Did you know that more than a third of the global population watches anime? Anime is one of the most popular movie genres, and if you watch anime, you probably have a few favorites in the back of your mind. Anime, which generates more than $19 billion USD in income in Japan, is enjoying an unheard-of growth in popularity abroad, which is helping to drive its record sales. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anime lovers, though; they’re very aware of the genre’s strong themes, rich characters, and breathtaking animation.

But what are the most award-winning anime films of all time? Whether you’re searching for a new anime to binge or are just curious to learn about some of the genre’s greatest, continue reading to find out which animes have won the most cinematic awards.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

8 Spirited Away (2001)

The award-winning anime Spirited Away tells the tale of Chihiro, a young girl who is abruptly thrust into the world of unusual spirits and beings in Japanese culture.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

Spirited Away is the first anime movie to have won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature in addition to winning Animation of the Year, Best Art Direction, Best Music, Best Director, and Best Screenplay at the Tokyo Anime Awards!

7 Grave of the Fireflies (1998)

     Studio Ghibli

Grave of the Fireflies from Studio Ghibli follows a young boy named Seita and his younger sister Setsuko as they struggle to survive during the closing months of World War II. The late Isao Takahata’s anime film, which explores the consequences of war on young children, is a tale of desperation and resourcefulness.

The movie won the Animation Jury and Right of the Child prizes at the 1994 Chicago International Children’s Film Festival. It also received a Special Award at the 1989 Blue Ribbon Awards.

6 Demon Slayer (2021)

     Crunchyroll

Demon Slayer follows young Tanjiro Kamado as he trains to kill demons after stumbling upon the aftermath of the murder of his family and the shocking transformation of his sister, Nezuko.

Comic Book Resources placed Demon Slayer second on a top anime list and praised the story’s protagonists, calling them “the most appealing male and female leads of the decade.” The anime series also came in first place on Japan Web Magazine’s ranking of the “30 Best Anime of All Time.”

5 A Silent Voice (2016)

     Kyoto Animation

A Silent Voice is a movie about Shoya Ishida, a boy who bullied a deaf classmate in elementary school and is now an outcast in high school.

The short, which was directed by Naoko Yamada and was drawn by Kyoto Animation, examines the causes and repercussions of bullying that is rife in Japan. The film took home the 2016 Tokyo Anime Award for Anime of the Year and the 2016 Japanese Movie Critics Awards for Best Animation Feature Film.

4 Your Name (2016)

     CoMix Wave Films

Your Name follows two teen boys whose bodies switch with one another overnight. If that’s not confusing enough, Taki attends school in the metropolis of Tokyo and Mitsuha lives in rural Japan. Not only does this anime have a great story, but the soundtrack is also incredible. Your Name is the fourth-highest-grossing movie of all time in Japan and has been screened worldwide.

It was honored with the Best Animated Feature Film, Outstanding Achievement in Music, and Japan Academy Prizes for Screenplay of the Year at the 71st Mainichi Film Awards.

3 Wolf Children (2012)

     Akira, Wolf Children, Your Name

Wolf Children is a family tale that centers on Hana and her two children, Ame and Yuki. However, Hana’s children aren’t normal: they occasionally turn into wolves. The movie was directed in 2012 by Mamoru Hosoda, who produced hits like Summer Wars and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time.

It features some of the most exquisite backgrounds and animation sequences in recent memory thanks to Madhouse’s animation work. Wolf Children received the Mainichi Film Awards for Best Animated Film and the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year!

2 Into the Forest of Fireflies’ Light (2011)

     Brain's Base

In the anime movie Into the Forest of Fireflies’ Light, a little girl named Hotaru and a supernatural being named Gin who lives in a forest next to her grandfather’s home become an unlikely pair. This heartwarming film, which Takahiro Omori directed and Brain’s Base animated, is likely to move you.

This charming anime won the Mainichi Film Award for Animation in 2011 despite being only 44 minutes long, making it shorter than most movies.

1 Naruto (2002)

     Mediatoon Distribution

If you somehow aren’t familiar with Naruto, it follows the tale of young ninja Naruto Uzumaki, who aspires to be recognized by his peers and to become the Hokage. He becomes friends with Sakura, a classmate, and develops a rivalry with the gifted Sasuke.

The anime was recognized with a Behind the Voice Actors (BTVA) award for having the best female voice acting in a supporting role in an anime. Naruto also won Nickelodeon’s Indonesia KCA for Favorite Cartoon Show.