3 Best Shonen Anime Movies That Every Fan Should Watch
One of the most dominant forces grabbing the public's interest in anime today is that of works adapting or channeling the shonen demographic. While often characterized by the explosive, spectacular fights for which shonen anime is known, plenty of audiences know of its potential for immensely gratifying storytelling with zero blows exchanged.
In the world of shonen anime films, though, feature-length budgets expand the potential of this spectrum of content to its natural extent. Simple battle spectacles become earth-shattering events worth a trip to the cinema, and emotional journeys including coming-of-age and deep personal trauma are given the space to flourish, whether on the big screen or streamed at home. The best shonen anime movies don't necessarily skew in one particular direction, but rather they excel in blazing trails wherever they go.
Generally speaking, plenty of the Naruto franchise's films are not to be slept on, with its first movie, Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow, laying the visual groundwork for what could be achieved in feature-length Naruto stories. While others have come close or produced memorable arcs like Road of Naruto or Boruto: Naruto the Movie, the emotional conclusion of The Last, after confronting Toneri Otsutsuki's threat, rescuing Hinata's sister, and the hero getting the girl in between some utterly gorgeous scenes makes this the movie to see.
Gintama: The Final is everything that was great about the anime, including some definitive animation culminating in an explosive, climactic showdown. Suitably, one of the best shonen anime ever made, gets one of the best shonen anime movies ever conceived, a shock to precisely no one.
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In the world of shonen anime films, though, feature-length budgets expand the potential of this spectrum of content to its natural extent. Simple battle spectacles become earth-shattering events worth a trip to the cinema, and emotional journeys including coming-of-age and deep personal trauma are given the space to flourish, whether on the big screen or streamed at home. The best shonen anime movies don't necessarily skew in one particular direction, but rather they excel in blazing trails wherever they go.
The Last: Naruto The Movie
Out of the 11 films adapted from the legendary Shonen Jump ninja manga, only one was considered fully canon, particularly benefiting from being written by its creator, Masashi Kishimoto. Creating an arc that helped bridge the gap between the Fourth Great Ninja War's conclusion, and crafting the scenario that fully brought Naruto Uzumaki and Hinata Hyuga together forever, The Last: Naruto the Movie was a strong achievement for Pierrot.Generally speaking, plenty of the Naruto franchise's films are not to be slept on, with its first movie, Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow, laying the visual groundwork for what could be achieved in feature-length Naruto stories. While others have come close or produced memorable arcs like Road of Naruto or Boruto: Naruto the Movie, the emotional conclusion of The Last, after confronting Toneri Otsutsuki's threat, rescuing Hinata's sister, and the hero getting the girl in between some utterly gorgeous scenes makes this the movie to see.
Gintama: The Final
Serving as the conclusion to the already-acclaimed Gintama anime, this action comedy anime never disappoints. Capping off the character arc of Gintoki Sakata as he and his allies confront Utsuro, the story's main antagonist and alter ego of Gintoki's mentor, the movie never fails to defuse its own tension without ever going too far.Gintama: The Final is everything that was great about the anime, including some definitive animation culminating in an explosive, climactic showdown. Suitably, one of the best shonen anime ever made, gets one of the best shonen anime movies ever conceived, a shock to precisely no one.
One Piece Film: Red
Another great shonen anime movie from a franchise with a long history of them is 2022's One Piece Film: Red. While the story is often secondary to the action and comedy in One Piece films, One Piece Film: Red tells a gripping, character-driven story and ends up with some of the most thoughtful writing in the entire franchise, and that, combined with its incredible animation and direction, makes for what is easily the best One Piece film to date. One Piece Film: Red was created to celebrate One Piece's 25th anniversary, and all in all, it’s a wonderfully fitting celebration.
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