(Updated 10/05/2024)
Want to know what anime movies are coming to theaters in 2024? We can tell you!
Anime movies have been extremely popular for years, and Western fandom for anime continues to grow. Anime influences countless creators in the US. Huge fan interest means that more and more anime movies are playing in US movie theaters — and a lot more quickly, following their Japanese premieres, than they used to. Thanks to distributors like GKids, the Studio Ghibli movies and other classics regularly come back to the big screen, too.
Studio Ghibli has been all over the 2024 calendar thanks to the return of Studio Ghibli Fest, and there are a few big titles still to come in the latter half of the year. We've also got the US debut of LOOK BACK, the new DRAGON BALL, a series of GUNDAM movies and more!
Here are the anime movies coming to US theaters soon.
Anime Movies Coming to Movie Theatres in 2024
The following movies are set for U.S. release (or, in some cases, re-release) in the beginning of 2024.
Bocchi The Rock
The 2024 Anime Award-winning slice of life series BOCCHI THE ROCK! is coming to North American theaters as a recap film. The film, acquired by Crunchyroll and distributed by Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment, follows Hitori "Bocchi" ("Loner") Goto, a lonely high school girl who does nothing except strum a guitar by herself at home. However, she happens to meet Nijika Ijichi, who is looking for a guitarist for her group "Kessoku Band." *Please note this is a 2 part event. There will be credits after Part 1 and then Part 2 will immediately start after* [October 6-8]
Look Back
Popular, outgoing Fujino is celebrated by her classmates for her funny comics in the class newspaper. One day, her teacher asks her to share the space with Kyomoto, a truant recluse whose beautiful artwork sparks a competitive fervor in Fujino. What starts as jealousy transforms when Fujino realizes their shared passion for drawing. Based on the acclaimed manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto, the creator of “Chainsaw Man”, Look Back captures the highs and lows of pursuing artistic excellence and the special bonds formed through creative collaboration. The heart-wrenching story is the stunning feature-length directorial debut from Kiyotaka Oshiyama that will leave you in tears and inspire you to chase your own artistic dreams. [October 6]
My Hero Academia: You're Next
In a society where heroes and villains continuously battle in the name of peace and chaos, Izuku Midoriya, a U.A. High School student who aspires to be the best hero he can be, confronts the villain who imitates the hero he's long admired. [October 11]
AXCN Gundam Fest: Mobile Suit Gundam II: Soldiers of Sorrow
After managing to survive attacks by Zeon's Char Aznable and Garma Zabi, the crew of Federation warship White Base and its mobile suits battle Zeon forces (Ramba Ral, Ma Kube, Tri-Stars, Boone) through Asia, Europe, and the Atlantic Ocean if they are to reach Earth Federation's headquarters alive. During that process many of its crewmembers like Amuro Ray, Bright Noah, Kai Shinden, Sayla Mass, Mirai Yashima, Fraw Bow, and Hayato Kobayashi must overcome their fears, losses, immaturities, and insecurities in order to survive. [October 16]
AXCN Gundam Fest: Mobile Suit Gundam III: Encounters in Space (Subbed)
Amuro Ray and the rest of the White Base crew, now denominated the 13th Autonomous Corps, return to outer space to support the rest of the Earth Federation forces for the decisive battle against the Duchy of Zeon's forces. [October 23]
Kiki's Delivery Service 35th Anniversary - Studio Ghibli Fest
Celebrate this beloved coming-of-age story from the legendary Studio Ghibli, creators of Spirited Away, and Academy Award®-winning director Hayao Miyazaki, about a resourceful young witch who uses her broom to create a delivery service, only to lose her gift of flight in a moment of self-doubt. It is a tradition for all young witches to leave their families on the night of a full moon and fly off into the wide world to learn their craft. When that night comes for Kiki, she embarks on her new journey with her sarcastic black cat, Jiji, landing the next morning in a seaside village, where her unique skills make her an instant sensation. Don’t miss this delightfully imaginative and timeless story of a young girl finding her way in the world, featuring the voices of Kirsten Dunst, Janeane Garofalo, Phil Hartman, and Debbie Reynolds. [October 26 - 30]
AXCN: Osamu Tezuka’s Metropolis
Anime Expo Cinema Nights Presents: Osamu Tezuka’s Metropolis, where it's man against machine in this film based on the classic manga (comic) by Osamu Tezuka, the godfather of Japanese anime and manga. In the late 1940s, long before Astro Boy and Kimba the White Lion established Osamu Tezuka as one of the most influential animators of all time, the legendary illustrator created the classic manga Metropolis. Set in the future, Metropolis is a grand city-state populated by humans and robots, the cohabitants of a strictly segmented society. Detective Shunsaku Ban and his sidekick Ken-ichi search for a rebel scientist, to arrest him and seize his latest creation, Tima, a beautiful young girl. But when they locate him, Shunsaku quickly realizes that the eccentric genius is protected by a powerful man and beyond their reach. A retro-futuristic cautionary tale, Metropolis is spectacularly rendered, combining the best in Japanese cel animation with the latest in digital technology. [November 4, 7, and 10]
Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom
After twelve years of playing his favorite MMORPG game, Momonga logs in for the last time only to find himself transported into its world playing it indefinitely. Throughout his adventures, his avatar ascends to the title of Sorcerer King Ains Ooal Gown. Once prosperous but now on the brink of ruin, The Sacred Kingdom enjoyed years of peace after construction of an enormous wal l protecting them from neighboring invasions. But, one day this comes to an end when the Demon Emperor Jaldabaoth arrives with an army of villainous demi-humans. Fearing invasion of their own lands, the neighboring territory of the Slane Theocracy is forced to beg their enemies at the Sorcerer Kingdom for help. Heeding the call, Momonga, now known as the Sorcerer King Ains Ooal Gown, rallies the Sorcerer Kingdom and its undead army to join the fight alongside the Sacred Kingdom and the Slane Theocracy in hopes to defeat the Demon Emperor. [November 8]
Dragon Ball DAIMA
The world English dub premiere of "Dragon Ball DAIMA", the newest series in the Dragon Ball universe, will debut in U.S. theaters, featuring the first three episodes of the series. Added value includes a special introduction from the Japanese voice of Goku, Masako Nozawa. [November 10]
Pom Poko 30th Anniversary - Studio Ghibli Fest
The tanuki (raccoon dogs) of Tama Hills find their fun-loving community under attack when their quiet woodlands are threatened by encroaching developers looking to create still more houses and shopping malls. Desperate to survive, the tanuki band together and learn the ancient art of transformation, shape-shifting into a comical variety of humans and spirits as they undertake a last-ditch plan to scare away the humans and save their home, in this deeply affecting, funny and heartfelt look at what it means to live in the modern world. [November 24 and 26]
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya - Studio Ghibli Fest
Legendary Studio Ghibli cofounder Isao Takahata (Grave of the Fireflies) revisits Japan’s most famous folktale in this gorgeous, hand-drawn masterwork, decades in the making. Found inside a shining stalk of bamboo by an old bamboo cutter (James Caan) and his wife (Mary Steenburgen), a tiny girl grows rapidly into an exquisite young lady (Chloë Grace Moretz). The mysterious young princess enthralls all who encounter her – but ultimately she must confront her fate, the punishment for her crime. [November 25 and 27]
My Neighbor Totoro - Studio Ghibli Fest
From the legendary Studio Ghibli, creators of Spirited Away and Ponyo, and Academy Award®-winning director Hayao Miyazaki, comes a classic tale of magic and adventure for the whole family. When Satsuki and her sister Mei move with their father to a new home in the countryside, they find country life is not as simple as it seems. They soon discover that the house and nearby woods are full of strange and delightful creatures, including a gigantic but gentle forest spirit called Totoro, who can only be seen by children. Totoro and his friends introduce the girls to a series of adventures, including a ride aboard the extraordinary Cat Bus, in this all-ages animated masterpiece featuring the voices of Tim Daly, Lea Salonga, and real-life sisters Dakota and Elle Fanning, in early roles. [December 7 - 11]
AXCN: Paprika 4K – 15th Anniversary
Anime Expo Cinema Nights presents the 15th anniversary and a 4K restoration of the last film ever made by visionary director Satoshi Kon with his mind-bending thriller PAPRIKA. When a machine that allows therapists to enter their patients’ dreams is stolen, all hell breaks loose. Only a young female therapist, Paprika, can stop it. [January 8, 9, and 12]
We'll have more anime coming to the big screen in 2024!
All images courtesy of GKids.