5 anime film directors you should check out aside from Hayao Miyazaki and Makoto Shinkai

When it comes to anime films, Hayao Miyazaki and Makoto Shinkai are probably the most well-known directors, thanks to their iconic works such as "Spirited Away" and "Weathering With You."

Miyazaki is the popular co-founder of Studio Ghibli, which is famous for its whimsical worlds, strong heroines, and heart-warming stories.

Shinkai, meanwhile, rose to prominence in 2016 with the release of "Your Name." His films are known for their picturesque art and themes of young love.

Aside from these two giants, however, several anime film directors have been carving out their names with their bodies of work through the years.

Here are some of them so you can add their titles to your to-watch list.

1. Mamoru Hosoda

Mamoru Hosoda is the director behind "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time" (2006) and "Summer Wars" (2009).

His body of work reflects his own brand of magical realism and he also explores themes of family in his later works, such as "Wolf Children" (2012), "The Boy and the Beast" (2015), and "Mirai" (2018).

His latest film, "Belle," premiered at the Cannes Film Festival this month.

2. Isao Takahata

Miyazaki is nearly synonymous with Studio Ghibli, but the studio also has other directors who contributed to its film catalogue.

Isao Takahata, another Ghibli co-founder, is the director of beloved films "Grave of the Fireflies" (1988) and "Only Yesterday" (1991).

He passed away at the age of 82 in 2018. His final film, "The Tale of the Princess Kaguya" (2013), received an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature Film in 2015.

3. Naoko Yamada

If you're looking for some titles with a female director, turn your attention to Naoko Yamada, the director of 2016 film "A Silent Voice."

Yamada also directed "Tamako Love Story" (2014) and "Liz and the Blue Bird" (2018).

Her works feature the signature art of Kyoto Animation and a subtle approach to emotional expression, focusing on small details such as the legs of her characters.

4. Satoshi Kon

Satoshi Kon passed away in 2010, but his legacy as an anime director lives on in his films.

Among his works include "Perfect Blue" (1997), "Millennium Actress" (2001), "Tokyo Godfathers" (2003), and "Paprika" (2006).

His films are known for blurring the line between fantasy and reality and influenced several Hollywood films such as "Black Swan" and "Inception."

5. Katsuhiro Otomo

Katsuhiro Otomo is known for directing "Akira" (1988), a dystopian cyberpunk film which became a cult classic and helped popularize anime globally.

He also worked on "Steamboy" (2004), a steampunk anime film set in an alternate 19th century Europe.

If you're up for some science fiction and action-packed scenes, his films would be a good addition to your to-watch list. —JCB, GMA News