Top 5 Anime Movies - Best Animated Films from Japan

Japanese animation has been popular for a long time and appeals to adults and children. The stories and the artistic style are quite distinct from animation in the United States. For one thing, not all anime films are made for young audiences. Everything from high-tech action, romance, and fairy-tale fantasy can be found illustrated in beautiful art. Here are my five favorite anime movies created by three of the top Japanese artists and directors.

Honorable Mention: Grave of the Fireflies
"Grave of the Fireflies" is a historical drama about two children, a brother and sister, struggling to survive in the countryside during World War II. Isao Takahata crafted this haunting and intense animated adaptation of a semi-autobiographical novel by Akiyuki Nosaka. It is not one of the five because I have not seen it yet. I haven't geared myself up for the emotional impact. I want to include it, though, because it is an important part of Anime literature.

5. Howl's Moving Castle
Renowned artist and director Hayo Miyazaki directed this film. "Howl's Moving Castle" is a delightful fairytale with fun characters. A jealous witch curses Sofi, trapping the young girl in an elderly body. Sofi runs away and joins the wizard Howl and his companions in his walking castle. Will the vain and childish wizard be able to break the spell?

4. Spirited Away
This film captures Hayo Miyazaki at the height of his skills. In "Spirited Away" he transports you into a rich, detailed, and dreamlike world. Chihiro is a whiny young girl that finds herself in a strange, magical world where she has to rescue her parents. They've broken the rules in this twilight world and have been turned into pigs. "Spirited Away" captures the essence of childhood and growing up. The imagination, fantasy and color are in this film are delightful. Miyazaki fills the story with characters that touch you and make you laugh.