Top 5 Anime Movies That Are Underrated

 1. Ride Your Waves

Director Masaaki Yuasa's "Ride Your Wave" is a drama for those who dig romantic tales and long strolls on the beach. The story centers around Hinako Mukaimizu, a 19-year-old surfer whose new apartment goes up in flames. Thankfully, a firefighter named Minato Hinageshi saves her, and as anyone can imagine, the attractive pair grow to form quite the lovable bond. But when a horrific scenario changes everything, Hinako and Minato's love story is put to the ultimate test, one that at first seems fantastical but has a lot more going on underneath its cinematic layers.

From its incredible cast of characters to the film's beautiful narrative arcs, "Ride Your Wave" is a fascinating movie with a very humble message at its center, relatable to anyone who has lost someone they hold dear. While it's telling a story with some fairytale-like qualities, the movie is more down-to-earth than its hyper-romantic images make it seem. Overall, this delightful movie wears its heart on its sleeve in a more out-of-the-box way and is an underappreciated treasure from Yuasa's ever-growing catalog.

SOURCE:YOUTUBE

2.Roujin Z

While there are certainly a lot of anime movies about robots, none of them are quite as wild as " Roujin Z." Set in an alternative 21st-century Japan, a unique medical robot is created to help take care of elderly patients. From bathing to getting rid of bodily fluids, it can do anything a human can do but better. Yet when the machine's first test subject, the fading widower Kijuro Takazawa, is taken hostage by the robot (as it tries to make its way to the beach), it's up to Haruko, a student nurse who has grown close to Kijuro, to save the day.

Directed by Hiroyuki Kitakubo and written by Katsuhiro Otomo, this clever bit of sci-fi still packs quite a comedic and emotional punch. From the horrific medical depictions to the exaggerated reactions of its various wacky characters, it strikes an excellent balance of knowing when to go dark without pushing the boundaries. The highlight of "Roujin Z" is Otomo's distinct writing style. This is the master who gave the world "Akira" after all, and it's no surprise that this film is another example of Otomo's narrative talents. Plus, with the distinctly late '80s/early '90s designs of Hisashi Eguchi, it's easy to see why this hidden gem has its fans — but it clearly should have more.

Source:YouTube

3.Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade

Considered a high-ranking treasure of the '90s, "Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade" is a film often dismissed by newer anime fans. Directed by Hiroyuki Okiura with a script written by Mamoru Oshii, this political thriller presents an alternative 1950s Japan in which a counter-terrorism unit known as Kerberos Panzer Cops kill any threat that crosses their path. One such member of the group is Kazuki Fuse, who finds himself questioning every element of his life after failing to kill a young girl who later takes her own life. Once he meets and develops a relationship with the young victim's sister, things get even more complicated.Filled with dark, striking imagery, "Jin-Roh" continues to be one of the rare anime films that becomes more poignant as time goes on. Sure, there's no denying that its dramatic themes have always carried some real-life weight. But for the anime fans in search of a movie that takes its audience and message seriously, this masterpiece from Okiura seems more significant than ever before. Plus, with incredible work by Production I.G., "Jin-Roh" is a stunning piece of cinema for any animation nerd to dissect frame for frame.

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4.Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust

Another underappreciated masterpiece by Madhouse, Yoshiaki Kawajiri's "Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust" mixes the best of horror, westerns, and other bits of terrifying fantasy into a tale of romance, tragedy, and everything in-between. In the film, the famous bounty hunter D, a half-human, half-vampire hybrid, is tasked with saving a young woman named Charlotte from the terrifying clutches of the vampire Count Meier Link. But once he discovers the truth behind Charlotte and Meier's relationship, D finds himself at an emotional crossroads, one that conjures up memories of the past while also testing the limits of his own moral compass.

Based on the third book in Hideyuki Kikuchi's "Vampire Hunter D" series, Kawajiri does a fantastic job adapting the famous anime character with his own signature directorial style. Starting with the film's horrific intro to the impressive castle-crushing finale, this film proves why the famous "Ninja Scroll" director is still considered one of the greats within the anime industry. Yet what makes "Bloodlust" a must-see are the characters within it. From the haunting figure that is D to the other horrific supporting players, it's easy to see why this film has garnered a devoted fanbase over the years — but it deserves even more admirers.

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5.Metropolis 

Helmed by veteran anime director Rintaro, 2001's "Metropolis" is a sci-fi gem that seems to have been forgotten to the sands of time. An adaptation of Osamu Tezuka's 1949 manga series of the same name, the film focuses on a young boy named Kenichi Shikishima who, along with his detective uncle, travels to Metropolis in the hopes of capturing the evil Dr. Laughton, a scientist wanted for various organ trafficking violations. Upon finding Laughton, Kenichi discovers a robot girl named Tima, created by Laughton for the city's unofficial ruler, Duke Red. Now on the run inside Metropolis' most dangerous area, it's up to Kenichi to protect Tima before the two are caught by the anti-robot group, the Marduks.

Source:YouTube