Studio Ghibli films capture audiences’ hearts with their magical and beautiful storytelling. These movies have become gateways into the world of anime for many fans across the globe and continue to attract new fans. Studio Ghibli’s reputation is well-earned and deserved, and its influence has impacted millions of viewers worldwide.

However, anime cinema extends far beyond Studio Ghibli and offers a wide range of vibrant and complex stories that shine just as brightly. Outside of the Ghibli spotlight, filmmakers have brought to life unforgettable stories that leave behind a powerful legacy. These films stand on par with Studio Ghibli's best works and deserve just as much attention if not more.

10 The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

Produced by Madhouse, Directed by Mamoru Hosoda, Written by Satoko Okudera

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time centers on Makoto, a high school girl who stumbles upon a mysterious object that grants her the ability to leap through time. At first, she uses the power to fix minor inconveniences, but soon enough, the consequences of her actions grow more apparent. Makoto comes to understand the butterfly effect that her actions create and realizes that the past, present, and future can’t be altered without repercussions.

The film’s blend of lighthearted humor and a strong emotional core powerfully reflects on the age of time. As a story about the choices we make and things beyond one’s control, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time stands out for its depth and stunning animation. With relatable characters and complex themes, the movie is a coming-of-age story that reflects on the bittersweet nature of moving forward.

9 Children Who Chase Lost Voices

Produced by CoMix Wave Films, Directed and Written by Makoto Shinkai

Children Who Chase Lost Voices, also known as Journey to Agartha, is directed by Makoto Shinkai, who also directed hits like Suzume and 5 Centimeters per Second. The film is set in a world where myths come to life. The story follows a young girl, Asuna, who finds herself in the land of Agartha after an encounter with a strange boy. The three central characters in the film each have a unique purpose for being in Agartha, dealing with loss and grief in their own ways.

The key themes of the film are love, loss, and the search for meaning. With its adventurous plot and melancholic themes, Children Who Chase Lost Voices is a work of art. The animation is beautiful, and the characters' journeys offer viewers a lasting emotional impact.

8 Weathering With You

Produced by CoMix Wave Films, Directed and Written by Makoto Shinkai

Weathering With You takes place in an alternate world where Tokyo is engulfed by relentless rain. The narrative follows Hodaka, a young boy who escapes his troubled home and meets a girl named Hina, who has the ability to dispel the rain and bring sunshine through prayer. As their relationship grows, they come to realize that Hina’s abilities have both a purpose and consequences for the world around them.

The film examines the cost of chasing dreams while trying to escape reality and the weight of life’s heavier burdens.

Weathering With You explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the unpredictability of fate. The film examines the cost of chasing dreams while trying to escape reality and the weight of life’s heavier burdens. The story reveals the complexity of love and sacrifice as Hodaka and Hina come to with their choices.

7 Perfect Blue

Produced by Madhouse, Directed by Satoshi Kon

Perfect Blue follows Mima, a pop idol who retires from music to pursue acting. Her world slowly begins unraveling in terrifying ways, as the line between reality, performance, and delusions starts to blur. Mima is haunted by a stalker and tormented by an online presence that claims to be her. What begins as a career shift turns into a dark, psychological descent marked by paranoia and the fracturing of her identity.

Perfect Blue is a haunting exploration of fame, identity, and public scrutiny. Its tense, fragmented story mirrors Mima’s mental breakdown and pulls viewers into her increasingly unstable headspace. The film's fast-paced, unnerving atmosphere continues to influence both anime and Western cinema even decades after its premiere.

6 Your Name

Produced by CoMix Wave Films, Directed and Written by Makoto Shinkai

Your Name follows two strangers who begin waking up in each other’s bodies. Mitsuha is a young girl from a rural mountain town, and Taki is a young boy living in the heart of Tokyo. What starts as a curious, somewhat comical phenomenon quickly becomes a deeper, cosmic event that ties their fates together.

The movie weaves together a tender, emotional arc that explores a connection that transcends time itself without ever losing its grounded humanity. The non-linear structure builds suspense, and the longing for someone just out of reach keeps viewers hooked to the screen. Your Name is visually stunning and has a powerful emotional arc.

5 Akira

Produced by TMS Entertainment, Directed and Written by Katsuhiro Otomo

Akira drops viewers into the dystopian Neo-Tokyo, a city with high tension and simmering with unrest. When Tetsuo, a street-level biker, gains uncontrollable psychic powers after a military experiment goes wrong, he finds himself at the center of chaos that threatens to engulf everything. Akira is a fast-paced story where childhood friendships, government conspiracies, and the fear of unchecked power collide.

The film’s cyberpunk aesthetic is visually eye-catching, and its narrative grips audiences with its examination of societal and personal upheaval. Its explosive energy is matched with a sense of existential dread, exploring how trauma, control, and identity can fracture under pressure. The scale of Akira’s animation successfully conveys tension and emotion, making the film both provocative and unforgettable, even decades after its release.

4 Wolf Children

Produced by Studio Chizu and Madhouse, Directed and Written by Mamoru Hosoda

Wolf Children follows Hana, a young mother raising two children who inherit their late father’s ability to transform into wolves. After his sudden death, she retreats to the countryside, seeking a life where her kids can grow up freely, away from prying eyes. The story that unfolds is a personal journey that spans years, seasons, and the evolving nature of Hana and her family.

The film gently explores the complexities of navigating parenthood and the bittersweet reality of letting go and moving on. The emotional core of the story is matched with moments of lyrical beauty, and without relying on grand spectacles, Wolf Children finds strength in life’s quiet moments, crafting a powerful coming-of-age narrative.

3 Hotarubi No Mori E (Into the Forest of Fireflies' Light)

Produced by Brain's Base, Directed by Takahiro Omori, Based on the One-Shot Manga by Yuki Midorikawa

Hotarubi No Mori E takes place in a quiet forest filled with folklore where a young girl named Hotaru meets Gin, a spirit bound by a tragic rule. If he ever touches a human, he will forever vanish. What begins as a summer encounter grows into a bond that spans across years, even as the unbreakable boundary between them remains.

Hotarubi No Mori E is short in length, but rich in emotion and depth. The film explores the beautiful yet fragile connection between Hotaru and Gin. The moments shared between the two feel both timeless and fleeting. The restraint throughout the movie is one of its greatest strengths, and without the need for grand gestures or sharp plot twists, it delivers audiences with a powerful and emotional climax that is unforgettable.

2 I Want To Eat Your Pancreas

Produced by Studio VOLN, Directed by Shinichiro Ushijima, Based on the Novel by Yoru Sumino

I Want to Eat Your Pancreas is an emotionally charged story about an introverted high school boy who stumbles upon the diary of his terminally ill classmate, Sakura. Despite their opposite personalities, the two form an unexpected, powerful bond and spend their remaining days together. The story is told through quiet conversations and everyday moments, and their relationship changes them both in subtle yet irreversible ways.

Rather than leaning too heavily into melodrama, the narrative finds beauty in restraint. It explores themes of morality without cynicism, allowing joy and heartbreak to coexist in the same scene. I Want to Eat Your Pancreas has thoughtful, reflective pacing that explores the impact of fleeting connections and what it truly means to be alive.

1 A Silent Voice

Produced by Kyoto Animation, Directed by Naoko Yamada, Based on the One-Shot Manga by Yoshitoki Ōima

A Silent Voice centers on Shoya, a boy who bullied a deaf classmate, Shoko, in elementary school. Years later, when the two reach high school, Shoya is burdened by guilt and searches for redemption by trying to make amends with her. The film dives into themes of forgiveness, consequences of actions, and connections that can be reforged and made anew.

A Silent Voice takes on a raw and powerful storyline that addresses shame, self-worth, suicidal ideations, and healing. It does not shy away from the pain of its characters and provides them with profound emotional growth throughout their journey. The film portrays the struggles of communication between each character, both spoken and unspoken, and the ways that people reach out to others after they have been hurt.