When people think of anime, they often think of television series when they should be thinking of movies. Featuring some of the best animation and Japan’s most talented directors, anime films offer not just prettier, more epic stories for existing franchises, but fresh new ideas as well. Best of all, Netflix has plenty of anime films for fans from every age range and of every genre.
Netflix’s anime film collection ranges from some of the best One Piece movies to classic Gundam films. People looking to take a break from their latest long-running anime could easily lose a weekend catching up on anime movies, old and new.
Updated by Sage Ashford on May 31st 2023: Netflix’s selection of anime films is always changing but there’s still no shortage of great movies on the platform. We’ve Updated this article for formatting and to include new selections from their library.
One Piece Film Z
1hr 47m
If there’s one constant in the anime world, it’s One Piece getting a new film. While some anime franchises vary widely in quality, the One Piece movies are usually fun and solid. One Piece Film: Z continues that tradition, as the Straw Hat Pirates go to war against a Marine Admiral known only as Z.
Z has acquired a new power that can bring an end to the age of pirates, but at a cost so high even the other Marines stand against him. As ever, worldbuilding is One Piece’s foundation, and Film Z dives deep into the backstory of the Marines, making them more well-rounded antagonists than ever before.
Tiger & Bunny: The Beginning
1hr 33m
Tiger & Bunny was a hit series from the early 2010s. Set in a world where every superhero has a corporate sponsor, the television series pairs a newbie hero with a veteran for a funny yet stylishly cool series. The movie, Tiger & Bunny: The Beginning, is supposed to just be a compilation film focusing on the events of the first two episodes.
However, T&B: The Beginning adds nearly an hour of new content that makes watching it feel like an entirely new experience. This might even be the ideal introduction to the franchise, as the film’s additional context makes understanding the television series much easier.
Mobile Suit Gundam 1
2hr 20m
The original Mobile Suit Gundam series is a big time investment for casual fans but Sunrise created compilation films that condensed the entire 43-episode run into three films. The first film, Mobile Suit Gundam, covers the first third of the Mecha anime series.
Mobile Suit Gundam follows Amuro Ray’s narrow escape from the colony with the Gundam on the White Base, and his encounters with Char Aznable. Decades later, though this film doesn’t quite have the same groundbreaking feel, it does have the iconic characters fans have loved since the ’80s. It’s the perfect introduction to the immense Gundam franchise.
Drifting Home
2hrs
Drifting Home presents a unique premise, placing a group of snooping kids adrift at sea in a condemned apartment building. Establishing its high stakes early, the kids must learn to survive on their own and find their way back to land.
Drifting Home is another movie from Studio Colorido, who worked on projects like Star Wars: Visions and Burn the Witch, and once again they deliver with this gorgeous film. The writing is able to balance the kids having fun and learning to get over their old wounds with letting them convincingly work together, something a lesser film would have trouble pulling off.
Mirai
1hr 38m
Director of films like Wolf Children and Summer Wars, Mamoru Hosoda has been one of the top anime directors in Japan for years. With his 2018 film Mirai, Hosoda once again covered the theme of family, but this time from a different direction.
Mirai is about a spoiled young toddler named Kun, who’s struggling with the knowledge that he’s no longer the baby of the family. With his parents bringing home a newborn, Kun’s frustration with having to vie for his parents’ attention leads him on a journey of his own. Interacting with parts of his family from the future, Kun gradually discovers how to see outside of himself, making him a better member of the family.
Bubble
1hr 40m
It’s hard to believe that Wit Studio had the time to create a visually stunning movie like Bubble while also working on its many other projects. Released in 2022, Bubble is set in a world where bubbles with strange reality-warping qualities have changed the landscape of the planet. Tokyo, in particular, is shrouded in bubbles and is now a forbidden city.
Children and teenagers find their way into Tokyo regardless, even challenging one another to parkour matches across the city. It’s here, at the heart of Tokyo, where a young man named Hibiki connects with a girl named Uta, in a story that will change the world once again.
A Silent Voice
2h 10m
Based on a popular manga from mangaka Yoshitoki Oima, A Silent Voice is one of the most critically acclaimed movies of the last decade for a reason. The film tackles a variety of difficult subjects that audiences generally don’t associate with anime, like disabilities and mental health, all handled with incredible sensitivity.
A Silent Voice’s story is built around Shoya Ishida, who garnered a reputation for bullying a deaf girl named Shoko Nishimiya along with his friends in elementary school. After the principal punishes only Shoya, he becomes a social outcast for years. Years later, he decides to take his own life but chooses to make amends with anyone he’s wronged first, leading to a relationship that changes both their lives for the better.
Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway’s Flash
1h 35m
The Gundam franchise is huge at this point, and while much of it doesn’t require an exhaustive knowledge of the series, Hathaway’s Flash might. The film is a direct sequel to Char’s Counterattack, picking up twelve years after the previous movie. Here, Bright Noa’s son Hathaway is no longer able to tolerate the oppressive rule of the Earth Federation.
Hathaway has become the leader of his own military faction, under the name Mafty Navue Erin. Though it builds off all the Gundam series and movies that came before it, Hathaway’s Flash is a beautiful movie that Mecha fans should watch, even if they haven’t experienced everything that came before it.
Children of the Sea
1h 51m
With series like Space Brothers and After the Rain on his resume, Ayumu Watanabe has proved that he can’t miss. 2019’s Children of the Sun is a beautifully animated mystery movie that focuses on humanity’s connection to the place that birthed life on Earth, the ocean.
Children of the Sun starts out centered around Ruka Azumi, an isolated young girl. After leaving her school’s handball club, Ruka finds herself spending time at the city aquarium. She quickly becomes friends with a young boy named Umi, who seems to have a deep connection to ocean life. From there, Children of the Sun goes to some unexpected places, but it’s always an enjoyable ride.
Kuroko’s Basketball: Last Game
1h 30m
Kuroko’s Basketball is still regarded by fans as one of the best sports anime ever, so it’s no surprise that its creators added several films to the franchise. Last Game introduces a new opponent, a team of streetballers named Jabberwock, from America. When Jabberwock embarrasses a team of third-year high schoolers, it’s obvious only one team is capable of taking them on.
Thus, the Vorpal Swords are formed – a team consisting of the Generation of Miracles, along with Kagami Taiga. Kuroko’s Basketball: Last Game is meant to be a send-off for Kuroko, so of course it features the most anime basketball game ever, with plenty of special techniques and characters one-upping each other. Kuroko fans know what they’re getting into by now, but Last Game is a great film for anyone who loves anime and basketball.
Violet Evergarden The Movie
2h 20m
Violet Evergarden was arguably Netflix’s breakout hit when they started dabbling in anime. The gorgeously animated movie serves as the conclusion to Violet Evergarden: Eternity And The Auto Memory Doll, released in 2019.
Produced by Kyoto Animation, Violet Evergarden completes the story of two separated sisters given the opportunity to reconnect through Violet’s postal service. Violet Evergarden The Movie is a heartfelt watch with a narrative that will keep viewers glued to the screen until the credits roll.
A Whisker Away
1h 44m
For anyone who loves cats and enjoys cinema, A Whisker Away is a beautiful story that encapsulates the spirit of self-discovery and reflects on how every person must go through unique experiences to grow up. The story follows Miyo Sasaki, a girl who turns into a cat while attempting to catch her classmate Kento’s attention.
While at first A Whisker Away seems like a simple fantastical romance, it turns into something far more profound. Although Miyo doesn’t necessarily get what she wants by turning into a cat, she gets the opportunity to reflect on herself and her life. Her feline transformation helps her make much-needed life-changing decisions and think about things beyond herself.
Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop
1h 27m
Unlike the visual aesthetics of Your Name and A Silent Voice that many anime fans are used to, Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop is a unique viewing experience with an expressive art style. The film is charming, captivating, and refreshingly simple, with its rom-com story and outstanding soundtrack.
When two socially awkward teens cross paths, they discover the power of conversation and music, and how simple things can bring people together. Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop is a cozy watch that captures the summer vibe perfectly and brilliantly portrays the foundation of a realistic relationship.
Godzilla: Monster Planet
1h 27m
Breaking away from emotional dramas and romance films, Godzilla: Monster Planet is the first animated film in the franchise. Set in the distant future after Godzilla forced humanity from the planet 20,000 years prior, it depicts humans returning to recolonize Earth.
Even though Godzilla: Monster Planet’s themes may seem a bit dark, the animation is incredible, as are its commendable action sequences. Godzilla: Monster Planet is the first in a trilogy that explores the conflict between godlike kaiju. With its epic story and relatable characters, it’s perfect for Godzilla fans and apocalyptic action.
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal
1h 21m
Sailor Moon has been winning the hearts of anime fans for decades with its sparkly outfits and magical adventures. Here, the iconic Sailor Scouts, magical girls with powerful abilities, are on a brand-new mission to save the world from evil forces in this feature-length film.
In Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal, the Sailor Scouts must face off against the Dead Moon Circus, a sinister group looking to end the world. It’s up to Sailor Moon and her allies to fight for what they hold dear with the power of friendship and courage. Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal is perfect for Sailor Moon fans and for new viewers hungry to learn more about the classic magical girl series.