The 4 Best Anime Films of 2016 So Far

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Movies are an essential part of today’s society. One could get entertainment from it and at the same time escape reality while learning vocabulary and life lessons that an individual must always apply. While there are live-action movies, there are also animated movies. Believe it or not, animated movies are not just for children. They are for everyone and the process of making one is no joke. It is almost like shooting a live action film but with the added effort animation requires like the making of characters, the usage of computer graphics to make the sketches move, and audio equipment to incorporate the actors’ speaking voices to the characters.

Just like live action movies, there are animated films that are worth watching. Listed below are 4 of the best anime films for the year 2016:

The Boy and the Beast

Directed by Mamoru Hosoda, the acclaimed “next Miyagi” of Japan, The Boy and the Beast tells about a young boy who is under the care of a half-monkey, half-bear hybrid. With the right amount of action, suspense, and humor, this film successfully incorporated first class animation and the essential family and society qualities. The film also took a magical realist outlook at fatherhood and familial bonding, aspects that will definitely touch its viewers

Kimi No Na Wa

Another contender for Miyazaki’s crown, writer and director Makoto Shinkai amazed the viewers with his debut “Voices of a Distant Star”. His latest work, Kimi No Na Wa (Your Name in English), will not disappoint Shinkai fans and newbies in the world of Japanese animated films. Kimi No Nawa is all about two high school students, Mitsuha and Taki, who began to dream they are each other, despite not knowing each other first hand. With the right balance between comedy, romance, and the right portrayal of adolescent awkwardness, fans of seishun eiga (youth drama) must have Kimi No Na Wa in their movie bucket list.

The Red Turtle

Considered as the “wordless wonder” from Studio Ghibli, The Red Turtle graced the Cannes Film Festival 2016. The film starts with the usual line drawing of Totoro, a character from an iconic Studio Ghibli film, but with a bright red background instead of sky blue, indicating that it is a collaboration film. The Red Turtle is Dutch animator’s Michael Dudok de Wit’s work and it follows the story of a lone castaway survivor who tries to adapt in an isolated island while battling a giant red turtle while trying to escape from the island. The film’s absence of dialogue, beautiful hand and computer drawn animation, and storybook kind of feel will draw and intrigue the viewers from start to finish.

Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV

Kingsglaive is a film that is filled with interesting twists and turns in the plot and packed with science fantasy as well as action. Square Enix managed to leave its devoted fans lusting for more when the trailer was released. As usual, Kingsglaive is not to disappoint. The movie’s animation is the standard Final Fantasy style (remember Advent Children?) with ten times more action and featured technology. Final Fantasy fans will not be disappointed with this film and will definitely look out for the next one in the series.