T5W#285-Top 5 Favorite Most Successful Anime Films Released in the US

We really are blessed to be living in this age of Otakudom.  When it comes to feature length Anime films, we used to have to wait a really long time to see them on VHS (yes that was a thing) or DVD for numerous reasons.  Now, depending on the popularity of the title, we’re getting new releases within weeks to about a month after their big Japan debuts.  Heck, even Gundam OVA series like Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin and Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn had new episodes with English Dubs the day they came out in Japan.  But we’re not here to talk about that.  Last year, the Demon Slayer movie, Mugen Train, was one of the few Anime films unimpeded by the global pandemic and went on to become, I kid you not, one of the Highest Grossing Movies of 2020.  That is insane, an Anime film hitting those heights.  Well with Mugen Train about to arrive stateside, I decided to do some digging and look up a list of Anime Films, released in the US, that did rather well, and choose my favs for this weeks Top 5 Wednesday.  So, I present to you my list of my Top 5 Favorite Most Successful Anime Films Released in the US.

#5-Digimon: The Movie

There was a time long ago when Digimon was so popular, it seemed poised to be a true challenger to the Anime throne that was occupied by Pokemon.  At the height of this popularity, Digimon: The Movie was released and unbeknownst to me, this was actually a hodgepodge project of various Digimon films in Japan rolled into one feature length film, basically what was done to Robotech in the 80s.  Even knowing that, the Digimon movie is still a lot of fun to watch with a soundtrack straight out of the 2000s and some pretty epic moments like Tai’s first true encounter with Greymon, Omegamon kicking ass, and a fun way to tie the first two generations of Digidestined together.  The film never hit anything close to Pokemon numbers at the US box office but it did manage to make back triple its production budget, which is always a win for any studio. 

 

#4-Pokemon: The First Movie-Mewtwo Strikes Back & Pokemon 2000: The Movie-The Power of One

Speaking of Digimon’s eternal rival, Pokemon is still one of the longtime Kings of the Anime and Video Gaming World.  So it made sense that when the TV Series and Video Games made it big, bringing the movies over to the states was inevitable.  Ash bearing witness to the epic clash between Mewtwo and Mew and getting caught up in a war between multiple Legendary Birds, including Lugia, were both wildly successful at the US Box office, especially The First Movie.  Mewtwo Strikes Back arrived at the peak of the first generation of Pokemon so kids everywhere were clamoring to see it.  The Power of One did pretty good too, though Pokemon fever had simmered a bit so it didn’t do as well overall.  Both of these movies are freaking epic though The First Movie is more of a tear jerker than you’d expect.  If you want a emotional roller coaster, that ones for you.  If you want a more straight up action flick, Pokemon 2000 is your go to.

 

#3-Spirited Away

To this day, Spirited Away has been the only Anime to achieve the impossible: winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.  Many have been nominated but none have ever attained that honor…and most of the ones that haven’t are criminal (freaking Pixar).  But if any Anime deserves the honor more than Akira (the category wasn’t around in the 80s), it’s Hayao Miyazaki’s ultimate masterpiece.  The world of the Spirit Bathhouse is Miyazaki’s imagination on vacation and having the time of its life, populating this massive establishment with hundreds of spirits and workers who could all have their own backstories.  Studio Ghibli masterfully brought this all to life with their ever amazing animation and God I freaking love this movie, if you cant tell.

 

#2-My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising

When it came to Hero Aca’s big screen debut, Two Heroes was a fun if a bit flawed first outing.  Heroes Rising, however, was everything that film should have been and more.  This was one of the few movies I got to see in theaters back in early 2020 and I’m so happy I did.  Heroes Rising makes much better use of the full team dynamic of Class 1-A and gives special focus to the ever growing odd bond that is Deku and Bakugo.  The end result is all the magic of My Hero Academia cranked up to PLUS ULTRA and solidifying why it is one of the most definitive Shonen Champions in Anime history.  God only knows how theyre gonna follow this up with that Three Musketeers themed movie.

 

#1-Dragon Ball Super: The Movie-Broly

In a weekend where M. Night Shamylan’s Glass topped the box office, everyone was actually talking about a surprise entry in the Top 5, where Broly managed to attain the #3 spot for the weekend…that is freaking unheard of.  But Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z remain the most beloved Anime property in the world and it is still going strong even almost 20 years after we all shouted out first KAMEHAMEHA!!!!  Dragon Ball Super’s first movie is every bit as much fun as any other good Dragon Ball or Dragon Ball Z movie that’s come before it.  But it’s different too.  Broly actually gives up a very moving and emotional story around the titular Legendary Super Saiyan, his first true cannon appearance (his 3 DBZ movie appearances are non cannon).  It shows that Dragon Ball has grown up along with us over the years of endless reruns.  Even more astounding is Broly’s immensely successful run in American theaters.