Akira
Mitsuo Iwata, Nozomu Sasaki, Mami Koyama
A secret military project endangers Neo-Tokyo when it turns a teenage biker gang member into a rampaging psychic psychopath who can only be stopped by his best friend.
Why you'll love it
A groundbreaking cyberpunk anime film with stunning animation and a complex narrative about power and corruption that defined the genre for Western audiences.
Perfect Blue
Junko Iwao, Rica Matsumoto, Shinpachi Tsuji
A pop singer gives up her career to become an actress, but she slowly goes insane when she starts being stalked by an obsessed fan and what seems to be a ghost of her past.
Why you'll love it
A psychological horror anime following an idol's descent into paranoia and identity confusion, perfect for those interested in darker storytelling with pop culture themes.
Ghost in the Shell
Atsuko Tanaka, Iemasa Kayumi, Akio Ôtsuka
A cyborg policewoman and her partner hunt a mysterious and powerful hacker called the Puppet Master.
Why you'll love it
A philosophical sci-fi anime masterpiece exploring identity and consciousness with iconic visuals that influenced filmmaking across multiple mediums.
Paprika
Megumi Hayashibara, Tôru Emori, Katsunosuke Hori
When a machine that allows therapists to enter their patients' dreams is stolen, all hell breaks loose. Only a young female therapist, Paprika, can stop it.
Why you'll love it
A visually dazzling psychological thriller about dreams bleeding into reality, with vibrant colors and imaginative sequences that showcase anime's artistic potential.
Weathering with You
Kotaro Daigo, Nana Mori, Tsubasa Honda
Set during a period of exceptionally rainy weather, high-school boy Hodaka Morishima runs away from his troubled rural home to Tokyo and befriends an orphan girl who can manipulate the weather.
Why you'll love it
A romantic fantasy anime with stunning visuals and an uplifting story about love and sacrifice, featuring gorgeous animation and emotional resonance.
The Garden of Words
Miyu Irino, Kana Hanazawa, Fumi Hirano
On a rainy morning in Tokyo, 15-year-old Takao, an aspiring shoemaker, decides to skip class to sketch designs in a beautiful garden. This is where he meets Yukari, a beautiful yet mysterious woman. They strike an unlikely friends...
Why you'll love it
A visually poetic anime short about a brief romantic connection between two people, known for its exquisite watercolor-style backgrounds and melancholic atmosphere.
Mirai
Rebecca Hall, Daniel Dae Kim, John Cho
A young boy encounters a magical garden which enables him to travel through time and meet his relatives from different eras, with guidance by his younger sister from the future.
Why you'll love it
An imaginative fantasy anime about a young boy meeting his sister from the future, blending family themes with magical adventure and beautiful hand-drawn animation.