The highest-grossing anime movies represent a collection of globally successful Japanese animation films. These films, often transcending cultural barriers, have charmed audiences worldwide with their unique storytelling, vibrant animation, and themes that resonate across all ages.
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They’ve achieved immense commercial success fromStudio Ghibli’senchanting tales like Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle to blockbusters likeDemon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaibathe Movie: Mugen Train. Their universal appeal and exploration of complex themes have led these films to gross hundreds of millions worldwide. The success of these films not only reflects their quality but also the growing global popularity of anime.
10Pokémon: The First Movie
Pokémon: The First Movie is a 1998 Japanese anime film directed by Kunihiko Yuyama. As the first theatrical release in the Pokémon franchise, it centers around the protagonist, Ash Ketchum, his friends, and Pikachu, who face off against the genetically engineered Pokémon Mewtwo.
Mewtwo seeks vengeance against humanity, who created him to be a tool. Upon release, it received mixed reviews but performed strongly at the box office, grossing over $133 million globally. The movie andPokémon charactershave since become iconic in pop culture.
9The Wind Rises
The Wind Rises is a 2013 renowned animefilm by Studio Ghibli, directed by Hayao Miyazaki. The film is a semi-biographical story inspired by the life of Jiro Horikoshi, the designer of the Mitsubishi A5M, an aircraft used by Japan during World War II.
The narrative follows Jiro’s dreams of flight, his love story, and the moral complexities of his work. The film was critically acclaimed for its beautiful animation, grossed over $136 million worldwide, and received a nomination for Best Animated Feature at the 86th Academy Awards.
8The Secret World of Arrietty
The Secret World of Arrietty is a 2010 Japanese animated film by Studio Ghibli, directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi and written by Hayao Miyazaki and Keiko Niwa. The film is based on the British novel The Borrowers by Mary Norton.
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It follows the story of Arrietty, a tiny person who lives secretly in the walls of a normal human household and borrows things to survive. The film is applauded for its animation, empathetic characters, and subtle exploration of themes like coexistence. It grossed over $146 million globally.
7Weathering with You
Weathering with You is a 2019 Japanese anime film directed by Makoto Shinkai, who also directed the acclaimed Your Name. The story revolves around Hodaka, a teenage boy who runs away to Tokyo and meets Hina, a girl with the extraordinary ability to control the weather.
The two begin a business around clearing the persistently rainy skies of Tokyo, but their actions have unanticipated consequences. Weathering with You was a commercial success, grossing over $193 million worldwide, and received critical acclaim for its animation and romantic story.
Ponyo is a 2008 Japanese animated film directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli. The film tells the story of a goldfish named Ponyo who befriends a human boy, Sosuke and wants to become a human herself.
The film is noted for its charming, hand-drawn animation and compelling storytelling that is suitable for both children and adults. The film was a commercial and critical success. Ponyo grossed over $203 million worldwide, showcasing once again Miyazaki’s and Studio Ghibli’s significant impact on the genre.
5Princess Mononoke
Princess Mononoke is a 1997 Japanese animated epic fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. The film is set in the late Muromachi period of Japan and follows the young Emishi Prince Ashitaka’s involvement in a struggle between the gods of a forest and the humans who consume its resources.
The term Mononoke refers to spirits in Japanese mythology. The film has themes of environmentalism and was a major commercial success, grossing over $169 million worldwide. It’s often considered one of Miyazaki’s masterpieces and a landmark in animation.
4Howl’s Moving Castle
Howl’s Moving Castle is a 2004 Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Based on the novel by Diana Wynne Jones, the film tells the story of Sophie, a young woman cursed by a witch to live as an old woman.
She finds solace in a walking castle owned by the eccentric wizard Howl. The film explores self-perception, ageism, love, and the devastation of war. Howl’s Moving Castlegrossed over $235 million worldwide and is praised for its imaginative story and complex characters.
3Your Name
Your Name is a 2016 Japanese animated film directed by Makoto Shinkai. The story revolves around two teenagers, Taki and Mitsuha, who mysteriously start swapping bodies. Living each other’s lives, they form a unique bond and eventually fall in love. As a disaster threatens Mitsuha’s town, they strive to meet and save her home.
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The film is known for itsbeautiful animationand emotional storytelling, highlighting the importance of tradition, time, and connection. Your Name was a global success, grossing over $358 million worldwide and receiving widespread critical acclaim.
2Spirited Away
Spirited Away is a 2001 Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. The story follows Chihiro, a young girl who enters a world of spirits and must find a way to free herself and her parents from this supernatural realm.
Spirited Away was a massive success, grossing over $395 million worldwide. It won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, making it the first non-English language film to do so. Widely regarded as a masterpiece, the film is celebrated for its rich narrative, beautiful animation, and profound themes.
1Demon Slayer: The Movie - Mugen Train
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train is a 2020 Japanese anime film based on the manga series. The movie continues the TV series' story, following Tanjiro and his friends who board the mysterious Mugen Train to investigate a series of disappearances.
They join forces with the powerful Flame Hashira, Rengoku, to face a new threat, the Twelve Demon Moons. The film’s striking animation and intense action sequences contributed to its massive success. It became the highest-grossing anime and Japanese film of all time, earning over $474 million worldwide.
