The 15 Most Underrated Anime Movies

From its humble beginnings in 1917 as a short film, anime has evolved into a global sensation, entertaining audiences worldwide. In the 1980s, it streamed in popularity in Japan and later transcended borders, finding a dedicated fan base in the era of the Internet. Serving as a powerful medium, anime breaks free from the restrictions of live-action, allowing for various storytelling.

15 Most Underrated Anime Movies

15. Liz and the Blue Bird (2018)

Released on April 21, 2018, Liz and the Blue Bird was a spinoff of the critically acclaimed anime ‘Sound! Euphonium.’ The movie focuses on the friendship between two vastly different people, who, despite their different dreams, are there to support each other. The anime is visually astounding and beautiful, and the musical composition of these stories is top-notch.

14. Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop (2021)

The story follows two teenagers, Kouichi “Cherry” Sakura and Smile, who are lonely and looking for companionship. Set in a beautiful Japanese countryside town, the anime is beautifully crafted. It shows two strangers as they form a relationship over random meetings and how it ultimately saves their lives. Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop has an array of relatable characters.

This beautiful coming-of-age story will definitely touch your heart as you follow Cherry and Smile as they try to find their place in the universe. This slice-of-life romantic comedy was released on July 22, 2021, and is available on Netflix. The movie first premiered at the 2020 Shanghai Film Festival and is loved by everyone who watched it.

13. The Case of Hana and Alice (2015)

The case of Hana and Alice was a prequel to the director Shunji Iwai’s live-action 2004 film, Hana and Alice. It is one of the few anime’s alongside Cowboy Bebop and Neon Genesis Evangelion that uses rotoscoping technique in its animation. Sadly, the case of Hana and Alice didn’t get as popular as the aforementioned anime. But this coming-of-age tale, with the addition of nostalgia and murder mystery, is definitely an underrated gem that more people should watch.

12. Belladonna of Sadness (1973)

Belladonna of Sadness is an extremely controversial anime due to its violent graphics, sexual taboos, and discourse on satanic ritual. The tale of a witch accused of starting the French Revolution is a masterpiece with dreamy sequences that explores female sexuality and the horror of living in a jingoistic society.

Belladonna of Sadness will definitely give you chills, make you reconsider nationalism, and give you a new outlook on your societal beliefs. This movie, released 50 years ago, still holds up to today’s standards and works as a beautiful yet terrifying reflection of our society.

11. Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade (1999)

Co-created by Mamoro Oshi, the creator of Ghost in the Shell, Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade is a quite chilling re-telling of the classic, Red Riding Hood. The story follows Jin-Roh as he struggles between his duty as a cold killing machine and his heart as a good man as he survives the dystopian world he lives in.

Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade is a political commentary with a slow pace that isn’t for everyone, which is why it is such an obscure film. This political thriller is a great film made with a lot of heart and deserves a lot more love.

10. You Are Umasou (2010)

You Are Umasou is a funny yet heartwarming tale of two carnivorous dinosaurs who, by the twist of fate, became the parents of an herbivorous dinosaur. The film starts out very fun and lighthearted and will make you laugh as the family of dinosaurs get stuck in one after another misadventure. But the story also asks the question of what it means to be a family, and that will definitely bring tears. These dinosaurs are funny, relatable, and lovable as a whole.

9. Colourful (2010)

A lost soul gets a second chance at life in a world that looks familiar but feels foreign. This beautiful tale of second chances, regrets, and life is thought-provoking and will make you reconsider your life as you follow the young protagonist, who becomes a vessel for a soul to investigate his previous life.

8. Memories (1995)

Memories is an anthology movie that tells you three different stories in a duration of 1 hour and 53 minutes. The first story, Magnetic Rose, is about heartbreak, has heartstopping suspense, and will definitely give you chills. The second story, Stink Bomb, is set in a zombie apocalypse and talks about wrong choices. It is a funny political satire with inventive animation, and the last story is called Cannon Fodder, which talks about the aftermath of a destructive war and the impact it has on people.

7. Night is Short, Walk on Girl (2017)

Night is Short, Walk on Girl is an inventive take on the sundry genre. It is a tale about book-finding and alcohol bingeing. The animation is very unique and quite detailed, so you’ll need to keep your eyes open as you watch the movie.

It has a great many plotlines that seem to have no connection to each other. The characterization is quite unique as well. Overall, Night is Short, Walk on Girl is an ambitious project that deserves a lot more love than it gets.

6. Redline (2009)

Redline is a story about JP, a reckless racer who takes part in the world’s most dangerous and illegal race. This film is jam-packed with action, and the realistic animation just blends perfectly into the world with confined spaces, heart-stopping races, and accidents! The film is filled with high-stakes competitions, powerful animation, and background music.

5. Only Yesterday (1991)

While loved by both critics and fans, Only Yesterday is one of the most underrated Studio Ghibli movies. Just like every Studio Ghibli project, Only Yesterday is hand-drawn and an emotionally honest film. It tells the story of growing up in Japan and how gender roles are

The movie takes pride as it is one of the first Studio Ghibli’s anime that was directed not towards kids but to adults, especially women. The movie is a realistic retelling of the responsibilities of a Japanese woman and will make you fall in love as you feel nostalgic watching the Studio Ghibli anime.

4. Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2000)

The sequel to the critically acclaimed anime ‘Vampire Hunter D, Bloodlust ‘is a great follow-up to D, a half-human, half-vampire who hunts vampires. The story follows D as he sets out on another adventure in this gothic world filled with ghoulish fiends, supernatural entities, and gothic romance. The anime is filled with horror and nightmarish undertones.

3. In This Corner of the World (2016)

Set during World War II, This Corner of the World tells the story of a woman named Suzu, who gets married to a man from a seaside village called Kure. The story follows her as she falls in love with her new life, family, and friends.

But she is stuck in the middle of the war and has to make tough decisions to save her loved one. The anime has beautiful scenery and an animation style that makes you feel nostalgic. The story of Suzu as she searches for happiness through the beautiful landscape of Kure is heartwarming and beautiful.

2. Millennium Actress (2001)

The story follows a young documentary filmmaker, Genya Tachibana, who interviews and makes a documentary about a legendary actress, Chiyoko Fujiwara. As she tells him about her life and her journey, her life flashes before the audience as the past and present start to collide. The film has great animation, wonderfully written dialogues, and great scenes that will win your heart.

1. A Silent Voice (2016)

A Silent Voice is the story of a high school bully who falls in love with a mute and deaf girl. And it shows his journey as he goes from an immature, childish bully to a mature, kindhearted boy. The story will definitely make you tear up. It was released at the same time as Your Name, which overshadowed this movie. But this movie deserves an equal amount of love from the audience. This powerful coming-of-age tale discusses taboo topics, has powerful and impactful side characters, and has a great story.

Conclusion

The anime movies mentioned above tell a vast array of stories and are really underappreciated by the audience. Some of them got overshadowed by other movies, some never received enough promotion, or some just ended up targeting a very niche audience. These movies are wonderful works of art, and the love, hard work, and talent of their creators can be seen on the screen when you watch them.

FAQs

What is the best anime movie of all time?

It is universally believed that Spirited Away is the best anime movie of all time. The story of 10-year-old Chihiro Ogina is loved and appreciated by everyone all around the globe.

What was the first anime movie ever made?

The Dull Sword, or Nama Kura Gatana, is the first anime movie ever made. It was released on June 30th, 1917, but it was lost in history until someone found it again in 2008. But it is still not 100% confirmed if this was actually the first anime.

Who created anime?

It is Shimokawa Oten who is attributed the title of “Father of Anime.” His animated film, Dekobo’s new picture book, Failure of the Great Plan, was first commercially released as an anime.