#5: Akira
In a future Tokyo, ravaged by crime and a costly war, street gangs rule the abandoned streets. In a fight between a rival gang young Tetsuo is injured and taken to a military hospital where he is experimented on for the potential of having psychic powers. His friend Kaneda has to fight to save him from the government and himself.
My baptism to anime as anime, as is true with most people in my generation (second wave) of anime fans. I have seriously watched this movie over 200 times. In many ways this is also the worlds introduction to the idea of 'anime', cartoons that can transcend the idea of only being for children. A medium that can be used to tell mature stories that large groups of people can relate to. Katsuhiro Otomo's crowning masterpiece is 25 years old now and is still an amazing piece of cinema. Everyone who watches anime must indeed watch this film. The film was brought out before the manga was completed so there are some discrepancies between both articles. Drugs also play a large role in the manga which was mostly absent from the anime. I would have loved to have seen the way the manga ended in the movie.
#4: X
Kamui returns to Tokyo driven by an uncontrollable force. Upon his arrival he becomes intertwined in a battle between two opposing forces who will decide the fate of the world. Kamui is the lynchpin between both groups in determine the winner. While he initially refuses to participate his childhood friends are unwitting dragged into the conflict, forcing him to play his hand.
CLAMP's full length feature debut was kicked out before the manga was finished and ended up being a far better telling of the story. The ladies tale of fate, childhood friendship/love and destiny was bloated in both the manga and the TV show. The movie was lean, perhaps leaving a few items out that would have made it more understood to casual viewers, but ended darkly. I have a soft spot for stories that end unhappy and this is a great one. Neon Genesis Evangelion followed a similar route with how its original theatrical conclusion played out but X was my first exposure to the Japanese obsession with hugging dead friends heads. Unfortunately for the dated technology and CLAMP's annoying design style, this movie looks bad these days. But the story and the sense of dread can still be greatly enjoyed.
#3: Tenchi Forever: The Movie / Tenchi Muyo In Love 2
Tenchi becomes entranced by a mysterious woman who was his grandfathers lover. Ryoko and Achika work to find him in an alternate world and return him to the real world before he is lost in a land of dreams.
One of the original harem romance titles turns moody and mature with this final theatrical release. The art style is softer compared to the other titles in this franchise and the story focuses on a tale of lost love turned to a dangerous illusion. While this presents the third time rewriting how Tenchi's grandfather arrives on Earth it provides the backdrop and plot for this tale of mistaken identity and forced love. I also feel this movie answers the main question of the series; who will Tenchi choose to love above all others?
#2: 5cm per Second
Lone transfer student Takaki can only relate with a girl in his class who also moves from city to city. When she moves away he can't give up on her and continues to remain in contact. When he finds out he will be moving to the other end of Japan he does everything he can to see her in person. Once he moves he loses contact with the only person he has ever had any sort of feelings for and tries to live life with this amazing sense of loss.
The second theatrical release for Makoto Shinkai brings a sense of melancholy seldom expressed on film. This is an incredibly beautiful and heart breaking movie about lost love and failed dreams. This dream like film is exquisitely drawn, with amazingly detailed landscapes. The story doesn't carry much in the way of dialog, with much of the emotion left to the scenery and score. This is hands down the best anime movie I have ever seen. Shinkai is one of my favorite directors, but I can't put this one at the top because I can't see myself watching this haunting and depressing movie over and over again.
#1: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
High school student Makoto one day gains the ability travel time, of which she does with reckless abandon. When her fun and antics start to affect people around her she tries to fix the problems with more time travel only to make matters worse. As everything culminates into tragedy she doesn't know if she will be able to undo the damage she has done.
This is top on my list for a few reasons, even though I consider 5cm per Second a better film. It hits a number of my favorite subjects in one blow; comedy, romance, slice of life and time travel. I really love a well done time travel story and this one does it very well. Makoto is a bit of an idiot and she never plans to do more than have a good time and undo some simple mistakes with her ability. She doesn't want to change the world, she wants to sing karaoke longer and eat her pudding before her sister can steal it. Usually time travel comes with world shaking goals and consequences. This different approach to the subject is greatly welcome. While it is mostly fun and games there are some incredibly serious and emotional portions of this movie. I won't lie, certain parts of the film choke me up. I like movies that can do that to me. This was the first theatrical director debut (not tied to a franchise) for another of my favorite directors, Mamoru Hosoda. His other movies, Wolf Children and Summer Wars are excellent films as well, but this one is my favorite by him. Not only is it #1 on my anime film list, its in the top 5 for films in general. I really love this movie and watch it every few months.
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