Among some of the most influential works of Japanese animation, anime films exemplify everything that makes the genre as great as it is. With top of the line art work, animation that flows like water and themes that range from the relatable to the fantastical, they’ve allowed viewers to see breathtaking works of art in motion and brought more than a few people to the medium as a whole. Among them are those that stand above the rest as some of the most influential though, and these 10 in particular are works that you need to watch before you die.
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie
Known as one of the best anime series of all time, Cowboy Bebop took the world by storm and helped establish the roots of the Western anime fandom we have today. It’s no surprise then that the anime’s film adaptation had just as much of an impact, taking what made the series great and cranking it up to 11. When an unknown biological weapon is threatened for use against the people living on Mars, it’s up to Spike and the gang to hunt down the person responsible and claim the bounty on his head.
This is easier said than done though, as they quickly discover they aren’t the only ones trying to stop this shadowy figure. Ripe with fantastic character moments, crisp and clean animation, and a story on par with the best the series has to offer, this film set a bar for what films based on existing anime properties should be, and arguably remains on this throne even today. If you’ve ever been curious about why people speak so highly of this series or just want to see anime at its best, check out this film posthaste.
