Who said anime movies are just for kids and not for adults? With an attention-grabbing storyline, anime movies prove to be the best movies mostly with a high rating on IMDb. That is why we present you 60 best anime movies of all time in UK so you don’t have to spend time searching for them.
On an extremely tiring day when the hot food on your plate is turning cold, a well-made list of anime movies feels like heaven. Whether it’s The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Princess Mononoke, or Ghost in the Shell, we have movies of different eras in store for you.
So hurry up and scroll down to check it out the best anime movies!
Spirited Away (2001)
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Writer: Hayao Miyazaki
Cast: Mari Natsuki, Rumi Hiiragi, Miyu Irino
Genre: Animation. Fantasy. Adventure
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
Runtime: 2h 5m
Movie Plot: It revolves around a 10-year-old girl named Chihiro who has no way out of an outlawed world full of magic and gods, all of that happens due to their parents taking her to the other side of the tunnel.
Now, Chihiro must do everything if she wants to survive and protect her parents from a strange world where humans are hated, and in order to make that successful, she needs to have an ample amount of courage in herself.
With a rating of 8.6, you can probably figure out that this is going to be the best anime movies of all time in UK.
Akira (1988)
Director: Katsuhiro Ōtomo
Writer: Katsuhiro Ōtomo, Izo Hashimoto, Katsuhiro Ōtomo
Cast: Mami Koyama, Mitsuo Iwata, Nozomu Sasaki
Genre: Animation. Sci-Fi. Action. Thriller
IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
Runtime: 2h 4m
Movie Plot: After the events that took place in World War III, Neo-Tokyo is a completely different place where everything is changed because it has become a dark and dangerous megalopolis enriched with all sorts of terrorists and gangs.
The government is no more functioning properly and is about to fall under the brink of corruption. Now, Tetsuo and Kaneda must do everything in order to save Neo-Tokyo by getting involved in the darkest secrets of that city.
It lies in the 6th position of Best Movies Based on Manga so hurry up and stream it out right now.
My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Writer: Hayao Miyazaki
Cast: Shigesato Itoi, Noriko Hidaka, Chika Sakamoto
Genre: Animation. Fantasy. Kids
IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
Runtime: 1h 26m
Movie Plot: It is a story about two little girls named Satsuke and her younger sister Mei who shift into a house along with their father to be close to their mother who has been hospitalized.
Soon, Satsuke and Mei come to know that the forest near their house is filled with magical creatures called Totoros. Being immensely curious, they become friends with these Totoros who take Satsuke and Mei as well on magical adventures.
Bubble (2022)
Director: Tetsurō Araki
Writer: Gen Urobuchi, Naoko Sato, Renji Ohki
Cast: Peter Serafinowicz, Harry Trevaldwyn, Samson Kayo
Genre: Animation. Fantasy. Romance. Action
IMDB Rating: 4.7/10
Runtime: 2h 6m
Movie Plot: The story is set in the city of Tokyo and it revolves around the shocking event that completely broke the laws of gravity in the city caused by some bubbles that rained down.
No young people are jumping from one building to another. Hibiki, who is known for his dangerous acts jumps into the gravity-bending sea but is later saved by a girl named Uta who happens to possess mysterious powers.
Now the real question arises, why did Uta save Hibiki and appeared out of nowhere?
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)
Director: Mamoru Hosoda
Writer: Satoko Okudera, Yasutaka Tsutsui
Cast: Mitsutaka Itakura, Riisa Naka, Takuya Ishida
Genre: Animation. Sci-Fi. Romance. Drama
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
Runtime: 1h 38m
Movie Plot: We’ve normally seen many students who are not much interested in school and the activities going on there. The same goes for Makoto who is a high-school-going girl who doesn’t like going to school very much and isn’t even concerned about what’s going on.
When she found out she has the ability to time travel, she decides to exploit it and benefit for her gain but soon enough realizes interfering with time travel will lead to serious consequences.
If you’re a die-hard fan of animated sci-fi movies, this one is one of the best anime movies of all time in UK.
Your Name (2016)
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Writer: Makoto Shinkai
Cast: Ryô Narita, Ryûnosuke Kamiki, Mone Kamishiraishi
Genre: Animation. Drama. Romance. Fantasy
IMDB Rating: 8.4/10
Runtime: 1h 46m
Movie Plot: Mitsuha lives in a small mountain town and is the daughter of the mayor. She lives with her sister and grandmother and she isn’t letting anybody know the fact that she is not interested in Shinto rituals or helping her father’s electoral campaign, but nobody cares to even ask what she wants. What she wants is to explore the city of Tokyo and leave this town filled with monotony.
With a whopping rating of 8.4/10, this animated romantic movie will prove to be the best for you if you’re craving this genre.
Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Director: Isao Takahata
Writer: Isao Takahata, Akiyuki Nosaka
Cast: Yoshiko Shinohara, Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi
Genre: Animation. Drama. War
IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
Runtime: 1h 29m
Movie Plot: The story revolves around a Japanese boy who is 14 years old and his sister who is 4 years old, and they are seeking to become a refugee and leave the city of Kobe after the attacks of World War II.
Their life takes a different turn when a janitor tosses the metal sweet container into the night and the survival to stay alive in the war zone starts.
Ghost In The Shell (1997)
Director: Mamoru Oshii
Writer: Kazunori Itô, Masamune Shirow
Cast: Kôichi Yamadera, Atsuko Tanaka, Akio Ôtsuka
Genre: Animation. Sci-Fi. Action | Crime
IMDB Rating: 7.9/10
Runtime: 1h 23m
Movie Plot: It covers the events of 2029 where the world has completely transitioned into a world full of technologies and intensively information oriented. Crime has been taken on to a level that it can be hacked with the help of an interactive network.
So to prevent this, they have developed a system consisting of Cyborgs that possess unbelievable strengths and skills to get access to any network present on Earth. One of the best anime movies of all time in UK, so hurry up and watch it right away.
Perfect Blue (1999)
Director: Satoshi Kon
Writer: Sadayuki Murai, Yoshikazu Takeuchi
Cast: Shinpachi Tsuji, Junko Iwao, Rica Matsumoto
Genre: Animation. Horror. Thriller. Drama
IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
Runtime: 1h 21m
Movie Plot: It revolves around an ex-pop idol named Mima who had a massive fan following. But soon she had to change her career and so she leaves music and starts to pursue acting.
A role is offered to her for a soap opera show but the role given to her is not as decent as she desired it to be despite that she agrees to take up that role.
Soon enough, she begins to feel guilty and starts to imagine what might become of her if her intimate details are shared on the internet.
Princess Mononoke (1997)
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Writer: Hayao Miyazaki
Cast: Minnie Driver, Billy Crudup, Billy Bob Thornton
Genre: Animation. Fantasy. Adventure
IMDB Rating: 8.4/10
Runtime: 2h 14m
Movie Plot: The story revolves around a prince who has been diagnosed with an incurable disease that acts like a curse. With no option left in his hands, he has to die until a definite cure is found.
He travels to the Far East and gets help from the deer god and finds himself amidst a battle between the animal occupants of the forest and an iron mining town.
This animated fantasy movie will prove to be a great one to satisfy your entertainment needs.
My Hero Academia: World Hero’s Mission (2021)
Director: Kenji Nagasaki
Writer: Yousuke Kuroda, Kôhei Horikoshi
Cast: Yûki Kaji, Daiki Yamashita, Nobuhiko Okamoto
Genre: Animation. Action. Adventure. Comedy
IMDB Rating: 7.1/10
Runtime: 1h 41m
Movie Plot: The story revolves around Deki who is responsible for mass murder and the police are searching for him while the superheroes are working together to stop a worldwide crisis which is to find out who’s behind the deadly chemical attack.
Certainly, this is one of the best anime shows that you need to check out right away.
5 Centimeters per Second (2007)
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Writer: Makoto Shinkai
Cast: Satomi Hanamura, Kenji Mizuhashi, Yoshimi Kondou
Genre: Animation. Drama. Romance
IMDB Rating: 7.5/10
Runtime: 1h 3m
Movie Plot: Tono Takaki had to leave Shinohara Akari behind after their elementary graduation. Talaki’s tough life is shown where he had to deal with extreme winters, cold technology, and the ultimate responsibility of love that falls on his head. This movie is a collection of three stories that are a perfect amalgamation of drama and romance.
Summer Wars (2009)
Director: Mamoru Hosoda
Writer: Satoko Okudera
Cast: Mitsuki Tanimura, Ryûnosuke Kamiki, Nanami Sakuraba
Genre: Animation. Sci-Fi. Comedy
IMDB Rating: 7.4/10
Runtime: 1h 54m
Movie Plot: Kenji Koiso happens to be a math genius and studies in eleventh grade, he begins to fly on cloud nine when his secret crush Natsuki asks him if wants to do a summer job at his family’s Nagano home, and he ultimately agrees happily and without any hesitation.
Later on, he comes to know that Natsuki offered her this job to pretend that he is his fiancé. Meanwhile, he receives a message on his phone with a math problem that he cannot resist solving, upon solving he comes to know that with the help of this mysterious equation a social networking website can be hijacked.
Paprika (2006)
Director: Satoshi Kon
Writer: Satoshi Kon, Seishi Minakami, Yasutaka Tsutsui
Cast: Kôichi Yamadera, Megumi Hayashibara, Tôru Furuya
Genre: Animation. Sci-Fi. Fantasy. Mystery
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
Runtime: 1h 30m
Movie Plot: The story revolves around a Japanese research psychotherapist named Dr. Atsuko Chiba who happens to be 29 years old.
She is developing a machine ‘dream detective’ that has the ability to enter into people’s dreams and make a connection with their unconscious to find the reason behind the cause of anxiety. A major plot twist takes place when that special machine is stolen and it needs to be recovered no matter what.
Josee, The Tiger and The Fish (2020)
Director: Kotaro Tamura
Writer: Sayaka Kuwamura, Seiko Tanabe
Cast: Matsutera Chiemi, Kaya Kiyohara , Taishi Nakagawa
Genre: Animation. Romance. Drama
IMDB Rating: 7.6/10
Runtime: 1h 39m
Movie Plot: It revolves around Tsuneo who studies at a university and Josee is a young girl with the inability to walk which results in her not being able to go outside. Both of them meet and get a chance to know each other when Josee’s grandmother has taken her for a walk in the morning.
This is surely one of the best anime movies of all time in UK, so don’t forget to watch it.
Pom Poko (1994)
Director: Isao Takahata
Writer: Isao Takahata
Cast: Yuriko Ishida, Shinchô Kokontei, Makoto Nonomura
Genre: Animation. Fantasy. Comedy. Drama
IMDB Rating: 7.3/10
Runtime: 1h 59m
Movie Plot: This movie has a very thoughtful storyline as it revolves around the community of raccoons that is about to get wiped out and vanished because the city is establishing and taking up the space of the raccoon population’s forest and meadow habitat.
As the construction is about to begin, the raccoons desperately struggle to preserve what they call their homes and stop the construction.
Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Writer: Hayao Miyazaki, Eiko Kadono
Cast: Kappei Yamaguchi, Minami Takayama, Rei Sakuma
Genre: Animation. Fantasy. Adventure. Kids
IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
Runtime: 1h 43m
Movie Plot: The plotline revolves around a young witch-in-training named Kiki who just turned 13 and now she has to leave her home in order to learn how to survive and live independently because according to the witch tradition all witches must leave their homes for at least a year when they turn 13 years old.
So Kiki on her own moves to Korico along with her cat and starts her delivery service while figuring out how to survive all alone.
Jujutsu Kaisen 0: The Movie (2021)
Director: Sunghoo Park
Writer: Hiroshi Seko, Gege Akutami
Cast: Kana Hanazawa, Chinatsu Akasaki, Aya Endô
Genre: Animation. Fantasy. Horror. Mystery. Action
IMDB Rating: 7.9/10
Runtime: 1h 52m
Movie Plot: This is the story of a nervous high school student named Yuta Okkotsu who is currently stuck between a serious problem and that is her childhood friend Rika is leaving him alone as he has turned into a curse.
As this is no joke and something big, Satoru Gojo, a teacher at Jujutsu High notices it and persuades Yuta to enroll in her school where they combat curses so that he can get rid of the curse he has been dealing with for a long time.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train (2020)
Director: Haruo Sotozaki
Writer: Koyoharu Gotōge
Cast: Hiro Shimono, Natsuki Hanae, Akari Kitô
Genre: Animation. Adventure. Fantasy. Action. Thriller. Drama
IMDB Rating: 8.2/10
Runtime: 1h 57m
Movie Plot: Tanjiro Kamado has completely become a different person and has transitioned into a demon slayer ever since his family was brutally murdered and his sister became a demon. Now, Tanjiro and his companions board the Infinity Train to finish off the demons who have been the reason behind people’s discomfort.
You should watch this if you’re an anime lover. You will surely love this one.
Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop (2021)
Director: Kyōhei Ishiguro
Writer: Dai Satō
Cast: Kimberley Wong, Somegorô Ichikawa, Hana Sugisaki
Genre: Animation. Romance. Comedy. Drama
IMDB Rating: 6.8/10
Runtime: 1h 27m
Movie Plot: The story revolves around a boy named Cherry who has an introverted personality and has a hard time communicating with other people, on the other hand, there’s a girl named Smile who hides behind a mask. They stumble upon each other at a suburban shopping mall.
Cherry has a habit of always putting up his headphones and Smile always wears a mask in order to hide her large teeth in the front.
Tokyo Godfathers (2003)
Director: Satoshi Kon, Shôgo Furuya
Writer: Satoshi Kon, Keiko Nobumoto, Satoshi Kon
Cast: Aya Okamoto, Tôru Emori, Yoshiaki Umegaki
Genre: Animation. Drama. Comedy
IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
Runtime: 1h 32m
Movie Plot: The story follows the lives of three homeless girls living in Tokyo, Japan, and looking forward to celebrating Christmas. One of them is a middle-aged girl, one is a young girl and one is a transvestite. Their life no more remains as it was when they find a baby abandoned in a trash can.
Hana, being the one who loves children and has a deep desire of becoming a mother convinces others to keep the child for a night but the very next day they start to find the child’s parents and witness some exciting events along the way.
The Wind Rises (2013)
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Writer: Hayao Miyazaki, Hayao Miyazaki, Tatsuo Hori
Cast: Miori Takimoto, Hideaki Anno, Hidetoshi Nishijima
Genre: Animation. Drama | Biography
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
Runtime: 2h 6m
Movie Plot: This is the best drama movie of all time and the story revolves around the life of Jiro who was always passionate and had a deep desire to fly and design beautiful aero planes as his inspiration came from the famous Italian aeronautical designer Caproni.
He had only one problem that was the hurdle between him becoming a pilot and that is he is nearsighted. But instead, he joins a major Japanese engineering company in 1927 and becomes one of the most successful airplane designers of all time.
Porco Rosso (1992)
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Writer: Hayao Miyazaki
Cast: Bunshi Katsura Vi, Shûichirô Moriyama, Tokiko Katô
Genre: Animation. Fantasy. Adventure
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
Runtime: 1h 34m
Movie Plot: This movie sheds light on the Early 1930s period when high flyers, air pirates, and bounty hunters were all over the sky.
Porco Rosso was a pilot who was one of the most skilled and cunning ones out of all the pilots but he was cursed with a head of a pig and now he makes his end meet by doing odd jobs like saving those who are kidnapped by air pirates.
The major plot twist takes place when he is supposed to fight off his rival, Donald Curtis, who is abducting women. Porco Rosso is one of the best adventure movies of all time.
One Piece Stampede (2019)
Director: Takashi Ōtsuka
Writer: Atsuhiro Tomioka, Takashi Ōtsuka, Eiichiro Oda
Cast: Tia Lynn Ballard, Felecia Angelle, Greg Ayres
Genre: Animation. Action. Fantasy
IMDB Rating: 7.5/10
Runtime: 1h 41m
Movie Plot: It’s a spin-off of the movie One Piece that focuses on pirates from all over the world who are grouped at the Pirates Expo in order to search for the Gol D. Roger’s lost treasure. The real twist takes place when the marine decides to interfere in the whole process and some major events take place.
This is one of the best anime movies of all time in UK that you need to check out right away.
Belle (2021)
Director: Mamoru Hosoda
Writer: Mamoru Hosoda
Cast: Shôta Sometani, Kaho Nakamura, Ryô Narita
Genre: Animation. Sci-Fi. Drama
IMDB Rating: 7.1/10
Runtime: 2h 1m
Movie Plot: Suzu a 17-year-old goes to high school and lives with her father in the countryside of Kochi Prefecture. Suzu lost her mother when she was a little girl, as she loved singing with her mother now that she’s gone Suzu is no more interested in singing.
Due to her mother passing away, the distance between her and her father is increasing day by day.
Music was one of those things in her life that brought immense happiness and pleasure, soon enough she finds an online space known as ‘U’ where she starts her new journey.
Weathering with You (2019)
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Writer: Makoto Shinkai
Cast: Sakura Kiryu, Kotaro Daigo, Nana Mori, Tsubasa Honda
Genre: Animation. Fantasy. Drama. Romance
IMDB Rating: 7.5/10
Runtime: 1h 52m
Movie Plot: The story revolves around Hotaka Morishima who is fed up with his home and decides to run away, after running away he comes to an isolated island where he meets a girl named Akina Amano, who had the ability to change the weather condition by praying, she had a sort of mysterious power that led her to carry out such tasks.
This is the best suspense movie of all time with a touch of romance.
Wolf Children (2012)
Director: Mamoru Hosoda
Writer: Mamoru Hosoda, Satoko Okudera
Cast: Haru Kuroki, Aoi Miyazaki, Takao Osawa
Genre: Animation. Drama. Fantasy
IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
Runtime: 1h 57m
Movie Plot: It’s a story about a 19-year-old girl named Hana who falls head over heels in love with a wolf man. 13 years later, it is shown that Hana is a mother of 2 children, Yuki and Ame. Initially, they are living in the city peacefully and quietly so their wolf heritage doesn’t come out.
But Hana along with the children decides to move to a rural town when the wolf man suddenly leaves the world.
After The Rain (2018)
Director: Ayumu Watanabe, Ayako Kouno, Yasuhiro Akamatsu
Writer: Jun Mayuzuki, Hitomi Mieno, Eiji Umehara
Cast: Jason Douglas, Sayumi Watabe, Hiroaki Hirata
Genre: Animation. Romance. Drama | Manga
IMDB Rating: 7.4/10
Runtime: 22m
Movie Plot: It is a heart-wrenching and life-altering situation when you can no more pursue what you love the most. It follows the story of Akira Tachibana whose sports career ended now that she is injured severely. She starts to fall in love with her manager at a family restaurant where she worked part-time.
The shocking part is that he is a 45-year-old man divorced and also has one kid, but despite the massive age gap, she embraces the love she has for him.
A Silent Voice (2016)
Director: Naoko Yamada
Writer: Reiko Yoshida, Yoshitoki Ōima
Cast: Kenshô Ono, Miyu Irino, Saori Hayami
Genre: Animation. Drama. Romance
IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
Runtime: 2h 10m
Movie Plot: Bullying does mental severe damage to an individual which has lifelong consequences. The story follows the life of Ishida Shouya a spoiled brat who has fun while bullying a deaf girl named Nishimiya Shouko. He bullies that poor little to the point that it becomes necessary for her to change school.
But karma doesn’t let any sinner stay happy for a long time, Ishida himself is bullied and ends up having no friends. This story is a perfect illustration of how a person returns back to the straight path after sinning.
Laputa: Castle in the Sky (1986)
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Writer: Hayao Miyazaki
Cast: Kotoe Hatsui, Mayumi Tanaka, Keiko Yokozawa
Genre: Animation. Fantasy. Adventure
IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
Runtime: 2h 5m
Movie Plot: Laputa is a castle that is floating in the sky ever since a mysterious race of people created it from the time they vanished from the planet.
Many pirates speculated that this castle might be enriched with treasures and riches that are beyond their imagination and now the government wants to find out if this castle has some magical ability to rule the world.
With an incredible rating of 8.0, undoubtedly this movie is going to be the one that fulfills all your animated movie desires.
Whisper of the Heart (1995)
Director: Yoshifumi Kondô
Writer: Hayao Miyazaki, Aoi Hîragi
Cast: Takashi Tachibana, Yoko Honna, Issey Takahashi
Genre: Animation. Drama. Romance
IMDB Rating: 7.9/10
Runtime: 1h 51m
Movie Plot: It’s a story about a young girl who notices a strange series of events, she notices that every book she reads in the library has been earlier checked out and read by the very same boy. She meets an irritating fellow and wonders if it might be the same boy from the library.
Later on, when she finally gets to know his real identity, she discovers that the boy wants to become a violin maker because his grandfather used to be one.
The Boy and the Beast (2015)
Director: Mamoru Hosoda
Writer: Mamoru Hosoda
Cast: Shôta Sometani, Kôji Yakusho, Aoi Miyazaki
Genre: Animation. Fantasy. Adventure
IMDB Rating: 7.6/10
Runtime: 1h 59m
Movie Plot: The story revolves around Kyuta and Kumatetsu. Kyuta lives his life in Tokyo and is a solitary boy, on the other hand, Kumatetsu is a supernatural creature that is isolated in an imaginary world.
The real twist takes place when this young boy Kyuta jumps into the portal of the imaginary world and instantly becomes friends with Kumatetsu. Together they spend their time and experience all kinds of adventures.
Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2018)
Director: Tatsuya Nagamine
Writer: Akira Toriyama
Cast: Ryô Horikawa, Masako Nozawa, Aya Hisakawa
Genre: Animation. Sci-Fi. Action. Adventure
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
Runtime: 1h 40m
Movie Plot: After the Tournament of Power took place Earth is a serene place but knowing the fact that the universe still has some strong people remaining, Goku starts to train very hard to fight off any threat. Later on, Goku and Vegeta stumble upon a Saiyan known as “Broly” who they’ve never even heard of before.
This is the best family-Halloween movie to watch on Halloween.
Pokemon The Movie: Secrets Of The Jungle (2020)
Director: Tetsuo Yajima
Writer: Satoshi Tajiri, Atsuhiro Tomioka, Tetsuo Yajima
Cast: Edward Bosco, Sarah Natochenny, Kimlinh Tran
Genre: Animation. Action. Adventure
IMDB Rating: 6.4/10
Runtime: 1h 39m
Movie Plot: This is the story of a young boy named Koko who is raised by Pokémon and it revolves around how a new bond is created between humans and Pokémon. Surely one of the best anime shows of all time that you need to stream right away without wasting any time.
If you love Pokemon movies then you might be interested to watch all the Pokemon movies in order with your family.
Patlabor 2 (1993)
Director: Mamoru Oshii
Writer: Kazunori Itô, Masami Yûki
Cast: Julie Ann Taylor, Mîna Tominaga, Briony Glassco
Genre: Animation. Sci-Fi. Drama. Mystery. Thriller. War | Crime
IMDB Rating: 7.5/10
Runtime: 1h 53m
Movie Plot: The plotline revolves around the time when the Air Force is blamed for a terrorist attack that took place and Special Vehicle Unit 2 finds itself stuck amid a growing political conflict. One of the best anime movies of all time in UK that is a perfect amalgamation of all genres namely drama, mystery, thriller, crime, etc.
This is the best war movie and the best comedy movie of all time. It has a lot of genres which makes this movie a must-watch for all anime lovers.
Metropolis (2001)
Director: Rintaro
Writer: Katsuhiro Ōtomo, Osamu Tezuka
Cast: Kôki Okada, Yuka Imoto, Kei Kobayashi
Genre: Animation. Sci-Fi. Adventure. Drama
IMDB Rating: 7.2/10
Runtime: 1h 48m
Movie Plot: The most common difference between humans and robots is that humans are all full of emotions whereas robots aren’t. This movie revolves around a young boy and his uncle who happens to be a private investigator.
It focuses on the time when humans and robots start living together but conflicts arise very often.
Robots are kept like servants to humans and are grounded when they enter unauthorized area. The real twist takes place when the boy meets Tima, a robot, and together they indulge in all sorts of trouble.
Millennium Actress (2001)
Director: Satoshi Kon
Writer: Satoshi Kon, Sadayuki Murai
Cast: Fumiko Orikasa, Miyoko Shôji, Mami Koyama
Genre: Animation. Fantasy. Romance. Drama
IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
Runtime: 1h 27m
Movie Plot: The story revolves around a TV interviewer Genya Tachibana who is on a mission to find out where Chiyoko Fujiwara has been all those years as she’s been avoiding people since she left acting 30 years ago.
Tachibana and his long-suffering cameraman meet Chiyoko Fujiwara and listen to her deeply as she narrates the story of her life and Tachibana reflects on her career meanwhile.
Redline (2009)
Director: Takeshi Koike
Writer: Takeshi Koike, Yoji Enokido, Yoshiki Sakurai, Alexander Von David
Cast: Yoshiyuki Morishita, Takuya Kimura, Yû Aoi, Tadanobu Asano
Genre: Animation. Action | Sports
IMDB Rating: 7.5/10
Runtime: 1h 42m
Movie Plot: This action movie is a perfect amalgamation of love, intrigue, and mass destruction. It revolves around the battle that is significant to survive as it centers on the world’s deadliest automobile race.
This is one of the best sports movies to watch of all time. It has a lot of action and a thriller in it. The cast is amazing and the graphics are to-die-for. This movie deserves at least one-watch from your side. So, start watching it on your weekend night.
Earwig and the Witch (2020)
Director: Goro Miyazaki
Writer: Hayao Miyazaki, Keiko Niwa, Emi Gunji, Diana Wynne Jones
Cast: Tom Bromhead, Jazmín Abuín, JB Blanc
Genre: Animation. Fantasy. Adventure
IMDB Rating: 4.8/10
Runtime: 1h 22m
Movie Plot: This animated story has an unconventional plotline that revolves around a girl Earwig who loves to live at St. Morwald’s Home for Children, while on the other hand, many orphans wouldn’t want to. But she likes living there because there’s no restriction as she gets whatever she wants and whenever she wants it.
She has been living there since she was a baby but all of that is taken from her when Bella Yaga and the Mandrake come in disguised as foster parents to Earwig and later on she is thrown into a mysterious house full of potions, and spell books.
Steamboy (2004)
Director: Katsuhiro Ōtomo
Writer: Katsuhiro Ōtomo, Sadayuki Murai
Cast: Katsuo Nakamura, Anne Suzuki, Masane Tsukayama
Genre: Animation. Sci-Fi. War. Action. Adventure
IMDB Rating: 6.8/10
Runtime: 2h 6m
Movie Plot: This movie focuses on the time of 1860s in Britain and revolves around an inventor boy named Ray Steam who has a secretive metal ball that consists of a new form of energy that has the ability to power the whole country. Now, he must use it in order to fight evil and save London from falling.
If you’re into war movies then you might also be interested in civil war movies and the best Disney movies of all time.
Tekkonkinkreet (2006)
Director: Michael Arias
Writer: Anthony Weintraub, Taiyou Matsumoto
Cast: Yûsuke Iseya, Kazunari Ninomiya, Yû Aoi
Genre: Animation. Fantasy. Sci-Fi
IMDB Rating: 7.5/10
Runtime: 1h 51m
Movie Plot: It’s a story revolving around Treasure Town where a young boy has the ability to fly and the moon shines bright in the night but life can be simultaneously beautiful and terrible. Kuro and Shiro are two orphans who always get into trouble but scan the city like hawks for its betterment.
Now, the city is in danger and they have to do everything in order to protect the town from yakuzas and killer aliens. This movie has one of the most modern 3D technology and lies in 17th position in the best movies based on manga.
Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ (2015)
Director: Tadayoshi Yamamuro
Writer: Akira Toriyama
Cast: Hiromi Tsuru, Masako Nozawa, Ryô Horikawa
Genre: Animation. Action. Sci-Fi. Comedy | Martial Arts
IMDB Rating: 7.2/10
Runtime: 1h 33m
Movie Plot: It revolves around the time on Earth when finally peace has entered the lives of people but the fragments of Frieza’s army Sorbet and Tagoma have come onto the Earth in order to resuscitate Frieza with the help of dragon balls.
Unfortunately, this wish is granted and later on, Freiza starts to plan revenge on the Saiya-jin. This is one of the best anime movies of all time in UK, so if you haven’t already checked it out do it right away! Wondering about how to watch Dragon Ballz on Netflix in UK? Don’t worry just use a VPN.
Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Writer: Hayao Miyazaki, Diana Wynne Jones
Cast: Akihiro Miwa, Chieko Baishô, Takuya Kimura
Genre: Animation. Fantasy. Adventure. Romance
IMDB Rating: 8.2/10
Runtime: 1h 59m
Movie Plot: This is a story about a young girl named Sophie who is eighteen and works hard at her late father’s hat shop making hats. On a fine day when she is roaming around the town, she accidentally stumbles upon the Wizard Howl.
Wizard Howl is a handsome yet charming wizard and when The Witch of the Waste comes to know about their relationship in a distorted manner she casts a spell on Sophie which turns her into a 90-year-old woman. What will Sophie do now that she’s transformed and doesn’t know how to revert back? To find out watch this movie right now.
Children Of The Sea (2019)
Director: Ayumu Watanabe
Writer: Hanasaki Kino, Daisuke Igarashi
Cast: Seishû Uragami, Mana Ashida, Hiiro Ishibashi
Genre: Animation. Fantasy. Adventure
IMDB Rating: 6.5/10
Runtime: 1h 51m
Movie Plot: Surely children suffer a lot when their parents separate. This is a story about a young girl named Ruka whose parents are divorced and his father apparently works in an aquarium. Umi and Sora are two boys who are brought to the aquarium and they were raised in the sea.
Ruka instantly feels an odd connection with them and is drawn toward them and she notices she has a supernatural connection with the ocean they came from.
The Anthem of the Heart (2015)
Director: Tatsuyuki Nagai
Writer: Mari Okada
Cast: Sora Amamiya, Inori Minase, Koki Uchiyama
Genre: Animation. Drama. Family
IMDB Rating: 7.3/10
Runtime: 1h 59m
Movie Plot: The plot revolves around a young girl whose voice has been taken away from her by magic so that she never becomes the reason behind someone being hurt, all of that was done according to her wishes.
But soon she realizes she made a mistake when becomes passionate about music and starts to make new friends, all of which require a voice.
One of the best anime movies on board. You can watch it with your family as it is also the best family movie.
The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)
Director: Isao Takahata
Writer: Isao Takahata, Riko Sakaguchi
Cast: Takeo Chii, Aki Asakura, Kengo Kôra
Genre: Animation. Fantasy. Drama
IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
Runtime: 2h 17m
Movie Plot: It follows the story of an old man who makes his ends meet by selling bamboo but one day he finds a princess named Kaguya in bamboo and shockingly she is just the size of a finger. Fast forward to when she grows up and is a grown-up girl, five different men from respected families ask her hand in marriage.
To agree to the marriage, Kaguya asks them to find a gift for her that is memorable but none of them are able to fulfill her demands. A major twist unfolds when an Emperor of Japan steps in and asks her hand into marriage.
Made in Abyss: Dawn Of The Deep Soul (2020)
Director: Masayuki Kojima
Writer: Hideyuki Kurata
Cast: Shiori Izawa, Miyu Tomita, Mariya Ise
Genre: Animation. Adventure. Fantasy. Drama
IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
Runtime: 1h 53m
Movie Plot: The story revolves around the adventure of plucky Riko and Reg who develop a new friendship with a boy named Nanachi.
All three of them run down into the Abyss’ treacherous fifth layer, the Sea of Corpses, and the 6th layer shadowy Bondrewd, which is linked to Nanachi disturbing past but in order to continue to this layer they must deal with Nanachi’s past.
Ponyo (2008)
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Writer: Hayao Miyazaki
Cast: Yûki Amami, Tomoko Yamaguchi, Kazushige Nagashima
Genre: Animation. Fantasy. Adventure. Kids | Friendship
IMDB Rating: 7.6/10
Runtime: 1h 41m
Movie Plot: This movie focuses on the life of Sosuke who is a 5 years old boy and Ponyo, a princess goldfish whose only motive so to become a human after she fell in love with Sosuke. Now, in order to become a human, she’ll do everything. One of the best anime movies of all time in UK that you need to stream if you haven’t already.
This is the best Japanese anime to watch with your friends and family. It revolves around friendship.
A Whisker Away (2020)
Director: Junichi Sato, Tomotaka Shibayama
Writer: Mari Okada
Cast: Johnny Yong Bosch, Mirai Shida, Natsuki Hanae
Genre: Animation. Fantasy. Romance
IMDB Rating: 6.7/10
Runtime: 1h 44m
Movie Plot: It’s a story that centers on how a person finds their true self while focusing on other things in life. Miyo Sasaki is a student of junior school and is head over heels in love with her class fellow Kento Hinode. Every day she tries new techniques hoping that one day Kento might notice her but still receive no response from him.
Soon enough she finds a magic mask that can transform her into a cat, she uses it in order to stay close to Kento forgetting that someday eventually she needs to transform back into human form.
Mary and the Witch’s Flower (2017)
Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Writer: Riko Sakaguchi, David Freedman, Hiromasa Yonebayashi, Lynda Freedman
Cast: Yûki Amami, Hana Sugisaki, Ryûnosuke Kamiki
Genre: Animation. Fantasy. Adventure
IMDB Rating: 6.8/10
Runtime: 1h 43m
Movie Plot: Mary is an ordinary girl who’s living a boring life without any adventures, fun, or friends all because she lives with her Great-Aunt Charlotte. One day she follows a shadowy cat into the forest where she finds a broomstick and a strange flower, which only blooms once in 7 years.
With the help of the broomstick and flower, Mary is up in the sky flying and heading towards Endor College, a school of magic.
I Want to Eat Your Pancreas (2018)
Director: Shin’ichirô Ushijima
Writer: Shin’ichirô Ushijima, Yoru Sumino
Cast: Yukiyo Fujii, Mahiro Takasugi, Lynn
Genre: Animation. Drama. Romance | Friendship
IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
Runtime: 1h 49m
Movie Plot: The story revolves around events that unfolded one fine day and a high-schooler found a paper in the hospital. When he opened it, he found out it was written by his class fellow named Sakura Yamauchi she has quite a few days to live as she has a pancreatic disease.
After knowing her secret, he felt as if he is drawn closer to her although she was quite opposite from him personality wise.
Ninja Scroll (1993)
Director: Yoshiaki Kawajiri
Writer: Yoshiaki Kawajiri
Cast: Takeshi Aono, Kôichi Yamadera, Emi Shinohara
Genre: Animation. Action. Adventure. Fantasy
IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
Runtime: 1h 34m
Movie Plot: Jubei is a vagabond swordsman, wandering out for anyone who could hire him. When he saves a ninja woman from getting raped, soon enough he develops a serious rivalry with demonic humans.
Jubei and that woman never meet again after that incident but later on both of them are paired up again by a government spy in order to investigate and find the truth behind the death of an entire village.
Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: The Conqueror of Shamballa (2005)
Director: Seiji Mizushima
Writer: Shou Aikawa
Cast: Jason Liebrecht, Vic Mignogna, Aaron Dismuke
Genre: Animation. Action. Fantasy
IMDB Rating: 7.3/10
Runtime: 1h 45m
Movie Plot: The story revolves around an alchemist named Edward Elric who is from another world. Elric is stuck on Earth and has completely lost all control over the powers that brought him there in the first place but is now studying rockets in order to gain those powers again.
It is one of the best anime movies that you need to watch right away. Love fantasy movies? Then this one is for you!
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Writer: Hayao Miyazaki
Cast: Hisako Kyôda, Sumi Shimamoto, Mahito Tsujimura
Genre: Animation. Adventure. Fantasy. Sci-Fi
IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
Runtime: 1h 57m
Movie Plot: It centers on the time when Earth is completely damaged and centuries have passed since that happened. Now, Princess Nausicaa governs the Valley of the Wind, a futuristic place. It’s a place where fights take place with swords as well as planes, with both futuristic and primitive methods.
With a striking 8.0 rating, without any doubt, this movie is a perfect one to watch!
Mirai (2018)
Director: Mamoru Hosoda
Writer: Mamoru Hosoda
Cast: John Cho, Rebecca Hall, Daniel Dae Kim
Genre: Animation. Drama. Fantasy
IMDB Rating: 7.0/10
Runtime: 1h 38m
Movie Plot: It focuses on the life of a cute young boy who’s trying to make his parents into loving him again. He stumbles upon a magical garden that lets him travel through different time zones and gets to meet his relatives from different times.
This is the most beautiful movie with amazing graphics and the drama in this movie is so hilarious that you will die laughing. This is the actual fun-comedy movie that you need to watch anytime.
The End of Evangelion (1997)
Director: Hideaki Anno, Kazuya Tsurumaki
Writer: Hideaki Anno
Cast: Yûko Miyamura, Megumi Ogata, Megumi Hayashibara
Genre: Animation. Sci-Fi. Fantasy. Drama
IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
Runtime: 1h 27m
Movie Plot: The story focuses on three individuals named Shinji Ikari and his colleagues Rei Ayanami and Asuka Langley Soryu.
Shinji happens to be a young pilot that is called Evangelion and is made to obey the Human Instrumentality Project but she rejects it and decides to continue as an individual living alongside others. With a rating of 8.0, anybody would definitely give it a try.
Cat Soup (2001)
Director: Tatsuo Satō
Writer: Tatsuo Satō, Masaaki Yuasa, Nekojiru
Cast: Naomi Nagasawa, Sakura Uehara, Kenichi Ono
Genre: Animation. Comedy. Fantasy. Adventure. Horror
IMDB Rating: 7.6.10
Runtime: 34m
Movie Plot: It revolves around the main character which is a cat whose name is Nyatto and is on a mission to save his sister’s soul which was unfortunately separated into two parts when Nyatto was saving her from death and now she is brain dead.
This is one of the best disturbing horror movies that you will surely love. The best anime to ask for! This movie has comedy, fantasy, and adventure.
The Animatrix (2003)
Director: Andrew R. Jones, Mahiro Maeda, Shin’ichirō Watanabe, Yoshiaki Kawajiri
Writer: Lilly Wachowski, Shin’ichirō Watanabe, Lana Wachowski, Kōji Morimoto
Cast: Pamela Adlon, Kevin Michael Richardson
Genre: Animation. Sci-Fi. Fantasy. Action. Drama
IMDB Rating: 7.3/10
Runtime: 1h 40m
Movie Plot: It focuses on the stories relating to the ‘Matrix’ universe and the war that took place between machines and humans that resulted in Matrix being generated.
This is the most beautiful movie with amazing graphics and the drama in this movie is so hilarious that you will die laughing. This is the actual fun-comedy movie that you need to watch anytime.
Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro (1979)
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Writer: Hayao Miyazaki
Cast: Kiyoshi Kobayashi, Yasuo Yamada, Eiko Masuyama
Genre: Animation. Fantasy. Action. Adventure
IMDB Rating: 7.6/10
Runtime: 1h 42m
Movie Plot: Lupin is a famous international thief who arrives at the small European duchy of Cagliostro in order to gather information about forged money and gets to know about a national conspiracy that took place years ago.
This is one of the fantasies that you will surely love. The best anime to die for! This movie has comedy, fantasy, and adventure. You mist watch this movie on this weekend with your family and friends.
Battle Angel (1993)
Director: Hiroshi Fukutomi
Writer: Akinori Endo, Yukito Kishiro
Cast: Edward Glen, Miki Itô, Shunsuke Kariya, Kappei Yamaguchi
Genre: Animation. Sci-Fi. Drama. Action
IMDB Rating: 7.2/10
Runtime: 54m
Movie Plot: It follows the story of a young cyborg Gally who was lying on a pile of discarded metal and was found there by Cyberdoctor Daisuke Ido who eventually becomes her surrogate father. Unfortunately, Gally can’t seem to remember anything from her past but soon enough develops fighting skills.
This is the last movie on the list of anime movies. We hope you loved everything in the movie list.
Conclusion
With myriads of anime movies in front of you, it can surely become hard to select especially if you aren’t aware of their rating and plotlines. So to save you from all the trouble and waste of time, we present you a list of the best anime movies of all time in UK!
So hurry up what are you waiting for? Select the one which suits the best according to your desired genre and start streaming!
Jane Davies
