15 Anime Movies With Best Storyline-Ranked!

Countless anime movies are famous as masterpieces for many reasons. Some of them are for their art and aesthetics, while others are for their story and characters. Today’s list is all about the anime movies with Best Storyline. It’s time to watch these movies to broaden your perspective and to have some fun. Are you ready? Here we begin!

Anime Movies With The Best Story–Get Ready To Escape In The World Of Anime!

Highlights

  • All the movies here offer more than just a great story
  • You will get to see the list full of a variety of anime movies. There will be anime movies with magic, action, adventure, fantasy, and a lot more.
  • The list is purely ranked based on my personal preferences

15. My Neighbour Totoro

Anime movies with best storyline- My neighbour Totoro
Animation CharactersPlotTotal
9/1010/109/1028/30

There are many movies with cute creatures, but nothing can beat My Neighbour Totoro. It’s one of the most famous anime movies with best storyline out there. Wanna know why? Because it presents our imagination most beautifully. I bet many of us have dreamt of having cute supernatural friends who will take us to a magical world. This movie is just about that.

Satsuki and Mei are the two adorable sisters who experience the best moments when they move to their hometown. Their mother was bedridden, which had brought sadness to their lives. However, one day, when they met the giant spirit Totoro, their life changed in the best way possible. The three became friends, and their fantastical experiences make the whole film worth loving. 

This movie has it all, whether you are looking for adventure anime movies or visually aesthetic ones. 

14. Arrietty

Anime movies with best storyline---Arrietty
Animation CharactersPlotTotal
9/1010/109/1028/30

This movie is just a VIBE–a vibe that you can’t forget. This is one of the most fantastic movies with best storyline, especially if you enjoy visually appealing and intricate art. It targets the life of mini humans called Borrowers who live a hidden life. Shou is the cute male lead who visits his aunt’s house and is bewildered seeing Arritety, a Borrower. 

Fueled by his curiosity, he befriends the girl and learns about their daily life challenges for survival. The girl’s parents advised her to never befriend a human but she breaks the rule anyway. Problems begin when the maid learns about their existence and decides to kick them out.

I am sure you will love the bonding of the main characters. Above all, the art will keep you stunned throughout.

13. Wolf Children

Anime movies with best storyline- Wolf Children
Animation CharactersPlotTotal
9/1010/109/1028/30

Very often, we forget about the sacrifices that our mothers make. Wolf Children beautifully highlights the life of a woman and her sacrifices to protect her kids. Hana is the Wonder Woman we are referring to. 

Her life changes the moment when the feeling of love struck her hard for a handsome werewolf. The feelings turned out to be mutual, so the couple started a family, and soon they were four. Unfortunately, her happy life became a nightmare with the sudden death of her lover, which left the three of them all alone in the dark world. 

Aware of the harsh realities of the world, Hana was struck with fear of losing her kids, who were also werewolves. The story then highlights her struggles as a single mom who does everything to give her wolf children the best possible life. Trust me or not, this is truly one of the most heart-touching anime movies with best storyline. 

12. Mary And The Witch‘s Flower

Anime movies with best storyline--Mary and the witch's flower
Animation CharactersPlotTotal
9/1010/109/1028/30

I literally miss watching these movies because they can connect with you instantly. There’s always a lesson in anime movies with best storyline, and this movie has many remarkable ones. Have you ever felt disappointed that no matter how much you try, you are just good at nothing?

Don’t worry because many of us went through that phase, and Mary is also just like us! She was a little clumsy, always falling here and there. She never imagined that she would be good at something that ordinary people can’t even dream of. During her stroll to the jungle, she found some magical flowers that gave her temporary powers. With the powers, she visits the popular College for the witches. Everyone was truly impressed with her magical prowess, not knowing that it was all because of the flowers. 

The appreciation and recognition she always yearned for in her life was given to her so magically. Though her life changed for the better, things always come with a cost. Some evil antagonists greedy for power set their eyes on her. Now, she must use all of her in her hands to stop them from harming others.

11. The Boy And The Heron

Anime movies with best storyline--The Boy and the heron
Animation CharactersPlotTotal
9/1010/109/1028/30

It is another award-winning movie by Studio Ghibli. It targets the harsh realities of life and teaches one the true meaning of living. Mahito Maki is our main character whose life becomes chaotic after the death of his mother. 

Soon after, his father remarried his aunt (sister of his mother). One after another, there were so many changes he was experiencing. They soon move to their hometown, where he sees a heron and finds it following him everywhere. 

Above all, the heron was not an ordinary one but could speak. He tells him that his mother is alive, and to find the answers, he must visit a tower. At first, he doesn’t listen but soon finds himself entangled in a series of mysterious incidents. 

At the end of this movie, you will feel yourself struck with countless emotions. It’s indeed one of the most heart-touching movies with best storyline from everyone’s favorite Studio Ghibli.

10. Princess Mononoke

Anime movies with best storyline--Princess Mononoke
Animation CharactersPlotTotal
9/1010/109/1028/30

Prince Ashitaka is our handsome male lead who has all the qualities that a hero has. He is selfless enough to put his life in danger for his people and he was cursed just like that. To find the cure to uplift the curse, he set on a journey, but guess what? 

When he entered the Iron Town, he learned about the heated disagreement between humans and forest spirits. Both parties have their own ideals. The humans wanted deforestation, while the forest spirits didn’t. After learning that, Prince Ashitaka couldn’t stop himself from jumping into the issue to help solve it for peace. Even though he was suffering the most, yet he thought about others. Princess Mononoke is in favor of the forest spirits, and Ashitaka’s encounter with her makes the story engaging. Ngl, it’s one of the most epic action fantasy anime movies with best storyline. 

9. Perfect Blue

Anime movies with best storyline--_Perfect Blue
Animation CharactersPlotTotal
9/109/1010/1028/30

We always live in the illusion that the lives of celebrities and Idols are free of pain and problems. In fact, they have to think about the consequences of their personal decisions. Unfortunately, we can never come close to what they experience in their day-to-day life. 

Perfect Blue highlights the challenging life of a J-Pop idol, Mima Kirigoe. Her plan to quit being an Idol to enter in the acting industry came with the worst consequences. Though she expected everyone to respect her decisions, not everything goes according to one’s expectations. 

The moment she took the decision, her life flipped upside down. An obsessed psychotic fan starts stalking her, and she finds herself surrounded by the worst possible realities. She comes to a point where she feels completely helpless, looking for a direction in her life. Please watch this movie if you enjoy thriller and horror anime movies with best storyline. 

8. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
Animation CharactersPlotTotal
8/1010/1010/1028/30

There are so many reasons why it’s one of the anime movies with best storyline. Very often, we fail to value things in our hands until we lose them. This is one of the lessons that we learned from this one of the most beautiful anime movies with best storyline. Makoto’s life was a total mess with no light of fun and entertainment. Amidst all the odds and coping with the academic pressure, she finds the ability to time travel. 

When she learns that she can go into the past and change it, she literally doesn’t hold herself back. She starts time traveling for the most lame reasons for the sake of amusement. Unfortunately, Makoto doesn’t realize the powers she holds and realizes when she loses them. She falls in love with a person, but due to the mysteries of time, her love remains unfulfilled. To know why, switch ON your laptop and watch it with your friends. 

7. Tokyo Godfathers

Tokyo Godfathers
Animation CharactersPlotTotal
8/1010/1010/1028/30

Somebody asked about anime movies with best storyline, right? Dude, I got you!

Hana, Gin, and Miyuki are the three main characters of the movie. The three of them were facing the odds in their lives. Hana was a transwoman with her own challenges and sufferings. Gin was abandoned when she stabbed her father, while Miyuki used to be a bike racer now banned from taking part. 

On Christmas Eve, while they were searching for some presents, they found an abandoned baby. The three of them, with broken hearts, couldn’t leave the baby there and decided to look after her. They name the little baby Kiyoko, and Hana sets out on a journey to find the baby’s biological parents and their reason for their cruelty. 

Little did they expect that their lives would flip upside down as they got bombarded with unexpected challenges. It is one of the most loved anime movies with best storyline. 

6. Your Name

Your Name
Animation CharactersPlotTotal
9/1010/1010/1029/30

Honestly, the list of anime movies with best storyline is incomplete without Your Name. Have you ever thought of living as the opposite gender? I mean I can relate to the girls who dream of being a boy. Mitsuha Miyamizu is a high schooler who has been living a monotonous life with challenges of her own. 

She imagined living a free life in a city. Taki Tachibana is our male lead whose life also is not an easy one. Things take an interesting turn when the two find themselves in each other’s bodies. 

The girl wakes up in Taki’s body, and the boy in hers. Fueled by curiosity, the two start a search for each other, leading to beautiful moments and some heart-touching ups and downs.  

If you have a liking for romance anime movies with best storyline, then don’t miss watching it.

5. The Boy And The Beast

The Boy And The Beast
Animation CharactersPlotTotal
9/1010/1010/1029/30

When it comes to anime movies with best storyline, then dude, The Boy And The Beast offers it the best. You want Action? Check! You want Adventure? Check! You want Fantasy? Check. Dude, this one is a complete package, so you just name it, and it’s there. 

9-year-old Ren is our little protagonist whose life becomes a mess with the death of his mother. With no one to trust, he runs off and finds solace in the streets. Next, the introduction of the overpowered Kumatetsu of the Beast Kingdom makes things interesting. He was in search of a disciple and the fun begins when the two cross paths with each other. 

He takes Ren to his kingdom and trains him to make him his disciple. There is a lot of action in the moving that will pull you toward the edge of your seat. Above all, the plot is very intricate and you’ll love it throughout. Before moving on to the next, just know that there is still so much more to the story that I don’t want to spoil for you! It’s also the best recommendation if you enjoy anime movies with OP MC. So, have a good watch. 

4. Grave Of the Fireflies

Grave Of The Fireflies
Animation CharactersPlotTotal
9/1010/1010/1029/30

You can’t even imagine the strength this movie holds. I wonder why people still choose War when we have this gem to tell us about its consequences. You guessed it absolutely right! The reason this movie is one of the most impactful movies with best storyline is because it highlights the lives of war-affected children. 

The story revolves around two siblings, Seita and Setsuko and their life. The two lose their parents and everything precious to them in War. Innocent souls can’t fathom what to do with their lives, all alone in the dark world with the constant bombing

Unable to find food to suffice their basic body needs, their hopes still shine brighter than the fire of the bombs. It’s truly one of the most heartbreaking movies, so if you don’t like to get misty eyes, this might not be the one for you. However, it’s a must-watch masterpiece that everyone must watch at least once in their lives. It’s indeed one of the anime movies with best storyline.

3. A Silent Voice

A Silent Voice
Animation CharactersPlotTotal
9/1010/1010/1029/30

People often don’t understand the impact of bullying on one’s life and continue to steal colors from other’s lives for temporary amusement. Shouya Ishida was just one of the bullies who bullied others without thinking of the consequences.

His life takes an unexpected turn with the entry of Shouko Nishimiya. The gorgeous girl is our deaf female lead. Out of habit, he starts making fun of her by bullying her for short-lived happiness. Things change for him when Shouko’s mother complains about him, and he’s left embarrassed. 

The girl’s mother transfers her to another school. Now, nobody wants to talk to him, blaming him for ruining someone’s life. Time passes, but the boy is unable to set himself free from the cage of remorse

Therefore, he decides to make amends by asking for forgiveness from Shouko. Once you watch this movie, you’ll learn why this is famous as one of the most beautiful movies with the best storyline. 

2. Howl’s Moving Castle

Howl's Moving Castle
Animation CharactersPlotTotal
9/1010/1010/1029/30

What made you think that I’ll forget adding this gem to the list of anime movies with best storyline? Imagine an anime movie full of magic, romance, action, adventure, fantasy, and whatnot! Sounds like a dream come true, right? Howl’s Moving Castle is one of those gems that will forever be your favorite if you watch it once.

Sophie is your simple and gorgeous female lead who is happy with her ordinary life working as a Hat Knitter. Every other girl is familiar with the Wizard Howl, who is famous for his good looks and charm. However, our girl is unbothered by his existence. 

Things take a romantic turn with their unexpected encounter full of some special feelings. Unfortunately, when an evil Witch learns about Sophie’s closeness to Howl, she curses her. The curse turns the beautiful into an old lady, and the next moment, Sophie runs to find a cure for it. 

Fate plays its part, and she starts living in the Howl’s Moving Castle. With time, Sophie starts returning to her original state. Can you guess how? Well, it’s the power of LOVE! Indeed, it’s one of the best romance anime movies with best story. Not just that, it’s also famous as one of the best anime movies with magic.

1. Spirited Away

Spirited Away
Animation CharactersPlotTotal
9/1010/1010/1029/30

Are you in search of the best anime movies of all time? Be glad because you are truly blessed to find Spirited Away. The kid Chihiro is your female lead whose life takes a turn for the “best” but in the most scary way. You might search for the “best” throughout, but you’ll only learn that at the end of the movie. 

Her life flips upside down when she visits a haunted park with her parents. The girl sniffs the creepy vibes from a mile away and requests her parents to leave the place immediately. Unfortunately, they don’t listen to her, and their greed for food turns them into pigs. 

The scared girl, unable to fathom the sight of her parents turning into pigs, runs for her life. Unable to find a way out before sunset, she finds herself surrounded by ghosts and spirits. Before something tragic happens to her, a boy comes to her for help. 

He tells her that if she wants to survive, she must work as a part-timer for the witch Yubaba. Having no choice but to agree to the offer, she finds herself adjusting to this new life. While living in the bathhouse, she learns the toughest lessons in life. I bet that you’ll love this movie! 

Final Notes

There you are; this is all about the list of anime movies with best story. All of them are worth watching, so watch them one by one and then come back later to update me about your experience. I’ll return with some exciting anime movie recommendations. So stay tuned!

FAQS

What are the best anime movies that have a great story?

There are so many anime movies with best storyline. You can start with Studio Ghibli movies, as all of them are remarkable.

What is the best anime love story movie?

There are so many romance anime movies, and Howl’s Moving Castle comes under the best ones.

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