Netflix Top 25 in Anime & Animation

001- Corpse Bride

This animated Tim Burton tale set in 19th-century Europe centers on Victor (voiced by Johnny Depp), a young man who, just as he's about to wed Victoria (Emily Watson), is sucked into the underworld by a Corpse Bride (Helena Bonham Carter) who desires him for herself. Victor is fascinated by the Land of the Dead, but nothing can stop him from trying to return to his true living love. Albert Finney and Christopher Lee also lend their voices.

002- Flushed Away

In this lively comedy from DreamWorks Animation and Aardman Features (Wallace & Gromit), London high-society mouse Roddy (voiced by Hugh Jackman) is flushed down the toilet by Syd, a common sewer rat. Hang on for a madcap adventure deep in the bowels of Ratropolis, where Roddy meets the resourceful Rita (Kate Winslet), the rodent-hating Toad (Ian McKellen) and his faithful thugs Spike and Whitey (Andy Serkis and Bill Nighy).

003- Princess Mononoke

In this anime epic from director Hayao Miyazaki, Prince Ashitaka (voiced by Billy Crudup) is infected with a lethal curse, and must travel to find a cure. On his journey, he discovers himself caught in a battle between a mining town and the animals of the surrounding forest. A girl raised by wolves (Claire Danes) leads the animals, but the forest harbors deadly supernatural powers. Critic Roger Ebert hailed the movie one of 1999's 10 best films.

004- Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

Faced with almost certain destruction of her planet's natural resources, warrior princess Nausicaa rallies her people against an evil queen's rampaging army in an effort to give her homeland a new lease on its future. Hayao Miyazaki directs this environmentally conscious anime that transports viewers to a magical place -- the Valley of the Wind -- where the ultimate showdown between good and evil will play out.

005- Persepolis

Marjane (voiced by Chiara Mastroianni) just wants to be an ordinary kid, but that isn't easy in 1978 Iran. This profound animated film follows Marjane's childhood in a repressive society, her adolescence in France and her return to Tehran as an adult. Based on Marjane Satrapi's autobiographical graphic novel, this Oscar nominee for Best Animated Feature Film also features the vocal talents of Catherine Deneuve and Simon Abkarian.

006- The Invincible Iron Man

In this animated adventure based on a Marvel Comics character, billionaire inventor Tony Stark digs up more than he bargained for when he unwittingly unearths the Mandarin, an evil entity buried for centuries in an ancient Chinese ruin. To protect himself and save Earth's citizens from the Mandarin's destructive force, Tony invents a high-tech suit of armor and becomes Iron Man (also known as Iron Knight).

007- Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children

Two years after leading the charge against the evil Sephiroth in this sci-fi anime adventure, Cloud has taken refuge in the country, running a delivery service for Tifa's bar, which doubles as a safe haven for children stricken with a deadly disease. But Cloud and his friends are called back into action when the mysterious Kadaj and his brothers show up on the scene, looking to be reunited with their mother.

008- Batman: Gotham Knight

Batman takes on Deadshot, Killer Croc and other deadly foes in six anime-inspired short films. Together, the interlocking tales bridge 2005's Batman Begins and its 2008 sequel, the Dark Knight, and illuminate our anti-hero's troubled psyche. The powerhouse writing team includes Oscar nominee Josh Olson, Batman Begins writer David S. Goyer, comic book writers Greg Rucka and Brian Azzarello, and "Batman Beyond" creator Alan Burnett.

009- The Animatrix

Straight from the creators of the groundbreaking Matrix trilogy, this collection of short animated films from the world's leading anime directors fuses computer graphics and Japanese anime to provide the background of the Matrix universe and the conflict between man and machines. The shorts include Final Flight of the Osiris, The Second Renaissance, Kid's Story, Program, World Record, Beyond, A Detective Story and Matriculated.

010- The Cat Returns

Young Haru rescues a cat from being run over, but soon learns it's no ordinary feline; it happens to be the Prince of the Cats. And in recognition of Haru for saving his life, the Prince brings her to the Kingdom of Cats -- to be his bride! Can Haru's feline friends hatch a plan to rescue her from this unusual fate? Hiroyuki Morita directs this fantastical anime feature with the vocal talents of Anne Hathaway, Cary Elwes and Peter Boyle.

011- Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within

It's an Armageddon scenario with a Greenpeace subtext when Dr. Aki Ross races against time to keep phantom-like alien invaders from destroying what's left of life on Earth in this computer-animated adventure based on the video game. In an attempt to curb the invasion, Ross advocates a measured approach while hawkish General Hein pushes for a blind annihilation of everything on Earth. The voice cast includes Ming-Na, Alec Baldwin and James Woods.

012- Futurama the Movie: Bender's Big Score

In this animated sci-fi tale, the wacky Planet Express crew returns and soon finds themselves victimized by scheming alien nudists who control Bender through a computer virus, using him to go back in time to pinch ancient treasures. Can the gang figure out how to reverse the damage their robot buddy has wrought to the space-time continuum? Celebrity voices include Al Gore, Sarah Silverman, rapper Coolio, Mark Hamill and Katey Sagal.

013- The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury

Aeon Flux creator Peter Chung steps even farther out of the proverbial animation box with this edgy new series about escaped convict Riddick (voiced by action star Vin Diesel). The story picks up where the series left off in the movie Pitch Black: Riddick has been abducted and is being kept aboard a spaceship by money-hungry bounty hunters, who must deal with his overwhelming wrath. He's determined to be free again, even if he has to kill.

014- Battle for Terra

In this animated feature, a spirited teenage alien (voiced by Evan Rachel Wood) resolves to keep human invaders (led by Brian Cox) from pulling off a hostile takeover of her peaceful planet, Terra, by kidnapping a human pilot (Luke Wilson) whose aircraft crashed on her turf and nursing him back to health. With the pilot on her side, can she find a solution that will support life on Terra for both aliens and human beings?

015- Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence

Writer-director Mamoru Oshii's animated thriller concocts a complex follow-up to his monster hit, Ghost in the Shell. It's now 2032, and machines and people have grown so similar they're virtually interchangeable. The fate of the human race hangs in the balance, and a robot with human tendencies, Batou, is the only one who's able to decipher why humanity has lost its allure. When he figures out the answer, he'll face life's ultimate questions.

016- Ghost in the Shell

In 2029, a hacker known as the Puppet Master is taking over the minds of computer-enhanced humans. Government agent cyborg Motoko Kusanagi is charged with apprehending the villain, unaware that the fiend is searching for her as well -- with plans to carry out a diabolical mission. With fantastic visuals enhancing the complex story line, this cyberpunk classic set the standard for future anime features.

017- Porco Rosso

After witnessing the horrendous deaths of his fellow pilots in action during World War I, an Italian pilot transforms into Porco Rosso, a being that's part man, part pig. Under this confounding spell, Porco Rosso perseveres by taking odd jobs. He manages to romance the ladies (humans, not sows!) and rescue people in distress -- all while looking for a way out of his porcine predicament. Hayao Miyazaki directs this oddly compelling anime.

018- Steamboy

In this animated tale that's as riveting as it is retro, genius teen inventor Ray Steam receives a strange spherical device containing a mind-boggling new form of energy that can power a whole country. Soon two ominous gents turn up looking to get their hands on the gadget; next thing you know, Ray is caught in a battle between the Yanks and the Brits, who'll do anything to obtain the priceless orb. Voices include Anne Suzuki and Katsuo Nakamura.

019- Cowboy Bebop: The Movie

Based on the animated television series, Cowboy Bebop is set on Mars in the year 2071 and tells the story of a spaceship captain, Spike Siegel (David Lucas), and his band of vigilantes. When one of them witnesses a deadly terrorist attack, they all set out to catch those responsible and, more importantly, cash in on the reward money.

020- Appleseed

A battle-weary warrior must save her utopian city in this action-packed 3D anime from Masamune Shirow, Katsuhiro Otomo and Mamoru Oshii. It's the year 2131, and warrior Deunan Knute finds herself in a battle with the Bioroids, a race of artificial humans intent on conquering the city of Olympus -- and, eventually, the world. The soundtrack features tracks by Boom Boom Satellites, Paul Oakenfold, Basement Jaxx and others.

021- Avatar: The Last Airbender: Book 1

In the first book of the Avatar saga, two siblings discover a boy named Aang who's been frozen in a block of ice. But the minute they thaw him out -- and the world learns he's the Avatar they've been waiting for -- his destiny takes a dizzying turn. With a crop of new friends, instant celebrity status and the ruthless Fire Nation on his tail, can a 12-year-old boy stay the course on saving the world?

022- Watchmen: Tales of the Black Freighter / Under the Hood

This delectably dark animated short tells the gruesome tale of a shipwrecked sailor (voiced by Gerard Butler) forced to go to horrific lengths -- including building a raft of corpses -- to return home and warn his family of an imminent attack by an evil pirate ship. Based on a story within the graphic novel Watchmen, this release was originally part of the script for director Zack Snyder's 2009 live-action adaptation of the comic book.

023- Paprika

In this cautionary anime tale, reality and the dream world are on a collision course after a DC-Mini -- an experimental device that can record dreams -- is stolen from a psychiatric research facility. When the thief begins intertwining the patients' nightmares with the staff's dreams, it's clear that the DC-Mini has fallen into dangerous hands. Can Dr. Atsuko Chiba and her alter ego, a sprightly avatar named Paprika, stop the madness?

024- Fullmetal Alchemist: The Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa

Picking up where the TV series ended, this full-length anime film follows the efforts of Alphonse and Edward Elric to restore the bodies they lost during their failed attempt to resurrect their mother. Little brother Alphonse dives deeper into alchemy to rescue Edward, who's been stripped of his powers and trapped in a parallel world. Unbeknownst to them, their reunion may be all that can stop a catastrophic war between the two dimensions.

025- Avatar: The Last Airbender: Book 2

Can a mischievous 12-year-old boy overcome youthful and carefree ways and master his special powers over the four elements? Join unlikely Avatar Aang as he and friends Katara and Sokka leave the Northern Water Tribe and continue their journey so that Aang may master the element of Earth. In a future world torn between the elements, the Avatar is the only hope for the citizens of the warring Air, Water, Earth and Fire nations.