Anime: the 10 must-watch films and TV shows for video game lovers

These titles bridge the gap between anime and game culture, from Ghost in the Shell and Dragon Ball to lesser known names Ah! My Goddess and Initial D

Japan's pop culture is dominated by two inextricably linked industries - video games and animation. The twin forces even form part of the country's Cool Japan ambassadorial project, pushing Japanese creativity to a global market. Yet in the west, although anime fandom has grown significantly, we still tend to see the fields as separate, aficionados of one medium only occasionally crossing over to the other.

Anime is a powerful storytelling platform in its own right though, and with increased home video releases and a cavalcade of titles available on streaming platforms such as Netflix and Crunchyroll, it's never been easier for players to explore a medium that has inspired thousands of video games over the last 40 years.