Fantasy anime: 20 awesome movies to watch
The fantasy genre thrives largely not only in Western films but even more so in the world of anime. Fantasy is one of the most largely popular genres of anime because it allows the audiences to be amazed by a plot that is purely based on fiction. What are the best fantasy anime movies to watch?
Source: UGC
We all need to get away from reality from time to time. With the help of fantasy adventure movies, we are brought to the world of the characters we know and love. We get to experience the adventure they go through and react to the things that happen to them.
People who work on animated feature-length films specialize in the creation of characters that fans can idolize. Fantasy adventure movies have a way of drawing the viewers' emotions and interests into a story that is exceptionally enthralling while also being unrelatable. That being said, what are the top fantasy anime movies out there?
Fantasy anime recommendations
What fantasy Anime should I watch? Here are some of the best fantasy anime in history:
1. Spirited Away (2001)
IMdb rating: 8.6/10 - 584,108 votes
This is a really good fantasy anime to watch. It tells the story of the adventures of a little girl who wandered into the spirit world and makes a new friend.
2. Mushi-Shi Zoku Shou: Suzu no Shizuku (2015)
IMdb rating: 8.6/10 - 592 votes
This film definitely deserves a spot in this fantasy anime list. This animated adaptation of the popular manga that tells the story of a boy's encounter with a strange, mythical girl with weeds growing out of his body.
3. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
IMdb rating: 8.5/10 - 209,490 votes
A truly emotionally devastating anime based on the aftermath of World War 2 in Japan. It follows the story of two siblings as they try to survive the war while separated from their homes.
4. Your Name (2016)
IMdb rating: 8.4/10 - 154,585 votes
Follows the tale of two high school students, a boy and a girl, who found themselves linked in a bizarre way.
5. Howl's Moving Castle (2004)
IMdb rating: 8.2/10 - 295,170 votes
Set in a fictional kingdom where both technology and magic prevails among the citizens. The kingdom faces war with another kingdom and the main character named Sophie gets caught up between the two worlds.
6. My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
IMdb rating: 8.2/10 - 250,358 votes
Follows the home life of an adorable little girl who befriends a totoro, a spirit creature seeking a new home.
7. Wolf Children (2012)
IMdb rating: 8.1/10 - 34,027 votes
Tells the story of a single mother who lost his husband, a werewolf, in an accident. They have two children who inherited their father's abilities, and she struggles to hide them from the world.
8. A Silent Voice: The Movie (2016)
IMdb rating: 8.2/10 - 32,584 votes
Follows the struggles of a deaf girl trying to make friends in high school, but subsequently finds herself tangled in an unexpected mess.
9. Akira (1988)
IMdb rating: 8/10 - 149,410 votes
Follows the story of Shōtarō Kaneda, whose friend gain telekinetic abilities after following a motorcycle accident
10. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
IMdb rating: 8.1/10 - 133,395 votes
This anime is set in a world where the ecosystem has collapsed almost entirely. Nausicaä, with the aid of her ability to communicate with insects, embarks on a journey to restore the planet's peace.
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11. Castle in the Sky (1986)
IMdb rating: 8/10 - 133,218 votes
Follows the adventures of Sheeta, who, along with her friend, is being chased by a gang of air pirates to want to take over the floating city of Laputa.
12. The Tale of The Princess Kaguya (2013)
IMdb rating: 8/10 - 30,863 votes
A tiny nymph found starts to grow inside bamboo stalk. It turns into a beautiful and desirable young woman. Soon, she orders her suitors to prove their love by completing a series of near-impossible tasks.
13. Barefoot Gen (1983)
IMdb rating: 8/10 - 6,710 votes
Based on the popular manga, this anime shows the impact of atomic bombs on the people of Japan.
14. The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya (2010)
IMdb rating: 8.1/10 - 5,704 votes
This anime is a chronological follow-up to the anime series "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya".
15. Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
IMdb rating: 7.9/10 - 104,050 votes
13-year-old Kiki gains the power to fly her broomstick. Accompanied by her talking cat, she stars a delivery service for her town.
16. Perfect Blue (1997)
IMdb rating: 8/10 - 48,096 votes
A singer slowly loses her "good girl" persona in order to gain the career advantage that she needs.
17. Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2001)
IMdb rating: 7.9/10 - 40,470 votes
Follows the adventures of a four-person team who are in search of an ex-military officer. Directly follows the animated series of the same name.
18. Millennium Actress (2001)
IMdb rating: 7.9/10 - 20,893 votes
Two professional filmmakers walk the extra mile in the investigation of the life of a veteran actress.
19. In This Corner of the World (2016)
IMdb rating: 7.8/10 - 6,986 vote
Suzu, an 18-year-old girl, is set to participate in a marriage arranged by her parents. She agrees to the marriage and lives life as she slowly braces to the impact of World War 2 in Hiroshima City.
20. Steins Gate the Movie: Load Region of Déjà vu (2013)
IMdb rating: 7.8/10 - 5,225 votes
A scientist's lover and who is also his assistant travel through numerous timelines. Her mission is to find out why he keeps disappearing and how to prevent time from erasing him forever.
This list aside, there are hundreds of overlooked anime movies out there that are still waiting to be appreciated by wider audiences. If you are a fan looking for more of these movies, you just have to know the right place to start.
The best fantasy anime movies know how to engage it's audiences with good storytelling, even if the setting and the plot are completely fictional. It doesn't matter if the audiences cannot relate to a story revolving around flashy powers and saving the world. The best fantasy anime are the ones that make its viewers feel emotions they didn't even know they were capable of having.
READ ALSO: Action anime: 15 best movies
Source: KAMI.com.gh
