If you are an anime fan and have a Netflix subscription, you don’t need to look any further. Netflix offers an excellent collection of anime TV series as well as movies. And today, we will be focusing on the latter. Ranging from the recently released action film Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King to some of the best One Piece movies like Strong World and Gold, there is something for everyone on Netflix. It is even home to the enchanting tales of Ghibli Studios and Makoto Shinkai. So, let’s not waste time and check out some of the best anime movies on Netflix.
Note:
The availability of these movies may vary from region to region. It’s difficult to check the availability for every region, so do check if it’s available for you once you’ve selected the movie you want to watch.
20. Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King (2023)
- Japanese Title: Black Clover: Mahou Tei no Ken
- Author: Yūki Tabata
- Studios: Pierrot
- Genre: Animation, Adventure, Action
- Duration: 1 hour 50 minutes
- IMDB/MAL: 7.4/8.1
The latest Black Clover movie filled the void left by the anime during its hiatus period. Black Clover fans were able to enjoy the magical adventures once again with this entertaining movie. The plot of the movie is familiar to anime fans.
But for those unaware, it’s about a young boy named Asta whose goal is to become the next wizard king. But the catch here is he was born without any magical powers. How will he achieve his goals with this big obstacle in his path? That’s the main theme of the movie.
It’s a standalone movie and is not connected to the canon part of Black Clover. Therefore, fans can enjoy this movie on its own and have a great time with it. Newcomers can watch the anime so that they won’t be spoiled about the characters and enjoy this movie. It is one of the best anime movies available on Netflix.
Check out Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King
19. The Cat Returns (2002)
- Japanese Title: Neko no Ongaeshi
- Creator: Hiroyuki Morita
- Studios: Studio Ghibli
- Genre: Animation, Adventure, Drama
- Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
- IMDB/MAL: 7.1/7.7
Check out The Cat Returns if you love cats and wish to watch a film about the fantastical world of cats. A girl by the name of Haru Yoshioka saves the prince of the Cat Kingdom in this movie.
As an appreciation for saving his life, the prince invites Yoshioka to the Cat kingdom and proposes marriage. In an unexpected turn of events, the prince assumed that she had accepted the invitation and took her to his realm. Did she, though? The rest of the plotline explains how Yoshioka plans to overcome the challenges thrown at her.
Despite Miyazaki’s absence, this Ghibli story is still a good watch. The Cat Returns is said to be a spin-off of another popular Ghibli film, Whisper of the Hearts. It is one of the best movies for cat lovers as it features one of the best cats in anime history.
Check out The Cat Returns
18. Ponyo (2008)
- Japanese Title: Gake no Ue no Ponyo
- Creator: Hayao Miyazaki
- Studios: Studio Ghibli
- Genre: Animation, Adventure, Fantasy
- Duration: 1 hour 43 minutes
- IMDB/MAL: 7.6/7.9
Ponyo from Studio Ghibli is a cute little romantic and fantasy tale that will mesmerize you. The story is about how a boy meets a Ponyo, as revealed by the title. Ponyo is a goldfish princess who yearns to grow into a human after forming a relationship with this boy. What the future holds in store for them? That’s exactly what the rest of the story is about.
Ponyo is a short amazing tale and if you are planning to watch it in English dub, you can also get to see your favorite actors such as Liam Neeson, Cate Blanchett, and Matt Damon lending their voices for the characters.
Check out Ponyo
17. The Secret World of Arrietty (2010)
- Japanese Title: Karigurashi no Arrietty
- Creator: Hiromasa Yonebayashi
- Studios: Studio Ghibli
- Genre: Animation, Fantasy, Drama
- Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
- IMDB/MAL: 7.6/7.9
The Secret World of Arrietty is a great Ghibli movie featuring a Pixar-esque storyline. The story is about a young kid named Shou who discovers a mysterious miniature-sized human girl called Arrietty. She had to make a dangerous journey amidst the tall humans to collect food and things to survive but young Shou is amazed to meet a unique neighbor.
Together, these two form a bond of friendship, crossing their forms. You can have a nice enjoyable time with this movie, albeit it has some major flaws.
Check out The Secret World of Arrietty
16. A Whisker Away (2020)
- Japanese Title: Nakitai Watashi wa Neko wo Kaburu
- Studios: Studio Colorido
- Genre: Animation, Fantasy, Romance
- Duration: 1 hour 44 minutes
- IMDB/MAL: 6.7/7.3
Up next, we have a Netflix film, which is a solid anime film. The story follows Miyo Sasaki, a high school student, who falls in love with Kento Hinode, a classmate. Instead of trying to impress him with herself, she devises a plan to blend in and become a white cat. Will she ever confess her true feelings for him? or keep playing the scaredy cat to win over his heart? watch it for yourself!
This anime movie is one of the best from Netflix, and it will hook you with its stunning graphics and compelling characters. This anime differs from others on this list in having a unique and interesting narrative. Therefore, if you want a story unique from regular romance stories, you can try this one for sure!
Check out A Whisker Away
15. From Up on Poppy Hill (2011)
- Japanese Title: Coquelicot-zaka kara
- Creator: Gorou Miyazaki
- Studios: Studio Ghibli
- Genre: Animation, Family, Romance
- Duration: 1 hour 31 minutes
- IMDB/MAL: 7.4/7.8
Here is yet another Ghibli movie, and this explores romance amidst some serious drama. The story is — As Tokyo prepares for the Olympics in 1964, they decide to demolish a school’s clubhouse to establish a different accommodation. But a group of youth from Yokohoma try to put an end to it to save their clubhouse.
That’s where our protagonists Shun and Umi meet and fall for each other, will everything turn out to be fine in the end?
Ghibli takes a break from their usual fantasy-roped dramas and delivers a solid touching romantic drama with this one. It has a simple story to keep you interested throughout. The animation style is also great, along with a sweet soundtrack. All in all, it is worth watching if you are searching for the best romantic anime movie to watch on Netflix.
Check out From Up on Poppy Hill
14. My Hero Academia Movies (2018, 2019, 2021)
- Japanese Title: Boku no Hero Academia the Movie 1: Futari no Hero, Boku no Hero Academia the Movie 2: Heroes: Rising & Boku no Hero Academia the Movie 3: World Heroes’ Mission
- Author: Kohei Horikoshi
- Studios: Bones
- Genre: Animation, Adventure, Action
- Duration: 1 hour 36 minutes
- IMDB/MAL: 7.3/7.6, 7.8/8.0 & 7.1/7.6
My Hero Academia is a fan-favorite Shonen anime known for its action and intriguing storyline. This applies to all three MHA movies, namely My Hero Academia: Two Heroes (2018), My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising (2019), and My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission (2021).
These are non-canon movies, however, one can enjoy them truly and get to see the fun and action side of our favorite characters in MHA. Some of the action scenes in these movies are truly insane and one shouldn’t miss out.
Check out My Hero Academia: Two Heroes (2018), My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising (2019), and My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission (2021)
13. When Marnie Was There (2014)
- Japanese Title: Omoide no Marnie
- Creator: Hiromasa Yonebayashi
- Studios: Studio Ghibli
- Genre: Animation, Family, Drama
- Duration: 1 hour 43 minutes
- IMDB/MAL: 7.7/8.0
Want to witness an unforgettable summer story from the famous Ghibli Studios? Then, you should stream When Marnie Was There on Netflix. Anna Sasaki is a young girl who severely suffers from asthma, hence, she goes to the countryside which can help her recover with a fresh breath of air.
Upon coming to a new place, Anna befriends a mysterious girl named Marnie. And thus begins a beautiful friendship, which both won’t forget forever in their lives.
When Marnie Was There explores the beauty of friendship and how it leads to each other’s self-discovery throughout its runtime. It will be nostalgic for some people who have gone on summer trips like this. Hailee Steinfeld lends her voice to one of the main characters. Needless to say, this Ghibli movie is liked by everyone and is one of the best anime movies.
Check out When Marnie Was There
12. The Wind Rises (2013)
- Japanese Title: Kaze Tachinu
- Creator: Hayao Miyazaki
- Studios: Studio Ghibli
- Genre: Animation, Biography, Drama
- Duration: 2 hours 6 minutes
- IMDB/MAL: 7.7/8.1
This time Ghibli decided to adapt a biography as a movie. And well, this turned out to be one of the most controversial Ghibli movies to date. But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s yet another good movie out there. It’s about the exploration of Jiro Horikoshi’s biography, who created the Japanese fighter planes (A6M World War II fighter planes) used during WW II.
Don’t worry that it will feature only serious dramas as there is a sprinkle of romance all over. If you are a fan of dubs, you are going to have a great time with this movie as John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and many more Hollywood stars have voiced this one.
Check out The Wind Rises
11. Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)
- Japanese Title: Majo no Takkyuubin
- Creator: Hayao Miyazaki
- Studios: Studio Ghibli
- Genre: Animation, Adventure, Fantasy
- Duration: 1 hour 42 minutes
- IMDB/MAL: 7.8/8.2
Kiki’s delivery is one of the most popular Ghibli movies ever. It is about a young girl named Kiki, a witch, who relocates to a coastal town with her cat Jiji. She established a flying delivery business in this town and enjoys her time spending a year alone due to her village’s custom tradition.
As soon as she starts doubting herself over time, she starts to lose her magical powers. Now she has to somehow find a way to regain her powers by fighting against her insecurities.
So as you can see from the plot, its numerous themes resonate with children. It is considered to be one of the best children’s movies of all time. It’s yet another moving journey that will be worth your time.
Check out Kiki’s Delivery Service
10. Violet Evergarden Movies (2019 & 2020)
- Japanese Title: Violet Evergarden Gaiden: Eien to Jidou Shuki Ningyou & Gekijouban Violet Evergarden
- Author: Kana Akatsuki
- Studios: Kyoto Animation
- Genre: Animation, Fantasy, Drama
- Duration: 1 hour 31 minutes & 2 hours 20 minutes
- IMDB/MAL: 7.4/8.4 & 8.3/8.9
One of the most exquisite anime you will ever watch is Violet Evergarden. Similar to the anime, its movies, namely Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll and Violet Evergarden: The Movie (2020) are amazing because they provide stunning and aesthetically beautiful visuals.
The anime tells a variety of diverse emotional tales but these movies focus on two different tales in the Evergarden universe. However, you can still relate to Violet on an emotional level even in these movies because of the excellent characterization.
A major goal of Violet’s trip is to comprehend herself and the world, as well as her emotions. This is a thought-provoking journey that will be an eye-opener for everyone. So I highly recommend you to check out the anime first and then the movies. Grab some tissues while you are at it.
Check out Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll (2019) and Violet Evergarden: The Movie (2020)
9. Whisper of the Heart (1995)
- Japanese Title: Mimi wo Sumaseba
- Creator: Hayao Miyazaki
- Studios: Studio Ghibli
- Genre: Animation, Romance, Drama
- Duration: 1 hour 51 minutes
- IMDB/MAL: 7.8/8.2
Whisper of the Heart is a romance-fantasy drama from the renowned Studio Ghibli. I bet that this film will get you hooked just with its storyline. It is about the adventures of a young girl named Shizuku Tsukishima who is a bookworm. She finds that all the books she aims to pick and read are already borrowed by a boy. And thereby, she starts her journey to find the guy who could be her potential soul mate.
Whisper of the Heart was a blockbuster that resulted in it attaining the highest-grossing film of 1995 tag in Japan. It is such a beautiful romantic tale that deserves to be seen by every anime fan. Hayao Miyazaki doesn’t miss to satisfy us even once, doesn’t he?
Check out Whisper of the Heart
8. The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)
- Japanese Title: Kaguya-hime no Monogatari
- Creator: Isao Takahata
- Studios: Studio Ghibli
- Genre: Animation, Family, Drama
- Duration: 2 hours 17 minutes
- IMDB/MAL: 8.0/8.2
If you are looking for a historical film from Ghibli, then Tale of The Princess Kaguya should be on your watchlist. The story is as follows — One day a random bamboo cutter and his wife find a tiny human inside one of the stalks of bamboo. She is raised to be a fine lady but remains an enigmatic figure still.
Now, what is her future after this? Well, how she confronts her fate has been primarily discussed and portrayed in the movie. This film’s director has also worked on the most famous Ghibli work known as “Grave of the Fireflies,” and just like that, this is another gem from him.
Check out The Tale of Princess Kaguya
7. Castle in the Sky (1986)
- Japanese Title: Tenkuu no Shiro Laputa
- Creator: Hayao Miyazaki
- Studios: Studio Ghibli
- Genre: Animation, Adventure, Fantasy
- Duration: 2 hours 4 minutes
- IMDB/MAL: 8.0/8.3
Hayao Miyazaki brings a treasure hunt-esque story with this Caste in the Sky movie. To find a fabled floating castle, a young boy and girl teams up with a mafic crystal at their hands to start their quest and get there by outrunning the pirates and others.
Now you can see how adventurous this movie gets and it doesn’t stop there. Its magnificent visuals combined with an amazing set of characters and a soulful soundtrack make this a memorable ride. Even though it came in the 80s, trust me, it is still one of the best Ghibli movies ever.
Check out Castle in the Sky
6. Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)
- Japanese Title: Howl no Ugoku Shiro
- Creator: Hayao Miyazaki
- Studios: Studio Ghibli
- Genre: Animation, Adventure, Fantasy
- Duration: 1 hour 59 minutes
- IMDB/MAL: 8.2/8.7
Howl’s Moving Castle is another masterpiece from Miyazaki that is celebrated to this day. A witch curses a young woman to turn into a woman with an old body. And now, her last hope of breaking the curse is to rely on a young wizard who travels in his castle with legs.
The plot may seem funny at first, but I assure you that this movie gives a once-in-a-lifetime magical and surrealistic experience. This is an Oscar-nominated movie and has also won the Best Animation of the Year award at the Tokyo International Anime Fair festival. Howl’s Moving Castle is a timeless classic that will celebrated for years to come.
Check out Howl’s Moving Castle
5. Princess Mononoke (1997)
- Japanese Title: Mononoke Hime
- Creator: Hayao Miyazaki
- Studios: Studio Ghibli
- Genre: Animation, Adventure, Fantasy
- Duration: 2 hours 13 minutes
- IMDB/MAL: 8.3/8.7
Princess Mononoke is an award-winning adventure movie, well, from Studio Ghibli yet again. It has become a fan favorite for many because of its extraordinary portrayal of characters and its splendid visuals.
The story follows Ashitaka who gets caught in a conflict between the mining colony and the forest gods while searching for a remedy for a curse. During this journey, he also meets Mononoke Hime which will change both of their lives forever. This anime has won numerous awards, with the most notable being the Best Picture award at the 21st Japan Academy Awards.
Check out Princess Mononoke
4. My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
- Japanese Title: Tonari no Totoro
- Creator: Hayao Miyazaki
- Studios: Studio Ghibli
- Genre: Animation, Adventure, Drama
- Duration: 1 hour 26 minutes
- IMDB/MAL: 8.1/8.2
My Neighbor Totoro is an exemplary movie when it comes to comfort films. That’s why it continues to be one of the best Ghibli works to this date. It’s about how two young girls embark on adventures with the magical spirits residing in the forest nearby while they relocate to the countryside to remain closer to their dying mother.
Out of all the Ghibli movies I’ve watched, this is the one that remains close to my heart. It’s the most calming and sweetest movie that will make you smile throughout its runtime.
Check out My Neighbor Totoro
3. Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End Of Evangelion (1997)
- Japanese Title: –
- Author: Yoshiyuki Sadamoto
- Director: Hideaki Anno
- Studios: Gainax, Production I.G
- Genre: Animation, Action, Drama
- Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
- IMDB/MAL: 8.1/8.6
Neon Genesis Evangelion is one of the greatest anime to ever release. But even for an anime of that stature, its ending was not well-received by fans. The complaints went so overboard that the creator Hideaki Anno started receiving death threats and abuse from fans.
As a result, the team decided to come up with a movie titled Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End Of Evangelion, which shows us an alternate ending. As you can see, one should watch the anime first and try this movie later. Do not watch it first as it will ruin the whole experience for you.
Just like the anime, this film is considered to offer a profound and thought-provoking experience after watching Shinji’s life. With this movie, Anno was able to pull himself back after the backlash and deliver a successful reply to toxic fans. I recommend you start the Neon Genesis Evangelion series and witness the true masterpiece of a show and the movie.
Check out Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End Of Evangelion
2. A Silent Voice: The Movie (2016)
- Japanese Title: Koe no katachi
- Author: Yoshitoki Ōima
- Studios: Kyoto Animation
- Genre: Animation, Drama
- Duration: 2 hours 10 minutes
- IMDB/MAL: 8.1/8.9
One of the finest anime films to be ever made is A Silent Voice. Unlike any other anime, it sends you on a roller coaster to experience a range of emotions. So if you wonder, what’s the story of this soul-crushing movie? It depicts the lives of a boy who bullies Shouko Nishimiya, a classmate and a deaf girl.
The central theme of the movie is bullying and its aftereffects. Shouko who has been bullied by this kid decides to leave the school. The bullying youngster, Shouya Ishida, then gets the silent treatment from his peers as a result of his behavior. Later in life, he realizes his errors and requests atonement. Will he ever get the redemption he seeks?
This movie is emotional and does a good job of portraying subjects such as sadness, bullying, guilt, anxiety, and more. I’d strongly recommend you stream this movie on Netflix. It features exquisite animation and a lovely soundtrack even though the majority of the movie is filled with sorrowful scenes, it has a fantastic finale that will make you feel better in the end.
Check out A Silent Voice: The Movie
1. Spirited Away (2001)
- Japanese Title: Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi
- Creator: Hayao Miyazaki
- Studios: Studio Ghibli
- Genre: Animation, Adventure, Family
- Duration: 2 hours 5 minutes
- IMDB/MAL: 8.6/8.8
Spirited Away is an Oscar-winning film by Studio Ghibli (from the master Hayao Miyazaki). It is also the highest-rated Ghibli movie of all time on IMDb and MAL. This movie chronicles a young girl named Chihiro’s trip through a strange land controlled by creatures straight out of fantasy such as spirits, witches, and even gods.
Upon entering, she witnessed that humans here are transformed into monstrous creatures. Amidst all this chaos, she tries to rescue her parents and get back to her original home.
Before the Demon Slayer movie, Spirit Away was the highest-grossing Japanese movie of all time from 2001 to 2020. As mentioned above, it won the “Best Animated Feature” award at the 75th Academy Awards and several other awards throughout the years, making it one of the most prestigious anime movies from Japan. It is a masterpiece anime movie that should be seen at any cost.
Check out Spirited Away
