15 Best Anime Movies of the 2020s So Far, Ranked

While anime has always proven itself to be an exceptional and highly popular medium over the years, the digital age has seen a massive explosion in popularity in anime of all types. Anime has simply become more accessible and widely available than ever before, as more and more audiences have been enthralled by numerous anime series, from long-running classics like One Piece and Dragon Ball to newer titles like Chainsaw Man and Jujutsu Kaisen. While anime is primarily associated with long-running series, the explosion in popularity has also affected many anime films in recent memory.

Anime movies are far from a new phenomenon, with all-time classics like Akira, Spirited Away, and Perfect Blue consistently being praised as some of the best-animated movies of all time. However, with the more recent worldwide acceptance and explosion of anime, anime films have been the most successful and beloved as they've ever been in markets around the world. Whether they are original films weaving their own story or simply a theatrical continuation of a long-running series, there is no shortage of iconic anime films that have already made the 2020s a defining decade for the medium.

15 'The Colors Within' (2024)

A simple, feel-good anime story about the power of music as a tool for bringing people together as a dynamic coming-of-age venture, The Colors Within easily stands as one of the most underrated anime films of recent memory. The film follows high school student Totsuko, who has the ability to see the 'colors' of her fellow students, fostering an unexpected friendship with her classmate Kimi as they form a band together.

More than anything else, The Colors Within exudes an energy of pure charm and melancholy, inviting the audience into its world of feel-good energy and lovable characters, made all the more effective by some catchy tunes and stylish animation. It shares a lot in common with director Naoko Yamada's work on the highly acclaimed music coming-of-age series K-On!, only told in a standalone cinematic experience and with a greater focus on animation style and flair.

14 'Jujutsu Kaisen 0' (2021)

Jujutsu Kaisen has quickly made a name for itself as one of the defining anime series of the 2020s, with one of the most important aspects in its rise to popularity being the inherent strength of the prequel film Jujutsu Kaisen 0, which was released the same year as the end of season 1. The film does an effective job of not just being a standalone experience that even people who haven't seen the show can enjoy, but also acting as a pivotal piece of lore and information that has greater implications for the series going forward.

It does everything that one would want out of a film adaptation of an ongoing shonen series, as it provides everything that people like about the original series, only amplified and given a cinematic scale, without making its story non-canon. Even as the Jujutsu Kaisen series grows and reaches increasingly high heights with its storytelling and animation, this exceptional film still stands as one of the high points of the franchise in the eyes of many fans.

13 'Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero' (2022)

The latest film in the long-running Dragon Ball series, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero sees the return of the villainous Red Ribbon Army, an evil organization that Goku defeated in the original Dragon Ball series. However, with Goku and Vegeta too busy training with Beerus and Broly, it becomes up to Piccolo and Gohan to put a stop to the villainous threat before they can enact their evil plan. To make things worse, the Red Ribbon Army has created two new powerful android warriors, designed specifically to take down the Z warriors.

While it may not have a massive impact on those who aren't already fans of Dragon Ball, Super Hero continues the trend of massive-scale visual spectacle cinematic experiences for the series. The film specifically acts as an evolution for the series by adopting stylized 3D animation, giving the film a distinct look that makes it feel like it hopped directly off of the manga pages. It helps make the flashy action sequences that much more exciting, as well as it being wholly satisfying to watch a Dragon Ball story that isn't focused on Goku.

12 'Pompo: the Cinephile' (2021)

Pompo the Cinephile follows the story of Pompo, a lover of all things cinema who has been building up her repertoire as an established director in the movie capital of the world "Nyallywood". One day, Pompo's assistant Gene finds massive inspiration from one of Pompo's scripts, declaring that he wants the film to be made as soon as possible. This allows Pompo to try out producing instead of directing, telling Gene to shoot the film in what will be his first directing gig.

Beyond its cutesy and lightweight exterior, Pompo the Cinephile is a genuine love letter not just to film and filmmaking, but to the art of creation, and the beauty of creating a work of art in the visual medium. The way that the film creatively visualizes normally boring and tenuous acts such as editing and sound mixing makes for a genuine sight to behold, with an uncanny ability to amp up an audience's passion for film. It's certainly a mandatory watch for fans of filmmaking, animation, and the process it takes to create.

11 'Inu-Oh' (2022)

Inu-Oh follows the story of the young, titular Inu-Oh, a boy born to an esteemed family who has been afflicted with an ancient curse that has forced him to live as an outcast in his town. However, he soon finds himself making an unexpected friendship with blind musician Tomona, a young priest haunted by his past. In their time together, Inu-oh ends up discovering a passion and uncanny ability to dance, and the duo quickly become inseparable friends as larger and larger crowds begin to flock to their extravagant concerts.

Director Masaaki Yuasa has always been attributed to his beautiful and mystifying animation style, most often seen in Mind Game and Devilman Crybaby, and said style flourishes in Inu-Oh. The film makes a work of art out of its musical sequences while telling a compassionate and deeply impactful story of friendship and deeper bonds. The way that the film combines the visuals of a flashy rock concert with the elegance and grace of an ancient folk ritual is a sight to behold, making it easily one of the most underrated anime films in recent memory.

10 'HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle' (2024)

While not as immediately action-packed and tension-fueled as the wide array of action anime series, the adrenaline-pumping energy of sports anime has made them some of the best and most cathartic experiences out there, with one of the best being volleyball anime Haikyu!!. Its wide array of compelling characters and striking characters has made many consider it the perfect starting point for non-anime fans, with Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle only serving to bring out the best of the series' greatest qualities.

This emotional and compelling sequel to the beloved anime series acts as a return to form for the volleyball anime, upping the ante and providing the types of top-notch sports action that could only be possible on the big screen. The characters are as likable as ever, the action is mesmerizing from start to finish, and the story being told is among the best that the series has created so far.

9 'Demon Slayer The Movie: Mugen Train' (2020)

The first of many ventures into film for massively successful anime franchise Demon Slayer, Demon Slayer The Movie: Mugen Train sees the main group of heroes boarding the Infinity Train, where they meet with the Fire Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku. Together, they are tasked with taking down a dangerous demon who has been tormenting the passengers of the train, in what is easily the most dangerous demon that they've faced so far.

While many anime movies that come from preexisting series go out of their way to make their cinematic experiences non-canon to the main series, Mugen Train does the exact opposite, making the film the connecting bridge between Seasons 1 and 2. While this certainly brought much more interest to the film than other anime film adaptations, what has helped it become such a monumental success is its beautiful standalone themes of acceptance and loss. Combined with the signature beautiful animation of the show brought to a cinematic budget, it's no wonder that it became the highest-grossing anime movie of all time.

8 'The First Slam Dunk' (2022)

The quintessential combination of traditional 2D Japanese animation and 3D computer animation, The First Slam Dunk creates a visual feast that can only be described as the future of animation. The film follows the story of the Shohoku High School basketball team in what is their most difficult game yet, competing as the underdogs against the reigning champions of the league. The film goes back and forth between the present-day match and stories from the past on how each of the players got to this point and joined the team.

Few films have been able to blend 2D and 3D animation as seamlessly as The First Slam Dunk, which accomplishes masterful feats of animation without breaking a sweat. At the same time, it perfectly understands and captures the energy and adrenaline of competition, and never fails to get the audience amped up as the game continues. It all comes together in one of the most breathtaking and beautifully animated climaxes in any animated film, and will only continue to increase its massive reputation and legacy as the years go on.

7 'Belle' (2021)

A wildly imaginative digital era retelling of Beauty and the Beast from the director of Digimon: The Movie, Summer Wars, and Wolf Children, Belle completely flips the classic fairy tale on its head. The film follows the story of Suzu, a reclusive 17-year-old high school girl who is still reeling from the pain of losing her mother at a young age. She soon finds refuge in the massive online world of "U," and becomes engrossed in this alternate reality world as her avatar, Belle, a pop star icon loved by millions. However, after an encounter with a dangerous beast, Suzu begins to realize that she may have more in common with him than she expected.

Instead of simply retreading the same story beats and characters of the original fairytale in a modern setting, Belle acts as a complete evolution of the story of Beauty and the Beast, down to its core themes and values. The way that it implements social media and the digital world into its story is far from forced, and it acts as a genuine modern-day variation of the timeless themes while allowing it to delve deeper into its personal story. This is all on top of the spectacular visual style that has made it one of the most beautiful and distinct anime films out there.

6 'Suzume' (2022)

From Makoto Shinkai, the director of Weathering With You and Your Name, Suzume is yet another fantasy adventure that combines young adolescent love with a mysterious, unexplainable force. In the film, young Suzume is living her life as normal before a chance encounter with a mysterious young man thrusts her into the world of magical doors and protecting Japan from disaster. To make matters worse, a mischievous magical cat ends up transforming this man into a sentient children's chair, so it becomes up to Suzume to help him with his duties as well as help him retrieve his original body.

Suzume features all the classic staples of Shinkai's previous works, from extravagant mysteries with a high concept to overarching themes of acceptance and bodily autonomy. What makes Suzume especially special when compared to the rest of Shinkai's filmography is its clear parallels and themes surrounding the impact and pain of the 2011 Japanese earthquake. It helps give the film a distinct identity of its own compared to his other works, while still being able to tell its deeply compassionate story effectively.