Spirited Away (2001)

Spirited Away remains the highest-grossing film in Japanese box office history, earning over $395 million globally, and was the first anime to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Hayao Miyazaki's magnum opus follows a girl trapped in a spirit world bathhouse, weaving a coming-of-age tale that blends Japanese folklore with universal themes. Its emotional depth and visual richness outperform #2, The Lion King, in cultural impact, as it consistently ranks higher on global critics' lists of the greatest animated films ever made. With 97% of scenes hand-drawn, the meticulous artistry outweighs the average animated film's digital approach, creating an immersive fantasy that captivates audiences more than two decades later.