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Anime boasts an extensive catalog of films, offering something for everyone. Whether it’s a spin-off of a beloved shonen anime series, or a Studio Ghibli film, there’s always a film worth watching. Anime films showcase the brilliance of animation, allowing creators to express themselves in unique and powerful ways.

For those exploring Crunchyroll’s library, the platform offers a vast selection of anime films. From nostalgic classics that bring back childhood memories to gripping emotional thrillers that highlight the true impact of animation, there’s a perfect pick for any fan seeking a short yet unforgettable experience.

Black Jack: The Movie Is A Great Film for Fans of Medical Dramas Streaming on CrunchyrollImage Via Tezuka Productions

Black Jack: The Movie tells the adventures of the unlicensed but genius surgeon Black Jack from the anime series of the same name. Black Jack's design is immediately iconic, with the...

"Batman: The Animated Series" was created at Warner Bros. Animation by and for an American audience. As is common practice in American cartoons, though, the animation work was outsourced to studios in southeast Asia.

One of those subcontractors was Japan's Sunrise, the home of the "Gundam" franchise and the studio that would go on to make "Cowboy Bebop." One of the most famous and well-regarded studios in Japan, Sunrise (officially known as Bandai Namco Filmworks these days) is where several animators (such as the founders of Studio Bones) first built their careers.

Sunrise handled seven episodes of "Batman: The Animated Series" — "Pretty Poison," "The Cat and the Claw, Part I," "Heart of Steel," "I Am the Night," "The Clock King," "Off Balance," and "The Man Who Killed Batman." Sunrise itself is divided up into several smaller studios; "Batman" was handled by Studio 6. The experience apparently left an impact, though,...

Bandai Namco Film Works today announced the release of "The Big-o 25th Anniversary Negotiation Files," an official design works collection book commemorating the 25th anniversary of The Big O anime series. The Big O is a 26-episode TV anime series produced by Sunrise (now Namco Bandai Film Works). The first season aired for 13 episodes from October 1999 to January 2000, followed by the second season with another 13 episodes from January to March 2003. The retro-style stylish design and the incorporation of elements from American comics and cartoons made the series popular not only in Japan but also overseas. Sunrise's official English website for the series describes the anime's synopsis as such: Forty years ago everyone in Paradigm City lost their memory. But humanity continues to survive. They’ve learned to operate machinery, produce electricity, and go on living from day to day. Roger Smith is a Negotiator. He controls the Megadeus called the Big O.

A classic Toonami anime series is celebrating its 25th anniversary with new artwork by its co-creator. Keiichi Sato, the character and mechanical designer on The Big O, illustrated new artwork of the shows Western-influenced cast for fans on social media.

Sato drew the brand-new illustrations for The Big Os 25th anniversary and shared them on his social media account on X (formerly Twitter). The first illustration is of the three main anime characters: Norman Burg, Roger Smith and R. Dorothy Wayneright. The second illustration, also seen below, is a stunning portrait of the titular robot. Throughout the show, Roger summons Big O for battle by using his wristwatch to give the voice command, "Its showtime!"

Related Demon Slayer's Swordsmith Village Arc Finally Gets a Toonami Release Date

Adult Swim's Saturday night anime block Toonami gives a release date for the popularthird season of Demon Slayer, the Swordsmith Village Arc.

The one anime series that I'm most excited about this spring is "Skip and Loafer." The source manga tells the tale of Mitsumi Iwakura, an ambitious teenage girl from the country who moves to Tokyo for high school. There she meets the easygoing Sosuke Shima, and the two of them slowly build a close-knit network of friends that includes local mean girl Mika Egashira, bookish Makoto Kurame, and independent-minded Yuzuki Murashige. Each of them is as different as can be, and yet despite bad early impressions, they find a common cause in each other. "Skip and Loafer" is too good-natured to be a "realistic" high school story. But it is successful at evoking the texture of adolescence in its banality, complexity, and sweetness.

"Skip and Loafer" is also the first anime in years to be directed and scripted by the great Kotomi Deai, who has now been active in the...

If you are not familiar with Yuji Iwahara’s manga, King of Thorn can be one of the more confusing anime films to watch. Characters are cut and marginalized, while others get bigger roles. However, if you’re a sci-fi fan, the second and third viewing of King of Thorn can be as rewarding as watching The Matrix for the umpteenth time.

Directed by Kazuyoshi Katayama (Appleseed, Big O), King of Thorn centers on a dystopian future, where the world is plagued by the Medousa Virus. No, people don’t turn into zombies like The Walking Dead. Instead, they turn into stone –as the virus’ name suggests.

When a worldwide pandemic emerges, a lottery is held to save 160 members of the human race. The plan is to put them in a castle, where they will be cryogenically frozen until a cure can be found. Unfortunately, their cryo-sleep is interrupted and...

[King of Thorn screens July 11th as part of New York's Japan Cuts festival.]

You already know this:  it's not unusual for feature-length anime to represent a wild amalgam of different genres sutured together--military hardware and sorcery will team up to battle giant monsters who evolved from the ghosts of psychic alien kids.

This opportunistic mix 'n match approach to genre can be slightly maddening to non-fans but I'm happy to report that the awkwardly but intriguingly titled King of Thorn, which gets its North American premiere at Japan Cuts on July 11, pulls together its various generic strands quite respectably. Director Kazuyoshi Katayama consistently manages to hit the story's notes of action, mystery, horror, and sci-fi in a way that seems natural and unforced. In fact, that's one of the many pleasures of the film, the way it shifts gears unexpectedly but doesn't give the audience whiplash. Whether any single element will thrill fans of a given genre--will the head-munching "demonsaurs" satisfy gore-hounds, for example?...

Japan Society has posted the full list of films to be screened as part of their Japan Cuts Festival of Contemporary Japanese Cinema which will take place in NYC from July 1-16, 2010.

Here’s the list. The films marked with an asterisk will be co-presented with the 2010 New York Asian Film Festival.

About Her Brother (2010, North American Premiere, Dir. Yoji Yamada)

Accidental Kidnapper (2009, New York Premiere, Dir. Hideo Sakaki)

Alien vs. Ninja* (2010, World Premiere, Dir. Seiji Chiba)

Bare Essence of Life, aka Ultra Miracle Love Story (2009, New York Premiere, Dir. Satoko Yokohama)

The Blood of Rebirth* (2009, New York Premiere, Dir. Toshiaki Toyoda)

Boys on the Run* (2010, North American Premiere, Dir. Daisuke Miura)

Confessions* (2010, U.S. Premiere, Dir. Tetsuya Nakashima)

Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World (2004, New York Premiere, Dir. Isao Yukisada)

Dear Doctor* (2009, New York Premiere, Dir. Miwa Nishikawa)

Electric Button, aka Moon & Cherry (2004, U.S. Premiere,...

The Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia announces its complete program. There are still a few surprises to be confirmed, like the closing gala, but they have already put together the final list of films that will be screened at Sitges 09. Below you’ll find the titles of each film and their sections as well as links for the films that we have already reviewed here on Sound On Sight. Opening Film [Rec]2. Paco Plaza and Jaume Balagueró. 2009. Official FANTÀSTIC In Competition Section Accident. Soi Cheang. 2009. Accidents Happen. Andrew Lancaster. 2009. The Children. Tom Shankland. 2008. [1] Cold Souls. Sophie Bartes. 2009. The Countess. Julie Delpy. 2009. Les Derniers Jours Du Monde. Jean-Marie and Arnaud Larrieu. 2009. Dogtooth (Kynodontas). Yorgos Lanthimos. 2009. Dorian Gray. Oliver Parker. 2009. Enter The Void. Gaspar Noé. 2009. Grace. Paul Solet. 2009. [2] Heartless. Philip Ridley. 2009. Hierro. Gabe Ibáñez. 2009. La Horde. Yannick Dahan and Benjamin Rocher. 2009. Ingrid. Eduard Cortés. 2009. Kinatay. Brillante Mendoza. 2009. Metropia. Tarik Saleh. 2009. Moon.

The full lineup has been announced, and among the load of genre fare that's been running the fest circuit are the world premiers of:

Vincenzo Natali's latest, Splice, which we're all excited about.

Simon Fellows twisted adaptation Malice in Wonderland (trailer)

Along some of our personal favorites:

Black Dynamite (friggin awesome)

Swiss scifi flick Cargo (trailer)

Pater Sparrow's incredible Stanislaw Lem adaptation 1 (review)

The Mo Brothers Indonesian slasher Macabre (review)

Atm (get it?) horror-comedy The Human Centipede (review)

Full list after the break.

Opening Film

[Rec]2. Paco Plaza and Jaume Balagueró. 2009.

Official FANTÀSTIC In Competition Section

Accident. Soi Cheang. 2009.

Accidents Happen. Andrew Lancaster. 2009.

The Children. Tom Shankland. 2008.

Cold Souls. Sophie Bartes. 2009.

The Countess. Julie Delpy. 2009.

Les Derniers Jours Du Monde. Jean-Marie and Arnaud Larrieu. 2009.

Dogtooth (Kynodontas). Yorgos Lanthimos. 2009.

Dorian Gray. Oliver Parker. 2009.

Enter The Void. Gaspar Noé. 2009.

Grace. Paul Solet. 2009.

Heartless. Philip Ridley. 2009.

Hierro. Gabe Ibáñez. 2009.

La Horde. Yannick Dahan and Benjamin Rocher.

The first trailer for Kazuyoshi Katayama’s King of Thorn (Ibara no Ou) anime premiered at the 62nd Locarno International Film Festival today and has also been uploaded to the english-friendly website of the project. KoT is the anime adaptation of the manga series by Yuji Iwahara and tells the story of a group of 160 people who have become infected by a mysterious and pandemic virus and are therefore placed in cyrogenic sleep until a cure has can be found. After an unknown amount of time a handful of people awaken from their sleep just to be attacked by vicious creatures (looking just like Giger’s Aliens).

In an unknown future they not only have to survive but also have to find out what the hell happened to earth during their sleep…

[See post to watch Flash video] [via AnimeSuki Forum]...