The Best Shonen Anime Movie of Every Year of the 2010s

Anime films have become huge global successes in the 2020s. Movies like Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba The Movie: Infinity Castle, The First Slam Dunk, and Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc have been massive hits with both audiences and critics.

I’ve been really impressed with anime films lately, especially those from the 2020s. But looking back, the 2010s were fantastic too! While they didn’t have quite as many blockbuster hits, there was a steady stream of really great shonen anime movies released every year. I decided to put together a list of the best ones from each year of that decade.

2010: Trigun: Badlands Rumble

It’s unusual for an anime movie to come out long after the original series has ended. Trigun: Badlands Rumble was released over ten years after the Trigun anime finished, and it tells a brand-new story that takes place between episodes 10 and 12 of the series.

Even though Badlands Rumble came out almost twenty years ago, it still holds up visually. The animation is well-done, with Madhouse successfully capturing the feel of the 1998 series while giving it a slightly more contemporary look. The action is exciting, and the story—which isn’t based on the original series—is enjoyable and easy to follow, even if you haven’t seen it. However, watching the original series first is still recommended.

2011: Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos

The second Fullmetal Alchemist movie, The Sacred Star of Milos, follows the storyline of the Brotherhood series, but isn’t officially considered part of the main story. Similar to the first movie, Conqueror of Shamballa, this film features a brand new adventure for the Elric brothers, where they become involved in a conflict with another powerful nation – the enigmatic Creta.

While it doesn’t quite reach the level of Brotherhood, The Sacred Star of Milos still tells a compelling story, and the new characters are particularly well-done. The action scenes are excellent, and both the English and Japanese voice acting are top-notch.

2012: Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie

Several Naruto movies have been released, and while each one has its good and bad points, Road to Ninja is often considered the best. What makes it special is that it explores a ‘what if?’ scenario: what if Naruto’s parents had lived, Sakura’s parents had died protecting the village, and the main characters were all drastically different people?

As you might anticipate given the premise, Road to Ninja is a deeply moving film. The alternate reality it presents is a compelling departure from the usual Naruto storyline, and a heartbreaking glimpse at a different possible future. While there have been good Naruto movies before, Road to Ninja truly stands out as something special.

2013: Gintama: The Movie: The Final Chapter: Be Forever Yorozuya

People adore Gintama because of its over-the-top, constant slapstick humor and the entertaining relationships between its characters. It’s considered one of the greatest comedy anime ever made, and remarkably, it’s stayed consistently funny even after many years. What many newcomers don’t realize is that alongside all the silliness, the show also features surprisingly heartfelt and serious moments.

Gintama: The Final Chapter: Be Forever Yorozuya skillfully explores the dramatic side of the series, featuring a compelling story and significant character development. Beyond its strong narrative, the movie delivers some of the franchise’s most exciting action scenes, balanced with the humor fans love, offering a fantastic representation of everything Gintama has to offer.

2014: Detective Conan: Dimensional Sniper

As of today, there are 28 Detective Conan movies, with Detective Conan: One-eyed Flashback being the most recent, released in 2025. The 29th film, Fallen Angel of the Highway, is scheduled to come out in April, continuing the successful streak for this popular series. Dimensional Sniper is an exciting and action-filled movie that fans of Detective Conan will really enjoy.

I watched a Detective Conan movie where Conan tries to find a really good sniper who’s causing trouble in Tokyo. To be honest, it wasn’t the greatest place to start with the series, but if you already know and like Detective Conan, you’ll probably enjoy the mystery. The animation and action were definitely well done, too.

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2015: Haikyu!! the Movie: The End and the Beginning

Haikyu!! is a hugely popular sports manga, and its anime adaptation has gained a large following around the world. The movie, The End and the Beginning, effectively retells the first half of the anime’s first season and was released as a preview to the premiere of season 2.

I have to say, The End and the Beginning is a fantastic way to jump into the start of this anime if you’re looking for a quicker overview. What I really appreciate is that, unlike many recap movies, it’s really well-paced! It manages to tell the story from the first 13 episodes without feeling rushed or cutting out important details. It really feels complete!

2016: A Silent Voice

Based on the manga by Yoshitoki Oima, A Silent Voice is a deeply moving story. It centers on Shoya Ishida, who bullied a deaf classmate named Shoko Nishimiya when they were children. Years later, in high school, he tries to make amends for his past mistakes and reconnect with her.

The film closely follows the key events of the original manga, fitting a 62-chapter story into a little over two hours. While some content was removed for pacing, it strongly emphasizes the relationship between Shoya and Shoko, staying true to the manga’s heart and offering a genuinely touching story about forgiveness and self-improvement.

2017: Black Butler: Book of the Atlantic

The Black Butler manga remains popular and will celebrate its 20th anniversary later this year. Much of the story has been turned into animation, including five seasons, a special OVA, and the movie Book of the Atlantic, which each cover different parts of the overall story.

The movie Book of the Atlantic is the first and, so far, only animated film based on Black Butler. It’s a high-quality adaptation of the Luxury Liner arc from the manga. The story follows Ciel and Sebastian as they investigate a strange group said to be conducting experiments on corpses, all while aboard the luxurious ocean liner, the Campania. While the action sequences are impressive, the film truly stands out for its exploration of the complex relationship between Sebastian and Ciel.

2018: Dragon Ball Super: Broly

Following the success of Battle of Gods, the Dragon Ball movies have consistently performed well. Broly generated a lot of excitement because it officially incorporated a long-time fan-favorite character – previously exclusive to movies – into the main storyline. Fans had high expectations for Broly’s return, and the movie largely met them.

Broly was a significantly more developed character this time around, and the movie delivered fantastic action. We got to see Goku and Vegeta really push their limits trying to keep up with Broly’s incredible power. While a few of the 3D scenes felt a bit awkward, the majority of the fight animation was stunning.

2019: One Piece: Stampede

The popular anime series One Piece also has a number of movies. While some are stronger than others, Stampede is widely considered to be one of the best.

Stampede marks the 20th anniversary of the series with a fantastic gathering of beloved characters and exciting action sequences, making it a real treat for fans. While not officially part of the main storyline, the movie is pure entertainment and a welcome addition to the franchise.

2026-02-06 06:07