4 100% Rotten Tomatoes Anime Movies You Must Watch in 2025
As 2025 hurtles to a close, cue the anime films that deliver—jaw-dropping visuals, gut-punch emotion, and stories that linger long after the credits. From global breakouts to hidden gems, these are the must-watch movies to cap your year.
Year almost over. Brain fried. Perfect time to sink into a few anime movies that look gorgeous, hit hard, and — according to critics — absolutely stick the landing. If you want a no-guessing playlist, these four all have a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. Different vibes, same immaculate batting average.
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The Tale of Princess Kaguya (Studio Ghibli)
One of Ghibli's most quietly stunning films — and somehow still overshadowed by the Spirited Away/Totoro crowd. Loosely adapted from the 10th-century folktale The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, it starts with a bamboo cutter finding a tiny girl inside a glowing shoot and raising her as his own. She grows at an impossible pace, his new wealth rockets them into high society, and his ambition turns her into a 'princess' whether she wants it or not. The hand-painted, watercolor aesthetic is so fluid and alive that every mood swing and heartbreak lands like a punch. And yes, the ending is a gut-kicker.
IMDb: 8.0/10
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Only Yesterday (Studio Ghibli, directed by Isao Takahata)
A gentle, grown-up memory trip that sneaks up on you. The film follows 27-year-old Taeko Okajima on a countryside vacation with relatives, ping-ponging between her present-day reset and vivid flashbacks to her 10-year-old self. Released in 1991, it turned into a surprise box office hit. The way it threads childhood moments into adult identity is deceptively simple and incredibly sharp, with warm, vibrant animation that lets past and present bleed into each other in all the right ways.
IMDb: 7.6/10
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Grave of the Fireflies (Studio Ghibli, directed by Isao Takahata)
Maybe the most devastating anti-war film animated or otherwise. Two siblings, Seita and Setsuko, are left to fend for themselves after the war takes everything from them. The movie never blinks — it shows exactly what conflict does to ordinary people who are just trying to survive, and it does it with a clarity that lingers. If you watch this and do not cry, I have questions.
IMDb: 8.5/10
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The First Slam Dunk (by Slam Dunk creator Takehiko Inoue)
This feature zeros in on point guard Ryota Miyagi, shifting the spotlight away from the franchise's usual loudmouth lead, Hanamichi Sakuragi. The setup is simple: Shohoku High vs. powerhouse champs Sannoh High. The execution is electric. It mixes 2D and 3D animation in a way that actually boosts the on-court adrenaline instead of fighting it. Released in Japan in 2022, it is currently the 7th highest-grossing Japanese film of all time — not bad for a series that started life on the page.
IMDb: 8.0/10
Critics may not agree on much, but they agree on these: all four sit at a pristine 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. Just know that 'perfect' does not always mean 'feel-good.' Plan your emotional snacks accordingly.
Which one are you pressing play on first? Or which did I miss that deserves to sit with these? Drop your picks below.