10 Best Short Anime Films, Ranked

Kick-Heart (2013)

Kick-Heart is a vibrant 12-minute short film by Production I.G. It tells the story of Maskman M, a wrestler, and Sister Juliet, a nun, featuring unique, lively animation.

Kakurenbo: Hide & Seek (2004)

Kakurenbo: Hide & Seek is a 24-minute anime blending horror and adventure. Kids play a dangerous game in a demon-filled city. Hikora joins to find his missing sister.

Franz Kafka's A Country Doctor (2007)

This 20-minute short film adapts Kafka's surreal tale. A doctor braves a winter night to treat a distant patient, encapsulating Kafka's dark and eerie storytelling.

Aquatic Language (2002)

Aquatic Language is a 9-minute experimental anime. Set in a café, it weaves a tapestry of human interaction through the intertwining conversations of various patrons.

Neo Tokyo (1987)

Neo Tokyo is a 48-minute anthology anime with three distinct segments by directors Rintaro, Yoshiaki Kawajiri, and Katsuhiro Otomo, each offering a unique visual and narrative style.

Cencoroll (2009)

Cencoroll is a 26-minute film blending sci-fi and slice-of-life genres. It follows Tetsu and his shape-shifting pet, Cenco, in a contemporary Japanese town, blending mystery with everyday life.

Traveling Daru (2012)

Traveling Daru is a 10-minute heartfelt story of a plush doll's journey to reunite with its owner. The film charms with its simple yet expressive animation and poignant narrative.

Someone's Gaze (2013)

Directed by Makoto Shinkai, this 6-minute film explores the relationship between Aya and her father. The story unfolds through the eyes of the family's cat, capturing emotional family dynamics.

The House of Small Cubes (2008)

This 12-minute short film tells a touching story of an elderly man in a gradually submerged world. He builds new levels on his home to stay above water, filled with nostalgic memories.

Shelter (2016)

Shelter is a 6-minute film blending music and animation. Created by Porter Robinson, Madeon, and A-1 Pictures, it follows Rin, a girl in a virtual world she can shape with her tablet.