10 Movies to Watch If You Like Anime

I know what you're expecting. You're about to click out of this page because you think it's just another fluff list recommending movies like The Matrix and Pacific Rim for your viewing pleasure if you happen to like anime (most commonly defined as animation from Japan). But science fiction isn't the only way to have a viewing experience similar to what you might feel when you watch your favorite anime. Whether your tastes lean towards the fantastical or the adventurous or even the horrific, below are ten movie recommendations based on your anime of choice.

Let's get started!

In no particular order (but numbered for ease of reading)...

10. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)

Anime Pairing: Spirited Away

Why it's a good pick for anime lovers: I haven't watched many interviews with Guillermo del Toro, but there's just something about the films I've seen from him that bring forth a sense of the wondrous in ways similar to how I feel when watching Studio Ghibli films. I have to wonder if del Toro has gotten influence from anime to some degree. In this case, Pan's Labyrinth undoubtedly gives off vibes that are fairy tale-esque at their roots, but this film is also a coming-of-age story where a young girl has to grow up in a short amount of time to do what's right for herself and her family. Added into the mix are deliciously creepy things that challenge our heroine at every turn. I won't spoil anything, but Pan's Labyrinth contains a tense, heart-pounding moment that has similar consequences to a scene in Spirited Away where Chihiro tries to bargain with No-Face. The two films are just very similar in how they showcase their heroines' growth while drawing on folklore to paint an evocative "otherworld" for the heroines to explore. Even if you're not familiar with Spirited Away, I would still recommend this film for the melancholy beauty it elicits all on its own.

Watch the trailer for Pan's Labyrinth here.

9. Knives Out (2019)

Anime Pairing: Detective Conan (also known as Case Closed)

Why it's a good pick for anime lovers: I, for one, am not big on mysteries. There's nothing really appealing to me about a cunning sleuth akin to Sherlock Holmes solving mysteries that no one else is smart enough to figure out. Enter Knives Out, Rian Johnson's ode to the mystery genre that also doubles as a family drama. Anyone who has watched anime knows all too well how the medium can blend drama, comedy, and grimness in a way that still manages to be cohesive and engaging instead of off-putting—and Knives Out strikes just this same balance with the way it weaves characterization cues with the unfolding mystery. But the movie also doesn't take itself too seriously in a similar way to how most anime work as well. If you want a fun mystery with engaging characters, then this movie should definitely be put on your to-watch list.

Watch the trailer for Knives Out here.

8. Sucker Punch (2011)

Anime Pairing: Kill la Kill

Why it's a good pick for anime lovers: This movie is eerie, brash, and unapologetic in the way it depicts its female characters. Anyone who has watched "action-girl" anime protagonists duke it out, such as in the series Kill la Kill, would probably appreciate the way Sucker Punch handles itself, at least when it comes to its action sequences. While reviews of the film say it tends towards the misogynistic in the way it fetishizes its female characters, the story itself has enough of an imagination where you can try to look past the flaws and downsides—much like how you might feel after watching certain anime in the vein of Kill la Kill (which also had a complex relationship with the way it handled its female characters). I won't say it's a great film, but there are enough bits and bobs in there that are fascinating where I can't just say it's a garbage movie that you should avoid at all costs. And a lot of anime have a myriad of issues that may make them hard sells to recommend.

Watch the trailer for Sucker Punch here.

7. V for Vendetta (2005)

Anime Pairing: Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion

Why it's a good pick for anime lovers: Anime like to explore "revisionist" tackles of history in ways that twist and turn the original events—or obliterate them entirely—while focusing on how society deals with the aftermath. V for Vendetta is all about social commentary about humanity in a world that has become a dystopic nightmare; the film is based off the graphic novel series of the same name. Though anime often don't delve into the aftermath of anarchy against a regime, there are strains of similar themes in series such as Code Geass where the main character is basically an anti-hero trying to bring down an empire of which he was once a part. Power struggles and politics rule the day in a way that is similar to V for Vendetta in its scope and timeline. While the film may not paint a happy picture or even stand on a pedestal of hope, the underlying themes lie in the truth that humanity is not lost for good as long as there are people willing to fight for better futures for themselves and others. These aren't joyful stories, but they're necessary additions to a worldwide canon of what happens when good people act—or do nothing.

Watch the trailer for V for Vendetta here.

6. Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)

Anime Pairing: literally any series like My Hero Academia or Naruto

Why it's a good pick for anime lovers: I'm not going to lie to you. Kingsman: The Secret Service is not going to be everyone's cup of tea. It's not even my cup of tea. But what does it do well? It's much like an ensemble series, aimed at teen boys, where the main character is a hapless whip of a kid who is drawn into situations greater than himself, and he needs to prove himself in spite of his flaws or shortcomings. (If you don't agree that's the heart of most shonen stories coming out of Japan, I don't know what to tell you.) Kingsman is totally about this realm of storytelling as we watch the protagonist, Eggsy, go from a self-absorbed prat to a well-rounded spy who can go toe-to-toe with threats of all kinds. The film is self-indulgent to the point of some unintended hilarity, but there are good parts—much like how those whopping anime series with hundreds of episodes often feel. You just have to take the good with the bad sometimes. And, what do you know, there are sequels, prequels, and even the original comics for you to give a try too. (Hey, at least it's not the behemoth that One Piece is.)

Watch the trailer for Kingsman: The Secret Service here.

5. Zootopia (2016)

Anime Pairing: Beastars

Why it's a good pick for anime lovers: I know. It's a Disney movie. And a CGI-animated one at that. But hold on a minute before you scroll down, thinking I'm going to make a furry joke or something. Zootopia is actually very, very good! Sure, there are some kitschy songs for the kidlets (and the kids in all of us adults), but the prey-predator metaphors for racism and ostracization will make everyone feel a tad thoughtful and less willing to make snarky comments. The film is universal in its scope, but it's fun in its execution instead of condescending. For anyone who missed out on this film but liked the anime Beastars over on Netflix, there are many similar themes that will tug at your heartstrings, no matter how jaded you may feel you have become in your old age. If you want to leave the Disney live-action remakes at the door, go ahead, but do give Zootopia a try at some point.

Watch the trailer for Zootopia here.

4. The Princess Bride (1987)

Anime Pairing: Snow White with the Red Hair

Why it's a good pick for anime lovers: The Princess Bride is one of those films I personally avoided for a long time, and I still don't quite know why. It's a movie that takes many underpinnings of fairy-tale tropes and makes them more interesting with just a few tweaks. Anime also have their ways of making the mundane and familiar much more appealing by bringing new spins to what is expected from the viewer. And this tendency can often be found in the many shojo series that have aired over the past few decades. (Should I drop a "She is the one named Sailor Moon" nod here?) A recent favorite of mine called Snow White with the Red Hair revitalizes the way many "girly fantasy" anime are tackled in much the same way that The Princess Bride acted as a breath of fresh air to fairy-tale trappings. Both media are great picks to settle down with if you need to escape to another world, perhaps a simpler world, than the one we're all living in the rest of the time.

Watch the trailer for The Princess Bride here.

3. The Shape of Water (2017)

Anime Pairing: Devil's Line

Why it's a good pick for anime lovers: I get it. You may think of this movie as "that fish-man erotica" if you've only heard about the movie in passing. But The Shape of Water is a beautiful film. It's an unlikely romance, there's no doubt about it, but it also doesn't shy away from the fact that one-half of the couple could be considered as a "monster" to many. But we're not here for judgment: the film unfurls into a melancholy fairy tale with how two beings who are so different from the rest of their perceived world are able to connect because of their similarities and in spite of their differences. Anime also have quite the habit of "monster girlfriend (and boyfriend)" inclusion, whether that's through actual creatures (most often yokai of some kind) or supernatural beings like vampires (as in the series Devil's Line). What ends up shining through this film and many of these anime is the same thread that love can cross great boundaries, if only we're willing to open our hearts, no matter how much doing so may scare us.

Watch the trailer for The Shape of Water here.

2. Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)

Anime Pairing: Yona of the Dawn

Why it's a good pick for anime lovers: I said above that anime often have great takes on twisting familiar tales (and tropes), and a movie like Snow White and the Huntsman would appeal to anyone who wants to see how a fairy tale can be spun on its head with just a few tweaked cogs in the machine. While the movie's far from perfect, it has some beautiful moments that will make the dull bits easier to escape notice. Even one scene with a stag seems to evoke a feel similar to a creature from the Studio Ghibli film Princess Mononoke (and I still wonder if that was intentional). It's also one of those films that is lovely to the eyes even if you don't particularly care for the story being told. Some anime are like that, more appealing for aesthetic purposes than plot or character ones. Sometimes it just happens, but we roll with it because we don't always need to be fed a complex plot to find ourselves engaged. (And even a seeming reverse harem like Yona of the Dawn can be much more than it appears at first glance!)

Watch the trailer for Snow White and the Huntsman here.

1. Jupiter Ascending (2015)

Anime Pairing: Eureka Seven

Why it's a good pick for anime lovers: Even if I tried to give you a synopsis for Jupiter Ascending, it's...quite an odd duck of a film. But in a good way! This movie pulls from all kinds of storytelling toolboxes to come up with something that is wholly unique yet still has a familiar edge with some of the tropes it utilizes. (If you don't believe me and don't mind spoilers, have a gander at the film's extensive TV Tropes page to see just how much stuff is packed into this 2-hour beastly beauty.) While you may get confused sometimes or just stare at the screen and wonder what you just heard/saw, the experience of watching this film for the first time is a trip every anime lover would probably appreciate to some degree. Why? Because anime throw weird stuff at us ALL. THE. TIME. And in this case, Hollywood actually gave financial backing (a lot of it) to someone's fantastical amalgam of ideas. Does it work for everyone? No. But that doesn't mean there aren't people who love it regardless of the critical reception. I know I feel that way about Eureka Seven (which I feel is pretty underrated for an anime that once aired on Adult Swim). If you don't mind watching something that goes a little out there but makes it a fun time regardless, then watch Jupiter Ascending—at least once.

Watch the trailer for Jupiter Ascending here.

And in conclusion...

If nothing on this list struck you as potentially watch-worthy, then you are a tough critic indeed! I guess I'll leave you to your waifus and Sword Art Online (or whatever is popular with the kids these days). Even if you have no desire to watch any of the movies or series mentioned, I hope you enjoyed reading what I believe anime fans might find intriguing if they're looking for something other than the newest hyped anime of the season.

Peace out, and happy viewing (whether that's anime, movies, or any other medium of choice)!

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