Best Anime Movies of the 2010s, Ranked – MovieWeb

Anime movies are in a league of their own in the world of cinema. From Mirai to Your Name, here are the best of the 2010s.
There are countless genres of movies, and we can argue back and forth on which ones are the best. However, there is something undeniable about the stellar movies that fall under the anime category. Cinema, a global affair, has utilized animation as a gateway into worlds and stories that are essentially unobtainable even with the best technology at our disposal. Japanese anime movies in particular present artwork in the combination of groundbreaking storytelling, visuals, and music.
People all over the world have recognized the best of the best in terms of anime movies. For years, Japanese anime has nurtured a stellar reputation in terms of films, and they very rarely disappoint. With a perfect mixture of sometimes quirky fantasy and heart-shattering plot lines, anime movies are not to be overlooked. Whether you are bawling your eyes out watching Your Name and A Silent Voice or marveling at the beautiful animation of Weathering With You and Mirai, you can never really go wrong with a good anime movie. We have put together a list of some of our top picks for the best anime movies of the 2010s.
Almost always, these movies are trying to teach us all lessons about life. Mirai came out in 2018, and it follows a young boy named Kun. When Kun's little sister enters the picture, he feels neglected and practically unloved by his family. After running away, he ends up in a garden that allows him to travel through time when he formulates an entirely new outlook on his life.
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2018's Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms is a fantasy drama anime movie that centers around the people of Iolph who live simple lives of retained youth weaving tapestries. When her way of life is threatened, Maquia is now faced with the reality of having lost her friends and her home.
Studio Ghibli is responsible for producing some of the best anime movies of our time. So, in a list like this, their presence is practically written in the stars. When Marnie Was There came out in 2014 and follows a young girl whose health calls for her relocation to a different country. Here, she meets Marnie and they quickly become friends. However, that might not be all.
The Wind Rises is a fictionalized film based on the life and career of Jiro Horikoshi, as outlined by Polgyon, an aviation engineer who designed the Mitsubishi A5M fighter. This film chronicles the story of a young boy who suffers from being shortsighted, hindering his dream of becoming a pilot. However, he takes matters into his own hands and alters his career to find success. If you are interested in diving deeper into some of the best Studio Ghibli movies, this is definitely one to add to your list!
Studio Ghibli's The Tale of Princess Kaguya is a film that touches on historical fantasy. This film brilliantly utilizes the simplest aspects of human nature and life in general, and makes art that will have your emotions and thoughts in a choke-hold. In addition to that, the animation style of this film is so unique on this list, and if you are a fan of art and entertainment in general, The Tale of Princess Kaguya is for you.
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In 2019, Makoto Shinkai, the beloved director of the movie Your Name, released Weathering With You. This movie, at its core, just could not disappoint, and it definitely didn't. Weathering With You is equipped with some of the most beautiful animation and choreographed sequences that any anime lover can dream of. With the story of a teenage runaway and a girl who can manipulate the weather, Weathering With You is sure to keep your eyes and ears glued to your screens.
What do you get when you have a boy who finds out that his popular classmate is suffering from pancreatic cancer in secret through a diary of hers that he found at a hospital? You get 2018's I Want To Eat Your Pancreas. This story of growth, friendship, and overcoming hardship will, as we have seen as a common theme so far on this list, make you cry. Accompanied by some great animation, this is definitely one to check out.
This Corner of the World is an animated wartime drama film that follows a young woman who is subjected to marrying a man she barely knows, all while navigating her life in Hiroshima during World War II. This one, as much as it is an absolute masterpiece, is immensely heavy and dark at times and will definitely pull at your heartstrings.
Studio Ghibli does it again! Of course, having a list of the best anime movies of the 2010s, we could not possibly leave out Studio Ghibli's The Secret World of Arrietty, released as Arrietty the Borrower in Japan. Arrietty is a tiny human teenager who is living in the inner workings of a home, without the host's knowledge. However, once she befriends 12-year-old Shawn, she risks her and her family's safety.
Have your tissues ready because there is no sugar-coating this one. A Silent Voice came out in 2016 and follows the story of girl who has impaired hearing. At school, she is bullied extensively until she decides to transfer schools. This heartbreaking story has one of her former bullies trying to right some wrongs. If you are in the mood for a good cry, A Silent Voice is available on Netflix.
Drum roll, please! Of course, at the top of our list is Makoto Shinkai's 2016 film Your Name. Your Name starts off as a sort of fantasy romance movie where our main protagonists Taki and Mitsuha wake up one day living inside each other's bodies. Once they dive deeper into what could possibly be causing these intersecting timelines as well as some troubling details about their past, these two characters find comfort, friendship, and much more in each other. This mystifying movie about fate and love sucks you right in and, if you're lucky, will leave you gasping for air as you scramble to put the pieces of your broken heart back together.

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