Anime Fiend: If you like Studio Ghibli, here are 5 similar films

Anime Fiend aims to share great anime and inspire you to try out new films and series you may not have known about.

Do you love Studio Ghibli, but don’t know where to begin when looking for similar anime? You’ve come to the right place. The Studio Ghibli universe is huge and expansive, so I’ve tried to capture its variety in the five suggestions below. I hope you find a new anime to enjoy! And perhaps it’ll spark you to explore anime from other studios and production companies.

If you like Spirited Away, you’ll like Summer Wars

Similarity

Looking for an action-packed film, set in an alternative reality, yet still wholesome? Both Spirited Away and Summer Wars are for you. While we dive into the spirit realm in Spirited Away, we dive into a virtual reality in Summer Wars. These films have a wholesome quality to them because they delve into family connections and belonging. Sprited Away's Chihiro gains a new appreciation of her parents and her identity when she recognizes she may lose them, while some characters (re)gain a sense of family and belonging through the turmoil in Summer Wars. Last but definitely not least, both Spirited Away and Summer Wars have incredibly strong women characters who drive the plot.

Summer Wars

Is this film for me?

If you're looking for a feel good film with strong women characters that's also action-packed and explores family dynamics, community, artificial intelligence and cyber security, this film's for you. However, if you're looking for a more slow paced and chill film, maybe save this anime for another day.

More information:

You’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t enjoy Summer Wars; as long as they are not sleepy or about to go to bed! This film is about how a student, Kenji Koiso, who is a moderator for the virtual word of OZ (where all business and governance activities are conducted), is coaxed into spending a few summer days with Takashi Sakuma’s family under false pretenses. All goes awry when Kenji Koiso accidentally enables OZ’s security to be compromised.

This action-packed film heavily focuses on family dynamics and their ability to be chaotic but also fulfilling. Often times, this sense of community and acceptance is something we seek, whether we are included by birth or chosen and accepted in afterwards.

This film, produced by Madhouse and directed by Mamoru Hosoda, perfectly blends action and technology-based concepts with social and relationship-focused plot themes. It’s bound to be a crowd pleaser!

---

If you like Only Yesterday, you’ll like 5 Centimeters Per Second

Similarity

Although they differ in anime styles, Only Yesterday and 5 Centimeters Per Second are both driven by main characters ruminating on childhood memories. Neither of these films build their story on a strong plot with clear beginnings, middles, and ends. Due to the lack of focus in a linear action-based story, some may think, “what is the point” when watching. Rather, these films both rely on getting the viewer immersed in dream-like memories and being introspective to drive the plot forward. In this sense, the stories are established through a sense of nostalgia and empathy with the main characters. However, there is a key difference in the two films; 5 Centimeters Per Second focuses on romantic relationships, while Only Yesterday spans many subject matters.

5 Centimeters Per Second

Is this film for me?

If you're looking for a film that emphasizes nostalgia, dreams, memories, metaphors, longing, introspection, and the idea of star-crossed lovers, this film is for you. However, if you are looking for something with a little more of a linear plot established through actions or a light-hearted flick, this may not be a good fit.

More information:

One of the reasons Studio Ghibli is so memorable and touches us so much is its ability to capture your senses across the screen, and across cultures. The studio’s ability to take you on a shared sensory journey - think of the feeling of the sun, breeze, and grass on your skin in Kiki Delivery’s opening screen, the sizzling of a meal in Howl’s Moving Castle, the soapy suds Chichiro slips in as she runs around cleaning in Spirited Away - that allows you to deeply connect with characters in their environment. In general, we understand the diversity of our world's culture creates different experiences. However, art, through sensory cues, can remind us that we feel emotions the same way.

If any of the above jives with you, you are absolutely going to love the nostalgia-inducing and all-consuming world of 5 Centimeters Per Second. 5 Centimeters Per Second is a boy meets girl film, that spans from childhood to young adulthood. The main character clings onto the tender love and dreams of his younger years, to the point where they are idealized and fantasized. This story plot invites you to explore these feelings with dream-like imagery in beautiful cotton candy hues, symbolism, and the repetition of images and phrases.

I have so much respect for Makoto Shinkai (director), CoMix Wave Inc. (studio), and everyone who worked on this masterpiece. This has been my all-time favorite anime for the past eight years.

---

If you like Princess Mononoke, you’ll like Origin: Spirits of the Past

Similarity

Looking for an action-packed film that tackles humanity’s search for knowledge or control at the expense of nature? Look no further than Princess Mononoke and Origins: Spirits of the Past. Even though this theme of human v. nature is a theme that has been re-imagined various ways in different works of art, literature, and film, both these films are highly creative in envisioning how the spirit of nature expresses itself with a strong will and mighty power. Personally for me, I feel like, both films sacrifice a bit of character development at the expense of plot development. As a result, our ability to empathize with these characters can be limited a points.

Origin: Spirits of the Past

Is this film for me?

This film may be for you if you're looking for a creative, action-packed anime which explores our balance and relationship with nature. However, it may not be for you if you're looking for a more slow-paced film with opportunities for introspection and character development.

More information:

If you love a good film about human’s downfall in trying to manipulate and control nature, this is definitely your film. Origin: Spirits of the Past takes place in a post-apocalyptic future, portraying a world where a genetically engineered plant experiment goes horribly wrong, and the forest takes over the earth. A boy named Agito who lives in Neutral City, a city that aims to live in peace with the forest, accidentally finds and re-animates a girl named Toola. Toola was placed to sleep in order to survive the apocalypse. Her awakening and desire to return to the past sets off a chain of events.

Although the theme of human v. nature dichotomy has been played out in many different art forms, Origin: Spirits of the Past, does an amazing job re-imagining this concept and creatively building a story about the relationship between human and nature. In this world, nature goes on the offence as a genetically modified forest fighting back and claims the earth, while humans have to learn they cannot control it.

Origin: Spirits of the Past, produced by Gonzo and directed by Keiichi Sugiyama, is a beautiful and thoughtfully created world. Enjoy the imaginative setting you’re about to step into; just remember to respect the forest!

---

If you like Ponyo, you’ll like Lu Over the Wall

Similarity

Both Ponyo and Lu Over the Wall are about humans' relationship with water and stories about what lives under its surface. Both Ponyo and Lu are young, playful, and curious water creatures who want to learn about the land-dwelling humans. In return, humans who meet Ponyo and Lu are curious and fascinated by them. In both these films, we are also taught to respect the mighty water, depicted by parental figures, and the creatures in it. Both are perfect action-packed, feel good family films!

Lu Over the Wall

Is this film for me?

This film may be a good option for a family movie night. It's cutesy and feel good, portraying the feeling of childhood wonder and curiosity. This film may not be for you if you're looking to sink your teeth into a complex storyline and mature themes.

More information:

Kai Ashimoto is a semi-angsty young teen who has dreams in pursuing music. One day, while exploring “over the wall”, which acts as a natural barrier extending from the sea floor, Kai sets foot on Merfolk Island and starts playing music. This music entices the curious young mermaid Lu to the surface and she befriends Kai. The mermaid-human relationship is explored through various lenses, which ultimately results in the water flexing its figurative muscles, which is a spectacle to behold.

Lu Over the Wall, produced by Science Saru and directed by Masaaki Yuasa, is a perfect family-friendly and action packed film. Its cutesy and fast-paced storyline is bound to capture audiences spanning across age groups.

---

If you like Grave of the Fireflies, you’ll like Giovanni’s Island

Similarity

Have any of us gotten over Grave of the Fireflies? Perhaps not, but if you’re looking for another tragedy set during the end of WWII that's also a deeply moving and complex story, Giovanni’s Island is for you.

Giovanni’s Island

Is this film for me?

This film may be for you if you're looking for a drama set in historical times, particularly if you're ready to delve into complex concepts such as loss, stolen childhoods, human connection, and war through the eyes of a child. For this reason, this film may not be for you if you're looking for a light-hearted, easy watch.

More information:

Two brothers Junpei and Kanta live on Shikotan, a Japanese island, with their grandfather and father during World War II. When Soviet soldiers occupy the island in 1945, Junpei and Kanta’s family, along with the other islanders, must make way and learn to live with the condescending soldiers and their families. Junpei befriends and fosters a crush for a Soviet commander’s daughter Tanya. Their whole world changes forever when the family is sent to an internment camp in Maoka (now called Kholmsk), Russia.

This film captures childhood joy and wonder, acting as a contrast with the tragedies of war. It reminds us that real humans are affected by war, and that their lives are forever changed. It reminds us of the harrowing realities of war, and we must not forget about the devastating, unbearable casualties of it.

Giovanni’s Island, produced by Production I.G. and directed by Mizuho Nishikubo, is a profoundly beautiful, tragic, and even hopeful film that requires us to empathize deeply and become engrossed with the characters. This film compels us to remember humans are humans no matter where they’re from; we were all children once, we all have hopes and dreams, we all have family and friends, and that life is precious.

Did I miss any? I'm always on the hunt for more anime to watch, so let me know!