Must-See Anime For Fans of Ghibli's Spirited Away (2024)

Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away is a magical coming-of-age movie that focuses on the journey of self-discovery. As one of the most popular Studio Ghibli movies, Spirited Away is also frequently ranked as one of the best animated movies ever made. The film follows Chihiro, a 10-year-old girl who becomes part of the spirit world after her parents are transformed into pigs by a witch.

To escape the magical world in which she's been trapped, Chihiro must face many challenges. Fortunately, she courageously overcomes them with the help of her friends. For fans who can't get enough of Spirited Away, there are several movies about self-discovery, the true value of friendship, and the power of love that are perfect for them to enjoy.

Updated on February 4th, 2024 by Louis Kemner: One of Studio Ghibli's most acclaimed films, Spirited Away is a beloved classic that many fans consider a favorite. For those looking for other anime titles similar to this iconic masterpiece, anime has plenty to offer from various genres and demographics. This list of anime series and movies like Spirited Away has also been updated to adhere to CBR's current publication standards.

20 Mushishi Stars a Man Who Meets Mystical Creatures During His Travels

Mushi-Shi

TV-14

Anime

Drama

Fantasy

Ginko is an expert travelling around to investigate a primeval life-form, the "Mushi," and helping people with Mushi-related supernatural problems.

Release Date

October 23, 2005

Creator

Yuki Urushibara

Cast

Yûto Nakano , travis willingham , Kôjun Itô , Jennifer Seman , Mika Doi , Hiroshi Shimozaki , Ryō Naitō , Brina Palencia

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

2

Studio

Artland

Number of Episodes

26

Mushishi Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 8.66
• IMDb: 8.5
• Anime Planet: 4.26/5

Though it has a far more somber tone than the whimsical tale of Spirited Away, Mushishi is a great watch for fans of the beloved Ghibli film. The series follows the journey of Ginko, a mysterious man who travels the land in search of answers regarding "Mushi." These strange otherworldly creatures are the simplest forms of life and are often deeply tied to the natural world.

Much like Spirited Away, this thought-provoking series delves deep into the supernatural and features many unique creatures beyond human understanding. Mushishi is a calm, slow-paced classic that brings up some of life's deepest questions, including the meaning of life, consciousness, and human existence.

19 The Boy And The Beast Depicts a Bizarre But Meaningful Found Family

The Boy and the Beast

PG-13

Action-Adventure

Fantasy

When a young orphaned boy living on the streets of Shibuya stumbles upon a fantastic world of beasts, he's taken in by a gruff warrior beast looking for an apprentice.

Release Date

July 11, 2015

Director

Mamoru Hosoda

Cast

Kôji Yakusho , Aoi Miyazaki , Shôta Sometani , Kappei Yamaguchi , Mamoru Miyano

Runtime

120

Main Genre

Anime

Studio

Studio Chizu

The Boy And The Beast Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 8.24
• IMDb: 7.6
• Anime Planet: 4.29/5

The Boy and the Beast is an inspirational 2015 anime film following the story of two very different heroes. Shunned by those around him, young Ren takes to the unforgiving streets in search of a better life. During his journey, he somehow winds up in the realm of the beasts, where he meets the cold and intimidating Kumatetsu.

Though Ren and Kumatetsu couldn't be any more different, they find exactly what they're looking for in each other and form a family. Much like Spirited Away, The Boy and the Beast follows the journey of a young child all alone in the world. Both Ren and Chihiro only have themselves to rely on as they enter the spirit world and set off on their adventures.

18 Kamichu Depicts a Girl Becoming a Shinto Deity

Kamichu

TV-PG

Adventure

Drama

Slice of Life

Fantasy

A middle school girl suddenly becomes a god. Now she must take on godly duties as well as attend school.

Release Date

June 25, 2005

Creator

Bésame Mucho, Koji Masunari, Hideyuki Kurata, Tomonori Ochikoshi

Cast

Carrie Savage , Mako , Kaori Mine , Johnny Yong Bosch , Liam O'Brien , Stephanie Sheh , Yuri Lowenthal , Sam Riegel

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

1

Studio

Brain's Base

Number of Episodes

16

Kamichu Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 7.37
• IMDb: 7.1
• Anime Planet: 3.58/5

Kamichu is a supernatural slice-of-life series starring Yurie Hitotsubashi, an average middle schooler who becomes a Shinto goddess overnight with no explanation. With her newfound divinity, Yurie's life changes forever as she quickly becomes the talk of her small seaside town. The series follows her adventures as she learns more about her goddess powers and performs various godlike duties.

Though Kamichu and Spirited Away feature very different stories, they have many of the same elements that fans will enjoy. From its plucky child protagonist to its supernatural themes to the use of Japanese mythology within the story, Kamichu feels surprisingly similar to the beloved Ghibli classic.

17 Howl's Moving Castle Is a Classic Romance About a Lonely Man and His Mobile Fortress

Howl's Moving Castle

8-12 years

Animation

Action

Adventure

Family

Fantasy

Romance

When an unconfident young woman is cursed with an old body by a spiteful witch, her only chance of breaking the spell lies with a self-indulgent yet insecure young wizard and his companions in his legged, walking castle.

Release Date

November 20, 2004

Director

Hayao Miyazaki

Cast

Chieko Baisho , Takuya Kimura , Akihiro Miwa , Tatsuya Gashûin , Ryûnosuke Kamiki , Mitsunori Isaki

Runtime

119minutes

Main Genre

Animation

Writers

Diana Wynne Jones

Studio

Studio Ghibli

Production Company

Buena Vista Home Entertainment, DENTSU Music And Entertainment, Mitsubishi.

Howl's Moving Castle Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 8.66
• IMDb: 8.2
• Anime Planet: 4.42/5

Loosely based on an English novel, Howl's Moving Castle is one of the best anime movies like Spirited Away, and fans of either is bound to love the other. Howl's Moving Castle tells the story of Sophie, who's been cursed and turned into an old woman by a witch. To break the curse, Sophie leaves home and enters a strange moving castle where she meets the wizard Howl and Calcifer, a fire demon who wants to break his contract with Howl.

Sophie is very discontent with her ordinary life, and like Chihiro, she is suddenly introduced to a magical environment. However, while Sophie finds love and contentment in her new surroundings, Chihiro has a longing to go back home after she steps into the magical world.

16 Paprika Is All About the Power of Dreams

19 Images

19 Images

See Also

7 Movies Like Spirited Away if You're Looking for Something SimilarThe 10 best movies like 'Spirited Away'10 Movies You Must Watch if You Love 'Spirited Away'5 Movies Like Spirited Away Every Anime Fan Needs To See - Looper

Paprika

R

Anime

Drama Fantasy

When a machine that allows therapists to enter their patients' dreams is stolen, all hell breaks loose. Only a young female therapist, Paprika, can stop it.

Release Date

November 25, 2006

Director

Satoshi Kon

Cast

Megumi Hayashibara , Tōru Emori , Katsunosuke Hori , Tôru Furuya , Koichi Yamadera , Akio Otsuka , Hideyuki Tanaka , Satomi Kôrogi

Runtime

90 Minutes

Main Genre

Anime

Writers

Yasutaka Tsutsui , Seishi Minakami , Satoshi Kon

Production Company

Madhouse, Sony Pictures Entertainment

Paprika Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 8.04
• IMDb: 7.7
• Anime Planet: 4/5

The final complete film of the legendary Satoshi Kon, Paprika is a mind-bending psychological thriller that blends together the world of dreams and reality. The film stars Atsuko Chiba, the brilliant developer of the DC Mini, a device used to enter the dreams of patients. When the DC Mini falls into the wrong hands, she must travel between the real world and the world of dreams to recover it.

Though Paprika is much more mature than Spirited Away, it has a surprising amount of similarities. With its dream-like atmosphere and otherworldly imagery, Paprika takes its audience on a journey through the supernatural in a thought-provoking and experimental story that older Ghibli fans are sure to appreciate.

15 My Neighbor Totoro Is a Tale of Two Sisters and Their Beastly Neighbor

My Neighbor Totoro

G

When two girls move to the country to be near their ailing mother, they have adventures with the wondrous forest spirits who live nearby.

Release Date

April 16, 1988

Director

Hayao Miyazaki

Main Genre

Anime

Studio

Studio Ghibli

My Neighbor Totoro Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 8.25
• IMDb: 8.1
• Anime Planet: 4.23/5

My Neighbor Totoro is one of Studio Ghibli's most iconic and celebrated films. This heartwarming and emotional movie tells the story of two young girls, Satsuki and Mei, who have just moved to the countryside with their dad to be closer to their mother as she stays at the nearby hospital.

As Satsuki and Mei explore their new home, they uncover a magical world right outside their door where they meet a whimsical forest creature named Totoro. Much like many other Ghibli titles, My Neighbor Totoro has many of the same themes as Spirited Away. Both films have a strong emphasis on family and love, told within a magical tale of the supernatural.

14 Princess Mononoke Stars an Action-Oriented Princess Who Must Save the Natural World

Princess Mononoke

PG-13

Action

Adventure

On a journey to find the cure for a Tatarigami's curse, Ashitaka finds himself in the middle of a war between the forest gods and Tatara, a mining colony. In this quest he also meets San, the Mononoke Hime.

Release Date

December 19, 1997

Director

Hayao Miyazaki

Cast

Yôji Matsuda , Yuriko Ishida , Yûko Tanaka

Runtime

2 Hours 14 Minutes

Main Genre

Animation

Writers

Hayao Miyazaki , Neil Gaiman

Studio

Studio Ghibli

Production Company

DENTSU Music And Entertainment, Nibariki, Nippon Television Network (NTV)

Princess Mononoke Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 8.66
• IMDb: 8.3
• Anime Planet: 4.34/5

Princess Mononoke follows the last Emishi prince, Ashitaka. Having been cursed by a demon, he must find a cure before it kills him. To find the cure, Ashitaka travels toward the western lands and encounters a wolf pack led by the wolf goddess Moro. Riding along with the wolf pack is a human girl, San, who's been raised by the wolf goddess.

Ashitaka soon joins the fight to save the forest gods from the rapid industrialization that's destroying nature. Similar to Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke deals with supernatural elements and the blossoming friendship between humans and magical creatures. It also includes a courageous female character who sticks to her convictions even when faced with insurmountable odds.

13 Violet Evergarden Is All About the Power of Letters

Violet Evergarden

TV-14

Drama

In the aftermath of a great war, Violet Evergarden, a young female ex-soldier, gets a job at a writers' agency and goes on assignments to create letters that can connect people.

Release Date

August 22, 2022

Creator

Kana Akatsuki

Cast

Yui Ishikawa

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

1

Studio

Kyoto Animation

Franchise

Violet Evergarden

Number of Episodes

13 + 1 OVA

Streaming Service(s)

Netflix

Violet Evergarden Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 8.67
• IMDb: 8.4
• Anime Planet: 4.4/5

Violet Evergarden is the story of a young lady who's haunted by the last words of her caretaker: "I love you." Even though she understands little of the world's ways, Violet sets out to learn what love is and takes a job writing letters for a post office. Her new role as an Auto Memory Doll means she will peek into people's hearts as she types out dictated letters for them, and what Violet learns about her clients might sometimes drive her to tears. That's not a reason to quit this job, though, because it will make Violet more determined than ever to help people express themselves and contact their loved ones via paper mail. In Violet's eyes, this is a humanitarian job.

Like Spirited Away, this show focuses on what it means to live in a changing and uncertain world. As Violet writes, she learns about all types of love, just as Chihiro discovers her bond with her parents and learns that they're her home. Violet and Chihiro both find their place in unfamiliar worlds but learn to grow from their experiences.

12 The Ancient Magus' Bride Is a Fantasy Love Story Between a Girl and a Skull-Headed Wizard

The Ancient Magus' Bride

TV-14

Anime

Drama

Fantasy

Hatori Chise, 15 years old. Lost, without hope and without family - she sells herself to a non-human mage known as Elias Ainsworth. Hesitant, she starts a new life with him as his new apprentice.

Release Date

October 7, 2017

Main Genre

Anime

Studio

Main Cast

The Ancient Magus' Bride Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 8.06
• IMDb: 7.7
• Anime Planet: 4.18/5

Chise Hatori has given up on life and opts to sell herself into slavery. However, a mysterious mage recognizes Chise's gifts and purchases her, hoping to make her his apprentice. The Ancient Magus' Bride is full of supernatural creatures and mystical beings that Chise must learn about if she's to stay safe and harness her true potential.

The Ancient Magus' Bride is perfect for those who were enchanted by the spirits in Spirited Away. Both projects heavily featured a human's interaction with otherworldly beings while emphasizing the preservation of nature. Although The Ancient Magus' Bride delved more into the magic side of things, it was still a great watch for fans of mystical elements.

11 Erased Takes Viewers on a Time-Travel Adventure

Erased

TV-14

Crime

Drama

29-year-old Satoru Fujinuma is sent back in time 18 years to prevent the events leading to his mother's death, which began with a series of kidnappings while he was in 5th grade.

Release Date

January 8, 2016

Creator

Kei Sanbe

Cast

Minami Takayama , Tao Tsuchiya

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

1

Number of Episodes

12

Erased Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 8.3
• IMDb: 8.5
• Anime Planet: 4.34/5

The anime Erased tells the story of Satoru Fujinuma, a manga artist who can travel a few minutes back in time before an accident occurs. With his ability called Revival, Satoru saves many lives. However, after his mother is murdered, Satoru's Revival throws him back 18 years into the past. Now, as an elementary school kid, Satoru is given the opportunity to save his three friends from being kidnapped and murdered, which may save his mother from dying in the future as well.

Like Spirited Away, Erased is a story told from a child's perspective. Satoru re-evaluates his life once he becomes a kid and laments about all the things he could've done. Since he's back to being a 10-year-old, Satoru makes sure he doesn't miss any opportunities to create a hopeful and bright future for himself.

10 A Letter To Momo Shows a Young Girl Who Meets Demons

A Letter to Momo

Not Rated

Anime

Adventure

Comedy

11-year-old Momo moves with her mother to a small island town after her father dies. When she arrives, she encounters three goblins that others cannot see who try to help her to cope with the loss of her father and the changes in her life.

Release Date

April 21, 2012

Director

Hiroyuki Okiura

Cast

Hiroyuki Okiura , Joe Deasy , Stephanie Sheh

Runtime

120 Minutes

Main Genre

Anime

Writers

Hiroyuki Okiura

Studio

Production I.G.

A Letter To Momo Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 7.58
• IMDb: 7.2
• Anime Planet: 3.87/5

In A Letter To Momo, 11-year-old Momo is unhappy with how her life is going. Having recently lost her father, Momo has a strained relationship with her mother after she's forced to move to a remote island. With an incomplete last letter from her father in hand, Momo struggles to adjust to the island and wishes to go back home.

However, Momo's life changes when she meets three demons, or yokai, who change her perspective on life. Momo and Spirited Away's Chihiro have a lot in common. Both protagonists are unhappy with their current situation and wish to go back home. Like Spirited Away, the forgotten classic A Letter To Momo has supernatural elements because of the three yokai, who later help Momo save her mother. All of these factors make this movie a good family watch, just like Spirited Away.

9 Your Name Starts as a Body Swap Story, Then Becomes a Race Against a Natural Disaster

Your Name

PG

Animation

Romance

Drama

Two teenagers share a profound, magical connection upon discovering they are swapping bodies. Things manage to become even more complicated when the boy and girl decide to meet in person.

Release Date

August 26, 2016

Director

Makoto Shinkai

Cast

Ryunosuke Kamiki (Taki Tachibana voice) , Mone Kamishiraishi (Mitsuha Miyamizu voice) , Ryo Narita (Katsuhiko Teshigawara voice) , Aoi Yuki (Sayaka Natori voice) , Nobunaga Shimazaki (Tsukasa Fujii voice) , Kaito Ishikawa (Shinta Takagi voice) , Kanon Tani (Yotsuha Miyamizu voice) , Masaki Terasoma (Toshiki Miyamizu voice) , Sayaka Ohara (Futaha Miyamizu voice)

Runtime

106 minutes

Main Genre

Animation

Studio

CoMix Wave Films

Your Name Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 8.84
• IMDb: 8.4
• Anime Planet: 4.49/5

Your Name is an anime movie from 2016 about two teenagers who keep accidentally switching bodies. When Taki Tachibana discovers knowledge of a cataclysmic event, he struggles to find a way to save Mizuha Miyamizu and the rest of her town from the disaster. At first, Your Name has some comedy with body-swapping antics between a city boy and a country girl, but when Taki and Mitsuha stop swapping, they realize something is amiss, and Taki is determined to get to the bottom of it.

Fans of Spirited Away will enjoy this movie for its supernatural aspects and enduring message of what it means to live. Both films focus on making connections and being thankful for what nature and life have to offer. Your Name's heavy emphasis on fate will have audiences rooting for Taki and Mizuha to find happiness.

8 Castle In The Sky Features a Flying Castle Called Laputa

Castle in the Sky

PG

Original title: Tenkû no shiro Rapyuta
A young boy and a girl with a magic crystal must race against pirates and foreign agents in a search for a legendary floating castle.

Director

Hayao Miyazaki

Cast

Mayumi Tanaka , Keiko Yokozawa , Kotoe Hatsui

Runtime

2 hours 5 minutes

Writers

Hayao Miyazaki , Jonathan Swift

Production Company

Tokuma Shoten, Studio Ghibli

Castle In The Sky Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 8.26
• IMDb: 8.0
• Anime Planet: 4.13/5

Castle in the Sky is another Studio Ghibli movie about a girl named Sheeta who's discovered by a boy named Pazu. With Pazu's help, Sheeta must escape from those who seek her power and knowledge of the floating city, Laputa. Like Chihiro, Pazu and Sheeta are thrust into a magical world where they learn to have courage in the face of danger.

Castle in the Sky places a heavy emphasis on humans' interference in forces they don't understand. While Sheeta and Pazu try to protect Laputa and its power, others attempt to use it for personal gain. It's a beautiful story with an intelligent message, much like Chihiro's story in Spirited Away.

7 The Girl Who Leapt Through Time Involves a Girl Learning the Perils of Time Travel

14 Images

14 Images

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)

TV-PG

Anime

Adventure

Comedy

A high-school girl named Makoto acquires the power to travel back in time, and decides to use it for her own personal benefits. Little does she know that she is affecting the lives of others just as much as she is her own.

Release Date

July 15, 2006

Director

Mamoru Hosoda

Runtime

1 hour 38 minutes

Main Genre

Anime

Writers

Satoko Okudera

Production Company

Madhouse, Happinet(I)., Kadokawa Pictures

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 8.11
• IMDb: 7.7
• Anime Planet: 4.16/5

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time tells the story of a 17-year-old named Makoto Konno, who gains the ability to time travel after nearly getting into an accident. Initially, Makoto frivolously uses her powers to fix small personal problems, but she slowly realizes the dangerous outcomes of her decisions.

By the end of the movie, Makoto is wiser and more mature due to the events that unfold. Like Spirited Away, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time has a female protagonist who gets entangled with supernatural elements. For those who love Spirited Away, this movie is a must-watch.

6 A Whisker Away Transforms Its Heroine Into a Feline

A Whisker Away

TV-PG

Anime

Adventure

Drama

Miyo Sasaki is in love with her classmate Kento Hinode and tries repeatedly to get Kento's attention by transforming into a cat, but at some point, the boundary between herself and the cat becomes ambiguous.

Release Date

June 18, 2020

Director

Jun'ichi Satô , Tomotaka Shibayama

Cast

Mirai Shida , Natsuki Hanae , Johnny Yong Bosch , Bob Buchholz , Kira Buckland , Reba Buhr , Griffin Burns , Susumu Chiba

Runtime

104 Minutes

Main Genre

Anime

Writers

Mari Okada

Studio

Toho Animation, Studio Colorido, Twin Engine

Where to watch

Netflix

A Whisker Away Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 7.34
• IMDb: 6.7
• Anime Planet: 3.87/5

A Whisker Away is a 2020 Japanese animated movie about Miyo Sasaki, who's in love with Kento Hinode. After being constantly rejected by Kento, Miyo receives a magical mask from a mysterious seller that transforms her into a cat. In her cat form, Miyo gets closer to Kento and listens to his problems while falling deeper in love with him.

Similar to Spirited Away, A Whisker Away has a female protagonist who's attached to the supernatural world without being aware of its consequences. At the end of the day, both Chihiro and Miyo wish to detach themselves from the magic and return to their normal lives.

5 Into The Forest Of Fireflies' Light

To The Forest Of Firefly Lights

Drama

Fantasy

Hotaru is rescued by a spirit when she gets lost in a forest as a child. The two become friends, despite the spirit revealing that he will disappear if he is ever touched by a human.

Release Date

September 17, 2011

Cast

Koki Uchiyama , Ayane Sakura , Shinpachi Tsuji

Runtime

45 Minutes

Main Genre

Animation

Story By

Producer

Akira Aoki, Yukio Kawasaki, Makoto Nakamura, Kôichirô Natsume

Production Company

Aniplex, Brains Base, Hakusensha, Hotarubi no Mori e Production Committee, Nihon Ad Systems (NAS), TV Tokyo

To The Forest Of Firefly Lights Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 8.28
• IMDb: 7.8
• Anime Planet: 4.34/5

Written by Yuki Midorikawa, To the Forest of Firefly Lights is a romantic story about a human girl called Hotaru and Gin, a spirit living in the forest. After a fateful encounter when Hotaru is a young girl, Gin and Hotaru meet every summer in the forest and slowly develop romantic feelings towards each other. However, Hotaru can never touch Gin since that will cause Gin to disappear forever.

Similar to Spirited Away, To the Forest of Firefly Lights is a short anime film that follows the journey of a young girl in a supernatural environment. The friendship she has with Gin helps her blossom into a mature woman while also teaching her to appreciate her everyday life.

4 Kiki's Delivery Service Stars a Lovable Young Witch Who Wants to Help Others

Kiki's Delivery Service

G

Animation

Family

Fantasy

A young witch, on her mandatory year of independent life, finds fitting into a new community difficult while she supports herself by running an air courier service.

Release Date

July 29, 1989

Director

Hayao Miyazaki

Cast

Minami Takayama , Rei Sakuma , Kappei Yamaguchi , Keiko Toda , Mieko Nobusawa

Runtime

103 Minutes

Main Genre

Animation

Writers

Hayao Miyazaki

Studio

Studio Ghibli

Production Company

Kiki's Delivery Service Production Committee, Nibariki, Nippon Television Network (NTV)

Kiki's Delivery Service Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 8.22
• IMDb: 7.8
• Anime Planet: 4.13/5

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, Kiki's Delivery Service tells the story of a young witch-in-training named Kiki, who must leave her home and live alone for a year according to the traditions of her community. Working part-time at a local bakery, Kiki opens up her delivery business and goes about her job while flying on her broomstick.

This coming-of-age movie is very similar to Spirited Away, as both movies deal with the theme of self-discovery and coming of age. Both Kiki and Chihiro face troubles in unknown environments and manage to overcome their difficulties.

3 Children Who Chase Lost Voices Sends Its Heroine to the Underworld

Children Who Chase Lost Voices

TV-14

Anime

Adventure

Drama

A coming of age story involving young love and a mysterious music, coming from a crystal radio left as a memento by an absent father, that leads a young heroine deep into a hidden world.

Release Date

May 7, 2011

Director

Makoto Shinkai

Cast

Hisako Kanemoto , Miyu Irino , Kazuhiko Inoue , Junko Takeuchi , Fumiko Orikasa , Sumi Shimamoto , Tamio Ôki , Aki Kaneda

Runtime

116 Minutes

Main Genre

Anime

Writers

Makoto Shinkai

Studio

CoMix Wave

Children Who Chase Lost Voices Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 7.51
• IMDb: 7.1
• Anime Planet: 3.88/5

Directed by Makoto Shinkai, Children Who Chase Lost Voices is about a young elementary school girl, Asuna Watase, who's lonely after her father's death. One day, Asuna hears a strange melody on the radio her father left her. Asuna then meets Shun, a mysterious boy who saves her from a creature in the forest and forms a quick friendship with her.

Shun's sudden death leaves Asuna devastated, and she sets off on a journey to the underworld, where she discovers new friendships, enemies, and a lot of supernatural elements. Children Who Chase Lost Voices and Spirited Away have a female protagonist and rich cinematography. There are also supernatural elements throughout this touching story.

2 Mirai Teaches Its Hero to Love His Family

Mirai

PG

Anime

Adventure

Drama

A young boy encounters a magical garden which enables him to travel through time and meet his relatives from different eras, with guidance by his younger sister from the future.

Release Date

July 20, 2018

Director

Mamoru Hosoda

Cast

Rebecca Hall , Daniel Dae Kim , John Cho , Kôji Yakusho , Crispin Freeman , Victoria Grace , Stephanie Sheh , Erica Schroeder

Runtime

98 Minutes

Main Genre

Anime

Writers

Mamoru Hosoda

Studio

Studio Chizu

Mirai Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 7.28
• IMDb: 7.0
• Anime Planet: 3.69/5

Mirai is the story of a little boy named Kun, who becomes an older brother to a baby girl named Mirai. Although he's initially excited about her arrival, Kun quickly becomes jealous of the attention his new sister garners. When he begins to wish she didn't exist, he meets a Mirai from the future who seems interesting after all.

Mirai is a study in time travel as Kun and Mirai skip through time to better understand their family dynamic. Kun comes to realize having a little sister isn't the end of the world and being a part of a family isn't the burden he believes it to be. Just as Chihiro learns to appreciate her parents, Kun and Mirai understand the importance of being a family.

1 Natsume's Book Of Friends Is About a Boy, Yokai, and Freedom

Natsume's Book of Friends

Animation

Comedy

Drama

Fantasy

Horror

When Natsume Takashi inherits a book that belonged to his late grandmother he realizes the book is filled with the names of spirits she defeated and bound to her will. He then decides to return their names so they can be free once again.

Release Date

July 7, 2008

Creator

Yuki Midorikawa

Cast

Matthew Elkins , Marisa Duran , Hiroshi Kamiya , Kazuhiko Inoue , Christopher Wehkamp , Miki Itō , Ryōhei Kimura , Hisayoshi Suganuma , Miyuki Sawashiro , Kristian Eros , Hiroshi Shimozaki , Akira Ishida , Kazuma Horie

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

6 Seasons

Producer

Tomomi Kyôtani, Reiko Sasaki, Hirofumi Sugawara, Shûko Yokoyama

Production Company

Brains Base, Shuka, Nihon Ad Systems (NAS)

Number of Episodes

82 (8 – Season 7)

Natsume's Book Of Friends Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 8.31
• IMDb: 8.1
• Anime Planet: 4.18/5

Natsume's Book of Friends is about a lonely a 15-year-old named Natsume, who can see yokai. After his grandmother passes away, he's left with her Yuujinchou, or Book of Friends, which has the names of the yokai she had control over. To obtain their freedom, the yokai pursue Natsume since he's the new owner of the book.

Natsume helps the yokai attain freedom while gaining the friendships and companionship he's long craved. Both Spirited Away and Natsume's Book of Friends have a similar supernatural theme. The main protagonists of both get involved with magical creatures, and they eventually form strong bonds with them that impact their general outlook on life.

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