Top 6 Best Anime Short Movies: Which One is Better?

Short films offer a unique and condensed storytelling experience, packed with emotion and creativity. From heartwarming tales to thrilling adventures, these anime short films have captivated audiences worldwide. Join us as we explore the best of the 6 best anime short movies and determine which one reigns supreme.

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1. Mon Mon The Water Spider

2. Neo Tokyo

• Studio: Madhouse and Project Team Argos
• MyAnimeList Score: 7.0
• Release Year: 1987

The Japanese title, “Labyrinth Tales,” more accurately reflects the essence and structure of this short film. In this context, the labyrinth represents the imagination of a young girl engaged in a game of hide and seek with her cat, aptly named Cicerone. Her experiences encompass a perilous automobile race and a society overly reliant on technology.

The film debuted to positive acclaim at the Tōkyō International Fantastic Film Festival in the same year it was released. It has proven to be enduring, achieving a ranking of #10 in Paste magazine’s “100 best anime short movies ” list in 2021, and has since inspired a vast array of dystopian science fiction and experimental films.

3. The Sensualist

• Studio: Grouper Productions
• MyAnimeList Score: 6.0
• Release Year: 1991

The Sensualist serves as a sexual biography of its central character, tracing his journey from childhood through to adulthood. This film is frequently regarded as a work of erotic art or experimental anime, rather than as pornography or “hentai.” It features moments of introspection that delve into themes of life, aging, and physical beauty.

The narrative is adapted from Kōshoku Ichidai Otoko’s book, “The Life of an Amorous Man,” published in 1682 during the Edo Period. The animation employs this historical backdrop to craft a sensual and lavish atmosphere. The focus lies more on the vibrant, colorful movement of the kimonos than on explicit sexual content, which is conveyed to the audience in a symbolic manner.

4. Inaka Isha (A Country Doctor)

5. Cat Soup

• Studio: J.C.Staff
• MyAnimeList Score: 7.3
• Release Year: 2001

This “experimental film” is renowned for its disquieting animation style and distinctive design. It opens with a young anthropomorphic cat on the verge of drowning in a bathtub, and the narrative only becomes more bizarre and frightening from that point onward.

The protagonist, Nyata, is the near-drowning individual who embarks on a harrowing journey through a surreal and nightmarish wonderland to recover the missing half of his sister Nyaako’s soul. Their escapades are far from vibrant and whimsical; rather, they present a captivating experience. For anime enthusiasts who appreciate bold and innovative storytelling, Cat Soup stands out as the best anime short movies.

6. The Garden Of Words

• Studio: CoMix Wave Films
• MyAnimeList Score: 7.9
• Release Year: 2013

Viewers may discover The Garden Of Words through search queries such as “piano music,” “ambient rain sounds,” and “shoe design,” in addition to some of the most acclaimed anime of its era. In the year of its release, the film received accolades at both the Stuttgart Animated Film Festival and the Fantasia International Film Festival, and it was awarded the Kobe Theatrical Film Award.

The narrative follows a straightforward “slice of life” format. The protagonist, Takao Akizuki, frequently skips what he perceives as unproductive classes to spend time in a garden pavilion crafting shoes. He is joined by a young woman who shares a similarly indifferent perspective towards her profession, and together they confront their anxieties about life, symbolized by the theme of “learning to walk again.”