Amidst a packed calendar of anime series in 2023, fans were also treated to many anime movies that left a mark with their unique storytelling, character development, and animation. So, let’s celebrate the best anime movie of 2023.
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Here Are the Nominees for the Best Anime Movie of 2023
Welcome to the Epicstream Anime Awards 2023! Let’s check out the nominees for the best anime movie, all of which are cinematic masterpieces in their own right.
The First Slam Dunk
Shohoku’s quick and strategic point guard, Ryota Miyagi, effortlessly outpaces opponents with his lightning speed while maintaining a composed stance.
Hailing from Okinawa, he followed in the footsteps of his older brother, a local basketball sensation, and developed a strong liking for the sport.
Now in his second year of high school, Ryota joins Shohoku’s lineup, including Sakuragi, Akagi, Mitsu, and Rukawa, as they prepare to compete in the Inter-High School National Championship.
The First Slam Dunk evokes childhood memories and greatly touches the nostalgia nerves of fans.
Kaguya-sama: Love Is War – The First Kiss That Never Ends
Kaguya and Shirogane have shared a kiss, yet they haven’t openly confessed their love for each other.
This prompts them to reflect on the genuine significance of the kiss and whether they can truly be loved for who they are as individuals.
Kaguya-sama: Love Is War – The First Kiss That Never Ends explores the main characters in a different light and that makes this quite different from the anime series.
The Boy and The Heron
After losing his mother in the war, young Mahito relocates to his family’s countryside estate.
Meanwhile, a series of mysterious incidents directs him to a secluded and old tower inhabited by a gray heron.
When Mahito’s new stepmother vanishes, he pursues the gray into the tower, stepping into a fantastical realm that bridges the gap between the living and the dead.
Guided by the gray heron, Mahito sets out on an epic journey, unraveling the mysteries of this world and discovering the truth about himself.
The Boy and the Heron is a critically acclaimed fantasy marvel from Studio Ghibli and is also Hayao Miyazaki’s semi-autobiographical anime movie.
Suzume
Suzume is a typical high school girl in southern Japan. She discovers a mysterious door in the ruins of a hot springs resort while accompanying Souta, a young man in search of ancient sites.
Upon opening the door, she stumbles into a dangerous other world, overrun by eldritch forces craving disaster.
As Suzume attempts to close the door, the situation worsens. Souta undergoes a bizarre transformation into a chair, courtesy of a talking cat named Daijin.
Now, Suzume must embark on a journey across Japan to seal doors and stop the disasters while going after Daijin to restore Souta to his original form.
Makoto Shinkai’s Suzume shines in the animation department as the movie looks spectacular and quite surreal.
Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King
Asta is a brave boy born without any magical abilities in a realm where everyone possesses them.
However, Asta vows to become the Wizard King. Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King explores the story when four exiled Wizard Kings from the past resurface to conquer the Clover Kingdom, Asta and his fellow mages must do anything to thwart their evil plot.
This Black Clover anime movie is a standalone film yet it is quite exciting because of the plot. Moreover, I loved the four villains as they were supremely powerful.
And, the Best Anime Movie of 2023 Is…
The Boy and The Heron! This is Miyazaki’s first anime movie in 10 years and it is hand-drawn, which makes it quite personal.
Like any other Studio Ghibli movie, The Boy and the Heron gets top points for being larger than life and surreal.
Moreover, The Boy and the Heron is a visual delight sprinkled with essential Ghibli magic.
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