Top 21 Best Anime Movies of Each Year (2000 - 2020)

Script written by Mark Sammut

Top 21 Anime Movies of Each Year (2000-2020)

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 21 Anime Movies of Each Year (2000-2020).

For this list, we’ll be looking at the best anime films released in each year of the 21st century so far.

What is an underrated anime movie? Let us know in the comments below!

2000: “Digimon Adventure: Our War Game!”

An early showcase of Mamoru Hosoda's talent as a director, "Digimon Adventure: Our War Game!" is an action-packed 40-min epic. Set after the events of the original series, "Our War Game!" envisions a somewhat more recognizable cyber world, albeit while still fitting well into the franchise's overall universe. With its brisk runtime, this is a movie that does not waste a single second and tells a powerful story with a great antagonist in Diablomon. "Our War Game!" was spliced into "Digimon: The Movie," but the full version is comfortably the best.

2001: “Spirited Away”

In a filmography filled with masterpieces, "Spirited Away" stands out as perhaps Hayao Miyazaki's greatest work. An imaginative tour de force, "Spirited Away" chronicles a young girl's journey into the spirit world, a place steeped in Japanese folklore. Boasting stunning animation, complex characterization, and mature themes explored through the eyes of a realistic child protagonist, "Spirited Away" exemplifies the whimsical moodiness that defines most of Miyazaki's projects. Winning "Best Animated Feature" at the "75th Academy Awards," "Spirited Away" garnered acclaim on an international level, bringing more attention to anime in general.

2002: “Millennium Actress”

Satoshi Kon's singular vision as a director made each of his films a unique event, and "Millennium Actress" stands out as one of the filmmaker's greatest achievements. Framed as a documentary crew immortalizing the life story of an elderly actress, the 2001 film blends sincere human emotion with tributes to cinema and Japanese history. The animation, score, and storytelling are exceptional throughout, with a handful of moments – such as Chiyoko's dash through history – combining the three to craft something close to perfection. "Millennium Actress" is the type of movie that only comes out once in a lifetime.

2003: “Tokyo Godfathers”

Leave it to Satoshi Kon to create one of the most unorthodox Christmas movies ever. "Tokyo Godfathers'' centers around three homeless people who find a baby and set out to reunite her with her parents, and the process is far from simple. Along the way, the trio runs into a hitman, plenty of remnants from their past lives, and an intense conclusion that manages to be simultaneously heart-wrenching and uplifting. "Tokyo Godfathers" showcases Kon's peerless talent for effortlessly balancing multiple tones, as the movie is both an effective drama and, at times, a laugh-out-loud comedy.

2004: “Howl’s Moving Castle”

Miyazaki's films tend to be associated with environmentalist themes, but the director has tackled other challenging subjects as well. "Howl's Moving Castle" is one of the director's most aggressive anti-war films, with a pointless conflict between two kingdoms serving as the backdrop to a peculiar romance between Sophie and Howl. Visceral war sequences are juxtapositioned with breathtaking demonstrations of nature, creating an experience that can be dreamy one moment and haunting the next. While the characters' actions are often driven by rage, fear, or frustration, there is a hopefulness that runs through "Howl's Moving Castle;" also, the castle itself is a work of art.

2005: “Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children”

A sequel to Square's genre-defining JRPG "Final Fantasy VII," "Advent Children" is a technical marvel packed to the brim with dynamic fight scenes. While the animation has aged surprisingly well, "Advent Children's" CG was very impressive in 2005. As for the story, "Advent Children" does a solid job of further fleshing out the game's characters, particularly Cloud, and serves as a respectable addition to "Final Fantasy VII's" legacy. Ultimately, "Advent Children's" worth comes down to its many battle sequences, some of which are thrilling to witness. The final confrontation between Cloud and Sephiroth is especially fantastic.

2006: “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time”

"Digimon" and "One Piece" helped introduce Mamoru Hosoda to the world, but “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time” put the director on the map. While time-travel movies are a dime-a-dozen, this anime film takes this well-worn concept and injects it with an irresistible charm, plenty of humor, and a human core. The energetic Makoto Konno gains the ability to leap through time, which the teenager mostly uses for minor everyday things and to avoid uncomfortable situations. At its heart, “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time” is a coming of age story, with the focus squarely being on Makoto's development.

2007: “Sword of the Stranger”

Japanese cinema has produced its share of classic samurai films, and Bones' 2007 anime deserves to sit alongside the very best. "Sword of the Samurai" centers around an orphan, Kotaro, who is being chased by the Ming dynasty's warriors; in desperation, Kotaro hires a No Name ronin for protection. Whenever weapons start to clash, "Sword of the Stranger" is nothing short of incredible, with the anime featuring plenty of memorable and bloody fight sequences. While the action is the highlight, "Sword of the Stranger" also holds its own when it comes to its story and characters.

2008: “Ponyo”

While every Miyazaki film can be enjoyed by all ages, "Ponyo" feels slightly more tailor-made for children than something like "Princess Mononoke" or "The Wind Rises." Right from its enchanting opening sequence to the climax's refreshingly wholesome conclusion, "Ponyo" continuously radiates innocence and magic as it whimsically adapts the classic "The Little Mermaid" story. Studio Ghibli and beautiful animation go hand in hand, but "Ponyo's" visuals are exceptionally detailed and stunning, particularly during some of the film's more hectic moments. Sweet, smart, heartwarming, and engrossing, "Ponyo" is a delight from beginning to end.

2009: “Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance”

While the first entry in the "Rebuild of Evangelion" series primarily just gives the original show a fresh coat of paint, the sequel brings some big changes to the narrative. "Evangelion: 2.0" remains in relatively familiar territory for the first half of its story, as it introduces Asuka, throws a couple of intense fights against Angels, and continues to develop Shinji's relationships. However, the final act plays around with expectations and leads the series into uncharted territory. Throughout all of this, "Evangelion: 2.0" delivers great animation, engaging and complex characters, and - naturally - an incredible sequence of Unit-01 going Berserk.

2010: “The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya”

As the follow-up to the influential “The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya,” “Disappearance” takes everything great about that series and adds a touch more focus. Kyon comes to find that reality has changed on a fundamental level, with the biggest difference being that Haruhi is now attending another school. This brings normality back to Kyon's life, but is that what he really wants? "The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya" is a thought-provoking experience that plays around with the presentations and expectations of these established characters. While the whole film is enjoyable, there are a couple of stretches – such as Kyon's choice – that are truly something else.

2011: “K-ON! Movie” (2011)

One of the definitive moe anime went out with a bang, or to be more specific, a journey to London. "K-ON! Movie" sees four of the five main girls on the verge of graduating from high school, sparking a trip to a foreign land and a goodbye song. "K-ON! Movie" is very much an extension of the series, with the film adopting a relatively slow pace driven by the amiable everyday lives of the light music club members. Although the London section is fun, the emotional heart of the movie lays in its more natural and typical sections, with the final act being especially strong.

2012: “Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo”

Set more than a decade following the events of the second entry, "Evangelion: 3.0" envisions an Earth devastated by the Third Impact. The film treads new ground for the franchise while still hitting most of the points synonymous with "Evangelion," including Shinji's endless self-doubt, controlling parents, and another cataclysmic event. At the heart of "Evangelion 3.0" is Shinji's dynamic with Kaworu, a pairing that brings hints of warmth to an otherwise quite dreary and challenging film. "Evangelion: 3.0" does not dilute its vision by trying to be a crowd-pleaser, as it tells a story that raises just as many questions as it answers.

2013: “Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Rebellion”

"Puella Magi Madoka Magica's" subversion of the "magical girl" genre has been so thoroughly discussed that any person going into 2013's "Rebellion" will be just waiting to be shocked. A sequel to the original series that serves as a conclusion to the saga, "Rebellion" begins by playing make-belief, an illusion that is quickly dissected as the film focuses on the relationship between Homura and Madoka. "Madoka" has never catered to anyone's expectations, and "Rebellion" adheres to this mantra by delivering a satisfying experience without necessarily hitting gratifying story beats. "Rebellion" brings a harrowing journey to a haunting conclusion.

2014: “The Last: Naruto the Movie”

"Naruto" was a cultural phenomenon during most of the 2000s, and this 2014 blockbuster provided some additional closure to the manga's story. While there is plenty of shinobi action and a world-threatening danger to confront, at its heart, "The Last: Naruto the Movie" is a love story revolving around the titular ninja and Hinata. In around two hours, the movie manages to convincingly sell Naruto and Hinata's romance, one that had been pretty one-sided up to this point. "The Last" makes for an emotional and charming conclusion to one of shounen's big three, even if "Boruto'' would continue "Naruto's" legacy.

2015: “The Boy and the Beast”

Sometimes people just have a way of finding each other, and Ren and Kumatetsu were born to co-exist. As implied by its name, "The Boy and the Beast" is an odd couple-type story, one that sees the isolated Ren becoming the apprentice to the abrasive Kumatetsu, a beast who also has some maturing to do. Although Ren and Kumatetsu cannot help but argue, a touching and largely unspoken bond forms between the two, one that helps each of them feel like they belong. While not without some pacing issues, "The Boy and the Beast" is nevertheless a very fun summer film.

2016: “Your Name”

Beautiful skies, a romance challenged by space and time, and an element of the supernatural; yes, this is certainly a Makoto Shinkai film. "Your Name" is a movie of two halves; one that starts as a quirky body-swap comedy about two teenagers from very different walks of life, but ultimately transforms into something far more epic. As far as anime blockbusters are considered, "Your Name" is a proper crowd-pleaser, a film that highlights anime's aptitude for mixing pure fantasy with relatable characters and themes. Endlessly rewatchable and transcendent, "Your Name" is an industry-defining film.

2017: “Kizumonogatari Part 3: Reiketsu”

"Reiketsu" brings to a close the "Kizumonogatari" saga, a prequel trilogy set before the events of the "Monogatari" series. These films show how Araragi became acquainted with a certain blonde vampire. "Kizumonogatari" blends sharp editing, a peculiar sense of humor, and a dialogue-dense narrative packed with introspection, philosophy, and personality. Building upon its predecessors, "Reiketsu" is the most satisfying entry in the trilogy, acting as a triumphant showcase of all the strengths and bizarre quirks that define the "Monogatari" franchise. Whether staging the ultimate fight between two near-indestructible forces or a prolonged joke about Araragi's perverted nature, "Kizumonogatari" never holds back.

2018: “Dragon Ball Super: Broly”

Sometimes nothing hits the spot like watching a few Saiyans punch through a dimension or two. It might have taken a few decades but, in 2018, a cinematic event worthy of the "Dragon Ball" name hit theatres. While not for the uninitiated, "Broly" delivers all the gloriously over-the-top action, transformations, and flashes of comedy that any "Dragon Ball" fan could want. Naturally, the action scenes are incredible, with Broly's fight against Vegeta and the final battle being the film's highlights. Narratively, "Broly" does an effective job setting up the Legendary Super Saiyan as a sympathetic but threatening force.

2019: “Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel II. lost butterfly”

The second entry in ufotable's "Heaven's Feel" trilogy, "lost butterfly" surpasses its predecessor and delivers a character-driven masterpiece that does not skimp out on the action. An adaptation of "Fate/stay night's" darkest route, "Heaven's Feel" is grim and gory; however, this storyline is underpinned by the powerful relationship between Shirou and Sakura. "Lost butterfly" is by no means an easy watch, but the film handles subjects dealing with abuse and self-hatred with grace and maturity. Familiarity with "Fate/stay night" is required to fully appreciate this trilogy, but "Heaven's Feel" is so good that it makes it all worthwhile.

2020: “Made in Abyss: Dawn of the Deep Soul”

Continuing from the events of "Made in Abyss's" first season, "Dawn of the Deep Soul" is soul-shattering in the best possible way. "Dawn of the Deep Soul" follows Riko, Reg, and Nanachi as they continue their descent down the Abyss, a journey that leads them to Bondrewd. A manipulative researcher who reduces children to tools, Bondrewd is an absolutely chilling villain. The antagonist's impact is enhanced by the presence of the young Prushka, a girl who sees Bondrewd as a father figure. A vital entry in the saga, "Dawn of the Deep Soul" will inspire nightmares while triggering an insatiable craving for more "Made in Abyss" content.