Anime is a unique artform that allows for the beautiful depiction of not just reality but also what is going on in someone’s mind. Psychological anime movies are a staple of the genre. While many think of anime as an action-oriented genre, it often explores conflicts of the mind as well.
The best of these films uses high-quality animation to express psychological conflicts and explore the emotional and mental range of their characters. Here are the ten best Japanese Psychological anime movies.
1. Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion
Neon Genesis Evangelion is a strange and stunning romp through human psychology where teenagers are the only hope for saving mankind from giant extra-terrestrial beings known as Angels by piloting giant seemingly robotic suits.
The End of Evangelion is the capstone to this complex and fascinating action drama and it is here where the psychological elements come to a head.
The stunning animation and scene layout allow for the psychodrama to be on real display as symbolism from around the world is used to display the complex drives of the main character Shinji.
This film is a must if you want to see just what anime can do when exploring the human psyche.
2. Paprika
One of the best ways anime can explore the human mind is with its ability to depict dreams in all their strange glory.
Paprika is a film that takes advantage of that, telling the story of a dream terrorist that allows others to share their dreams and causes nightmares and the dream detective Paprika’s battle against him. Reality and dreams blur and blend.
Love, obsession, fear, and more are explored as the thrilling plot unfolds. Be sure to check out this amazingly animated, award-winning film!
3. Steins;Gate: The Movie − Load Region of Déjà Vu
A follow-up to the anime series called Steins;Gate, this film plays with time, technology, memory, and the complexity of the human psyche.
The incredible voice acting, animation, and soundtrack help the movie carry its complex narrative forward, helping you build a connection to these unique and often tormented characters and the challenges they face.
If you have watched Steins;Gate, this movie is the perfect epilogue to the series and a must-watch.
4. Death Billiards
Two men find themselves in a mysterious bar with no memory of how they got there. They find themselves bound into a game of billiards that is not what it seems and where their lives are at stake.
The two men’s pasts unfold as they play and their memories return. The beautiful animation compliments a brief but profound story about human life and the human mind.
The atmospheric backgrounds have drawn universal praise. This short, intense psychological anime is a hidden gem many miss.
5. Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part 2: Eternal
Set in the popular world of Puella Magi Madoka Magica, this anime film covers the main character’s epic battle against an enemy powered by despair.
The animation is top-notch, allowing the quest to reach a former friend’s humanity beautifully depicted. This is the last half of this epic and the more deeply psychological. While the imagery of the series is very stereotypical and often girly, it is a surprisingly deep and dark series.
If you want to understand the long-standing appeal of this series, Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part 2: Eternal is an interesting window into why fans love the show.
6. Tekkonkinkreet
This unusual anime film focuses on two orphans as they navigate the takeover of their town by the yakuza. The two main characters are based on the Taoist principles of yin and yang.
The balance between these two very different personalities is a key focus of the film. In style and substance, it is very different than most other anime out there.
It can be grim and, in its way, predictable, but at the same time, it offers something unique that you should take the time to see.
7. Perfect Blue
Following in the footsteps of the director’s previous film, Paprika, this anime film blurs the lines between fantasy and reality.
A former member of a Japanese pop idol group retires from her musical career and begins pursuing an acting career. She finds herself with a stalker as a string of gruesome murders occurs and her grip on reality begins to slip.
The film explores themes of perception, identity, voyeurism, and performance, especially from a female perspective.
It won many awards around its release and continues to be a fascinating and well-animated psychological anime.
8. Kotonoha no Niwa (The Garden of Words)
This unique tale of lonely sadness explores the world through the eyes of a teenage shoemaker and an older professional woman.
Both are in many ways lost in the modern world and a key theme is that teenagers and adults are in many ways in the same emotional state. Maturity can be awkward and disjointed.
In this anime film, shoes are often used as metaphors for life while the Japanese garden is a recurring theme. The stupendous animation, music, voicework, and writing combine to create a film that has won praise and awards all over the world.
9. Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade
This film explores an alternate history of 1950s Japan, where the nation is occupied by a victorious Nazi Germany.
Kazuki Fuse, a member of a special police unit, fails to execute a young woman and sees her detonate herself in a suicide bombing, resulting in him being sent back to training camp. When visiting the dead girl’s grave, he meets her sister and the two develop a peculiar relationship.
The animation has drawn praise from critics and fans alike. The psychological twists and turns of this tale are often painful and profound, making it a worthwhile watch for any fan of psychological anime.
10. Psycho-Pass 3: First Inspector
In this dystopian cyberpunk world, police inspectors strive to prevent the victory of a terrorist organization called Bifrost.
For all its epic scope, the story is fundamentally personal, exploring the backstories and emotions of multiple main characters and how it affects their current challenges.
It’s an amazing use of the medium and touches on many of the very human themes of the cyberpunk genre, making it a great watch.
