The source provides a detailed, ranked list titled "The 15 Essential Anime Movies," offering an overview of cinematic works lauded for their emotional resonance, visual artistry, and narrative depth. Each entry includes production details and a thorough analysis explaining why the film earned its spot, focusing on lasting impact, technical mastery, and thematic complexity. The ranking highlights the dominant influence of directors such as Hayao Miyazaki and Satoshi Kon, whose repeated appearances demonstrate their consistent boundary-pushing contributions to the medium. Ultimately, the article argues that these films, spanning from 1984 to 2016, represent the pinnacle of animation's ability to tackle profound subjects, from identity and war to environmentalism and consciousness.