Despite the delay in TV and movie releases in 2020, there were still quite a few anime movies released. Here are the best, ranked by MyAnimeList.

Many movie and television projects of 2020 were pushed to 2021. Due to this, it clearly wasn't a typical year for the entertainment industry. The medium of anime, too, wasn't untouched by the swathe of delays, but despite the changes in the 2020 anime calendar, many long-awaited anime films still premiered throughout the year and graced the screens of viewers from all over the world.

While some of these movies were standalone Netflix originals, others were long-awaited sequels for renowned anime franchises. The best among these have been ranked on the site, MyAnimeList (MAL), which averages user scores and gives fans excellent options for what to watch next.

Updated on November 15, 2021, by Jake Koran: When it comes to anime movies, 2020 did not hold back in releasing some incredible titles. Some of these were sequels to other beloved films or new to the silver screen entirely. Many of the best anime movies of 2020 have connected with viewers easily, potentially becoming instant classics among fans. Though some of these 2020 anime movies may require prior knowledge of their respective franchises, the time investment is worth it to get the most out of the films.

10 Psycho-Pass 3: First Inspector (7.84)

Akin to Steven Spielberg's Minority Report, a great tech-noir movie, Psycho-Pass is set in a world with a skewed justice system. Even before a crime is committed, citizens with criminal intent are identified using a complex system and brought to justice using relevant measures.

The Psycho-Pass franchise involves many movies. Among them, Psycho-Pass 3: First Inspector ranks somewhere near the top. However, unlike most other movies that adopt spinoff stories, this one serves as a direct continuation of Season 3. To get ahold of this one, a viewer must first skim through Season 2, which in itself is quite intriguing with its nihilistic and philosophical undertones.

9 The Stranger By The Beach (7.94)

The Stranger by the Beach is about an aspiring novelist named Shun and a high school student named Mio, who meet on a beach and connect romantically, only to be separated when Mio must leave. The two reunite three years later and must decide if they will take a chance on their relationship, which becomes complicated partly because of the homophobia Shun has experienced in the past from those close to him.

The film is a beautiful exploration of these two characters that greatly fleshes out their personalities. The story is also incredible and is both heartwarming and heartbreaking at times. It has been very well received in the brief time since its release, and it appears that it will only continue to grow more popular as time goes on.

8 Given (8.15)

Although the shounen-ai genre remains relatively unexplored, every once in a while, a great series like Given comes along and changes everyone's perception. Serving as a follow-up for the 11-episode show, the Given movie shifts its focus onto other secondary characters of the anime. This offers a more in-depth look into these interesting characters and helps audiences to connect with them more.

While the show was all about the romantic developments between Ritsuka Uenoyama and Mafuyu Sato, who are both a part of a rock band, the movie also highlights the love relationship between the band's bassist, Haruki Nakayama, drummer, Akihiko Kaji, and Akihito's ex-boyfriend, Ugetsu Murata. The characters all have great chemistry and help to make Given into such an enjoyable film to watch.

7 Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna (8.18)

Because of being compared to the Pokémon franchise, Digimon never reached the fame and recognition of other popular shounen of the late 1990s. Even so, it did garner a fan following of its own that has stayed loyal to it even after all these years, with some of the best Digimon games still holding up today.

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the anime, Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna is the third and final installment of the Digimon Adventure movie trilogy. As suggested by many reviews on MyAnimeList, it brings a satisfying conclusion to the long-running franchise and is reminiscent of all the elements that initially made the series so great. For anyone looking for a throwback to the good old shounen era of the '90s, this one fits the bill.

6 Stand By Me Doraemon 2 (8.25)

After the events of the 2014 film Stand by Me Doraemon, Nobita and Shizuka are set to be married, but Nobita first wants to return to the past to meet with his beloved grandmother, who passed away when he was a child.

The film that follows features a series of both fun and heartfelt moments as Nobita struggles with his self-confidence and tries to introduce his bride-to-be to his grandmother, as per her wish. Stand by Me Doraemon 2 pulls fans in many emotional directions and has plenty of relatable and lovable characters, making it one that fans of the franchise and newcomers alike will enjoy.

5 Josee, The Tiger And The Fish (8.52)

The plot of Josee, the Tiger and the Fish revolves around Tsuneo, a young man who dreams of diving around the world, and Kumiko, a young woman who goes by "Josee," is a wheelchair user, and dreams of being able to travel and have experiences she has yet to. Tsuneo becomes a caretaker for Josee, and the two begin to find comfort and enjoyment in each other's company.

The film is not the first adaptation of the source material, but it is exceptionally well done, with beautiful animation and great performances by the voice actors. The romantic comedy/drama film has many emotional moments for audiences to connect with, and with fantastic presentation in many sequences, Josee, the Tiger and the Fish is sure to be a favorite among fans of heartfelt stories.

4 Made In Abyss: Dawn Of The Deep Soul (8.69)

It is hard not to judge an anime by its animation style, but in the case of Made in Abyss, its outward appearance is highly deceiving. Its chibi-style animation might give new viewers the impression that it is for kids. However, considering its darker themes surrounding death, grief, and cosmic horror, it is far from this.

In Dawn of the Deep Soul, the central characters delve deeper into the ghastly pit that rests in the middle of their small town. Now in the fifth layer of the abyss, they cross paths with Prushka, who claims to be the daughter of Bondrewd. As always, they must now be careful with every step they take and make some big sacrifices before they can dive deeper into the sixth layer of the hole.

3 Demon Slayer: Mugen Train (8.71)

Often touted as one of the best anime of the past decade and certainly one of the best demon anime of all time, Demon Slayer continues to please its massive fan following with the sequel film, Mugen Train. With Tanjirou and the Demon Slayer Corps at its fore again, the anime follows their action-fueled investigations of the mysterious disappearances in a train. Little do they realize, there is a lot more to the train than meets their eye.

Replete with scintillating battle scenes, breathtaking art, and all the right elements that fascinate shounen fans, the Demon Slayer movie never leaves a dull moment.

2 Fate/Stay Night: Heaven's Feel III. Spring Song (8.74)

The Fate series is one of the most sweeping anime franchises out there. It has everything from spin-offs and game adaptations, which can certainly compete with some of the other anime-based games that are worth playing, to OVAs and movies. Heaven's Feel III: Spring Song is the highly awaited final part of the Fate/Stay Night movie trilogy and it does not disappoint.

Picking up where its predecessor left off, the movie begins at a critical moment in the Fifth Holy Grail War. A hidden enemy finally surfaces and the main heroes learn that there's a lot more on the line for them than they had anticipated. In its taut two-hour runtime, the movie keeps viewers at the edge of their seats and resolves the morbid Holy Grail War in the best possible way.

1 Violet Evergarden: The Movie (8.97)

Set in the aftermath of a war, Violet Evergarden unfolds as a rite of passage for a young woman, Violet, who has been a mere weapon all her life. With her old life behind her, she sets out to learn what it is like to be human and understand the true essence of the final words of her lover.

The movie continues this journey with the utmost profundity, as Violet holds on to the last bits of hope of finding her lost lover. While she is at it, she continues to light up the lives of others by writing beautiful letters as an "Auto Memory Doll," giving even more of an emotional core to this already beautifully captivating film.

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