Animeis highly influential, and anyone who denies it doesn’t fully understand its impact on the world.

After the success of the series, the movie passed with flying colors, too.

We’ll get to that.

Stills from Akira, Spirited Away, and Ghost in the Shell

Custom Image by Federico Napoli

The End of Evangelionis the alternate ending of the 24-episode seriesNeon Genesis Evangelion.

Heavily existential and philosophical, the movie helped animegain respect as an art form in the West.

Daring to dream as emotionally and deeply as Miyazaki teaches usthe limitless nature of imaginationand inspiration.

Astro boy pointing forward in the anime movie

Image via Mushi Production

Spirited Awayfollows Chihiro, who moves with her parents to the countryside.

The family decides to take a stroll one day but becomes trapped in a fantastical spirit world.

Chihiro must work to earn her freedom from a witch with the help of a compassionate boy, Haku.

The poster for the Space Battleship Yamato movie, showing the battleship and the Queen Starsha

Image via Toei

Neo-Tokyo, 2019, and the city is rampant with hooligans, gangs, violence, and youth unemployment.

There is no motivation for them besides violence, and biker gang leader Kaneda knows that best.

Analyzing fear,corruption, power, and identity, there’ssimply nothing likeAkiraout there.

Space Battleship Yamato (1974)

KEEP READING:10 Anime From the Last 10 Years That Are Perfect From Start to Finish

Two characters on a car in The Castle of Cagliostro

Image via Toho

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A still of all the Pokemon behind Ash Ketchum in Pokemon: The First Movie

Image via Toho Co., Ltd.

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A distressed woman with blood on her face in Perfect Blue (1997)

Image via Rex Entertainment

Perfect Blue 1997 Poster

Yabuki Joe sitting depressingly in Ashita no Joe

Image via Fuji TV

Ashita no Joe (1971)

Two characters looking intently in Ghost in the Shell

Image via Lionsgate

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Chihiro and Haku in Spirited Away

Image via Toho

Spirited Away Movie Poster

Akira on his bike on the street

Image via Toho Co, Ltd.

Akira 1988 Anime Poster

Movie

Akira