Want to take a break from watching series and go for something shorter? Try these!
Anime movies can often be tricky to find. Some of them get no legal streaming releases at all — and some, like the Ghibli movies, are locked behind less popular streaming services such as Disney+.
However, Crunchyroll still has a huge anime library, and that includes many anime movies — here are 5 very good ones.
After the merger with Funimation, Akira can easily be found on Crunchyroll. Arguably the most historically important anime movie, it was one of the works that heavily popularized anime both in Japan and in the West.
Akira is also one of the earliest examples of the cyberpunk genre, which is, in part, heavily inspired by its aesthetics.
Suzume
You might not get to watch Hayao Miyazaki’s movies on Crunchyroll, but you get another famous director, Makoto Shinkai. His latest work, Suzume (Suzume no Tojimari), is actually quite different from his normal style — instead of being focused on romance, it’s a story of finding yourself, heavily inspired by Japanese mythology.
Even if you aren’t a fan of Shinkai, it’s hard to deny he’s an incredible animator. That alone makes his movies worth watching — and Suzume is different enough from his usual stuff that it is worth it even for the haters.
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
Mamoru Hosoda is another director whose name is recognized by anime fans. Famous for exploring the themes of interpersonal connections in his works, he adapts a short novel by the same name — and it is exactly what you think it is.
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo) follows Makoto Konno, a girl who discovers that she is able to travel back in time. It’s not making things as easy as it would sound like, as every choice leads to unforeseen consequences.
Sword of the Stranger
Sword of the Stranger (Stranger: Mukou Hadan) is commonly considered one of the best animated anime of all time. At least, it’s definitely up there — many talented animators worked on this original movie by Studio Bones.
The story is simple — it’s an adventure of a young boy and a samurai who protects him from assassins. That said, it’s executed well enough that it’s fun to watch, and the movie is a visual treat.
The Stranger by the Shore
If you’re into the BL genre, The Stranger by the Shore (Umibe no Étranger) is practically a must-watch. It’s a short but sweet movie that gives a realistic take on the genre — with a natural romantic development, as well as well-written and realistic drama.
It adapts a short manga by the same name, which was already very popular among the fans of the genre.