Among the huge number of animated films created in different countries and in different techniques, anime occupies a special place. This is the name of Japanese cartoons, the main audience of which is teenagers and adults. Anime is characterized by a special technique for rendering characters. Most often, anime is based on manga (Japanese comics), and the authors try to preserve graphically the style of the original. Sometimes, classic literary works are also taken as a basis.
The best full-length anime (list, top and summary) is the topic of our article. We selected the most famous cartoons, which were highly appreciated by both viewers and critics. It should be noted that anime has long been popular not only in Japan and neighboring countries, but also around the world.
Spirited Away (2001)
Full-length anime (a list of the best films can be seen below) have their own standard. This is one of the most famous works of a true master of Japanese cartoons, directed by Hayao Miyazaki - the anime "Spirited Away".
Ten-year-old Chihiro moves with her parents to a new home. Having lost their way, they fall into a mysterious forest and find themselves in front of a wall with a tunnel. Having walked along it, the family goes to a city where there is not a single resident, but there are many restaurants with a pleasant smelling food. Starving parents Chihiro eagerly pounce on a treat, and the girl at this time decides to walk around the city. She meets a boy, Haku, who demands that she urgently run away from this place. Chihiro hurries to the restaurant, where he finds his parents turned into pigs. The tunnel through which they came to the city disappeared. Haku finds the girl and explains that she was in the magical land of ghosts, where the witch Yubaba rules everything. To save his parents, Chihiro needs to go to work in the witch's bath. There, the girl falls into a whirlpool of amazing and frightening events.
Spirited Away is the best full-length anime of all time. The cartoon is one of the most popular and favorite paintings of the XX century and occupies the top lines in various ratings. Anime entered the golden fund of world cinema.
The Walking Castle (2004)
Full-length anime (list of the best cartoons) continues another great work by Hayao Miyazaki. "Walking Castle" is interesting in that it was not based on a Japanese work, as is customary in the anime, but the novel of the same name by the English writer Diana Jones. As the director said, the prototype of the castle from his cartoon was the hut on chicken legs.
According to the plot of the anime, the action takes place in an alternative universe, where magic and advanced technologies coexist peacefully with each other. The main character of the story is the hatter Sophie. Once, a beautiful young man saves her from harassment on the street, but Sophie is severely punished by a witch for this, having robbed her of her youth. Turning into an old woman, the heroine of history decides to go to the Wild Wasteland to remove the curse. On the way, she meets a Scarecrow, which helps her get into a huge and mysterious structure - a walking giant castle. In it, Sophie meets the boy Markle and the fire demon Calcifer. Despite the resistance of the latter, she decides to stay in the castle and, for starters, arranges a general cleaning in it. This is not at all happy about the returning owner of the house - the powerful wizard Haul.
The cartoon has been awarded many prizes and entered the list of the best paintings in the world. Many famous actors, such as Christian Bale, immediately agreed to voice the anime characters, as they were familiar with the director’s other work, Spirited Away.
“From the slopes of Kokuriko” (2011)
This is the best full-length anime directed by Goro Miyazaki tells the story of Umi girl. Her father, the captain of the ship, died in the war, her mother leaves for work in another city, and the main character remains in the house for the mistress. In addition to household chores, she attends a school club and joins a team of activists who are trying to save the building from closure. Working with other students to save the club, Umi meets her first love.
"Princess Mononoke" (1997)
This is the best full-length anime on a mystical theme that takes the viewer into the era of the appearance of firearms. Prince Asitaka, saving his village from a demon possessed by a boar, kills the beast. But he manages to touch the young man and passes him his curse. In search of healing, Asitaka sets off on a journey. He finds himself in a place where the inhabitants of the Iron City and the ancient forest are fighting for a long time. In the forest, Asitaka meets the adopted daughter of the goddess - Princess Mononoke. Not wanting to allow bloodshed, the young man assumes the role of a peacemaker between people and the inhabitants of the forest.
My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
Full-length anime (list of best cartoons) continues another work by Miyazaki. According to the plot of the cartoon, two sisters, Satsuki and May, move with their father to the village. The mother of the girls is seriously ill and is in the hospital. While her father works, Satsuki must keep an eye on five-year-old fidget May. Once the baby meets small forest spirits and pursues them. They lead the girl to the local spirit of the forest - Totoro. He became one of the most popular and recognizable characters. He is not a traditional character of Japanese folklore, but a fictional one. It was invented by Miyazaki himself, giving Totoro the features of a forest guardian spirit. In his appearance, the director combined the appearance of three animals: an owl, a cat and a raccoon dog. As a result, a funny furry creature appeared, able to fly. Despite Totoro's outward affability, he can get very angry.
The Sky Castle of Laputa (1986)
In an alternative world, there is a legend about the heavenly island of Laputa. Someone wants to get power with his help, others - wealth. But you can find it only with the help of a magic crystal. It belongs to the girl Sita, who considers him a talisman. The pirates and the government begin the hunt for the crystal, and Sita is in danger. The girl is saved by Pazu, a young man from a mining town. Together they decide to figure out what value the Sith mascot is.
The Witch's Delivery Service (1989)
A screen version of a famous children's novel by a Japanese writer called Kiki's Delivery Service. This is the story of the adventures of a little witch, a student of Kiki, who, along with her cat Zizi, goes on an internship in a strange city. Kiki falls into the seaside Koriko. There is no witch here, and the girl decides to stay in a city that she really liked. She comes up with the idea of using a flying broom to deliver things to the residents of Koriko.
The Tomb of Fireflies (1988)
The best cartoon telling the life story of a brother and sister during the Second World War. The father of the children serves in the navy, and the mother dies as a result of an enemy air raid.
Seita and Setsuko are left alone and trying to survive. Having not received help from their aunt, they go to live in abandoned houses. Little Setsuko gets sick and dies. Seita learns about the surrender of the Japanese army and thinks that his father died along with the imperial fleet. Left, as he thinks, all alone, the boy loses the desire to live. Critics attributed the anime to the best works of war.
“The wind is getting stronger” (2014)
This is the best full-length anime of recent years. As announced, this film ends Hayao Miyazaki's career as a director.
The cartoon tells the biography of the famous Japanese aircraft designer Jiro Horikoshi, who created military fighters. The film received many awards as the best animated film of the year.