Top 10 Anime Films of the Decade [2000-2009]

My blog is a mixture of both Anime and Asian films but what never ceases to amaze me is how Anime has always had a hold of my interest from day one. What I find fascinating is that Anime lovers all have their own variation of what they think are the ten best Anime films of all time. One of the reasons is that Animes comes in all different flavors, so it appeals to all kinds of tastes. My personal list has little to do with the rating they received in their own reviews but rather the feel of wonder and excitement I got while watching it. Emotions is something you cannot rate, and I believe that after thinking long and hard, these are the quintessential films of the decade. Lets start the countdown:

It’s not a secret that here at Japan Cinema are big fans of GONZO. That said, I was extremely excited to receive Origin: Spirits of the Past. Taking into account the fact that GONZO’s TV series typically look better than most anime movies and OVAs, I couldn’t wait to see what they’d do with a full movie budget. The story takes place in an unspecified post-apocalyptic future bearing passing resemblance to The Matrix’s Zion. considering the film has taken two years to cross nine time zones and comes from one of the artists of the most revered animé series of all time (Neon Genesis Evangelion), it would be unfortunate if it still doesn’t get the audience it deserves.
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Very rare do we get an anime film that is on par with its series counterpart. All the charm and wonder of the Fullmetal Alchemist series is here in this film. One thing I really like about this movie is the inclusion of real world history in the world Ed has gone to. It’s nice to add some real history and thread our loved characters into it. This was a great film and it provided a sense of closure to the amazing Fullmetal Alchemist series. I loved the series and felt that the movie did a really great job of tying up all the loose ends.
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Tekkon Kinkreet is chockfull of symbolism. It just shows how living on the streets can be incredibly fragile for young children, and yet the two boys somehow manage to mentally survive by depending on each other. This film was like anythng I had seen this decade and I was even more intrigued when I learned that Tekkon Kinkreet was directed by Michael Arias, an American who has lived and worked in Japan for more than a decade. A complete and utter jaw dropping experience from start to finish and truely there is nothing like it.
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Most likely the most mainstream film on the list, and one that people are quick to give the top slot too. I judge this harshly upon the fact that Miyazaki’s past works bow this one out the water and for that I can feel nothing but deep regret that this film wasn’t better for me.  Spirited Away is a story about a girl named Chihiro, who, along with her parents, ventures through a tunnel that leads to the world of spirits. While most anime movies are action movies, Spirited Away is a fairy tale, and where most anime movies are harsh, Spirited Away is gentle. Not to take anything away from that magic and wonder of this film, as it is definetely a narratively compelling piece of work.
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Proof that you don’t need explosions and mini guns to make an engaging anime story. This is a sophisticated, warm anime. The anime revolves around three homeless people: Gin (an alcoholic), Hana (an ex-drag queen) and Miyuki (a runaway girl). The night is about to witness a memorable encounter as they discover an abandoned baby girl in a pile of garbage bags. The film gives a face and a voice to the homeless who rarely have either in the media, in Japan or anywhere. It’s a touching movie that, like the best animes, transcends the limitations of the genre.
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Winner at the 2007 American Anime Awards of “best anime feature”, this was the wet dream of most video game and anime fans. Finally, after much anticipation, this CG film graced our way onto home video. The bottom line is that it’s thrilling entertainment for people who like Final Fantasy. It’s fan service 101: Give the people what they want, and then give them some more. The hype didn’t let any of us down.
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Bleach Movie 3: Fade to Black is a great anime movie. I found the whole concept of erasing all recollections of one particular person, thus wiping out her existence, intriguing. The best Bleach film to what is one of the best anime series I’ve ever watched.
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Winner of “Animation of the Year” at the 30th Annual Japanese Academy Awards, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is a wholesome tale. While riding her bike in town one day, the brakes on her bicycle fail to do their job at the last minute and she gets hit by a train. Much to her awe and confusion, she opens her eyes to find herself a minute before the accident happens, safe and sound. She comes to find out she has the ability to manipulate time. A wonderful, engaging film that deserves a slot in my Top 10.
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5 Centimeters Per Second is a more sweet, sad mood piece than your general plot-driven movie. It is emotional and heart-wrenching in part because it deals with simple, universal issues. A boy and girl meet, fall in love, and are forced to leave each other. As an artist, I appreciate this movie more on a visual level but as a whole its also on an exceptional level.
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It was the first anime I have ever seen on the big screen. It recaptured the magic and wonder I used to feel watching Ninja Scroll as a young kid.  Story is fairly simple stuff. Kid has a bounty on head for reasons revealed later, he meets amnesiac samurai whom he manages to convince to look after him. With the accompanying music score being of the classical Japanese drums and strings, it all adds up to something special. Oh, and don’t forget the copious amount of blood and gore to top it all off.
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There you have it, my personal Top 10 Anime films of the past decade (2000-2009). In my opinion, quality in terms of overall story, character development, entertainment value, animation, OST, innovation/overall excellence, this decade was amazing.  I hope you enjoyed my write up and I hope you join me in another great decade of anime and movie watching.