Outside of sequels to established properties, anime movies don’t tend to get anywhere near as much attention as shows. Part of that has to do with their release schedule, as most come out months following their Japanese debut, and that is assuming they even make it to North America. They also can be hard to come by, especially older anime films that are not tied to iconic companies like Studio Ghibli.
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Launching in 2020,RetroCrush is a free anime streaming platformthat specializes in old series and movies. The service has an impressive selection of both formats, and while the films are less well-known than projects such asPerfect BlueorYour Name, there are some stellar titles on offer. Here are thebest anime movies available to stream on RetroCrush.
Memories (1995)
An anthology sci-fi series,Memoriestakes inspiration from three of Katsuhiro Otomo’s short manga. Touching upon mature themes through grim dark visuals,Memoriesis a technical tour-de-force, with each short utilizing a different art style.
Split intoMagnetic Rose,Stink Bomb, andCannon Fodder, each entry contains unique ideas along with a different tone that sets it apart from its partners.Magnetic Roseis the most effective short in the collection, but there is also a lot to love inStink Bomb’s black humor andCannon Fodder’s experimental animation.
Adolescence Of Utena (1999)
An alternate take on the influentialRevolutionary Girl Utenaseries,Adolescence of Utenais about a tomboy who attends a new school and gets involved in a war to capture Anthy’s hand. Ripe with symbolism,Adolescence of Utenais not only a masterpiece in terms of animation but also storytelling.
consider watch the series prior to the movie as the latter can be difficult to follow on its own. More importantly, both the show and film are fantastic works of art.
Hells (2008)
An adaptation of theHells Angelsmanga, Madhouse’sHellsis an energetic explosion of bizarre character designs, kinetic action sequences, and striking visuals. Amagane Rinne inadvertently finds herself in hell, so the high school girl sets out on a quest to escape from her new home.
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Hellshas a simple storyline that primarily serves to highlight the movie’s fun characters and environments. Surprising nobody, Madhouse brought its A-game for the animation, delivering one of the studio’s most unique art styles in the process.
Cardcaptor Sakura: The Movie (1999)
A side-story to the brilliant ‘90smagical girl anime,Cardcaptor Sakura: The Movietakes everything great about the show and adds a feature-length budget. Sakura and her friends win a trip to Hong Kong, a journey that ultimately proves to be anything but relaxing.
Cardcaptor Sakurahas always succeeded in balancing its magical and slice of life elements, exploring its characters not just as larger-than-life heroes but also ordinary people. The filmunderstands and highlights this aspect of the franchise, and it does it extremely well.
Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade (1999)
Directed by Hiroyuki Okiura and penned by Mamoru Oshii, who had previously directedGhost in the Shell,Jin-Rohtakes place in a borderline dystopian Japan where the government keeps people in check through an army of armor-touting cops. Fuse is one such person, but he begins to question his role after witnessing the death of a girl.
Jin-Rohis a slow-paced thriller that seeks to create a constant mood of fear and depression, the latter of which is echoed through the movie’s washed-out color palette. Although a testing watch at times,Jin-Rohis engrossing.
Barefoot Gen (1983)
The perfect companion piece toStudio Ghibli’sGrave of the Fireflies,Barefoot Genalso centers around children trying to survive during World War 2. Unlike Ghibli’s film,Barefoot Genplaces a heavier emphasis on the war itself, crafting a story centered around the bombing of Hiroshima.
Barefoot Genhas harrowing imagery, harsh realities, and flashes of hope towards the end of its narrative. It also dedicates its opening act to showing its characters behaving as normal children, causing the later sequences to hit even harder.Barefoot Gen 2is also available on RetroCrush.
The Princess And The Pilot (2011)
Co-produced by Madhouse and TMS Entertainment,The Princess and the Pilotis a grand adventure that feels ripped right out of pulp tales from the mid-30s. During a war, an ace pilot is tasked with flying a kingdom’s princess to meet her prince. Things get complicated from there.
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The Princess and the Pilot’s animation is simply gorgeous; the film looks crisp, clean, and detailed. The narrative moves by at an enjoyable pace, although it is slightly on the forgettable side.
Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer (1984)
Urusei Yatsurais a classic anime that has aged relatively well due to its willingness to embrace silliness.Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamerhas elements of that, but Mamoru Oshii’s movie takes things about a hundred steps further.
Urusei Yatsura 2is a contemplative and beautiful film that shatters the line separating reality and fiction. Thematically complex and narratively intriguing,Beautiful Dreamerserves as a great introduction to the filmmaking style that Oshii would go on to perfect in thePatlaborandGhost in the Shellmovies.
Fusé: Memoirs Of A Huntress (2012)
An adaptation of Kazuki Sakuraba’s novel based on Takizawa Bakin’sNansō Satomi Hakkenden,Fusé: Memoirs of a Huntressimagines a world where humans target the fusé, which have some wolf in them. The anime centers around Hamaji, a huntress who meets her brother to take out some fusé but ends up forming a connection with one of the group’s members.
An accessible stand-alone entry set in an expansive literary universe,Fusé: Memoirs of a Huntressblends short but unsettling explosions of action with beautiful landscapes and fascinating themes.
Night on the Galactic Railroadfollows two cats traveling in a train through the Milky Way. While this premise might suggest this is a sci-fi adventure film,Night on the Galactic Railroadis a more meditative experience, one that prioritizes quiet moments of contemplation and reflection above anything else.
Night on the Galactic Railroadtells a moving and intelligent story that deals with death. Although its leisurely pace can be offputting, the anime’s conclusion is worth the wait.
