The 2010s were a huge decade for anime releases. It has launched hugely successful series such as Attack on Titan, Demon Slayer, and My Hero Academia. The same success and popularity was found in animated films at the time. The stunning visuals, emotionally heavy story, and incredible soundtrack opened the door to many new anime fans.
Makoto Shinkai's masterpieces, Studio Cheese's memorable life lessons, KyoAni's heartbreaking narratives, and the mystical worlds created by Studio Ghibli were all part of the 2010s. Let's take a look at the best animated films from each year of the 2010s.
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The Secret World of Arrietty (2010)
The Secret World of Arrietty is one of Studio Ghibli's lesser-known works. This work is based on the fantasy novel series “The Borrowers” by Mary Norton. The movie tells us about a species of miniature humans, each about the size of an average person's finger. Arriety is one of those beings. Her parents worry about Arrietty's future, believing that they are probably the last of their kind. One day, she is noticed by humans, putting her entire family in danger. Torn between running away or putting the humans she trusts in danger, Arrietty's fate is in her own hands. Like other Ghibli films, the protagonist embarks on a journey to explore the world around him. Through new experiences, Arriety understands herself better.
Into the Forest of Firefly Light (2011)
Into the Firefly Forest is a short story about bonding, falling in love, and acceptance. This 45-minute short supernatural story tells the story of a young girl named Hotaru who gets lost in the forest but is rescued by a mysterious figure named Jin. Jin introduces himself as a spirit-like being. After hanging out together every day over the summer, they promise to do the same next year. Although our hearts become closer, the physical distance is still far because human contact destroys us forever. Despite its short runtime, Hotaru and Jin's burgeoning romance is appreciated for the variety of emotions it evokes. It's fun and enjoyable, but at the same time sad and heartbreaking.
Wolf Children (2012)
Wolf Child follows the life of Hana, a young college student who suddenly meets a mysterious man and falls in love with him. But it turns out that this man is a werewolf. Despite this surprising fact, she accepts him, and they grow into a family of four. But unfortunately, Hana's husband gets into an accident and dies. Hana, who wants to raise her wolf children alone, moves to the countryside where numerous difficulties await her. Wolf Children is a moving and powerful portrayal of motherhood and choosing your own path. Through one, we learn about the difficulties of being a single mother. Yuki and Ame emphasize the importance of deciding one's own future.
Garden of Words (2013)
On rainy days, Akizuki skips school and goes to a nearby garden to draw. He meets a mysterious young woman named Yukino. Yukino impresses Akizuki and decides to skip school again to meet him. Their regular meetings continue, and they begin to grow closer. Despite knowing there is a huge age difference, they continue to bond and inspire each other to make important decisions. But soon truth and reality catch up with them. 『The Garden of Words』 is a short story about forbidden love and self-acceptance. The main characters feel lonely and suffer from personal problems, but meeting each other helps them escape these problems. But apparent obstacles prevent them from getting any closer.
When Marnie Was There (2014)
In 2014, Studio Ghibli adapted Joan G. Robinson's fantasy novel of the same name. Anna, a young girl suffering from asthma, follows her doctor's recommendation and moves to the countryside for a while. Her illness and family problems made her a quiet, isolated and lonely girl. Then one night, she meets a mysterious girl named Marnie. Marnie's cheerful and kind personality piques Anna's interest and even allows her to open up. Midnight adventures begin precious friendships, but many mysteries remain unsolved that could dramatically change Anna's life. The plot of Marnie Was There is difficult to grasp because it vacillates between the fine line between reality and imagination. It looks into the inner self of teenagers and deals with the feelings of self-discovery, facing and accepting trauma.
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The Boy and the Beast (2015)
A 9-year-old boy named Ren runs away from home after his mother dies. With nowhere to go and no one to rely on, he meets two beast-like men. He is initially frightened and shocked, but is offered to go with these mysterious men and pursues them into the world of the beasts. One of these beastly men is named Kumatetsu, who takes Ren under his discipline. Although they initially fail to coexist, the two come to understand each other and help each other achieve their goals. The Boy and the Beast attempts to illustrate, through the contrast between humans and beasts, that despite their differences, humans are much closer than we think. The film seeks to provide answers to what it means to be a family and how that bond can help individuals grow.
A Quiet Voice (2016)
Despite reforming from his mistakes, Ishida's past still haunts him and he feels hated by everyone around him. After briefly overcoming his will to live, he tries to become friends with Nishimiya, who he bullied in the past. His efforts and guilt are passed on to Nishimiya, they start talking and everything finally seems to fall into place. However, through encountering the past, Ishida realizes his sins and becomes distant from society again. A Silent Voice is a heartbreaking and realistic account of bullying, enlightenment, and change. It also shows the struggles of people with physical disabilities. The film focuses on characterization, providing honest, vulnerable, and relatable characters.
Fireworks (2017)
One summer day, Norimichi and his friends wonder whether fireworks look flat or round when viewed from the side. As they plot to find answers, Nazuna, a mysterious and clueless classmate, invites one of them to watch the summer festival with her. However, the situation does not go in Nazuna's favor and she is left alone.
Norimichi accompanies her and watches her go through painful events. To help her, he accidentally travels through time. As he continues to fail and travel back in time, he realizes that he has traveled too far from reality. Fireworks is a supernatural film that discovers romance in a unique way. The different time periods help the characters realize their feelings and accept reality.
I Want to Eat Your Pancreas (2018)
The protagonist is introverted and socially isolated, failing to maintain human relationships and interactions. One day, he accidentally reads his classmate's personal diary and learns that she is about to die. Now aware of his death, Sakura constantly invites him over so they can spend time together and check off items on her bucket list. Slowly, before the protagonist realizes it, Sakura becomes someone important to him. It's a touching story about two opposites who form a sudden bond that makes me want to eat your pancreas. This makes viewers realize the transience of life, the importance of connecting with others, and the lasting effects of love.
Weathering with You (2019)
Weathering With You is considered one of the most beautifully animated animated films of all time. Hyperelastic visuals bring every scene to life. A young runaway named Hodaka travels to Tokyo in search of a new life. He receives a part-time job offer from the editorial office and begins looking for the rumored 'Sunshine Girl'. During this time, he meets a young girl named Hina, who is also a Sunshine Girl. Together, they begin to accept requests to clean up the skies, but they don't realize that disrupting nature has consequences.
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These 10 films have had a huge impact on animation culture. They helped set the standard and merged genres to create films that could be enjoyed by a wider audience. Do you have any other favorite movies from the last 10 years?
