3. Akira (1988)
TohoKatsuhiro Otomo's adaptation of his own manga series has gone on to become one of the most influential Japanese movies in history, spawning countless imitators and inspiring Western sci-fi from Dark City to The Matrix. Boasting a unique and immersive Neo-Tokyo backdrop, stunning animation and a series of incredible set-pieces that stretch the creative boundaries of the genre, Akira is the definitive cyberpunk epic. The plot is driven by the relationship between Tetsuo and Kaneda, two teenagers that have grown up together in an orphanage and now run in the same motorcycle gang, with the awakening of Tetsuo's psychic abilities serving as the catalyst for a string of jaw-dropping and beautifully animated set-pieces that blend city-destroying pyrotechnics and nightmarish surrealism without ever losing sight of the characters. Every frame is rendered in incredible detail, and although the narrative can border on the incoherent the sheer energy and inventiveness of Otomo's vision delivers one of the most astonishing animated features ever made. A live-action remake has been rumored for well over a decade, but you'd need a budget of at least $500m to make anything half as good as this.