As the most recent decade concludes, now is a great time to reflect on the 2010s and the revolutionary anime content it produced. From anime likeDemon SlayerandMob Psycho 100, fans are privileged to experience such well-made anime of that decade. However, anime movies often get overshadowed despite their pristine animation and focused plots.
Anime films thrived in the 2010s, showcasing elite animation and a variety of genres and studios that Studio Ghibli doesn’t just dominate. These anime films range from blood-boiling action hype to tear-jerking romances that helped establish the film industry. This was a time to experiment and adapt various films that have helped fans discover new interests.These ten anime movies showcase the creativity and beautiful animation Japan is known for while still standing out as one of the best decadesfor anime movies.
10’One Piece Film: Z' (2012)
Directed by Tatsuya Nagamine
AfterOne Piecechanged their movie ways withOne Piece Film: Strong World,One Piece Film: Zcontinues the trend by includingEiichiro Oda’s involvement. The film focuses on Zephyr, a former marine and mentor to the current admirals, who created the Neo-Navy, an organization that deals with pirates without the burden of law. Despite being seemingly noble, he plans on using a new weapon to destroy an island of pirates and, subsequently, a bunch of civilians, where the Strawhats come in to save the day.
WhileOne Piece Film: Zmay not be canon, it includes many canon elements that help separate it from other inconsequential anime movies. Oda fleshes out the world and lore more in the film while giving Zephyr a touching backstory that helps make him the best movie villain in the series. Overall,One Piece Film: Zis amust-watchOne Piecemovie, delivering the action, animation, plot, and characters.
Watch on Netflix
9’Kizumonogatari Part 3: Cold Blooded' (2017)
Directed by Tatsuya Oishi and Akiyuki Shinbo
Kizumonogatari Part 3: Cold Bloodedserves as the final movie of theKizumonogataritrilogy. It follows Koyomi Araragi after he helps a dying woman by giving her his blood, which turns him into an immortal vampire. In order to return to a human, he must kill the vampire hunters who took Shinobu’s limbs, putting her in a state of weakness. In the final movie, he must confront Shinobu in a vampire-on-vampire fight to regain what he lost.
Kizumonogatariis one of the best vampire animeout there.Its unique editing style and stunning animation complement each other perfectly to create an action-packed, drama-filled movie. While it features explicit content too much for some fans, the fight scenes are one-of-a-kind and utilize the vampire theme perfectly, such as a sea of heads being ripped off and promptly re-grown. While a newMonogatariseason is released,Kizumonogatari 3remains the series' peak as it embodies the franchise’s editing style, lore, and animation.
Rent on Amazon
8’Colorful' (2010)
Directed by Keiichi Hara
An award-winning anime movie,Colorfulis an uplifting yet depressing film about the complexity of human nature, depression, and suicide. The story follows a tarnished soul who reincarnates against his will as a 14-year-old boy who recently committed suicide. The soul must find out the boy’s greatest sin in a time of six months. In this time, the soul is faced with the heartbreaking daily life of Makoto as it investigates his life.
Through this journey the film takes fans on, they witness a grounded and honest story that isn’t scared to delve into heavy themes such as family relationships, bullying, depression, and grief.Colorfuluses these themes to create a tragic layer over the entire film, as it gives insight into the life of Makoto. The emotional movie doesn’t let audiences get away with a happy ending, asColorfuldelivers one of thesaddest endings for an anime moviethat wraps the film up with a tearful goodbye.
Buy on Amazon
7’Dragon Ball Super: Broly' (2018)
With over twenty movies, theDragon Ballfranchise was sure to have a couple of hits, and they certainly did nail this one.Dragon Ball Super: Brolybrings back the movie’s original villain, Broly, from the 90s to the modern age to give newer fans a taste of his power. After King Vegeta witnesses the latent power of baby Broly, he banishes him and his father away to a lonely planet where the two must train and fight to survive. Years later, Frieza encounters the two and uses Broly as the ultimate weapon to fight against Goku and Vegeta.
Unlike many movies on this list,Dragon Ball Super: Brolydoesn’t rely on a well-structured plot or character development. Instead, this movie gives fans over an hour of pure fights, staying true to the series' nature.Boasting incredible animation, well-choreographed fights, intense stakes, and hype-inducing power-ups,Dragon Ball Super: Brolycan be endlessly rewatched. Possibly the greatest movie in theDragon Ballfranchise, this movie is a worthy addition to one of thelongest-running anime franchises.
Dragon Ball Super: Broly
Watch on Crunchyroll
6’The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya' (2010)
Directed by Yasuhiro Takemoto and Tatsuya Ishihara
Serving as a sequel to the anime that had a stranglehold on every anime fan in the 2000s,The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiyatakes things to the next level regarding plot and quality. After the omnipotent Haruhi, one ofthe strongest anime charactersdisappears, Kyon notices other changes, such as Mikuru not recognizing him and Yuki being an average human. Despite Kyon getting the everyday life he always wanted, he investigates the cause and must decide whether or not he wants this life or his usual chaotic daily adventures.
This film serves as the finale for the Haruhi Suzumiya franchise, taking it in a much more serious direction with important stakes and intrigue. The tight storyline helps develop characters such as Kyon and Yuki, as the movie focuses on their perspectives, letting them grow in ways the original series didn’t allow. As one of the longest anime movies,The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiyais jam-packed with an enthralling mystery that will have fans wishing the movie was an hour longer.
5’Wolf Children' (2012)
Directed by Mamoru Hosoda
Telling a heartwarming story about the struggles of being a single mother,Wolf Childrenfollows Hana as she raises her two peculiar children. After falling in love with a classmate, she learns he is the last werewolf; unperturbed by this fact, her passion remains, and they start a family. Tragedy strikes when the father perishes, leaving Hana to hide the truth about her kids in a big city, forcing her to move into the countryside.
Wolf Childrenis a heartwarming film that will make fans warm inside and have them balling their eyes out. With some of the most beautiful music in anime,Wolf Childrengives off a fun and depressing vibe unlike any other anime. Showing both the joys and difficulties of motherhood, the film is wonderfully paced to give fans the whole experience.
4’The Tale of Princess Kaguya' (2013)
Directed by Isao Takahata
Based on the 10th-century Japanese folk tale,The Tale of Princess Kaguyais about the fleeting nature of life and cherishing the moment. After a bamboo cutter finds a young girl growing out of one, he and his wife raise her as she grows up having fun with the other kids. However, after discovering vast wealth, the father takes Kaguya to a mansion, raising her as a princess against her will.
WhileHayao Miyazakiis the king of Studio Ghibli,The Tale of Princess Kaguyais one of many fantasticfilms by Studio Ghibli that he didn’t direct. The film featuresstriking and unique animation that resembles an older Japanese art style, helping accentuate the time period in which the story was created.The Tale of Princess Kaguyais incredibly innovative with its animation and narrative. It tells a classic story with an entertaining twist to keep modern audiences watching in a film nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars.
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
Rent on Apple TV
3’Your Name' (2016)
Directed by Makoto Shinkai
Your Nameis an award-winning movie about two teenagers connected by the red string of fate. Mitsuha is a high school girl who dreams of living in the city as a boy, and Taki is a high school boy juggling life in the city with his job and school. One morning, the two wake up to find they have swapped bodies and must go on a journey to find each other while getting used to their new life.
WhileYour Namehas a relatively simple plot, it is still a creative movie that utilizes the body swap trope well for a romance movie.The slice-of-life aspect and the fun, relatable nature of the film helped draw a wider crowd. The film is very emotional and plays on the themes of missed opportunities and taking life for granted. Despite being emotional, the film isn’t sad, which allows for fun times and an entertaining journey inone of Toho’s best films.
2’The Night Is Short, Walk On Girl' (2017)
Directed by Masaaki Yuasa
With the same creator as the binge-able seriesThe Tatami Galaxyand innovative studio Science SARU,The Night Is Short, Walk On Girlis a mesmerizing masterpiece of animation, art style, and story. Following Senpai, a college student trying to get a girl to like him, the movie follows his attempts to woo her with subtle attempts. However, his attempts are futile, with her believing in fate, which brings her across many one-in-a-lifetime experiences. After finding her childhood book, Senpai has a new plan that may or may not work.
The Night Is Short, Walk On Girlis anincredibly underrated anime moviethat uses imaginative animation and an inventive romance storyto create an experience unlike any other film. The characters and their journey are fun and lighthearted, creating an aesthetic atmosphere in the bustling streets of Kyoto. Along with its inspiring themes and messages,The Night Is Short, Walk On Girlis a must-watch anime movie that does romance and comedy unlike any other TV show.
Watch on Max
1’A Silent Voice' (2016)
Directed by Naoko Yamada
Animated by the revolutionary studio Kyoto Animation,A Silent Voiceis another one of their masterpieces, featuring incredible writing and animation. Along with the entire class, Shouya bullies a deaf girl in elementary, resulting in her transferring after her parents notify the teachers. Solely blamed for the incident, a regretful Shouya is ostracized by everyone for the rest of his school life, prompting him to go on a journey of redemption to find and apologize to Shouko.
A Silent Voiceis a beautiful story about redemption that focuses on the relationship between Shouya and Shouko. The movie has won countless awards because of its stellar animation and masterfully written and complex characters. The themes of bullying and regret help create an emotional film that balances heartwrenching and heartwarming moments with genuine feelings.A Silent Voiceisn’t just the best anime movie of the 2010s but one of thebest anime movies of the 21st century.
