What's the best anime film you have ever seen?

Well, in your opinion, which movies are the best?
I'm not asking about your favourites, but those you feel excel in the fields of animation, sound, acting, story... anything you can think of that defines the film as one of the greats.

I guess I'll start it off too.
The best anime movie I have ever seen most definitely has to be Akira.
Now, I know this answer is pretty generic, but out of everything I have seen I have yet to find anything that surpasses the meticulous and beautiful animation (see biker gang scene) , original soundtrack which seems to fit the film perfectly ( probably because it was composed for the movie :p ), and one of the most bizarre, yet captivating stories I have seen.

I'm so bad at choosing favorites. Paprika, Ghost in the Shell and Akira are some I really loved.

I'm a bit foggy on anime movies but I fondly remember the Cowboy Bebop movie, Akira and Perfect Blue I think it was called?

20302
Perfect Blue
I still have to watch that, I donwloaded it and it looks really interesting.

5 centimeters per second is my favorite anime film, stuning visuals and a story that really changed my life.

Hoshi no Koe is from the same directory and is very good as well

I haven't seen a ton of anime movies, but it would be between Perfect Blue, Jin rou or Akira.

Akira in terms of artstyle, Patema Inverted was good overall, and the Suzimiya Haruhi movie out of the ones that aren't standalone. Haven't seen too many anime movies though.

16 days later

Dead Leaves, who needs a deep story plot when you can have over the top pantsu on head retarded film with amazing art syle.

One of my favourite anime films that I've watched was my first exposure to anime. It was around about 1-2am and I couldn't sleep. So I turned on the TV to see if there was anything on the sci-fi channel because I liked that channel at the time and there was this film called the Castle of Caglistro. 

It was a film about Lupin the 3rd and I think it was directed by Miyazaki. Watched the entire thing and it was my gateway drug into everything else.

Don't know if it's the best anime film that has ever been but it's probably going to be in my top 5 forever.

Hands down, Hotarubi no Mori e.
Only 40 mins, but that's perfect for what it is.
I cry every time I re-watch the movie, and I don't even need to watch it with subtitles anymore to know what they're saying. The trailer makes me sad and AMVs take me on a feel trip.
It's beautiful.

Trailer:

Hands down my favorite animated movie is Princess Mononoke.

I got a film which I really like which I don't think is very well known. Has anyone heard of the film "Angel's Egg"?

That film is so weird and peculiar that I've never seen anything like it since. I don't think there will be another like it ever again. Either because it's too out there or because it just breaks too many rules in traditional storytelling.

Spirited Away , I still remember my parents renting it, long before I was even into anime, and watching it.

I'd have to say End of Evangelion takes top spot for me. Right under that is Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Howl's Moving Castle, or just anything Miyazaki/Ghibli.
Then, Evangelion 2.22, Paprika is pretty great and does some amazing stuff with it's animation.

Ookami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki
Shit made me cry a few times but it's an amazing film. I recommend anybody who hasn't seen it to watch it right now.

I've seen very few anime movies related to regular series, they just don't seem very appealing.
I'd say my favourite movies are definitely any made by Studio Ghibli.

I consider 5 Centimeters per Second a movie, it was pretty good as well. The first anime I ever watched was Air (the movie), which I also enjoyed.

Aureolus wrote

Spirited Away , I still remember my parents renting it, long before I was even into anime, and watching it.

This for me as well. Studio Ghibli films are great.