Short, non-spoiler reviews and hot takes of anime for the newly initiated weeb.
Studio ufotable flexes on the entire anime industry again with some of the most gorgeous art and animation, coupled with Yuki Kajiura's perfect soundtrack. Unfortunately, the "rules of magic" gymnastics and overly complicated philosophy was distracting and made it more difficult to immerse as the previous movies.
Mirai is a magical family-focused movie that feels like a modern, Japanese "Coco" but with much less stress and more appreciation for simple things.
The movie is the best in the Index series, but that isn't saying much. Animation is improved, but it still bears all the sins of the series: Constant exposition, convoluted plot, and the same tired ecchi jokes. It also ignores the ending of Index II despite taking place right after it.
As the record holder for best box office performance in Japan and #1 Foreign-language film in the U.S., Mugen Train is a fantastic canon movie that sets itself as the pinnacle of what an anime movie of a series should be.
The Violet Evergarden Movie is a crowning end to the series. Absolute top quality polish and professional artistry in storytelling, themes, symbolism, and signature KyoAni heart-healing catharsis all abound.
Now that the Rebuild of Evangelions’s own different story is rolling, the pacing is much more natural and you’ll be on the edge of your seat - or hiding behind it, I literally pulled a muscle in my neck recoiling in horror at the excellently animated action.
NGNL Zero is a strong prequel movie with a much heavier and more serious tone than the series. I was caught off guard and cried multiple times throughout. It's worth watching the series for this movie alone.
A beautifully animated coming of age vignette piece with a professional polish, but not very memorable at the end of the day.
A completely revamped and beautiful beginning to a different Evangelion story. It was so nice to see crisp HD updates and detail, with more focused storytelling with pieces of the fat trimmed out, but this first movie is mostly the same story you know.
This is the best anime movie from a TV series that I've seen. KyoAni's love for their craft is strongly felt here in a beautiful and emotional piece. All the good of Haruhi improved while trimming all eye-roll moments.
At a Glance Anime 