15 Best Anime Movies Without Series–They’ll Keep You Hooked

Why do people enjoy anime movies without series? Don’t the ones with a series offer more? To all of you who think this, just don’t know the power of standalone movies. These movies provide a complete story without any cliffhangers. 

In fact, the best part? It will completely flip your mood within an hour or two. So, if you ever need emotional therapy, then choose your favorite film and press the play button. I have created a list of anime movies without series that will make you enthralled in no time. 

Are you ready? Let’s bring it ON!

Anime Movies Without Series—That Will Glue You To The Screens!

15. Mirai

Animation	Characters	Plot	Total
8/10	8/10	8/10	24/30

I am amazed at the story’s Japanese authors and Filmmakers bring. It implies that there is hardly any idea left to be animated when one immerses oneself in the world of Japanese anime movies. This is the story of Kun, a 4-year-old boy who used to enjoy all the love of being an only child. His life takes a 180 degree turn with the arrival of his sister Mirai, and now the boy has lost the spotlight to her. 

The universe plays its part and brings some magic into the boy’s life. Kun meets her sister from 14 years in the future and also learns about the struggles of his parents when they were young. His mind broadens after learning about the realities that highly affects his world view. 

Just watch the movie if you ever once felt your spotlight stolen by your siblings!

14. Giovanni’s Island

Animation	Characters	Plot	Total
9/10	8/10	9/10	26/30

Have you ever searched for movies where they highlight “Cross-Cultural” friendships? If you love such stories, then give this one of the best anime movies without series a SHOT! The movie offers lessons on Hope, Love, and the beauty of Dreams and imagination. 

Siblings Kanta and Junpei are the center of the story. Their simple lives flip upside down with the start of the 2nd World War, where they see their home surrounded by armies. When different cultures collide, they start to see the beauty in it, too. They begin to befriend others from various cultures and try to find peace in all the chaos.

Not gonna lie; every single person has done a phenomenal job in the film. From the voice actors to the off-screen staff, all their efforts are clearly visible in the movie! No doubt, that it was a must-add entry on this list of best anime movies without series.

13. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

Animation	Characters	Plot	Total
8/10	9/10	9/10	26/30

Have you ever thought about what you would do if you ever got the power to go back in time? Not just that, what if you also have the power to change the past? Sounds interesting, right? Now no need to rack your brains harder because the movie has already been made on this aspect. (XD)

Makoto Konno is our female lead who gets the power to time travel with the help of a mysterious object. When she gets the powers, the first thing she does is change the exam results. LOL, because she got poor grades last time, and this time, she already knew the answers. 

Unfortunately, she doesn’t realize her true power, and she starts using the object for even the littlest of things. Of course she didn’t know that nothing comes free of cost and there is a consequence of everything. 

Watch this one of the most spellbinding anime movies without a series to learn a lot of lessons.

12. Paprika

Animation	Characters	Plot	Total
9/10	9/10	9/10	27/30

If you enjoy a blend of mystery and sci-fi when it comes to the best anime movies without series, then this is the one. The story introduces to us a technological device, DC Mini, which was developed by Atsuko and Kosaku. 

This is not your average device, but it holds the power to pierce right through one’s dreams. The creators of this device created it to help their patients overcome their psychological diseases. Little did they know that the device had attracted many evil eyes to it. Where it can be used for positive purposes, it can also be used for negative purposes. 

Someone steals the device to use it for psychological terrorism. Now, Atsuko and Kosaku must find a way to stop it from happening. 

11. Weathering With You

Animation	Characters	Plot	Total
9/10	9/10	9/10	27/30

Imagination knows no bounds, and this is the beauty of it. Have you ever imagined what you would do if you got the power to control the weather? Such a beautiful power, right? This is the ability that our female lead, Hina, has. 

The story begins by highlighting the financial problems that our male lead, Hodaka, faces. He is a student and currently can’t find a stable job to support his expenses. After moving to Tokyo, he meets many new people and learns about many new concepts. Amidst, he finds out about the legend of “Sunshine Girl” , the one who can control the weather. 

A series of incidents force the story forward, and finally, the ML meets with the FL. Learning about her unique powers, he suggests her to be the Sunshine Girl to help people who are in need of it. It’s one of the most amazing anime movies without series.

10. The Boy And The Beast

Animation	Characters	Plot	Total
9/10	9/10	9/10	27/30

The story highlights the pain of Ren, a 9-year-old boy while facing the harsh realities of the world. His mother’s death was a turning point in his life as it shattered him from the inside. As his mother was divorced, he couldn’t rely on anyone, not even on his legal guardians. The darkest realities led him to leave home to stay in the streets–all the while eating stolen food.

On the other hand, we are introduced to the Beast Kingdom, where the Lord is preparing for his retirement. Before anything else, he orders his successor, Kumatetsu, to find himself a disciple who will help him succeed the Lord. 

While in search of the right disciple, Kumatetsu crosses paths with Ren and takes the kid to the Beast Kingdom. That’s when the story picks the beat, and we see Ren training to be worthy of the position. 

The story is not as simple as you might be guessing; it brings a lot of action, thrill, suspense, and drama. So prepare yourself beforehand!

9. Children Who Chase Lost Voices

Animation	Characters	Plot	Total
9/10	9/10	9/10	27/30

Trust me or not, this is one of the most engaging and the best anime movies without series. Asuna Watase is a responsible girl who perfectly balances her studies and house chores. Her mother is usually away; therefore, she manages the house duties all alone. 

In her leisure time, she takes her crystal radio and goes to a mountain, tuning to different melodies. One day, she hears an extremely unique voice on the radio, and soon after, she comes across a deadly, mysterious creature. 

She was lucky enough as a boy named Shun, who was from another world called Agartha, killed the beast in time. The two become good friends and eventually start to develop feelings for each other. When the duo promises to meet again on a specific day, the girl keeps waiting for him, but he doesn’t show. 

It turns out that Shun died a tragic death, which shattered our female lead’s heart into a million pieces. 

The twists begin when Asuna finds a lookalike of Shun, and she can’t stop herself from following him. Who was the boy? What lies in the world of Agartha? To know more watch the movie right now.

8. The Garden Of Words

Animation	Characters	Plot	Total
9/10	9/10	9/10	27/30

Looking for an emotional drama? Watch this one of the best Romance and drama anime movies without series. Let me spoil you with just one thing, it’s an age gap love story of a 15-year-old student and 27-year-old teacher! (XD)

Honestly, it’s a beautiful story, and till the very end, you’ll feel their relationship platonic—free from any romantic feelings. Takao Akuzuki is a 15-year-old boy who dreams of being a shoemaker and loves sketching. One day, when he bunked school, he came across Yukari, and the two developed a bond where she asked him to make her shoes. 

The duo keeps seeing each other from time to time. Eventually, he learns that Yukari joins the school as the literature teacher. The story also sheds light on Yukari’s struggle to survive the constant bullying. 

The story takes a turn where things get complicated between the two especially when the boy loses his heart to her. 

7. Josee, The Tiger, And The Fish

Animation	Characters	Plot	Total
9/10	10/10	9/10	28/30

Tsuneo Suzukawa is our ambitious main character who is deeply interested in the subjects of science. His passion for studying has led him to dream about pursuing education abroad. Unfortunately, it’s not easy for him because financial troubles stand in front. 

One day, he comes across Kumiko, a girl in a wheelchair. Initially, he didn’t like her because of her cold demeanor. However, the girl’s grandmother offered him the opportunity to earn some money if he became her caretaker. 

When he spends time with her, he learns about her challenges and the hurdles she faces in daily life. Everybody has dreams, and it’s up to one to find a way for it. Watch this one of the most amazing anime movies without series to learn some of the greatest lessons. 

6. Ponyo

Animation	Characters	Plot	Total
9/10	10/10	10/10	29/30

Once you watch this movie, your definition of cuteness will change. All the characters are extremely adorable, especially our goldfish Ponyo. Just like most of us, Ponyo is also ambitious and her love for the surface adventure led her to escape her home. 

On her way, she comes across Sousuke, who takes her to his home. Eventually, as they spend time together, the two become close friends, which increases Ponyo’s desire to be a human. Meanwhile, Ponyo’s father, who is a sorcerer and an ex-human, starts his search for her.

A lot of hurdles come their way, and they must face all the odds to be together. Whether they’ll be successful or not, watch it to learn more about the story! The list of best anime movies without series would have been incomplete without this entry to the list.

5. My Neighbor Totoro

Animation	Characters	Plot	Total
9/10	10/10	10/10	29/30

Ah, what an astounding masterpiece! It was and forever will be a part of my heart, and you’ll also say this if you watch it once. It is a beautiful story that highlights the life of sisters Satsuki and Mei and how it changes when they move to the countryside. 

While adjusting to the new place and its environment, Mei comes across a ghost-like cute creature. He was Totoro who introduced the world of fantasy to the girls. The movie is literally a visual treat if you enjoy fantasy, adventure, and supernatural. 

You’ll absolutely love their friendship bond and the way the story develops with time. 

4. Wolf Children

Animation	Characters	Plot	Total
9/10	10/10	9/10	28/30

I bet we have watched many romance movies where the heroine falls for a werewolf. This is one of those anime movies without a series that offers the same story. However, the only difference is that it’s not focused on Romance. Yes, you heard it right!

Hana is the female lead who falls for the werewolf, and they end up having a family of four. Their love story was short-lived, as her man lost his life too soon. In this world full of darkness, Hana must keep the identity of her wolf children hidden. 

She must do everything all alone and decides to move to the countryside. Trust me, and keep your hankies with you, as watching her struggle might give you misty eyes! This is indeed one of the best anime movies without series!

3. Akira

Animation	Characters	Plot	Total
9/10	10/10	10/10	29/30

It introduces a world that was once almost destroyed because of the psychic powers of a young boy named Akira. It caused a huge chaos leading to World War III. From that point onwards, decades have passed, and the higher-ups are still trying their best to prevent history from repeating itself. 

Many years have passed after the war, and now things are settled down. Shoutarou Kaneda is the protagonist who leads a gang, and they move from place to place on their motorbikes. The group’s rival is another group called the Clowns. 

During one of their fights, Shoutaro’s friend Tetsuo Shima gets injured leading him to realize that he holds psychic powers just like Akira. Now, Shoutaro must find a way to stop his friend from misusing his powers to cause destruction once again. This is one of the best anime movies without series that is extremely famous in the anime industry. 

2. Howl’s Moving Castle

Animation	Characters	Plot	Total
9/10	10/10	10/10	29/30

Believe me fellas, you’ll feel love blooming in your heart watching this one of the best romance anime movies without series. Sophie is your typical female lead who has the gem of a heart and loves helping people–all the while enjoying her simple life. 

Her life takes a sharp turn when she crosses paths with the heart-throb of every woman, Howl. The fact that he is not an ordinary man but a wizard makes him even more intriguing. Where their first meeting held something special, it also attracted the evil eyes of the Witch of Waste.

The witch, out of pure jealousy, curses our FL, turning her into an old woman. The heartbroken female lead runs from the house and ends up living in the Howl’s Moving Castle. 

My Lord, that’s the moment where you should stick your eyes on the screen! Watch how the chemistry between the Old Sophie and the handsome Howl develops and what leads them to fall in love. Go watch it without wasting a second!

1. Spirited Away

Animation	Characters	Plot	Total
10/10	10/10	10/10	29/30

What an absolute gem from Hayao Miyazaki! Well, not just this movie, but all of his work fits best if we talk about anime movies without series. You know what? Hayao sensei specially made this film for his friend’s daughter, and it became a massive hit, winning hearts worldwide. Sounds adorable, and I know it. So, let’s immerse ourselves into the fantastical world of Spirited Away!

Chihiro is the 10-year-old protagonist whose life flips upside down when she visits a park with her parents. Unbeknownst to any of them, the park was haunted, and when the girl got creepy vibes from it, she asked her parents to leave immediately. 

Not listening to her pleas, things turned for the worse when her parents turned into pigs. Just imagine how the little girl would have felt all alone amidst the ghosts and spirits. The movie will give you chills and thrills right from the very start, so make sure to keep your heart firm. 

Running away, she found a Bath House to work part time there which seemed to be the only way to survive in this place. Without spoiling you further on the story, I’d suggest you give it a shot right now!

Final Notes

So my otaku friends, I did my best to gather the best entries in this list of anime movies without series. I am confident that you’ll find at least one of them according to your tastes. I request you guys to at least try watching all of them because these are the absolute gems!

Check out our anime movie recommendations to find many more interesting lists specially made for you!

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