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Tubi is not lacking in anime content, offering a wide selection of popular shows for viewers to sink their teeth into. Even more surprisingly, the service has plenty ofanime movies, which are often much hard to come by than series. For example,Crunchyroll only has a small selection of feature-length anime. For those looking for a way to kill a few hours without spending a dime, they should check out thebest anime films on Tubi.
Studio
Tokyo Movie Shinsha
Starting with a big one,Akirais pretty much the definitive anime movie, in the sense that it has served as an introductory point to Japanese animation for plenty of people. Set in a dystopian future,Akirais a beautifully animated cyberpunk nightmare that ramps up the horror as it sprints towards an unforgettable conclusion.
Akirahas quite a few scenes that are difficult to watch, but the film itself is constantly entertaining. Also, anyone who believes anime is solely for children should giveAkiraa try.The sci-fi film holds up extremely welland is comfortably among thebest anime movies on Tubi.
Production I.G
AlongsideAkiraand Studio Ghibli’s projects,Ghost in the Shellis arguably the most well-known anime movie of all time. Mamoru Oshii’s cyberpunk masterpiece envisions a future where technology has advanced to the point of allowing humans to replace their bodies with cybernetics. As part of the Public Security Section 9, Major Motoko Kusanagi protects Japan from the shadows, taking on cases that threaten to tear society apart. The Major is put on the case of the Puppet Master, a criminal who raises questions that challenge what it means to be human.
Putting aside its story,Ghost in the Shellis a visual and auditory masterclass. The anime blends smart storytelling with a haunting score and thought-provoking themes to create an experience with very few peers in sci-fi. On Tubi,Ghost in the Shellwould make a great double-feature withBlade Runner 2049.
Madhouse
Sticking to Madhouse,Redlineis a tour-de-force of animation. Taking years to complete and coming with a big budget, theaction anime movieserves as a testament to the endless potential of hand-drawn animation.
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The story centers around a race known around the universe, but it is not particularly important.Redlineis the ultimate popcorn film, a project designed to satisfy the audience’s primal desire to watch awesome things happen on screen. This movie is hype personified.
Based on Osamu Tezuka’s charming manga about a unicorn that inspires goodness in everyone around them and the Gods who really do not like that,Unicotells a simple but effective narrative. The manga’s structure involves Unico being whisked to a new world away from the Gods' sight; eventually, they find him, causing Unico to be transported somewhere else. Although this can get repetitive in places, it does allow the manga to constantly shake up its setting.
Madhouse’s two anime adaptations capture the essence of theUnicoformula, and they do a great job of highlighting this story’s strengths. These movies will probably satisfy children more than adults, although the latter should not feel bored either.
Studios
Madhouse, Studio 4°C
An anthology film split into three shorts based on manga by Katsuhiro Otomo,Memoriesis an ambitioussci-fi projectwith incredibly detailed animation throughout. None of the shorts come close to being weak, although “Magnetic Rose” is generally regarded as the strongest of the three.
Toei Animation
Digimon Adventure tri.brings back the characters from theoriginalDigimon Adventureand takes place a couple of years following the events of the first season. Split into six movies that are all available on Tubi,Digimon Adventure tri.has a more mature tone than tends to be the case for the franchise, and that extends to its pacing and animation.
Newcomers toDigimonwill not find too much to enjoy here, but anyone who grew up with the classic anime should make sure to check out this refreshing sequel. Although an argument can be made that this series loses some steam during its second half, at worst, the films are decent.
Madhouse is well served by Tubi.Trigun: Badlands Rumbleis an unnecessary side-story to the1998 anime series, but this film’s filler nature doesn’t preclude it from being a lot of fun.
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Vash the Stampede finds himself stuck in a town filled with bounty hunters looking to cash in on a famous robber with a huge price on his head. While the story isn’t anything to write home about,Trigun: Badlands Rumblegets the action right, delivering sequence after sequence of exhilarating gunfights and wacky humor.
Bandai Namco Pictures
Gintama: The Very Finalserves asGintama’s conclusion, a series that has over 300 episodes. Considering the show is not on Tubi and the movie does not tell a standalone story, this recommendation is only for preexisting fans who have otherwise consumed everything the anime has to offer. More important,Gintama: The Very Finalis not readily available on streaming services like Crunchyroll or Hulu; consequently, people looking to complete their time with the Odd Jobs crew might need to turn to Tubi.
Gintama: The Very Finalmaintains the franchise’s ridiculously high standards. The feature showcasesGintama’s penchant for comedy and action, merging the two to create an unpredictable experience that jumps back and forth between hilarious and tragic scenes.
Produced by Madhouse and TMS,The Princess and the Pilotis based on a light novel by Koroku Inumura. Set in a world defined by a war between two forces, Charles Karino is charged with flying Princess Juana so she can be reunited with her prince.
The Princess and the Pilot’s greatest asset is its animation, as this is a gorgeous film from the first frame to the last. Narratively, it has an old-schoolromantic adventure feel, one punctuated with bursts of action.
During his tragically short career, Satoshi Kon produced four great movies. Out of these masterpieces, the director’s most underappreciated project,Tokyo Godfathers, is the only one on Tubi. It also happens to be one of thebest anime movies on Tubi.
Set during the holidays, the film follows three homeless people who discover an abandoned baby and then try to return the child to their home. Comedic in nature,Tokyo Godfathershas slapstick, wacky characters, and a somewhat lighthearted tone. However, the movie also touches upon grounded themes such as guilt, homophobia, and abandonment.
After watchingTokyo Godfathers, make sure to track downPerfect Blue,Millennium Actress, andPaprika. They are all worth it.
