15 Anime Movies That Should Be As Iconic As "Spirited Away"

The anime world doesn't begin and end with Hayao Miyazaki.

1. "Summer Wars"

Madhouse / Via zeroraws.tumblr.com

"Summer Wars" is basically the visual equivalent of a tall glass of fruit punch on a stupidly hot day. Its core idea is about destroying and then saving the real world through social media, but you'll totally enjoy getting to know the main characters' family dramas along the way. And, you'll learn all about the best card game in the world, Koi-Koi.

2. "Perfect Blue"

Madhouse / Via giphy.com

A pop idol leaves her sheltered world, and one particularly angry fan takes it personally. This psychological thriller, from the late director Satoshi Kon, was one of Darren Aronofsky's inspirations for "Black Swan." Maybe don't watch this one with the kids.

3. "Tekkonkinkreet"

Studio 4°C / Via zeroraws.tumblr.com

Everybody loves a good adaptation, and cult manga "Tekkonkinkreet" got a particularly excellent anime one. Centered on two orphaned street kids, Kuro and Shiro (Black and White), the film drops you into a totally bonkers world and story.

4. "Whisper of the Heart"

Studio Ghibli / Via animetitle.tumblr.com

Okay fine, it's impossible to make a list like this and not include ONE Hayao Miyazaki reference. Miya-san adapted the script for "Whisper of the Heart," but it's still one of the most overlooked films in the Studio Ghibli lineup. That's a shame, because main character Shizuku is one of the most tender and relatable animated heroines of all times. (The story literally starts because she checks out so many books at the library.)

5. "Paprika"

Madhouse / Via asparagusoup.tumblr.com

If you liked "Inception" and its dream-within-dreams idea, you will ADORE "Paprika." The film reportedly inspired Christopher Nolan, but like his other film "Perfect Blue," director Satoshi Kon marries trippy visuals with a surprisingly gentle story. You don't want to sleep on this one.

6. "Your Name"

Toho / Via mangastream.tumblr.com

Japan's biggest movie of 2016 wasn't a superhero film or part of a popular franchise. It was "Your Name," an inventive and visually ridiculous love story from Makoto Shinkai. Shinkai's films make you feel all the feels, but "Your Name" is literally life-changing.

7. "Grave of the Fireflies"

Studio Ghibli / Via zoo-monkey.tumblr.com

Directed by Studio Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata, "Grave of the Fireflies" is one of the best war movies of all time. But instead of focusing on heroic action and Nazi-punching, it maps a quieter but no less devastating story. Hug your loved ones after watching.

8. "Pokémon: The First Movie"

OLM / Via shelgon.tumblr.com

Hear me out: most people these days only know Pokémon, kind of, through games. But for an entire generation, Pokémon movies were absolutely must-see. (I still have my holographic Mew card from the original theater run somewhere in my card binder.) Regardless of how you feel about Pokémon now, there's this primal part of your memory that will always love Ash and Pikachu's unbreakable bond.

9. "Redline"

Madhouse / Via psychopass.tumblr.com

There's something so pure about a good racing movie, and "Redline" is that at its high-octane core. Whether you watch Formula One or have watched maybe one "Fast and Furious" film, "Redline" is extremely easy to watch and follow. Oh, and the entire thing was drawn by hand, a bold choice considering the film's extremely shiny, digital aesthetic.

10. "Akira"

Tokyo Movie Shinsha / Via skyroid.co.vu

"Akira" is easily one of the most influential movies of all time, but it still flies under the radar outside of anime fan circles. Like fellow anime-fans-only favorite "Ghost in the Shell," "Akira" has cycled in and out of Hollywood for a possible adaptation. That said, don't wait for a whitewashing reboot to be your first introduction to this haunting film.

11. "Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Movie"

Shaft / Via soulsoaker.tumblr.com

It's a common thing within anime to turn TV series into movies. "Puella Magi Madoka Magica" is one of those series, and it benefits from having tighter pacing and more elaborate fight sequences. Though "PMMM" starts off as a charming, "Sailor Moon"-like story, it ends up being a game-changing, thorough deconstruction of the Magical Girl genre.

12. "5 Centimeters Per Second"

CoMix Wave Inc. / Via le-fleurbleue.tumblr.com

"Your Name" director Makoto Shinkai is also behind "5 Centimeters Per Second," and yeah, it looks like that the entire way thorugh. Really three short films in one, "5 Centimeters" asks big questions about fate, desire, and human courage. It will take your breath away.

13. "Millennium Actress"

Madhouse / Via thx.tumblr.com

Another Satoshi Kon film, "Millennium Actress" is trippy not in its visuals but with its nonlinear story. Half-flashback, half-fantasy, the film follows actress Chiyoko on a journey that spans time, space, and genre. If you can make it through without shedding a tear, you might not be human.

14. "Cowboy Bebop: The Movie"

Bones / Via mgoudeys.tumblr.com

"Cowboy Bebop" is one of the most popular animes of all time, but did you know it also has an excellent movie? Also known as "Knockin' on Heaven's Door," the "Cowboy Bebop" movie follows a colorful motley crew on the hunt for a bioterrorist. It's chock full of snappy dialogue and inventive fight scenes, but like the original show, you'll be left with the feels afterward.

15. "Wolf Children"

Studio Chizu / Madhouse / Via souleater.tumblr.com

Also by "Summer Wars" director Mamoru Hosoda, "Wolf Children" is about a single mother raising two kids... who happen to be half-werewolf. It's the weird setup for one of the most emotional anime films ever, and probably the closest non-Ghibli movie to match that studio's tone.