Anime is a popular form of entertainment these days, especially among young people. However, anime films have rarely recieved high acclaim outside of a small circle of viewers and critics. Here, I’m hoping to shed some light on what I think are the best full-length anime action films of all time. Most of these are intended for more mature audiences than the type of movie you’d expect to see on a list of anime films. There’s no Studio Ghibli-type stuff on here.
#10: Raven Tengu Kabuto: The Movie
This one probably doesn’t deserve a place on this list, but I enjoyed it so much that I put it on here anyway. It’s pretty cheesy, but there’s plenty of late 80’s to early 90’s style ninja action. The plot isn’t particularly deep, but the movie certainly never get’s boring. It’s really hard to find these days (so hard to find that I’d love any help anyone could give me in getting my hands on a copy), but if you find it at your local video store, it’s worth watching.
#9: Macross II
The more well known series Robotech is based partially on Macross. Macross is the quintessential sci-fi mecha and space combat anime, even more so than Gundam, in my opinion. This movie shows off plenty of what the series is known for, and like the rest of Macross, there’s always a little bit of romance woven through all of the fighting.
#8: Street Fighter II: The Movie
Most people are at least slightly familiar with the Street Fighter series of video games. This movie brings back old memories of sitting around the TV playing SNES and Genesis with my friends. The movie captures the feel of the games very well, and the storyline is actually pretty compelling.
#7: Lupin III: Castle of Cagliostro
This is one of the best of many Lupin III movies out there. The series is the best combination of action and comedy I have seen in an anime series, and is a staple of my group of anime-watching friends. This one is a little more serious than the others (though that’s not saying very much). What really makes this stand out from the others is the storyline and the soundtrack. It’s much more romantic than the others, but the romance never gets in the way of the humor-punctuated action. The English cast is great also, especially David Hayter (the voice of Solid Snake from the Metal Gear Solid games) as Lupin.
#6: Dominion Tank Police
This is another movie that combines comedy and action. It’s based off of a manga by Shirow Masamune. The thing that distinguishes this movie from most of the others derived from Masamune’s works is that this one captures his unique sense of humor instead of focusing solely on the serious side of his stories. The characters are quite memorable, especially Commander Britain, the commander of the main character’s tank unit, and Buaku, the gangster. Britain is the ultimate tough guy, a lifetime subscriber to How to Kill magazine. His dedication to his gigantic tank is quite amusing at times.
#5: End of Evangelion
This movie wraps up the Neon Genesis Evangelion anime series. Like the rest of the series, it contains a lot of giant mecha, violence, and religious references. Though the protagonist is pretty whiny, there are quite a few great characters in the movie, and it’s a must see for fans of the series.
#4: Akira
Akira is usually at the top of lists like these. It’s one of the most influential anime films in existence. The story is moving and deep, but there’s a lot of sci-fi action as well. Though it’s not my number one favorite, it’s up there. A classic anime must-see.
#3: Appleseed
This is another movie based off of Shirow Masamune’s work. Like Dominion Tank Police and Ghost in the Shell, the main themes are high technology, deeply philosophical ideas, and copious amounts of military-style combat. It challenges ideas about what a utopia really is. Definitely one of those movies that makes you think.
#2: Ninja Scroll
Ninja Scroll is perhaps the bloodiest anime film that’s widely available. Jubei Kibagami is the ultimate bad-ass ninja, and the Eight Devils of Kimon are some of the more intimidating villains out there. When it comes to ninja-related things, Naruto doesn’t even come close.
#1: Ghost in the Shell
This is my favorite anime movie. It’s another Shirow Masamune storyline, and Mamoru Oshii’s directing makes it even better. Though there’s not as much humor as Masamune’s manga, the philosophical elements are brought out in a big way. This is the epitome of cyberpunk anime.
