Summary

If an anime serial publication is popular enough , it ’s not uncommon for ananime sequel movieto be made . While many well - known Zanzibar copal franchises have multiple full - length movies , in universal , these movies are standalone side tale that are n’t process as entirely canon to the chief serial . However , there are notable exceptions to this principle . to the full canon sequel motion-picture show have filled in some major gaps in certain Zanzibar copal serial . Thebest animesequel moviesnot only act important purpose in the story of their respective franchises but are enjoyable lookout man in their own right hand .

It ’s common for anime based on manga to outpace the story of the original manga they ’re based on and terminate long before the manga does . This issue has lead to anime continuation movies being written to give loose - ended anime serial publication closing that are either more definitive or more in line with the manga that inspired them . Similarly , anime sequel moving picture have often been used to bridge over the gaps between ingress in long - running franchisesand premise key facet and characters of the new series .

Related:10 Best Anime Movies Of All Time , Ranked

Sakamoto Days imagery

10Martian Successor Nadesico: Prince of Darkness (1998)

Sequel to the 1996 Series Based on the Manga By Kia Asamiya

At its most basic , Martin Successor Nadesicois a comedic rendering ofEvangelion . While there are genuine present moment of emotion and calamity , for the most part , it ’s somewhat punch-drunk and systematically lighthearted . The sequel moviePrince of Darknessis notably sullen and less comedic than the original series and despite actually winning several awards in Japan , fans have not been kind toPrince of Darkness .

In plus to the jarring change in spirit from the serial , there was a gravid deal of important context only provide by a Sega Saturn television game that was never released alfresco of Japan and only came out after the movie in Japan . Although the electronegative receipt from fans helped to torpedo theMartian Successor Nadesicofranchise , in a vacuum , Prince of Darknessis in reality an entirely decentspace opera house Zanzibar copal storywith a respectable soundtrack and a really nice 90 artstyle .

Watch On Funimation

Solo Leveling’s Jin Woo with glowing eyes and a blue aura in front of a pink and black Kirito from Sword Art Online

9Pokémon: The First Movie (1998)

Originally Intended as The Finale to Anime Based on The Hit Bideo Game Series by Satoshi Tajiri

With the welfare of almost 30 age of hindsight , it ’s honestly hilarious thatPokémon : The First Moviewas in the beginning written as the grand finale of the entirePokémonfranchise . Not only is the franchise still going inviolable — with25Pokémonmoviesand more than 1000 anime sequence as of 2023 — Pokémonis the most profitable medium franchise of all metre .

Although the English release feel down some of the thematic component of the original script , The First Movieis still markedly darker than the anime series and , for the most part , it works . The First Moviehas some genuinely emotional moments and a powerful central base that still mostly sticks the landing even with the edits made to the English discharge .

Pokémon : The First Movieis available for rental or digital download on Amazon Prime .

solo leveling season 2 episode 8 Jinwoo

8K-On! Movie (2011)

Sequel to The 2009 Series Based on the Anime By Kakifly

find out the member of After School Team Time travel to London for their commencement exercise trip , K - On ! Movieis , much like the independent serial , lay - back and relaxing . Nothing really occur , but there are plenty of hilarious moments . kB - On ! Moviereally leans into the series ' piece - of - aliveness humor , brainy character animations and reactions , and the main cast ’s personalities playing off each other . evidently , as the cinematic adaptation of an Zanzibar copal series about music , the soundtrack is phenomenal , and the girls ' exploration of London leads to some uproarious moments and fundamental interaction . by nature , as musician , the girls get their chance to make the obligatory shout - out to the Beatles and cross Abbey Road .

K - On ! Movieis available for rental and digital download on Youtube Premium and the Google Play Store .

7Code Geass: Lelouch of the Re;surrection (2019)

Sequel to The 2006 Series Written By Ichirō Ōkouchi

As the subsequence to an anime series where the principal character died , Lelouch of the Re;surrectionhas the obvious egress of needing to excuse how and why Lelouch is back . On the one hand , this potentially undermines thedark but compelling conclusion of the original gum anime . On the other script , theCode Geassmovies are set in an alternate motion picture with their own canon , so the original ending still technically remains unchanged . The author put enough opinion into bring Lelouch back that the characters , up to and include Lelouch himself , have to forge for it . On the whole , Lelouch of the Re;surrectionhas a happy ending that is a pretty substantial departure from the main Zanzibar copal series .

look out On Crunchyroll

6Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack (1988)

Sequel to The Original 1979Gundam Series, Written & Directed By Series Creator Yoshiyuki Tomino

While not technically the firstGundammovie , Char ’s Counterattackis the first movie in the dealership not to be a compilation of footage from the original gum anime series . Char ’s Counterattackis a continuation flick to the originalMobile Suit Gundamand its sequel seriesZeta GundamandZZand do as the culmination of the ongoing plot line of those series . As indicated by the title , Char ’s Counterattackfocuses on Char Aznable , the antagonist of the originalGundamand one of the most democratic lineament in the integral franchise . Both Char and his longtime rival Amuro , the protagonist of the originalGundam , get lot of moments to shine as their conflict climax and their shared storyline get an awesome but semisweet terminate desirable of one of the most iconic rivalry in gum anime history .

5Fullmetal Alchemist: The Conqueror of Shamballa (2005)

Sequel to the First Anime Adaptation of the Manga By Hiromu Arakawa

Fullmetal Alchemistgot two Zanzibar copal adaptations . The first , simply titledFullmetal Alchemistaired from 2003 - 2004 . Since this first Zanzibar copal adjustment was being produce while the original manga was still being write , the plot overtake the manga and the gum anime therefore diverges from the source stuff in somewhat meaning ways .

Conqueror of Shamballawas specify to fix the lingering plot screw thread that still existed at the closing of the anime , which involved Edward being separated from the eternal sleep of the cast by getting enchant to 1920s Germany . Conqueror of Shamballahas the two parallel world converge as forerunners of the Nazis essay to conquer the world ofFullmetal Alchemistand harness the powers of alchemy for their villainous ends . Ultimately , the continuity of the originalFullmetal Alchemistanime andConquerorof Shamballawas substitute byFullmetal Alchemist : Brotherhood , the 2009 adaption which more closely follows the original manga .

4Demon Slayer: Mugen Train (2020)

Sequel to The First Season of the Anime Adaptation of the Manga By Koyoharu Gotouge

Thanks in part to the flutter to movie - going triggered by the COVID pandemic and being played in more theaters than it would have been otherwise , Mugen Trainwas the 2d highest - gross movie of 2020 . Despite these true unique historical circumstances , Mugen Trainshouldn’t be background as it is a quality gum anime movie that deserved to deliver the goods on its own merits . Mugen Trainis a little faster - paced and legal action - orient than the typicalDemon Slayerarc and concludes in about two hours . Like the rest of theDemon Slayeranime , Mugen Trainis visually gorgeous and despite being quicker and more focused on action scenes than other arcs , Mugen Trainnevertheless has lawful emotional weight and culminates with a genuinely semisweet flood tide .

3Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Rebellion (2013)

Sequel to The 2011 Series Written By Gen Urobuchi

Puella Magi Madoka Magicais probably the darkest Magical Girl dealership , subverting just about every view of the genre in the most brutal and appall way potential . The original anime serial publication ended on a very bittersweet note but was basically a victory for the protagonists despite a openhanded sacrifice . chip in the flavour of the franchise overall , it ’s not entirely surprising that the last - mo twist ofRebellionskews heavily toward darkness . Although the conclusion ofRebellionundoes the underlying optimism that helped palliate the darkness of the original anime ’s ending , it does avowedly make a bewitching new status quo that gives theforthcomingMadokasequela promising story to build on .

Puella Magi Madoka Magica : Rebellionis available for rental and digital download on Youtube Premium and Apple TV .

2The Last: Naruto the Movie (2014)

Bridging the Gap Between The Anime Adaptations ofNarutoandBorutoBased on The Manga by Masashi Kishimoto

Between 2004 and 2015,there have been 11Narutomovies . However , only twoNarutoof them are considered fully canon : The LastandBoruto . This is for the most part because those two movies serve up to introduce the next generation of characters who become the lead inBorutoand bridge the narrative spread between the oddment ofNarutoand the beginning ofBoruto . While the plot of ground ofThe Lastis a solid story in its own rightfield with plenty of memorable natural process scenes , its greatest strength is serving as the finale ofNaruto . The movie start with a stylized recap of the serial publication up to that compass point , and by the end , the series ' familiar and beloved characters get their long - awaited glad termination .

1Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods (2013)

Sequel to Dragon Ball Z, Created By Akira Toriyama

Along with its own unmediated subsequence movieResurrection ' F',Dragon Ball omega : struggle of Godsprimarily serves to introduceDragon Ball Super . The originalDragon Ball Zended with an epilog scene set 10 old age after the last instalment of the Majin Buu Saga . Ultimately , Dragon Ball Superwould satiate in that ten - year gap , withBattle of Godseasing the hearing into several central aspect ofSuper ’s narrative .

Beerus , the God of Destruction introduced in the movie , would go on to become a go back fictional character inSuperand help to introduceSuper’sbroader cosmological oscilloscope . Similarly , Goku ’s novel Super Saiyan God form would give thatSuperwould introduce even more muscular forms and abilities for the character . AlthoughBattle of Godsdoes serve an important narrative character in connectingDragon Ball ZtoSuper , it is mostly carry primarily by the epical combat between Beerus and Goku , perhaps the two rank strongest character in the entire enfranchisement . sports fan were hyped forDragon Ball Z : Battle of Gods , and fortunately , the result is thegreatest gum anime sequel movieof all clock time .

Dragon Ball Z : Battle of Godsis available for rental and digital download on Apple TV .

10 Best Anime Sequel Movies, Ranked

Martian Successor Nadesico BluRay Cover

K-On Movie Mugi

Lelouch of the Resurrection

Char’s Counterattack

Conqueror of Shamballa

Puella Magi Madoka Magica Rebellion Holy Quintet standing together against a patchwork background.

Naruto-and-Hinata-in-The-Last-Naruto-The-Movie