Each year there is always an anime feature film or two that impacts anime fans everywhere whether it be fantastical and filled with adventure or emotionally packed and set within a simple place, anime films always leave their mark. This year is no different as the following listed have gained their own recognition as emotionally impacting pieces of works.
Zutto Mae Kara Suki Deshita
Following the story of five high schoolers “Zutto Mae Kara Suki Deshita” looks into the perspective of Natsuki Enomoto and her experience of unrequited love with her childhood friend Yuu Setoguchi. A story of a high school girl in love with her friend yet afraid to tell him so, this film gives a look into the bitter sweetness that is unrequited love.
Koi no Watachi (Silent Voice)
A rare anime that takes on a character with a disability and the struggle that comes with it “Koi no Katachi” a.k.a “Silent Voice” is told through the perspective of former delinquent Shoyo Ishida who during his childhood bullied his deaf classmate Shoko Nishimiya. But after she moves away Shoya soon finds himself isolated from his peers and years later he is a high schooler who questions the point of his life.
As fate would have it, one day Shoya reunites with Shoko and realizes that they have both have suffered from his past misdeeds. Because of this Shoya decides to befriend Shoko as his redemption. In this film we see the growth and change of the relationship with these two characters as Shoya tried to befriend Shoko and through this the two also come to face the shadows of their past. An impacting film that shows the struggle with one self as well as their past.
Koi no Na Wa (Your Name)
One of the if not the top anime feature film of this film, Koi n Na Wa a.k.a Your Name is a film the story of Taki and Mitsuha, two completely different people who one day wake up and find that they have ended up in the other’s a body. Here we see a story that takes a literal meaning in “looking through another person’s eyes” or “walking a mile in another person’s shoes”. Throughout the film we see these two learn of each other’s lives while leaving each other messages and developing a unique relationship with one another.
An impactful film that tells a story from two pairs of eyes and how they come to know one another, “Koi no Na Wa” is a film not to miss this year. With beautiful animation, good music and great writing, any anime fan or passing viewer can enjoy this.