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Anime exists today as a popular culture (or mass culture) in Japan. On the other part of the world, Anime swept western countries by planting itself as a sub-culture. Over the last decade, the scholarly writings on anime and people who watch anime movies proved themselves worthy of note. It is a critical and intelligent form of art that generated countless debates on its value and effect. Many critiques believe that anime is no more than a kid’s cartoon. However, the academe believes otherwise. Most anime builds upon the popular cultural form that values high cultural traditions. This medium shows the influences of valuable Japanese customs such as Kabuki and woodblock printing. It mixes these old—sometimes forgotten—traditions with the artistic forms of cinematography and photography. What is most interesting is that these anime traditions highlight social issues such as peace, environmental degradation, racism, and violence. These themes speak for themselves. Anime is more than a child’s cartoon; it upholds strong social relevance. This is why many people often wonder about the best classical and contemporary anime movies of all time. With its worldwide positive reception, anime established a global mark with its blockbuster and widely acclaimed movies of all time. These movies demonstrate those important elements of aesthetics, social significance, and substance while bearing emotions and inculcating life’s greatest lessons to the audience. The movie Akira (1988) is one of the earliest films adapted from manga. It is one of the most critically acclaimed films of all time, adored by film critiques and fans alike. Katsuhiro Otomo directed the film set in Neo-Tokyo in 2019. The plot was set on the future Tokyo built on the ruins of the old city destroyed by war. Neo-Tokyo is enveloped with intangible darkness that involves gang violence, political scuffles, and never ending wave of anti-government protests. In one of the major gang wars in Neo Tokyo, Tetsuo gets injured and needs abrupt medical attention. Doctors and nurses on the hospital where he was admitted noticed that he possess psychic capabilities that resembles Akira—a boy who had the same abilities that destroyed Tokyo several years back. His power made him the target of many government organizations aiming to bring him down because of his threatening power. All hand drawn animation, unique animation style, and careful attention to detail make Akira a revered anime worldwide. The movie received an A rating from the critiques. In 2009, the Internet Movie Database (IMDB) listed Akira as one of the Top 50 movies of all time. Exactly 18 years after Akira sent waves worldwide, Mamoru Hosoda created coinciding ripples with his Movie The Girl Who Leapt Through Time in 2006. This movie is also based on manga with the same title and creatively played on the concept of time travelling. The movie is one of the best ever created because of its plot and distinct character development. Most people (if not all) who watched this anime found themselves crying at the end of the movie. A seemingly shojo film by its title, the movie however establishes the critical concept of relationships and the value of time. The film opens with the lead Makoto discovering a walnut shaped object. She died on her way home via a train accident however finding herself alive few minutes before the incident happened. She later on discovered that she had the power to leap through time. Makoto uses this power to avoid being late for school or extending a session of karaoke. People who watch anime movies might have predicted that Makoto will eventually get in trouble or get killed again. However, the film ends in a more painful way when Makoto loses Chiaki, her best friend and the only person she loved. Critically acclaimed for its heartwarming plot and characters, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time quietly earned the world’s reverence, making it one of the best contemporary animated films to date.
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