Summer Anime Previews: All the Anime Movies Coming to Theaters

American viewers have access to more anime than ever before, with a record number of new shows available to stream. It’s really an embarrassment of anime riches. Not to be left behind, the big screen is also getting its fair share of anime films to keep us busy this summer.

If you need a break from the latest Marvel film, you don’t find Tom Cruise as exciting as a Ghibli classic, or you just want an animated, rocking alternative to it elvis, there is an anime film for you in the local multiplex this year. Here’s our list of the biggest anime releases of the summer, including some limited edition titles you won’t want to miss.

Fortune favors Lady Nikuko

children of the sea Director Ayumu Watanabe returns with a completely different little story. Instead of taking on the entire universe Fortune favors Lady Nikuko is about 38-year-old Nikuko and her 11-year-old daughter Kikuko, who live together on a houseboat in a fishing village. The film revolves around Kikuko navigating life with a larger than life mother who falls in love with the wrong men, turns every place she goes into a party and overall has too much personality for Kikuko’s liking. The film features exquisite art direction and a coming-of-age slice-of-life story about growing up and learning that your parents are human too.

In theaters June 3rd.

Revue Starlight: The Movie

Revue Starlight is back. Four years after the end of the TV series, the students at Seisho Music Academy are back to try and find fame on stage. The story follows Karen and Hikari, two college girls who find a strange stage where girls resolve their conflicts through underground fighting in the form of revues or stage performances. The anime initially looked like any other idol show, but quickly turned out to be something special that shared a lot in common with the hit series Revolutionary girl Utena.

The film offers uniquely breathtaking action alongside a sense of theatrics and musicality, making it a gift for fans of the franchise and an exciting entry point for newcomers.

In theaters June 5th and 6th.

Macross Frontier: The Wrong Singer

One of anime’s seminal franchises is coming to the big screen. Macross is one of the biggest mecha franchises about intergalactic wars in which humanity fights aliens with ships that transform into giant robots. The wrong singer is a 25th anniversary retelling of the series macros limit, which focuses on a space colony fleet searching for a new habitable planet. The series is known for focusing more on political intrigue than previous entries in the franchise, while not forgetting the story’s musical roots. The wrong singer still offers the kind of pop music hits you’d expect from a story where idol singers fight alongside fighter pilots.

Theatrical release on June 16th.

Fruit Basket: Prelude

fruit basket is one of the most famous remakes of recent years and one of the best-received modern shoujo anime. The story follows an orphan girl who moves in with two of her classmates and discovers that her family is possessed by a curse that makes them possessed by the spirits of the Chinese zodiac. The story is a slice-of-life romance full of heartwarming moments, but also dark themes like domestic violence and mental illness. With two well-received anime adaptations, including a successful remake in 2019, Fruit Basket: Prelude will expand on the recent adaptation of the manga and expand on the story told in the anime. Mainly, the film will feature the anticipated prequel story, which will tell the story of the protagonist’s parents before their untimely deaths. It will also feature original scenes from the film set after the anime ends, a treat for shoujo fans.

In theaters June 25-29.

The cat returns

Even a less popular Ghibli movie is better than most other movies out there. The cat returns is a rare spinoff/sequel to the rather excellent one whisper of the heart, focuses on the magical Baron Cat in a solo adventure starring a girl who can talk to cats. The animation style is simpler than most Ghibli films, but it’s still a whimsical, magical adventure for the Ghibli-hearted cat fan. Add a timeless theme about what makes us who we are and you have a family-friendly adventure for the whole family.

In theaters June 26-27.

The epic conclusion too Macross Frontier: The Fake Singer, The Wings of Farewell follows a stunt pilot who falls in love with a galactic idol who may hold the key to ending the war. The film features some of the best animation in the world macros Franchise, as well as catchy songs that are believed to have the power to change the world. Much like the rebuild of Evangelion

Movies, this movie does not adapt the ending of the original anime it is based on but builds its own original story. It’s full of twists and turns, but it clearly remains Macross, an entertaining, catchy, action-packed and intriguing film starring giant morphing robots.

Theatrical release on June 30th.

The Deer King

What happens when you take a former Ghibli animator, former Ghibli director, and former Ghibli writer and bring them together to work on a fantasy film about the struggles between humans and the environment, and nature versus progress? Well you get Princess Mononoke The Deer King, Naturally! As expected from its impressive talent pool, this film manages to deliver a living fantasy world, great action and a poignant political story of rebellion and prejudice. The film follows a once-proud warrior tasked with protecting an orphaned girl as conflict brews across the land with a supernatural curse. The film also has a poignant level about the importance of medical science in the face of superstitions hitting 2022 like a pile of bricks. While we wait for the next big Ghibli hit, fans of the studio had better stop by The Deer King.

Exclusive preview screenings for fans July 13-14, hitting theaters July 15.

kiki’s delivery service

One of Hayao Miyazaki’s best films, kiki’s delivery service is a beautiful, whimsical film about a witch girl who sets out to find her way in the world and prove her worth. She makes friends along the way, but struggles to become independent while relying on other people, leading to an identity crisis that is oddly relatable for both children and adults. It’s one of the simplest yet most emotionally complex films Ghibli has ever made, and it also features one of his best supporting characters – Kiki’s confidante, Jiji the cat (voiced perfectly by Phil Hartman in the Disney dub). This is a film about the pains of growing up, not trying to speed through life, and burnout and losing the spark that made what you love so valuable.

In theaters from July 31st to August 3rd.

Inu-Oh

The director of mind game, Stay away from Eizouken!devilman crybaby, and experimental weird excellent anime is Masaaki Yuasa take a break from filmmaking. But he says goodbye with his rockiest film yet: a headbanging, electrifying rock opera. Inu-Oh takes historical fiction to tell the secret story behind a Noh performer, biwa musician and playwright named Inu-Oh, one of the most famous performers of 14th-century Japan, whose life in the years that followed has been virtually undocumented – to the point where he became a legendary figure, almost more myth than fact. Yuasa reimagines Inu-Oh as a modern rock star while keeping the story set in the 14th century. That means extravagant musical numbers with backup dancers, pyrotechnics and lavish stages, but with 14th-century costumes and instruments, an anachronistic but totally rocking experience worth tapping your feet.

In theaters August 12.

only yesterday

Real ones know that the true, misunderstood genius of Studio Ghibli was Isao Takahata, the man behind it Tomb of the Fireflies and pom poko. Between these two very different (but equally great) films lies only yesterday, a piece-of-life drama compared to the quirky ’90s Ghibli, but an equally magical and touching story. It follows a woman in Tokyo who visits the country and remembers all the decisions and regrets of growing up. It’s like Everything everywhere at once without the multiverse stuff, but just as deep, life-affirming, and heartwarming. It is one of the most mature Ghibli films, a poignant exploration of the role women play in Japanese society and also a film about the pangs of aging. It doesn’t have huge tanuki testicles like pom pokobut it’s still one of Ghibli’s best.

In theaters August 28-29.

Dragon Ball Super: Superhero

Anything else to say about Dragon Ball? Not only is this one of the most iconic and enduring anime franchises of all time, it also helped introduce the medium to a whole new generation of kids in the West. One of the pinnacles of what Battle Shonen can be, Dragon Ball offers a unique blend of action, friendship, world-building and an immersive heroic journey, all of which have thrilled audiences for more than three decades. After the great success of Dragon Ball Super: Broly, superhero will see the return of the Red Ribbon Army, an evil organization that has plagued the protagonist Goku since the original manga and anime. But instead of focusing on the iconic hero, the film puts the spotlight on his eldest son, Gohan, and his former antagonist, Piccolo. This is probably not the best place to start for anyone who doesn’t find these names instantly iconic, but for fans who have followed the story or want to feel some nostalgia, Dragon Ball Super: Superhero Kamehameha is ready to make its way to theaters.

In theaters this August.