What Was the First Anime You Ever Watched in a Movie Theater? “Kimetsu no Yaiba Mugen Ressha-hen” Ranks 2nd! “Doraemon” Brings Showa-Era Memories Like “My Mother Stood in a Packed Theater” ♪ A Wide Range of Titles, From Classics to New Releases, Make the Cut
Anime!Anime! once again conducted a reader survey titled “What was the first anime work you ever watched in a movie theater?”, following last year’s edition. We are now announcing the results.
Every summer is a season when a multitude of films are released.
In July, Gekijouban “Kimetsu no Yaiba” Mugenjou-hen Dai-isshou Akaza Sairai was released, and this summer continues to bring a string of popular titles, including Disney & Pixar’s latest work, Hoshi Tsunagi no Elio (known as Elio in English), on August 1st, and Eiga Crayon Shin-chan: Chou Karei! Shakunetsu no Kasukabe Dancers on August 8th.
Do you remember the first anime you ever watched in a movie theater? For many, the experience of being enveloped by a giant screen and powerful sound, completely different from a home TV or smartphone screen, leaves a strong impression.
To commemorate this, Anime!Anime! once again conducted a reader survey titled “What was the first anime work you ever watched in a movie theater?”, following last year’s edition. We received 90 responses during the survey period from July 31st to August 7th.
The gender ratio was approximately 25 percent male and 75 percent female, with a higher proportion of women. The age demographic was primarily younger individuals, with about 45 percent under 19 and 20 percent in their 20s.
Table of Contents
■Unforgettable First Movie Experiences!
This survey saw votes for titles spanning a wide range of eras. Let’s introduce some of these works along with reader comments.
Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi (released in 2001) is a Studio Ghibli film directed by Miyazaki Hayao. It tells the story of Chihiro, a 10-year-old girl who wanders into a mysterious world and grows as she works under the greedy witch Yubaba to save her parents, who have been turned into pigs.
Readers shared their fond memories, with one saying, “I was about 3 or 4 when it was released, and my mother took me. The scene where Chihiro’s parents turned into pigs was terrifying, and I remember weeping profusely imagining if my own family would become like that.” Another commented, “I learned as an adult that the story went through many twists and turns before reaching its current form. It makes me wonder if the ending might have been different…”
Similarly, another Miyazaki Hayao-directed film, Mononoke Hime (released in 1997), tells the story of Ashitaka, a young man cursed by death, who encounters San, a girl raised by wolf gods.
“My parents took me to see it because it was a new Studio Ghibli film. Although there are intense scenes where heads and arms fly, I was a first-grader and didn’t really understand, I just remember watching it as if that’s how it was,” a reader shared, highlighting the enduring popularity of Ghibli works.
Going back even further in time, votes were also cast for Taiyou no Ouji Horusu no Daibouken (released in 1968), in which Miyazaki Hayao participated as an animator. This film is the directorial debut of Takahata Isao, who would later direct Hotaru no Haka and Kaguya-hime no Monogatari at Ghibli. It is an adventure tale about the protagonist Horusu battling the demon Grunwald to save his village.
A reader in their 60s recalled the release period: “I saw it in 1968 as part of an omnibus screening titled ‘Toei Manga Parade’. However, I have absolutely no recollection of it; all I remember is the co-screening of Ultra Seven. It’s a masterpiece, though.”
Among other classic masterpieces, Uchuu Senkan Yamato (released in 1977) also proved popular. This sci-fi film is a compilation of the TV anime that began airing in 1974, depicting the crew of the space battleship Yamato embarking on a journey to Iscandar to save Earth from destruction.
A reader in their 50s recounted, “It was the first anime movie I ever saw, going with my older brother when I was in first grade. Since then, I’ve watched every Yamato work without fail. While Kimetsu no Yaiba is a social phenomenon now, the second film, Saraba Uchuu Senkan Yamato Ai no Senshi-tachi, released in 1978, was equally, if not more, of a massive social phenomenon.”
As mentioned in reader comments, the latest work in the Kimetsu no Yaiba series, Gekijouban “Kimetsu no Yaiba” Mugenjou-hen Dai-isshou Akaza Sairai, is currently showing.
Anime!Anime! readers among the younger demographic often had their first movie experience with the previous work, Gekijouban “Kimetsu no Yaiba” Mugen Ressha-hen (released in 2020). Comments included: “I love Kimetsu, so going to see it alone with a friend is a good memory now,” and “It was my first time going to a movie theater and my first time crying at a movie.”
Furthermore, in this survey, when votes were grouped by series, Doraemon, which has had a movie released almost every year since 1980, took the top spot.
Many readers were unsure which specific movie in the series they watched first. One commented, “It must have been Doraemon for my first movie, but back then there was no reserved seating, so I clearly remember my mother standing to watch in a packed theater. It’s also a Showa-era memory that there were people handing out movie discount tickets outside the elementary school gate.” For Doraemon Nobita no Uchuu Hyouryuuki (released in 1999), there was a comment touching on family reactions: “My family went to see it together at a local movie theater that no longer exists. My parents were so moved and cried during the co-screening of Nobita no Kekkon Zenya, which was impressive to me even as a child.”
■Introducing Other Comments!
For Gekijouban Tottoko Hamutaro Hamuhamu Land Daibouken (released in 2001): “It was shocking that Godzilla and Hamutaro were co-screening! I even got a Godzilla-Hamutaro figure, ‘GodziHam-kun’, where Hamutaro wears a Godzilla costume.”
For Gekijouban Aikatsu! (released in 2014): “Just before I entered kindergarten, my anime-loving mom took me to the movies, just the two of us. Though I was young and fell asleep midway, it’s a memorable work as my first anime movie in a theater.”
For Eiga Youkai Watch Tanjou no Himitsu da Nyan! (released in 2014): “When I was a kid, Youkai Watch was so popular that every classmate was watching it in real-time. This was its first movie. It brings back memories of getting a Youkai Medal as a bonus.”
For Eiga Gotoubun no Hanayome (released in 2022): “It’s a sequel to the TV series, completing the original manga’s story. I was surprised at how fast the reserved seats filled up, and the theater was almost full. It’s a work where I find new discoveries every time I rewatch it,” showcasing votes for a variety of titles.
“What was the first anime work you ever watched in a movie theater?” In this survey, works that have been popular series for many years ranked high. This result once again highlights the strong presence of series that have been watched across generations. The top 10 are listed below. Be sure not to miss them!
■Top 10 Ranking
[First Anime Work You Ever Watched in a Movie Theater? 2025 Edition]
- Doraemon
- Kimetsu no Yaiba
- Futari wa PreCure
- Meitantei Konan
- Pocket Monsters
- Jujutsu Kaisen
- Soreike! Anpanman
- Aikatsu!
- Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi
- Tottoko Hamutaro
- One Piece
(Response period: July 31, 2025 – August 7, 2025)
- Other ongoing survey themes are here! Please share your thoughts.
- https://animeanime.jp/special/1898/recent/
Takahashi Katsunori
