10 Great Anime Films Of The 21st Century (That Aren't Studio Ghibli)

2. Tokyo Godfathers (Satoshi Kon, 2003)

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Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan

The late Satoshi Kon was one of the medium's most prolific masters around the turn of the century, before his passing in 2010 from pancreatic cancer, but he left a sterling legacy behind for fans to savour. Perfect Blue, Millennium Actress, Paprika - his works typically rank across anime's most cherished and feted, and for good reason too.

But Tokyo Godfathers might just be his masterpiece. A holiday movie in which three homeless individuals - a middle-aged alcoholic, a former drag queen and a runaway schoolgirl - discovery an abandoned newborn baby in the trash and set out on a quasi-redemptive quest to reunite her with her parents, it addresses several issues uncommon to the genre with frankness and warmth while never shortchanging its feelings on the matter. Throw in a little Christmas miracle and it comes together with a wonderful sense of honesty and seasonal goodwill.

The legacy of Kon's other works have been measured over time - both Perfect Blue and Paprika have drawn comparisons to the psychological thriller Black Swan and the sci-fi mindbender Inception over the years. But to find the director at his most effective - and affecting - then Tokyo Godfathers gives him an intellectual and emotional edge among his own catalogue.

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Something of a culture vulture, Mr Steel can historically be found in three places; the local cinema, the local stadium or the local chip shop. He is an avowed fan of franchise films, amateur cricket and power-chords.