy Tail ended in 2016, fans wondered whether they would get to spend any more time with Natsu and Lucy. Thankfully, the wait lasted for less than a year, as A-1 Pictures quickly released Fairy Tail Movie 2: Dragon Cry. For those accustomed to Hiro Mashima's manga, this film is unlikely to hold any huge surprises. On the other hand, Dragon Cry delivers the ecchi-based comedy and blistering battles associated with the franchise.

Certain items simply should not fall into human hands. Forged from the anger of deceased dragons, the Fiore Kingdom's Dragon Cry is a magical artifact of tremendous power. Unfortunately, Zash Caine stole the staff and fled to the island of Stella, prompting the Kingdom to hire Fairy Tail to retrieve it. Natsu and company soon realize there is more to the Kingdom of Stella than first meets the eye.

Fairy Tail Movie 2: Dragon Cry is slightly on the short side, but it makes full use of its 84 minutes. The film's first half devotes the majority of its time to the cast's trademark comedic interactions, before shifting to a more serious tone. When it comes to the humor, Gintama fans should feel right at home, and Dragon Cry's action is genuinely exhilarating!

Based on Miki Rinno's single volume manga, Sword of the Stranger is a historical anime set during Japan's Sengoku Period. Adapted for the big screen by Bones, this film offers a violent but emotionally engaging adventure that is rightfully considered a modern classic.

Accompanied by his dog Tobimaru, Kotarou is an orphan who steals to feed his belly. Suddenly, the boy is forced to go on the run when an assassin is sent by the Ming Dynasty to retrieve his head. Just as all hope seems lost, they are rescued by Nanashi, a wandering samurai who agrees to temporarily serve as their bodyguard. The trio's journey is packed with danger around every corner, as Kotarou tries to figure out why he is being targeted.

Sword of the Stranger is violent and disturbing. While Bones' film has practically no comedy, Stranger: Mukou Hadan has more than enough samurai action to entertain fans of Gintama's more serious moments. Due to its historical setting, Sword of the Stranger's fights are relatively realistic, but there is the same visual flare found in Gintama's battles.