The Top 10 Sci-fi anime films:

Considering the huge amount of Sci-Fi Japanese anime in circulation, one of the most common problems that new-comers to the medium have is deciding what to actually watch. There’s a great deal of mediocre stuff out there, so how does one make an informed decision on what to allocate those precious few leisure hours to?

In an attempt to make it a little easier for the average viewer I’ve wracked my brain in an effort to summarise the top ten Sci-Fi anime films which, in my opinion, epitomize the very best the industry has to offer.

I feel obliged to note that, apart from the Animatrix, this list is based on the original Japanese versions of the films. And, unless a subtitle did something horrible to you in your younger years, I suggest you avoid like the plague the dubbed versions of the following films. They are, by and large, far worse than their original Japanese counterparts.

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time – Directed by Mamoru Hosoda and produced by Madhouse Productions, this is truly an exercise in expert film-making. The film follows the day to day adventures of Makoto, after she quite accidentally acquires the ability to leap through time. The production value is excellent, the script is superb, and the characters, plot and ending will leave you equal parts emotively melancholic and uplifted.

Akira – I’m not the biggest fan of Akira. There, I said it. But it has to be noted that, even today, it remains one of the most ambitious, ground-breaking efforts in animation history. Bafflingly complex, gory to the point silliness, and with characters that are really, really, really hard to relate with, it still succeeds with its explosive visuals, a strangely meta-philosophical story and one of the weirdest final acts ever. There’s a reason it served as the catalyst for the western world’s interest in anime.

FLCL – Though not strictly a film, FLCL is an OVA consisting of 6 separate episodes detailing the life of Naota Nandaba after he (quite explosively) comes into contact with a guitar-wielding, scooter-driving alien, who happens to be in search of Atomsk, the most powerful space pirate in the universe. Utterly insane and brilliantly directed, FLCL is one of the best examples of how the anime medium is capable of creating (in this case, smashing through) new creative and narrative boundaries. I mean, come on, you should’ve been hooked by space pirate.

Metropolis – Profoundly, yet subtly, analytical, Metropolis raises questions on race and social divide as well as class and subjugation, all within a Sci-Fi context. The animation style is quite different, almost an homage to earlier, industrial-era animation. The cityscapes of Metropolis’ future are exquisitely rendered, both script and design are rich in symbolism and the story is damn well told. Really, I can only describe this as a beautiful film with a beautiful heart.

The Animatrix – This anthology of short films, produced by the Wachowski Brothers and directed by several different Japanese & Korean directors, is a testament to the huge potential that western creative influence can have on Japanese & Korean anime. Each film has its own animation style, story and characters. On the whole they’re superbly executed stories which capture some of the most intriguing philosophical ideas and themes of the Matrix, and almost all of which are rendered in breathtaking animation.

Ghost in the Shell – Up there with Akira on the western pedestal of anime worship and almost equal in terms of over-hype syndrome, Ghost in the Shell is a classic without really being one. The film adaptation from the 400-page graphic novel leaves a lot to be desired on the plot and character front and the slow and purposeful pacing often surprises those going in expecting constant android battles. The reason it made the list was, well, I like eye-candy. And Ghost in the Shell has lots of it, in spades. Slick, lush animation and excellent direction make it a perfect film for those delving into the anime medium.

Appleseed – Few films blend so seamlessly fluid action sequences and smooth animation style the way that Appleseed does. While not the narrative and character epic of its counterparts, it never pretends to be. You could call it Blade Runner light with a dash of Ghost in the Shell thrown in. Oh, and with more fighting. It leaves morals, philosophical themes and other pesky plot contrivances well enough alone and focuses on giving us great action, sharp dialogue and superb animation.

Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust – Whilst not technically a pure sci-fi film, the post-apocalyptic future of the second Vampire Hunter D movie comes complete with spaceships, blasters and shiny cube-like buildings with blippy laser defences. So, in my mind at least, it crosses the boundary with ease. The visuals of Bloodlust are excellent spectacular and the action sequence always engaging. D’s barren, vampire-infested world is vast in scope and expertly rendered. Oh, and D is without a doubt one of the coolest tight-lipped heroes ever to hack and slash vampires.

The Place Promised in Our Early Days – Youth, love, friendship, one spaceship, a tower and something about alternate worlds. It’s interesting that the latter three are treated as curious little sidelines in a film that wholly concerns itself with brilliantly portrayed characters. And even if the visuals weren’t the best I’d ever seen, and the animation wasn’t absolutely breathtaking, and the music score was less than superb, this would still be one of the most poignant sci-fi films ever.

Castle In The Sky – There – for those of stamping and snorting with indignant fury – I’ve included a Miyazaki film. Though Castle in the Sky doesn’t necessarily puzzle-piece into the sci-fi category, I couldn’t bring myself to exclude it. Like all of his work, Miyazaki’s unparalleled story-telling and character portrayals make this one of his best, moving pieces of animated work. If you’ve seen and enjoyed his highly acclaimed western releases of Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke you really can’t afford to miss this film.

And there it is; the top ten list. I’d be very interested to hear of any other suggestions or additions to the above.

Alastair Moore

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