If you’ve never watched anime before, where have you been? In case you didn’t know, anime is the Japanese word for animation, and essentially refers to anything animated. This can be film, TV, comic books, graphic novels, etc. It tends to have a distinctive style of animation compared to, say, Disney. But anime is also very popular internationally, with many films and TV shows translated for a global audience to enjoy.
If you’re intrigued by anime and want to see what it’s all about, here are some suggestions to get you started.
Spirited Away
Spirited Away is one of the most well-known anime films, it was even nominated for an Oscar back at the 2003 Academy Awards. The story centers around a young girl named Chihiro, whose parents are turned into pigs by a witch, leaving the hero to get a job at the witch’s bathhouse to help free them. Highly rated and highly recommended, it’s a wonderful family watch that can ease you into the world of anime. Need further convincing? Read the Rotten Tomatoes reviews here.
Kite Liberator
Kite Liberator is an anime movie series that’s had people hooked for years. Available online, Kite Liberator is the second in the film series, set 10 years after the first one. Featuring a mixture of space and assassins, it’s a fast-paced adventure that will give you a fantastic introduction into the world of anime. Why not watch both movies back to back and make a movie night of it?
Howl’s Moving Castle
Howl’s Moving Castle is a wonderful anime film that is very popular amongst children and adults. The English-language version of the film has an amazing cast that includes Christian Bale, Billy Crystal and Lauren Bacall, in case you need more of a reason to watch it. Featuring magic, war and a cute owl, the story focuses on Sophie, who is turned into an older woman and along her journey to be changed back, joins the resistance against the kingdom’s ruler. It’s the ideal movie to enjoy as a family and will show you just how great anime can be.
Vampire Knight
Want to enjoy something a bit grittier? Then Vampire Knight is a great series, especially if you love classic YA movies and TV like Twilight and Buffy. The series is set in a school which is attended by both vampire and humans, but the twist is that the humans are unaware that there are vampires – with the usual high school drama added in. A fun series to get into, you’ll soon be hooked!
Discovering new movies is fantastic, and if you can find a new genre that you love, then even better! Anime will open up a whole new world, introducing you to all kinds of exciting series and movies. Need further inspiration for your movie-watching? Take a look at this big list of movies to give you some ideas of things to watch today.