April 15 is National Anime Day, a celebration of the widely popular Japanese-animated TV shows and movies that have grown in popularity around the world.
Anime typically refers to any animated show or movie produced in Japan. The first confirmed anime was produced in 1917, but like any art form, it has evolved over time. Anime is often recognized for its stylized characters with large eyes and colorful hair.
There are many popular anime shows available on streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu and Crunchyroll, but if you’ve never watched anime before, it can be difficult to know where to start.
Check out some of these popular anime from our YPL catalog!
Jujutsu Kaisen - 2023 - Blu-Ray
Jujutsu Kaisen follows the story of Yuji Itadori, a teenager who eats a cursed finger and finds himself thrown into a world of curses and the jujutsu sorcerers who fight to defeat them. The animated series is ongoing, as is the manga, which you can also check out from YPL!
My Neighbor Totoro - 2002 - DVD
Studio Ghibli is one of the most widely regarded animation studios in the world. You can’t go wrong watching any Studio Ghibli movie to celebrate National Anime Day, but My Neighbor Totoro is a great film to watch with the whole family. The story follows two young girls and the spirits they befriend when they move into a new home.
Your Name - 2016 - DVD & Blu-Ray
Your Name follows two teenagers who share a profound connection after they wake up and realize they have swapped bodies. The movie’s director - Makoto Shinkai - is well-known for his other films like Weathering With You. Without spoiling too much, Your Name is a heartfelt film about the intimate connections we can make with the people we meet by chance.
If you’re looking for more, be sure to also browse the Yonkers Public Library’s manga collection! Manga are Japanese graphic novels that are read from right to left. Many popular anime shows and movies are adapted from manga. If you’re someone who loves reading a book before you watch the movie or tv show that was inspired by it, check out some of these popular manga series below from the YPL catalog:
You can also check out manga online through Comics Plus. Comics Plus offers a wide variety of comics and graphic novels to read online all for free with your Yonkers Public Library card! You can check out the video tutorial below to learn how to get started.
Alison Robles is a Part-Time Junior Clerk at the Crestwood Library. She is an avid reader with a passion for YA lit, historical fiction and fantasy. A Yonkers native, she is currently pursuing an MS in Information and Library Science from the University at Buffalo.