So, I got to thinking about my favorite anime movies and I have decided to share them with you! Of course, this isn't a list of all the anime films I enjoy, but simply a few that I really enjoy and that I think you will enjoy as well.
Without further ado, let's dig in!
 |
1. Kimi no Na Wa (Your Name)
I usually stay away from romance as a whole because usually the plots tend to be the same or come across as forced. But, Kimi no Na Wa takes the concept of being fated to be together and displays it in a film that is beautiful, emotionally impactful, and refreshing.
So as to avoid those dreaded spoilers for those of you who haven't had the pleasure of watching this movie, I will give a very very VERY general synopsis of this film.
A young woman by the name of Mitsuha Miyamizu yearns to live in the bustling city of Tokyo instead of the countryside she actually lives in. On the other hand, a young man, Taki Tachibana, lives in the city and tries to balance his school life, his part time job, and his hopes of becoming an architect in the future. Suddenly, with no explanation, the two find themselves switching bodies! In order to find answers, the two seek each other out.
This movie feature absolutely stunning animation and a story that would inspire Shakespeare to revise the ending of Romeo and Juliet. If you haven't seen this one yet, go watch it immediately!
__________________________________________________
2. Koe no Katachi (A Silent Voice)
I will warn you in advance: some of the things that occur in this movie may be triggering to some people. While there aren't graphic scenes of violence or anything like that, this movie does display themes that a quite heavy. Watch at your own discretion.
Koe no Katachi can only be described as a story of redemption (in my opinion). The story centers around Shouya Ishida who, as a child, bullied a deaf girl who transferred into his class, Shouko Nishimiya. After an incident that resulted in Shouko's mother coming to the school, Shouya shoulders the entirety of the cruelties imposed on Shouko and is subsequently ostracized by his classmates through the remainder of elementary school and even into middle school while his teachers pretend not to notice. However, in his third year of high school, Shouya, who is still plagued by his past actions and deeply regretting them, he sets out to meet Shouko once more and make amends in order to redeem himself.
This movie is deep. It wrenches emotions out of you at every turn and strives to remind us that any negativity we inflict on others will haunt us for many years after we have done whatever we did. Please, give this one a watch.
__________________________________________________
3. Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo (The Girl Who Leapt Through Time)
What would you do if you discovered that you could travel through time? Well, if you were Makoto Konno, the protagonist of this movie, you would travel back in order to save someone or to get a retry on a situation that you maybe didn't handle so well.
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time follows Makoto as she leaps through time and learns that every action she takes has an unforeseen consequence that may be worse than the event that she changed.
There is a really good quote by Lucy Liu in which she says, "You can't look back; you have to keep looking forward". I feel that this quote sums up the message that this movie is trying to convey because Makoto is having a hard time to decide what to do with her future and continually tries to alter the past.
If you find yourself constantly wishing that you could go back and change certain things that happened, watch this film and remind yourself to keep looking forward towards the future instead of living in the past.
__________________________________________________
4. Byousoku 5 Centimeters (5 Centimeters Per Second)
We all have friends who have left us for one reason or another and, in doing so, have left a hole in our lives in the shape of them. Byousoku 5 Centimeters is a story that explores this separation and how to live with it.
The movie focuses on Takaki Toono and Akari Shinohara, close friends and classmates. The two are torn apart when Akari's family has to move to another region due to their job, but they decide to keep in touch through mail. Then, as if adding insult to injury, Takaki's family also decides to move, prompting him to go see his friend one last time. Naturally, as time goes on, their contact with each other fades, but they both remember the times that they spent together and wonder if they will ever meet again.
Stunning animation is prevalent throughout the entirety of this movie. The narrative is real and executed in a way that is both enjoyable and meaningful. But, the real reason I love this movie, is because I have been the friend that has had to move away and also the friend that got left behind, so I can relate to this movie on a very personal level.
__________________________________________________
5. Pokemon: The First Movie
Yes. I am putting Pokemon: The First Movie on this list and I am completely and totally unashamed. This movie holds a special place in my heart (the exact same place where I store my nostalgia, fond childhood memories, and my whimsy) because it was the first anime movie I ever watched. Honestly, I watch this movie no less than twenty times every year and, to this day, it still brings a tear to my eye.
There's no synopsis for this one. Either you already know the plot, or you're going in blind (as you should!).
If you have already seen this movie then watch it again, it's great (arguably the greatest of all the Pokemon films). And if you haven't seen this movie, and are a fan of Pokemon in any capacity, go watch it!
__________________________________________________
Alrighty! I'm going to end this list here for right now. If you want more movie recommendations, I will most likely post another one of these soon-ish.
This has been your friendly neighborhood Micahangello, serving you up a hot bowl of that sweet sweet anime content! See y'all next time!
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete