30 Overrated Anime Movies Everyone Seems To Like

Anime movies have gained massive global popularity over the last few decades with many titles becoming household names. While many of these films receive universal acclaim and break box office records they are not without their flaws or detractors. Fans and critics often debate whether the hype surrounding certain high profile releases is justified by the actual quality of the storytelling. Exploring these diverse viewpoints helps to provide a broader understanding of why some films are considered overrated by specific segments of the audience. This list examines several highly regarded films that have faced criticism despite their commercial and critical success.

‘Spirited Away’ (2001)

Chihiro wanders into a magical realm and must work at a bathhouse for spirits to save her parents. The film won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and remains a global phenomenon. While celebrated for its imagination some critics point to a lack of clear narrative structure in the final act. The transition from the tension of the bathhouse to the quiet train ride represents a significant shift in pacing. This Studio Ghibli classic often overshadows other impactful works by Hayao Miyazaki.

‘Your Name.’ (2016)

Two teenagers living in different parts of Japan suddenly begin swapping bodies and forming a mystical connection. Makoto Shinkai received immense praise for the visual fidelity and emotional weight of this story. Some viewers find the time travel mechanics and the underlying cosmic coincidence to be overly convenient for the plot. The central romance relies heavily on a spiritual link that remains largely unexplained throughout the film. It quickly became one of the highest grossing anime films of all time.

‘A Silent Voice: The Movie’ (2016)

A former bully attempts to make amends with a deaf girl he tormented during their elementary school years. The movie explores themes of redemption and mental health with a very distinct art style. Some audience members feel the redemption arc of the supporting characters is rushed or unearned. The extended runtime leads to pacing issues that diverge from the flow of the original manga. It stands as a landmark for disability representation in Japanese animation.

‘Princess Mononoke’ (1997)

Prince Ashitaka finds himself caught in a war between industrial humans and the gods of a forest. The film is famous for its environmental message and complex depiction of morality. Certain critiques highlight the dense mythology which can be difficult for international audiences to follow without context. The intense violence marked a departure from previous Studio Ghibli projects. It held the title of the highest grossing domestic film in Japan for several years.

‘Howl’s Moving Castle’ (2004)

Sophie is transformed into an elderly woman by a curse and seeks help from a wizard named Howl. The adaptation takes significant liberties with the source material written by Diana Wynne Jones. Critics often mention that the antiwar subplot feels disconnected from the central character development. The magical rules of the world change frequently to suit the needs of the narrative. Despite these points the animation of the castle itself remains a masterwork of the genre.

‘Akira’ (1988)

In a futuristic Neo Tokyo a teenage biker gains telekinetic powers that threaten to destroy the city. This film is credited with introducing adult oriented anime to Western audiences. The plot condenses thousands of pages of manga into a single movie which results in a confusing climax for some viewers. Many characters from the source material are sidelined or omitted entirely to fit the runtime. The technical achievement of the hand drawn animation is still regarded as revolutionary today.

‘Ghost in the Shell’ (1995)

Major Motoko Kusanagi hunts a mysterious hacker known as the Puppet Master in a cyberpunk future. The film focuses heavily on philosophical questions regarding identity and the soul. Some viewers find the dialogue to be overly expository and the pacing to be intentionally slow. The lack of traditional action sequences in the second half can alienate fans expecting a standard thriller. It served as a primary inspiration for the Wachowskis when they created the Matrix franchise.

‘Weathering with You’ (2019)

A high school boy runs away to Tokyo and meets a girl who has the power to control the weather. The film follows the success of the previous work by Makoto Shinkai and shares similar visual themes. Critics often compare it unfavorably to its predecessor by citing a less impactful central conflict. The resolution of the story raises ethical questions about prioritizing personal happiness over the greater good. It features a lush soundtrack by the Japanese rock band Radwimps.

‘Suzume’ (2022)

A young girl travels across Japan to close mysterious doors that are causing supernatural disasters. The road trip format allows for a variety of beautiful settings and diverse side characters. Some reviews suggest the romance between the leads lacks the development seen in other Shinkai films. The recurring nature of the door closing missions can feel repetitive throughout the middle section. It became a significant box office success and received a nomination at the Golden Globes.

‘My Neighbor Totoro’ (1988)

Two sisters move to the countryside and encounter friendly forest spirits while their mother recovers in a hospital. The film is a staple of childhood for many and serves as the mascot for Studio Ghibli. Critics of the film point out the lack of a traditional conflict or antagonist to drive the story forward. The plot is episodic and relies more on atmosphere than a structured narrative progression. Its cultural impact in Japan is comparable to major Disney properties in the West.

‘Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train’ (2020)

Tanjiro and his companions join a powerful swordsman to battle demons on a high speed train. This movie became the highest grossing film of all time in Japan during the global pandemic. Some viewers argue that the film serves more as a bridge between television seasons than a standalone cinematic experience. The emotional climax relies heavily on a character who was only recently introduced to the audience. It is praised for the high production quality provided by the studio Ufotable.

‘Jujutsu Kaisen 0’ (2021)

Yuta Okkotsu enters a specialized school to learn how to control a powerful curse that haunts him. The film serves as a prequel to the main series and focuses on a different protagonist. Many fans feel the story follows familiar shonen tropes without offering significant subversions. The pacing is extremely fast and leaves little room for secondary character exploration. It successfully expanded the franchise and set the stage for subsequent television seasons.

‘5 Centimeters per Second’ (2007)

The story follows the life of a young man as he experiences distance and heartbreak over several years. It is divided into three segments that showcase the progression of time and changing relationships. Critics often point out the lack of dialogue and the heavy reliance on internal monologues. Some find the ending to be unsatisfying or unnecessarily pessimistic for the genre. The film is famous for its hyper realistic background art and lighting.

‘The Garden of Words’ (2013)

A student training to be a shoemaker meets an older woman in a park during rainy mornings. The short runtime of the film limits the depth of the character backstories and their motivations. Some audience members feel the relationship between the two leads is problematic given their age difference. The visual depiction of rain is considered some of the best in the history of animation. It explores themes of loneliness and the difficulty of verbal communication.

‘The Girl Who Leapt Through Time’ (2006)

A teenage girl gains the ability to travel back in time and uses it to fix minor inconveniences in her life. The film deals with the unintended consequences of altering the past. Critics have mentioned that the logic behind the time travel mechanics is never fully explained. The sudden shift from a light hearted comedy to a serious drama can feel jarring for the audience. It won several awards including the Japan Academy Film Prize for Animation of the Year.

‘Wolf Children’ (2012)

A mother raises two children who are hybrids of humans and wolves after the death of their father. The story spans many years and focuses on the struggles of parenthood and finding identity. Some viewers find the biological mechanics of the transformations to be inconsistent or confusing. The ending is often a point of contention for fans who wanted a different path for the characters. It remains one of the most commercially successful films directed by Mamoru Hosoda.

‘Paprika’ (2006)

A therapist uses a device to enter the dreams of her patients to help them with their psychological issues. The film is a surreal exploration of the boundaries between reality and the subconscious mind. Some critics argue the narrative becomes too chaotic and difficult to follow in the final act. The dense visual information can be overwhelming for viewers who prefer a more grounded story. It is frequently cited as a major influence on the live action movie Inception.

‘Perfect Blue’ (1997)

A pop singer retires to become an actress and finds herself being stalked by an obsessed fan. The film explores themes of celebrity culture and the blurring of public and private personas. Some viewers find the graphic nature of the violence and the psychological horror to be excessive. The nonlinear storytelling makes it difficult to distinguish what is real from what is a hallucination. It is regarded as a masterpiece of the psychological thriller genre in animation.

‘Ponyo’ (2008)

A goldfish princess escapes from the ocean and befriends a young boy living on a cliff. The movie is a loose reimagining of the classic fairy tale The Little Mermaid. Some reviews suggest the plot is too simplistic compared to the deeper themes of other Miyazaki works. The environmental message in the finale is often seen as less cohesive than in previous films. It features hand drawn animation that captures the fluidity of the ocean with great detail.

‘Redline’ (2009)

Drivers from across the galaxy compete in a dangerous and illegal underground race. The film spent seven years in production and consists of over one hundred thousand hand drawn frames. Critics often note that the style far outweighs the substance of the thin plot. The characters are archetypes that do not receive much development during the high speed action. It has gained a massive cult following for its unique aesthetic and energetic soundtrack.

‘Promare’ (2019)

Firefighters using giant robots battle a group of fire wielding mutants in a stylized future city. The film features a vibrant neon color palette and a very distinct geometric art style. Some viewers find the constant shouting and high energy pacing to be tiring after a while. The plot follows a very standard structure that mirrors previous works by the same creative team. It was the first feature length film produced by Studio Trigger.

‘One Piece Film Red’ (2022)

The Straw Hat pirates attend a concert by a world famous singer who has a secret connection to Shanks. The movie incorporates many musical numbers that take up a significant portion of the runtime. Some fans felt the musical format detracted from the traditional action and adventure of the series. The antagonist is a new character whose motivations are centered around a specific trauma. It became a massive financial success and one of the highest grossing films in the franchise.

‘Dragon Ball Super: Broly’ (2018)

Goku and Vegeta encounter a powerful Saiyan survivor who has been exiled to a remote planet. The film reintroduces a popular character from the older movies into the official series canon. Critics point out that the story is secondary to the extended battle sequences that dominate the second half. The shifting art styles between traditional and 3D animation can be distracting for some viewers. It is praised for giving more depth to the Saiyan history and the character of Broly.

‘Summer Wars’ (2009)

A math genius accidentally solves a security code that allows an artificial intelligence to threaten the world. The film mixes a family drama in rural Japan with a high stakes digital battle. Some audience members feel the central conflict is resolved too conveniently through a game of Koi Koi. The large number of family members makes it difficult to track every character and their specific role. It won the first ever Golden Leopard at the Locarno International Film Festival for animation.

‘Belle’ (2021)

A shy girl becomes a global singing sensation in a massive virtual world and searches for a mysterious beast. The film is a modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast set in the digital age. Critics have noted that the real world plot regarding child abuse is not handled with enough sensitivity or screen time. The transition between the virtual reality segments and the mundane reality can feel disjointed. It received a standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival for its visual and musical ambition.

‘Castle in the Sky’ (1986)

Two children search for a legendary floating city while being pursued by pirates and government agents. It was the first film produced by Studio Ghibli and established many of the studio’s tropes. Some modern viewers find the pacing to be slower than contemporary adventure films. The villains are often viewed as one dimensional compared to the complex antagonists in later Miyazaki works. It remains a foundational piece of the steampunk genre in Japanese media.

‘Whisper of the Heart’ (1995)

A young girl who loves reading discovers a boy who has checked out all the same library books. The film is a gentle coming of age story that focuses on the creative process and future aspirations. Critics of the movie suggest that the low stakes and realistic setting make it less memorable than Ghibli’s fantasy works. The romantic subplot follows a very traditional and predictable path for shojo stories. It features a unique fantasy sequence based on the paintings of Naohisa Inoue.

‘The Boy and the Beast’ (2015)

An orphan boy stumbles into a world of beasts and becomes the apprentice of a grumpy warrior. The relationship between the teacher and the student is the emotional core of the film. Some viewers find the introduction of a new antagonist in the final act to be abrupt and unnecessary. The themes of inner darkness are treated in a way that some feel is repetitive. It was a major box office success in Japan and received international distribution.

‘Bubble’ (2022)

Gravity defying bubbles fall from the sky and trap a group of orphans who participate in parkour battles. The film features high quality animation from the studio behind Attack on Titan. Critics often point to the weak script and lack of emotional connection between the main characters. The story is a reimagining of The Little Mermaid that many feel lacks the impact of the original tale. It was released globally on a major streaming platform to mixed reception from fans and critics.

‘Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time’ (2021)

In the film ‘Evangelion 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time’ Shinji Ikari and his fellow pilots reach the conclusion of the long running series. The movie provides a definitive end to a franchise that has spanned several decades. Some fans find the heavy use of meta narrative and fourth wall breaking to be self indulgent. The technical explanations for the final events are often considered dense and difficult to parse. It received widespread praise for finally offering a sense of closure to the iconic characters.

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