There are so many incredibleanime films with totally original storiesthat are essential for fans. When it comes to movies, anime tends to lean toward adaptations. There’s a large number of films using the medium that rely entirely on pre-existing works, such asSpy x FamilyandNaruto. In fact, most of the time, the top anime films among fans each year mostly end up being adaptations. However, this doesn’t mean that the medium is completely devoid of original stories.
There’s a large selection of anime films out there that are totally original in concept and execution.In fact, some directors have made a name for themselves by creating totally original works, rather than turning to pre-existing manga or books to adapt to the big screen. While adaptations certainly outnumber these films, the shine of quality makes them speak for themselves as total gems that stand on their own. Without further ado, here are ten of the best anime films with totally original stories that fans should seek out if they haven’t seen them for themselves yet.
Mirai
Cast
Mirai is a Japanese animated film directed by Mamoru Hosoda. Released in 2018, it follows four-year-old Kun, who struggles with the arrival of his baby sister. Through encounters with family members from the past, Kun navigates the challenges of sibling rivalry and growth within his dynamic household.
Currently the only anime filmnot made by Studio Ghibli to be nominated for an Oscar,Miraiis a film that struck a chord with critics an audiences for its story about sibling rivalry. It follows a boy named Kun whose family welcomes a baby girl named Mirai. He immediately gets jealous of the attention she receives. However, when he runs away to a garden near his house, he discovers that he can travel through time. This leads him onadventures between the past and futureas he slowly begins to connect with a mysterious high school girl.
Miraiis a film that has a lot of familiar set-ups for its story. The idea of jealousy within the family between siblings is nothing new. However, it’s how the story executes the idea that makes it so unique.The time travel element makes for an exciting fantasy storyline that takes Kun on a journey that can’t be missed.Plus, as the truth behind the mysterious girl begins to unfold, it leads to a can’t-miss emotional climax that takes the film full circle.
Weathering With You
Weathering with You is an animated film directed by Makoto Shinkai, released in 2019. It follows Hodaka, a high school runaway in Tokyo facing financial difficulties, who meets Hina, a girl with the extraordinary ability to control the weather, amidst the city’s continuous rainfall.
This second entry in Makoto Shinkai’s disaster trilogy wasn’t quite as well-received ashis previous film,Your Name. However, that doesn’t stop it from being an incredible story.It follows a boy named Hodaka who befriends Hina, a girl who has the power to control the weather.The two begin a service that gives the people of Japan the weather they’ve always wanted. However, as Hina continues to exert her powers, she begins to notice that something is calling her away from her friends and family.
Weathering with Youis a film that simply needs to be seen to be believed.The beautiful animation used to bring these changes in weather to life is absolutely incredible, especially during the film’s disaster sequences. Plus, the concept of two kids being the cause of disaster is an idea that’s handled so well, making for a unique twist on a genre that’s riddled with films relying on the scope of its disasters, rather than diving deeper into the human element.
This often-overlooked Studio Ghibli film is an experience that fans should have as soon as possible. Miyazaki’s second film in his impressive filmography, andthe first to be made after Studio Ghibli was officially founded, follows a boy who catches a girl floating down from the sky. The two quickly discover that she was saved by a mysterious element in her necklace, allowing her to gracefully float to safety. Thus begins an epic adventure featuring pirates, miners ,and robots as the two search for the mysterious castle in the sky to discover the truth behind the girl’s necklace and her mysterious past.
What makesCastle in the Skyso entertaining is how reminiscent it is of classic adventure stories that were coming out around the same time. There’s non-stop thrills and entertainment as the main characters are embroiled in a chase to find the castle in the sky before anyone else. However, the messaging behind the film adds a nice layer of depth.The themes of environmentalism and human greedshow a fascinating dimension to a typical adventure story that’s better handled than most environmental films released around the time. For the most part, it’s a film that lets the adventure do the talking, but the visuals and characters expand upon the story to tell something more.
Princess Mononoke
In this epic animated fantasy by Hayao Miyazaki, Princess Mononoke explores the struggle between the supernatural guardians of a forest and the humans who consume its resources. The story follows Ashitaka, a young warrior inflicted with a deadly curse, as he navigates a battle that pits the industrialized human society against the gods of the forest, alongside San, a fierce girl raised by wolves.
WhileCastle in the Skyis a film that showedMiyazaki’s passion for the environment and ecological protection,Princess Monokeperfected the message. This modern fairy tale sees Ashitaka, a man who is cursed by a demon, searching for a cure for his ailment. While on his travels, he learns of the legend of Princess Mononoke, a human girl who protects the forest from intruders. Ashitaka dives deeper into the mythology to discover the truth, but little does he know that his investigation could lead to an opening for ironworkers to move toward the forest and dig up its resources.
The best aspect ofPrincess Mononokeis its exploration of the conflict between environmentalism and industrialization.Miyazaki is a man who shows concern for the rapid growth of machinery that depletes natural resources, so his film showcases the harmful repercussions of these actions. Plus, by blending it with folklore, it personifies the forest itself to show the pain that industrialization is causing to the environment in a way that people can visualize.Princess Mononokeis environmental storytelling at its finest and is easily one of Miyazaki’s best.
Suzume
The third film from writer/director Makoto Shinkai, Suzume, is an animated action-adventure fantasy film that revolves around seventeen-year-old high school student Suzume Iwato. Suzume, who has the power to see supernatural beings and events, discovers that strange doors keep opening across Japan that will inevitably lead to the world’s doom. Joined by a mysterious young man, Suzume will embark on a journey to close the doors and save her home.
The final entry in Makoto Shinkai’s disaster trilogyabsolutely went out with a bang asSuzumewowed audiences. It follows a girl named Suzume as she discovers a fascinating secret: the world’s biggest disasters are caused by giant worms from another world that manage to slip out of gateways.When she accidentally frees a cat-like creature that has been guarding the doors to the other world, she realizes she must work with Souta, a “closer” who works to save Japan from disaster after he’s turned into a chair.
This fantasy has a bizarre premise, but the way the story is executed makes it an absolute delight to watch. It’sripe with emotion and actionas Suzume travels across the country to undo the mess she created. However,what really makes it shine is the gorgeous animation used throughout.The disaster sequences are incredibly fluid, making for some of the greatest shots one can see in an anime film. Plus, the varying colors give each shot the depth needed to show just how serious these disasters are, making the film a triumph for animation fans.
5 Centimeters per Second
5 Centimeters Per Second is a Japanese animated film directed by Makoto Shinkai. Released in 2007, the film chronicles the journey of Takaki Tono as he navigates the emotional and physical distances separating him from his childhood friend, Akari Shinohara. The story unfolds in three interconnected segments, exploring themes of love, longing, and the passage of time.
While not even an hour long, this film from Makoto Shinkai’s earlier days has stood the test of time as a powerful narrative. It features a boy and a girl who have been friends for years, only for them to be separated one summer. The rest of the story shows how each character reacts to the change throughout their lives, taking place over three chapters. While each story can hold up on its own, the central theme surrounding them helps make them stand together as one cohesive narrative.
The best thing about the execution of this film is how it handles its message by tying each story together. It’s a film thatdives into letting go of the past and pushing forward with life as friendships come and go. These two characters show differing paths as one moves on while the other dwells on what could have been. This all leads to an emotional conclusion that fits the tone the film has been building up to, making itan underrated masterpiecethat’s also an essential watch for fans of anime and drama.
The Boy and the Heron
Billed as the final work of famed animator Hayao Miyazaki, The Boy and the Heron is a drama-fantasy film that follows a young boy named Mahito who contends with grief following the passing of his mother during World War II. Forced to evacuate to the countryside amid the war, Mahito struggles to fit into his new environment and contend with his new stepmother. However, Mahito’s life is changed after meeting a strange talking Heron - setting him on a journey of self-discovery filled with magic.
While it shares a name with a Japanese novel from 1937, Miyazaki’s most recent film,The Boy and the Heron, isn’t exactly considered an adaptation because of how loosely it adapts the source material. Instead, it follows a boy named Mahito Maki after losing his mother at a young age. When his father remarries, the two move in with her to begin a new life. However, Mahito doesn’t deal with the transition well as he doesn’t trust his new stepmother. However, when she disappears, he goes on an adventure to find her and bring her back home.
This personal Miyazaki story shows an interesting glimpse at his mind after years of creating beloved stories and questioning what is next for him.This is all balanced together by a gorgeous film that is by far his most fantastical story sinceSpirited Away.With various worlds and characters of differing designs, it’s no wonder this film ended up becomingthe second anime to win Best Animated Picture at the Oscars.The Boy and the Heronmay not crack the top spot for many Miyazaki fans, but there’s no denying that this fantastic work is essential viewing for anyone who cherishes his work.
Wolf Children
Wolf Children is an animated film directed by Mamoru Hosoda, revolving around a young mother named Hana who raises her two half-wolf, half-human children after their father’s untimely death. As they grow, Hana grapples with the challenge of nurturing their dual nature while seeking a peaceful and fulfilling life for her family in the rural countryside.
Often declared Mamoru Hosada’s magnum opus,Wolf Childrenis a story that showsthe joys and disappointments of being a parent. When a woman named Hana meets and falls in love with a man who can turn into a wolf, they have two children together. However, when the father dies, Hana is left to take care of their kids from their infancy to their teens. As she deals with the struggles of parenthood, she soon faces an even more difficult challenge: her kids' blossoming ideas and the changes they go through to become who they are.
WhatWolf Childrensucceeds at most is how unpredictable parenting can be. It’s common for parents to have a whole life planned out for their children so they can see them grow up to be successful. However, seeing her children begin to question whether they want to remain human or become a wolf showsa more difficult side to parenting than the stress.Kids, after all, are still individuals. There’s nothing parents can do to steer them away from one direction or the other if the path they take is something they think is right. It’s a message that’s necessary for every parent to experience, makingWolf Childrenan absolute must-watch.
Spirited Away
Spirited Away, a masterpiece by Hayao Miyazaki, is an animated fantasy film that follows the enchanting journey of a young girl named Chihiro. Trapped in a mystical world after her parents are transformed into pigs, Chihiro must navigate a realm filled with spirits and peculiar creatures to save her family.
This groundbreaking anime from Studio Ghibli is often considered to be one of their best, and for good reason. It’san emotional fantasy through the spirit realmthat featuressome of the greatest character dynamics in film history. It follows Chihiro as she and her parents happen upon an abandoned area while moving to a new city. When her parents are turned into pigs, Chihiro must work on her own to find a way to change them back. Along the way, she comes across a colorful cast of characters that make her experience in the spirit realm an engaging one.
It’s a fairly simple concept, but the mix of visuals with a heartfelt tone makes it an experience that can’t be missed. The use of color and outrageous character designstransport the viewers to a whole other world, yet their customs are easy to understand,allowing for rich worldbuilding. On top of this, the themes of the film are multilayered, allowing for analysis from different perspectives to get the most out of the film’s story. UntilThe Boy and the Heron,Spirited Awaywas the only anime that held the Best Animated Picture Oscar, and it was absolutely a prize well deserved.
Your Name
Your Name is a 2016 animated film directed by Makoto Shinkai. The story centers around two high school students, Taki and Mitsuha, who inexplicably begin to swap bodies. Set in both Tokyo and a rural town, the film explores themes of identity and connection as the characters navigate their intertwined lives. Through its rich animation and poignant narrative, Your Name captivates audiences with its exploration of fate and self-discovery.
Nearing a decade old,Your Namecontinues to be the center of conversation for many anime fans because ofhow much it changed the game for anime movies going forward. It centers on Mitsuha, a girl from a rural town, and Taki, a boy from Tokyo. One day, they discover that they randomly switch bodies at unexpected times. The two quickly agree that they must work together to find out what’s going on. However, when the swaps stop happening, one of them sets out to discover what happened to the other.
The emotion that comes from this simple story is a masterclass of storytelling. There’s nothing quite likeYour Namewhen it comes to screenwriting because of how it dives the audience into the world of its characters and enchants them with their situation. Thebody-swap trope is perfectly subvertedthroughout the narrative, leading to an incredible reveal that changes the way people think of these storylines forever. There’s no question thatYour Nameranks as one of the best anime films with an original story, and given how much people still talk about it today, it always will be held in this high regard.
