There are few directors with filmographies that match Satoshi Kon's impressive career. The influential director regularly blends reality and fantasy while tackling themes that deal with dreams and social disillusionment. Produced by Madhouse, Paprika sits as Kon's visual masterpiece, one that uses an interesting plot to allow the author to explore surreal worlds.

Paprika's story centers around a device that allows clients to delve into their psyche and explore their deepest desires or repressed memories. Developed by two psychologists, the "DC Mini" promises to greatly improve the mental health industry. Unfortunately, a mysterious terrorist decides to steal the device to infiltrate people's dreams and cause havoc.

Paprika's storyline is engaging and well-paced, but the film's main appeal is the animation. Madhouse brought its A-game for Kon's creation, while the dreamlike setting allowed the director to work without any limits and imagine some truly insane worlds.

When it comes to plot devices that have been done to death, time travel surely sits at the very top. Among the most exciting directors in the business, Mamoru Hosoda united with Madhouse to rejuvenate this cliché with The Girl Who Leapt Through Time.

Set during her last year in high school, Makoto Konno is struggling to pick a lane for her future. On the one hand, she loves her current life and wants things to remain the same, but change is a natural part of being human. Out of nowhere, Makoto picks up the ability to travel through time, so she decides to use this power to maintain the status quo. Initially, her adventures seem inconsequential and amusing, but she quickly learns that every action has consequences.

Admittedly, the premise is far from original, but Hosoda wisely opts to focus more on Makoto's character development than the sci-fi concept. In some ways, Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo is a coming-of-age story about a high school student desperately clinging to her innocence while on the cusp of maturity

Sticking with Madhouse, Redline is a tour-de-force of outrageous animation and heart-pounding action. Racing anime are not too common, especially when only considering movies, so this futuristic romp through space was a welcome extravagant adventure that pushed aside the plot and characters to deliver an experience that is pure insanity.

Redline is a race that takes place every five years and is considered to be the absolute pinnacle of the business. Qualifying for the tournament requires a racer to win a smaller competition, but JP ends up missing the call after being double-crossed by his mechanic. Due to two racers pulling out, JP gets an invite to Redline and sets out to achieve his dream of becoming the universe's greatest racer.

Redline boasts a genuinely unique animation style that perfectly conveys the adrenaline felt by its racers. There is no other anime that comes close to capturing that devil may care attitude possessed by characters with nothing to lose quite like Madhouse's rollercoaster of a movie.

Traveling back to the Sengoku period of Japan, Sword of the Stranger is a samurai action adventure film that centers around a young orphan called Kotarou and his dog Tobimaru, who are forced to go on the run when the Ming Dynasty orders assassins to take them out. On the verge of death, the pair cross paths with a wandering ronin named Nanashi who saves the duo from an attack and, after a bit of convincing, chooses to serve as their bodyguard until the end of their journey.

Besides Bones' gorgeous animation and some fantastic fight scenes, Sword of the Stranger is a surprisingly tense anime that pivots on a mysterious prophecy that puts Kotarou and Tobimaru in the crosshairs of the Ming Dynasty. Like the clueless protagonists, the audience is left in the dark as to why they are being pursued, only learning more as the story progresses. This creative choice adds a level of intrigue and suspense that is absent in most action films.

If nothing else, Stranger: Mukou Hadan presents an interesting look at an important period in history. Bolstered by likable characters and a traditional Japanese soundtrack, Bones' anime is a thrilling adventure flick set during the Sengoku period.

With two highly rated films released in close proximity to each other, 2016 marked a special year for anime. Based on Yoshitoki Ooima's highly rated manga, A Silent Voice tackles themes of bullying, guilt, peer pressure, and friendship. Developed by Kyoto Animation, this film does not shy away from showing the darker side of adolescence but allows the characters to actually learn from their experiences.

An elementary school student with too much energy and a mean streak, Shouya Ishida sets his sights on a new exchange student that happens to be deaf. Sweet and optimistic, Shouko Nishimiya slowly becomes victimized by the entire class, forcing her mother to pull her out of school. When the teachers look for someone to blame, the rest of the students turn on Shouya and start to bully him. Overwhelmed by remorse, the boy grows into an isolated teenager who yearns to apologize to Shouko.

Opting to show bullying in a realistic light that has far-reaching consequences, A Silent Voice can be a challenging sit; however, this only makes Shouya and Shouko's journey all the more rewarding. Rather than being a tale of revenge against a past bully, Kyoto Animation's film is about redemption!

The sacrifices made by a parent can be truly heartwarming and inspirational. Directed by Mamoru Hosoda and developed by Studio Chizu, Ookami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki is a peculiar tale about a mother's attempt to protect her two werewolf children from the judgmental gaze of society.

A motivated college student, Hana meets the love of her life when a mysterious man starts to attend one of her classes. While out on a date, the woman learns that her lover is actually the last werewolf in existence, but this fact proves to not be a deal breaker for Hana. In due time, the couple decides to start a family and Hana gives birth to Ame and Yuki, who inherited their father's animalistic tendencies. A sudden tragedy leaves Hana as a single mother, so she decides to exchange the busy city life for the countryside.

Putting aside the somewhat uncomfortable bestial relationship between Hana and her lover, Wolf Children is a touching examination into the bonds that define a family. The pacing can be rather slow, but the focus is on the lengths Hana will go to provide the best life for her children. In terms of animation, Wolf Children benefits from some of the most gorgeous backgrounds ever put to film!

Well, we can hardly dedicate a list to the best anime movies without mentioning Hayao Miyazaki! Arguably the greatest director in the industry, merely attaching Miyazaki's name to a film is a near guarantee that the project is worth watching. In 1985, four influential filmmakers founded Studio Ghibli, a production company that has earned a reputation as a frontrunner in animation. Studio Ghibli is anime's equivalent to Pixar.

Honestly, Miyazaki's entire filmography could feature on this list! If pressed to select one, Princess Mononoke would be that movie. Similarly to most of the director's work, this action epic comments on mankind's drive for industrialization at the expense of nature. After being infected by a demon, Ashitaka heads to the town of Tatara to try and find a cure; unfortunately, the protagonist unwittingly gets embroiled in a conflict between forest spirits and humans trying to destroy their home.

Featuring phenomenal animation and a breathtaking soundtrack, Princess Mononoke has aged like a glass of fine wine and its themes remain relevant today. The kinetic action scenes capture a viewer's attention, while its more subtle touches ensure that Miyazaki's film is never forgotten.

Films are expected to stand on their own two feet, so any release based on a pre-existing franchise is going to face the task of trying to welcome uninitiated viewers while satisfying fans. Already one of the most complicated anime in history, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya took audiences on a wild emotional ride that featured some unbelievable highs, primarily the first season, and some shocking lows, like the Endless Eight arc. As the final entry in the storyline, The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya makes the entire journey worth experiencing.

Set on Christmas Day, Kyon heads over to school to celebrate the holiday with the SOS Brigade but learns that Haruhi Suzumiya has disappeared. Making matter even worse, nobody remembers that she or the SOS Brigade existed. As Kyon tries to decipher what exactly is going on, this triggers a series of events which, hopefully, might bring Suzumiya back to reality.

Unlike the rest of the series, Kyon is actually a proactive protagonist rather than someone who merely reacts to the whims of Suzumiya. On the surface, this might seem like a small change, but The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya benefits from a sense of urgency and finality that is often absent in its prequels. While we recommend watching the series to better understand the characters, The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya is the perfect send-off!

Upon its release, Your Name. garnered universal critical acclaim, with many people labeling Makoto Shinkai's supernatural drama as the best anime film of all time. While CoMix Wave Films' project fell slightly short of that proclamation, there is no denying that Your Name. deserves every ounce of praise thrown its way!

Mitsuha Miyamizu and Taki Tachibana are high school students who live in completely different parts of Japan. Stuck in the countryside, the former dreams of moving to the big city, while Taki attends a Tokyo school and hopes to work as an architect. Suddenly, the two end up trading bodies for seemingly random days, although their memories fade quite quickly after the fact. Despite never actually meeting face to face, this supernatural anomaly births an unlikely friendship that puts both students to the test.

Halfway through the plot, Your Name. introduces a shocking twist that turns the story on its head. At first, the anime might come across as a typical body-switch comedy, but there is a lot more happening beneath the surface than meets the eye. Fueled by gorgeous animation and an endearing cast, Your Name. is a modern classic!

Certain films are hard to recommend, as they do not fulfill that basic requirement of being entertaining. That is not to say that every release must be funny or explosive, but fiction mainly exists to provide a distraction from reality. Hotaru no Haka is not fun, enjoyable, or suspenseful; no, Isao Takahata's anime is best described as traumatic and painful.

Crafted by Studio Ghibli, Grave of the Fireflies is a semi-autobiographical World War II drama set in the aftermath of the conflict. Reeling from American bombings, Japan's civilians stare in the face of death on a daily basis. The story follows a young boy named Seita and his sister Setsuko, who try to make it on their own without a mother, father, or a home.

Grave of the Fireflies is the ultimate anti-war film and we are not just referring to anime. Rather than focus on a large scale battle or military generals seeking glory, the intimate storyline strips away any of the fluff to show the real victims of war. More importantly, Seita is not depicted as some perfect angel, as the boy repeatedly makes mistakes that endanger himself and his sister. This is what happens when children are forced to grow up.

Our first recommendation is the most recent movie of this list and a definite must-watch when it comes to coming-of-age stories.

Kokoro ga Sakebitagatterunda, or Kokosake for short, tells the story of Jun, a girl who once was a happy child, but who had to change after a traumatic incident. Her emotions were sealed away by a mysterious egg fairy and with them her ability to speak disappeared. Now she is a quiet teenager who would rather just disappear altogether. But her life is about to change again, with the help of love, friends and most importantly, music.

Kokosake was already well-known way before its release, mostly due to the fact that it’s from the makers of ultimate tearjerker Ano Hana. What could have disappointed lots of fans turned out to be a charming movie with a beautiful soundtrack and a refreshingly innocent story. Kokosake received a couple of awards and is thus one of the most recommended anime movies in recent years. Our first pick!

Let’s move on to an older movie that still deserves some love today: Tokyo Godfathers.

One Christmas Eve, three people who couldn’t be more different from each other find an abandoned baby. On a quest to find its parents, a transvestite, a middle-aged alcoholic and a runaway girl find their way around the streets of Tokyo. This turns out to be harder than they had expected and soon enough the three strangers find themselves caught up in a series of mysterious events.

Tokyo Godfathers is a heart-warming story that entertains with its combination of interesting storyline and great characters. On top of that, there are more than just a few funny scenes that will literally make you laugh out loud. Most importantly, an overall festive feeling surrounds the story and makes you think about the meaning of family and friendship. Tokyo Godfathers is a hit even outside the holiday season so why not give it a try tonight?

We are coming back to recent times with Bakemono no Ko, also known as The Boy and the Beast.

This is a modern fairytale that takes place nowhere else than the streets of Tokyo. The boy mentioned in the title is Ren, a young boy who decides to run away from his terrible life. The beast is Kumatetsu, a fierce-looking monster who is fighting for his right to claim the throne of the Beast Kingdom. To do that, he needs to prove that he can take care of an apprentice and that’s where Ren comes in. The unlikely pair decides to team up and together they tackle their problems and try to make the best out of their situation.

The premise of Bakemono no Ko is a rather unique and is definitely already reason enough to give it a chance. If you still aren’t sure of whether you should give this gem a try, let us just add that it was the second highest-grossing Japanese movie of 2015 and received international approval. Mamoru Hosoda succeeded at creating a lovely mixture of an emotion-filled storyline with unique yet interesting characters. A definite must-watch!

Next up on our list is a movie that might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but belongs definitely to one of the most underrated anime movies out there.

Memories is a collection of three different stories that have each been directed by different directors. Magnetic Rose tells a story of loving and losing, Stink Bomb is a humoristic view on the works of a chemical researcher and Cannon Fodder will make you reflect on what wars can do to the minds of people. What ties these stories together is the idea of memories and how much they define a person.

Directing three different stories that are still combined into one final masterpiece is already astounding by itself. What makes Memories stand out, even more, is the fact that you get to see three completely different approaches to creating an animated movie. Of course, this also means that you might enjoy each story differently, but that is part of the charm of Memories. If you enjoy thoughtful movies then check it out.

Not all anime movies need to have breath-taking animations to be successful and Tekkon Kinkreet will show you why.

White and Black are two orphan boys who are trying their best to survive on the streets of a China-inspired version of Japan. With only a handful of possessions, they still manage to make the best out of their situation and enjoy each day as if it was their last. What they didn’t realize though is that they need each other more than they would have thought and when fate starts ripping them apart, their peaceful life as they used to know it is coming to an end.

The most prominent feature of Tekkon Kinkreet is its unique art style that some might describe as ugly. But what seems off-putting at first actually works well for the storyline. After all, Tekkon Kinkreet shows its viewers the dark and dirty sides of a modern city and what it means to be part of life on the streets. This movie shows the beautiful bond between two boys and is the sixth recommendation on this list.

After Memories and Tokyo Godfathers we have the third creation of director Satoshi Kon with Millennium Actress.

In the midst of winter, young Chiyoko meets a mysterious stranger who she immediately falls in love with. To follow him on his journey inside and outside of Japan, the girl decides to become an actress who produces one hit movie after the other. Millennium Actress tells the life story of Chiyoko while also shedding some light on the most recent events in Japanese history.

Millennium Actress is a true masterpiece that combines several different storylines, perspectives and time periods seemingly effortless. Satoshi Kon is known for combining reality with fantasy and this movie is definitely no exception. Like many other recommendations on this list, Millennium Actress is an international hit and thus a definite must-watch. Especially fans of bittersweet love stories should set an evening aside to watch Millennium Actress.

You didn’t really expect us to leave out one of the most successful Japanese movies in history, did you?

Spirited Away tells the story of Chihiro who, one day, stumbles into the spirit realm. To save her parents from a gruesome curse she has to go out and find her way around a world that scares and excites her at the same time. With beautiful visuals and unique characters Spirited Away shows the struggle of a girl to find her way home.

In this movie everything just seems to come together perfectly: the story is interesting, each character is more unique than the previous one, the artwork is breathtaking and on top of all of that you also get a soundtrack that is beautiful in its simplicity. Spirited Away is the highest grossing movie in Japanese history and made Studio Ghibli as famous abroad as it is in Japan. If you haven’t watched Spirited Away yet, it is definitely time to do that.

We have reached our Top 3 and we want to start with a must-watch anime movie for all Sci-Fi fans: Akira.

The story is set in a future that is not so distant anymore where modern Tokyo is suffering from the after-effects of World War III. Its streets are ruled by tough biker gangs and the government is being under constant attack. To top this chaos off, psychic powers start emerging and now everyone has to fight for their own right to live.

Why should you watch a movie that is almost 30 years old, you may ask. The fact that Akira is one of the most successful anime movies of all time is already a good reason. This little gem has stood the test of time and is still as relevant today as it was in the late 80s. It is a masterwork when it comes to Sci-Fi stories and a must-watch for all self-proclaimed movie connoisseurs. If you haven’t watched it yet, what are you still waiting for?

You have asked for it and here it is: next up on our list is the romantic drama 5 Centimeters per Second.

Similar to Memories, this movie doesn’t tell one, but several different stories in one film. The story starts with two childhood friends who fall in love only to be torn apart by fate and ends with a unique look on what it means to be in love and how fragile human bonds really are. Get ready for an emotional rollercoaster that will make you think about the meaning of sakura petals falling to the ground.

5 Centimeters per Second convinces more with its unique atmosphere than it does with its storyline. With the help of more than outstanding visuals, you will get dragged into the story and start caring about each character as if their problems were your own. This movie is deeply emotional and shows a rare love for detail, so grab yourself a pack of tissues and watch it tonight.

We have reached the end of our list, but we cannot let you go before talking about our final recommendation which simply had to be the all-time classic Ghost in the Shell.

It’s the year 2029 and humans have replaced nearly all of their body parts with robotic features. Mankind has reached a new high, but it needs to pay the prize for its advanced technology. What does it mean to be human? How much should we rely on technology? What is the worth of your free will? These are just some of the questions that you will be asking yourself while watching Ghost in the Shell.

This movie revolutionized Japanese movie making and has opened new doors in the animated film industry. It is deep, entertaining, dark and most importantly still relevant today. Even Ghost in the Shell’s animation can still compete with today’s artwork, but if you are not a fan of older visuals you might want to check out its remake of 2015. Everyone else, definitely watch the original version as Ghost in the Shell is one of the most touching and thoughtful anime movies out there.