Anime movies have captivated fans all over the world with their gorgeous visuals, fascinating stories, and memorable characters. The anime industry has produced some of the most fascinating and revolutionary films of all time in the last decade (2010–2020). The decade’s top anime movies have something for everyone, from action-packed adventures to heartbreaking dramas.
In this post, we’ll look at the top 10 anime movies of the 2010s, exploring what makes each one unique and why they’re must-sees for any anime lover. So get some popcorn, sit back, and prepare for an incredible cinematic voyage through the world of anime!
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Anime Movies in 2010-2019
1. Your Name (2016)
Your Name (2016) is one of the most well-known and popular anime movies of the last decade. The beautiful fantasy, directed by Makoto Shinkai, follows two high school students, Mitsuha Miyamizu from a rural Japanese town and Taki Tachibana from Tokyo. They find themselves switching bodies one day, each living the other’s life for brief periods of time before mysteriously returning to reality.
The movie follows them as they try to learn more about each other and find out why this weird phenomenon has affected them. Your Name has become a treasured classic around the world due to its beautiful aesthetics and emotionally compelling storyline, receiving both critical acclaim from professional critics and box office success among fans alike. It is not only one of the best anime movies from 2010-2020, but also one of the all-time greats, making it well worth a watch if you have yet to experience its amazing story for yourself!
| 8.4/10IMDb | 8.4/10IMDb 9.1/10MyAnimeList | 97%Rotten Tomatoes |
2. A Silent Voice (2016)
A Silent Voice (2016) is an emotional and redemptive journey that offers a new perspective on the effects of social persecution. Director Naoko Yamada adapts Yoshitoki imstunning a’s manga series, which explores how bullying can have devastating effects on one’s mental health and well-being. Shouko Nishimiya, a grade school student with impaired hearing, transfers schools after being bullied at her previous school. Years later, we see how her old bully is now dealing with issues with his mental health as a result of social rejection from his peers, as well as sadness and remorse for his actions all those years ago.
The movie makes us consider how the human mind is not just split between good and evil, but is far more complex than most people perceive. It urges viewers to think that solutions should not be achieved through vengeance or additional bullying, because of those who have previously been treated in this manner, as this will only serve to continue the cycle of struggle and suffering rather than bring closure and healing to all involved individuals. A Silent Voice dives deep into the damage done by bullying while also explaining that there are healthy alternatives available when faced with difficult situations like these.
| 94% Rotten Tomatoes | 8.2/10IMDb | 9.5/10IGN.com |
3. The Wind Rises (2011)
The Wind Rises (2011) is regarded as one of the best anime films of the decade. This film, written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, follows Jirou Horikoshi on his path to become an aeronautical engineer despite his vision problems, which prevents him from becoming a pilot.
The story is presented in the context of Japan’s chaotic beginnings leading up to and including World War II, with special emphasis on the devastating effects and social unrest that followed the Great Kanto earthquake in 1923, as well as how Jirou must confront difficult questions about the price he is willing to pay for pursuing his dream while also acknowledging the role of powerful creations such as the Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter aircraft in wartime efforts. The Wind Rises takes audiences through great highs, constant lows, and ultimately a memorable realization at the end, solidifying its spot among the top ten anime films.
| 88%Rotten Tomatoes | 5/5The Telegraph | 4.6/5Common Sense Media |
4. When Marnie Was There (2014)
When Marnie Was There (2014) is an animated Japanese drama directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi that is a must-see for any anime movie enthusiast. When Marnie Was There tells the story of a young girl’s journey of self-discovery through the eyes of Anna Sasaki, a talented but troubled student battling with asthma and little connection to her peers. Her foster mother sends her away from Tokyo to rural Hokkaido in the hopes that it will improve her health and help her clear her mind, and she discovers an old run-down mansion by the sea—the Marsh House.
When Anna gradually begins to build friendships with people in town and participate in outdoor activities at both school and home, she meets a mysterious girl named Marnie on one of these journeys, resulting in an unbreakable bond between them over time. Viewers can expect touching moments packed with emotion as Anna continues to visit their secret hideaway deep within the confines of Marshal House while obtaining insight into what lies outside its walls.
| 7.7/10IMDb | 91%Rotten Tomatoes | 4.2/5Common Sense Media |
5. Mirai (2018)
A young boy named Kun feels forgotten by his family when his little sister Mirai arrives. Running away from home, Kun stumbles upon a magical garden that serves as a time-traveling gateway where he encounters his mother as a little girl and has a series of adventures with his baby sister, who is all grown up, opening a new perspective on his world.
The fantasy sequences – whether they’re Kun’s imagination or something more magical isn’t clear – are lavish; gothic ruins and fish-filled waterspouts exploding out of Kun’s garden refuge convey his inner upheaval. Just as in a four-year-old’s mind, the trivial and the epic are synonymous.
| 7/10IMDb | 91% Rotten Tomatoes | 81% Metacritic |
6. Weathering with You (2019)
A boy runs away to Tokyo and befriends a girl who appears to be able to manipulate the weather.
The dazzling animation in Weathering With You again combines almost photorealistic scenery and backgrounds with dazzling splashes of light and color, this time refracted through the ceaseless torrential rain that threatens to submerge Tokyo.
Originally titled Tenki no Ko (literally translating to Child of the Weather), Weathering With You is Shinkai’s latest directorial venture. After the film released in Japan in July, it was screened at TIFF in September, and it has now made its way to India in its original language with English subtitles, much to the excitement of Indian anime fans.
| 7.8/10IMDb | 100%Rotten Tomatoes | 3/5IndieWire |
7. The Garden of Words (2013)
The Garden of Words is my personal favorite anime because of how beautiful this is and by far the best Best Anime Movies in terms of art.
When a lonely teenager skips his morning lessons to sit in a lovely garden, he meets a mysterious older woman who shares his feelings of alienation.
I think The Garden of Words is groundbreaking as far as Shinkai’s work goes because it addresses distance in a socially controversial/unacceptable relationship between a student and a teacher.
| 7.5/10IMDb | 8.2/10MyAnimeList | 9.1/10Breaking Canon |
8. The Secret World of Arrietty (2010)
In The Secret World of Arrietty, a young, sickly boy named Shou learns an amazing secret while spending the summer at his aunt’s home. He sees a small person, Arrietty, after following the house cat into the bushes! While she introduces herself to him and explains that her kind survives on small amounts of human stuff, he has no idea of the daily struggles they experience in order to survive.
Despite their differences, an unique friendship develops between them, with life-changing effects. Despite Pod and Homily’s warnings against befriending humans, Arrietty’s parents bravely risk visits into the living area (from the basement) so that she can obtain crucial experience around her new friend. Yet, tensions grow when secrets are revealed during these journeys, with each action sending ripples throughout both the human and Borrower worlds. As this intricate story unfolds, stunning animation and engaging music will take your breath away, proving that good friendships triumph over all odds!
| 4/5Common Sense Media | 95%Rotten Tomatoes | 7.6/10IMDb |
9. Wolf Children (2012)
Hana marries a wolf man and raises their two children alone after he dies. They move to the countryside and the children have adventures in the woods and at school.
Wolf Children is a staggeringly beautiful animated feature film from director Mamoru Hosoda (Summer Wars). This epic cinematic achieve from director Hana, a woman who falls in love with a Wolf Man and gives birth to two half human, half wolf children. After the tragic death of her beloved Hana seeks refuge in rural town where she attempts to build a life for herself and her children.
| 71%Metacritic | 5/5The Telegraph | 94%Rotten Tomatoes |
10. Letter to Momo (2011)
Momo is recovering from her father’s death and her mother’s decision to move their family from Tokyo to a remote island, when she discovers a message from her father that causes strange events to occur.
After the unexpected death of her father, 11-year-old Momo Miyaura leaves Tokyo with her mother and moves to an old remote island in Seto Inland Sea. The only memento she has from her father is an unfinished letter with only two words inside: “Dear Momo”—along with her heart’s unrest from it.
| 65%Metacritic | 7.3/10IMDb | 80%Rotten Tomatoes |
