5 Best Anime Movies for Beginners

5 Best Anime Movies for Beginners

Do you ever look at the tonnes of available Japanese anime movies and just feel confused about where to start? With such a wide variety of colourful films from ‘feel-good slice of life’ and ‘butterfly-inducing love stories’ to fear-filled thriller and horror. Japanese anime has it all in terms of fulfilling genres.

But some stay away from anime movies, feeling that they have an unwatchable air about them, that they aren’t going to understand, or maybe the pace will be too confusing. It is for them that we compiled this list of 5 of the best anime movies.  The 5 movies that made it to this list are perfect for beginners and will bring them into the wonderful world of anime.

Interstella 5555

For those of you who don’t like anime with too much dialogue or prefer lively, wild experiences, this is the film for you. A film with bright imagery and groovy musical scores, this sci-fi adventure made in 2003 is definitely something that should be on your watch list.

It follows a group of extra-terrestrial musicians through their abduction and rescue. Filled with action, drama and colourful imagery that will keep anyone hooked. The best part about it? You don’t need to understand any language to watch this wonderful piece of work. With absolutely zero spoken dialogue, the film’s story and emotion are expressed entirely through music.

The captivating music was written by dynamic musical duo Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, better known as Daft Punk. This film bridges the gap between music and film in a way not seen before. With a twist ending and action-packed all the way through, this is an experience you don’t want to miss out on.

A Silent Voice

A Silent Voice is one of those films where no matter how much you watch it, you always come back for more. Made in 2016, it is one of the more modern films on this list but that won’t stop it from being an emotional rollercoaster all the way through.

Following Shoya Ishida on his journey through school, in this story, he is going from bully to being bullied, and it shows how he deals with his unpopularity throughout his life. This story is a loving, inclusive slice of life, so it is definitely one for you beginner watchers that are interested in the genre.

This animated movie is an adaptation of a manga (comic) of the same name and includes work from famous musical company Pony Canyon as well as well-known music by The Who. This film focuses on inclusivity, with the story including a deaf main character who in the English dubbed version was voiced by deaf actress Lexi Cowden.

Akira

For all you post-apocalyptic cyberpunk fans, this is the anime for you. Made in 1988 and holding a great retro feel, this anime is perfect for beginners that are seeking that rush of action. The film is known for its unbelievable plot, interesting characters, and a soundtrack that makes you want to leap out of your seat.

This is definitely one for the more mature audience since this movie tells the story of Shotaro Kaneda, the leader of a biker gang who gets into a litany of hair-raising scenarios. Through Shotaro’s adventures alongside his childhood friend Tetsuo Shima, they battle military, biker gangs, and themselves.

Akira is a movie adaptation of a manga series by the same name much like number 2 on our list. The manga and the movie both live under the same genre of Cyberpunk, Political thrillers, and Post-apocalypse. So if you’re into danger, adventure and action, this is definitely the anime movie for you.

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

Time-leaping walnuts, emotional decisions, and a fun, near slice of life storytelling all the way through, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is definitely one for the more adventurous. Produced by Madhouse, this film gives an interesting turn on the time-traveling category.

The story is a wonderful tale about a young girl, Makoto Konno, who discovers that she has the ability to travel through time after an incident at school. She uses her new time-leaping ability to her advantage before realizing she has limited leaps left and uses them to try and fix situations out of her control.

Having been made in 2006, it is relatively modern and is the perfect balance between slice of life and fantasy that is perfect for any first-timer to the anime genre.

Spirited Away

It is impossible to make a list of the best anime movies without including one from Studio Ghibli, and this movie is definitely one for beginners. It introduces you to a wide variety of strange and interesting characters in this fairytale-style ghost story.

The movie follows a young girl Chihiro on a thrilling adventure into a magical world after losing her parents whilst moving into a new neighbourhood. Filled with magic, dragons, and a giant baby, this kooky fantasy is eye-catching from every angle.

Made in 2001 by renowned animation studio Studio Ghibli and winning an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, it brings just the right amount of tension and drama for your first anime movie.

With movies as action-packed as these, it’s difficult to resist the pull for a trip to Japan, and did you know that many of the images in anime have been inspired by real-life locations?

Such as the Dogo Onsen located on Shikoku island which was the inspiration for Spirited Away’s monster onsen, or the buildings in central Tokyo that inspired the post-apocalyptic Neo-Tokyo from Akira.

On your trip to Japan, you can visit the Studio Ghibli Museum or Akihabara for all your anime needs.