Best movies like Natsume's Book of Friends the Movie: Ephemeral Bond
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
The movie of Natsume's Book of Friends series. Natsume has been busy, navigating between humans and Yokai when he coincidentally reunites with an old classmate, Yuki. It brings back painful memories of a certain Yokai. Meanwhile, Natsume also became acquainted with Yorie Tsumura, a woman in the memories of a Yokai whose name he had returned. Yorie knew much about Reiko, but now lived a peaceful life with her only son, Mukuo. Being with this family was comforting for Natsume, but apparently a mysterious Yokai has been lurking in their town. On the way back from investigating, a "Yokai seed" that had latched itself to Nyanko Sensei drops into the Fujiwaras' garden and grows overnight into a fruit tree. When Nyanko Sensei eats a fruit that is somehow shaped like himself, he suddenly splits into three!.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 605
Genere: Animation, Drama, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: anime, shoujo, touching, captivating, sincere, romantic, melancholic, surreal, iyashikei
Best tv shows and movies like Natsume's Book of Friends the Movie: Ephemeral Bond (2018):
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Holy Knight (2012)
Plot Summary:
Shinta is a young male vampire slayer who falls in love with Lillith, a female vampire exchange student, and their personal struggles to avoid their bloody predestined conflict.
IMDB Rating: 4.8
IMDB Votes: 127
Genere: Animation, Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Thriller
Country: Japan
Duration: 54 min
Plot tags: anime, ecchi, captivating, suspense, disturbing
Similar in 84%
Celestial Method (2014)
Plot Summary:
The story begins one winter day when the wish of a few girls was realized with a miracle, changing the landscape of a town. "In the skies above this town, a disc is always there.".
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 77
Genere: Animation, Drama, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration:
Plot tags: anime, touching, captivating, disturbing, super sentai
Similar in 83%
Mushishi Tokubetsu-hen: Hihamukage (2014)
Plot Summary:
A powerful mushi appears during an eclipse, drawing other mushi to form a huge shadow that blocks the sun over a small village. Looking for clues about the mushi, Ginko meets a child who is afflicted by a strange disease that manifests itself when she is exposed to sunlight, and it does not take long for him to find out that both facts are related.
IMDB Rating: 8.5
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Animation, Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Country: Japan
Duration: 44 min
Plot tags: anime, philosophical, psychotronic
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Child of Kamiari Month (2021)
Plot Summary:
A year after losing her mother, a young girl learns that she must journey across Japan to the annual gathering of gods in the sacred land of Izumo.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Mystery
Country: Japan
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: anime, psychological, captivating, disturbing
Similar in 83%
Beyond the Boundary: I'll Be Here – Past (2015)
Plot Summary:
The first part of a two-part movie. The story is a recap of the TV series.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 644
Genere: Animation, Action, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Thriller
Country: Japan
Duration: 82 min
Plot tags: shoujo, anime, tense, serious, captivating, suspenseful
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Dou Kyu Sei: Classmates (2016)
Plot Summary:
Rihito Sajo, an honor student with a perfect score on the entrance exam and Hikaru Kusakabe, in a band and popular among girls, would have never crossed paths. Until one day they started talking at the practice for their school’s upcoming chorus festival. After school, the two meet regularly, as Hikaru helps Rihito to improve his singing skills. While they listen to each other’s voice and harmonize, their hearts start to beat together.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Animation, Drama, Music, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: yaoi, anime, captivating, light, sincere, touching, lgbt cinema, psychological, melancholic, gay cinema
Similar in 81%
Natsuyuki Rendezvous (2012)
Plot Summary:
Natsuyuki Rendezvous is a Japanese manga series by Haruka Kawachi which serialized in Shodensha's Feel Young magazine between July 2009 and January 2012. An anime television adaptation by Dogakobo aired in Fuji TV's Noitamina block between July 6, 2012 and September 14, 2012. The anime series has been licensed by Sentai Filmworks in North America.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 194
Genere: Animation, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: anime, emotional, touching, sincere, captivating, light, sentimental, serious, stylized, super sentai
Similar in 82%
Fragtime (2019)
Plot Summary:
Misuzu Moritani is an introvert who has always had difficulty interacting with her classmates, quickly becoming flustered whenever someone tries to talk to her. Sometimes, she will use her ability to stop time for three minutes to escape troublesome social situations. One day, as Misuzu watches the suspended environment around her, she observes that her classmate, Haruka Murakami, is somehow able to move despite her temporal influence. From that moment on, Misuzu experiences new wonders as she explores more of the world she has long avoided; no matter where time may take her, Misuzu can count on Haruka to always be at her side.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 560
Genere: Animation, Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi
Country: Japan
Duration: 61 min
Plot tags: yuri, anime, psychological, romantic, touching, unusual plot structure, captivating, melancholic, super sentai, sexy
Similar in 82%
Summer Days with Coo (2007)
Plot Summary:
A small, lone Kappa miraculously survives over 200 years into modern day Japan, when he is found by young Koichi. Coo, who is secretly adopted by Koichi's family, searches with his new human friend for unpopulated places in hopes of finding any remaining of his kind.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration: 138 min
Plot tags: captivating, humorous, anime, sincere, manga, adult animation, entertaining, light
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We Rent Tsukumogami (2018)
Plot Summary:
The series is set during the Edo period, in the Fukagawa ward of old Edo (present-day Tokyo). Because the area is prone to fire and flooding, residents rent everyday items like pots, futons, and clothing from shops instead of purchasing them, so as not to impede them when they flee. Obeni and Seiji, an older sister and younger brother, run one such rental shop called Izumoya. However, mixed in with their inventory are tsukumogami, objects that have turned into spirits after a hundred years of existence. The siblings sometimes lend these sentient items to customers. Both Obeni and Seiji can see and talk to these spirits, and other tsukumogami often come to the store after hearing of the famed siblings.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 33
Genere: Animation, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration:
Plot tags: anime, psychological, sincere, captivating, entertaining, contemplative, unusual plot structure
Similar in 80%
Snow White with the Red Hair (2015)
Plot Summary:
Shirayuki was a young girl born with unique apple-red hair. She meets a famous but foolish Prince Raji, who falls in love with her at first sight and orders her to become his concubine. With nowhere else to go, Shirayuki cuts her hair and escapes to a neighboring country. While traversing through the forests, she meets a young boy, Zen, who helps her after she boldly cures his wounds but then gets poisoned by an apple given to Shirayuki. Meanwhile, Prince Raji sends out henchmen to search for her. What will happen to Shirayuki? What is Zen's true character? A refreshing fantasy story between an optimistic heroine and a prince who constantly stays on her watch.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Animation, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: anime, captivating, sincere, shoujo, fairy tale, enigmatic, stylized, exciting
Similar in 87%
Seton Academy: Join the Pack! (2020)
Plot Summary:
Seton Academy, a school full of animals where, thanks to population decline, there are fewer humans than any other creature. Mazama Jin, an animal hater and the only human male in his class, falls in love with Hino Hitomi, the only female human, the moment he lays eyes her. However he soon finds himself entangled with various other creatures after he reluctantly joins the 'pack' of Lanka the wolf, the only other member of her pack.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 331
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration:
Plot tags: anime, light, sincere, touching, feel good, unusual plot structure, humorous, captivating, entertaining, adult anime
Similar in 80%
The Sacred Blacksmith (2009)
Plot Summary:
This show is based on the light novel series by Isao Miura of the same name. Cecily Campbell is the only child of the famous Campbell family. When her father passes away she joins the prestigious Knight Guards to honour her family's legacy. Soon Cecily encounters a strange young man with a unique sword and an even more unique fighting style. Cecily learns that the man is Luke Ainsworth a blacksmith with a very mysterious past. Soon Cecily and Luke become comrades, of sorts, and together with blacksmith's assistant, Lisa and the Demon Sword of Wind, Aria they embark on many adventures together.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 517
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: anime, exciting, captivating, suspense, entertaining, serious, stylized
Similar in 79%
Natsume's Book of Friends (2008)
Plot Summary:
Natsume Takashi has the ability to see spirits, which he has long kept secret. However, once he inherits a strange book that belonged to his deceased grandmother, Reiko, he discovers the reason why spirits surround him.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: anime, captivating, serious, suspenseful, adult animation, deep, crying, iyashikei, shoujo
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Heaven's Design Team (2021)
Plot Summary:
I made the light, the water, and the earth below. Now it's time to make the life that dwells upon it. Actually... that sounds like a giant headache, so I'll contract it out! Heaven's Design Team is an agency that creates made-to-order life forms for their client, God. Why does this life form look like that? Why does this life form live this way? Watch the trials and successes of the designers and engineers forced to breathe life into God's absurd requests!.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 231
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: anime, entertaining, sincere, captivating, shounen, feel good, humorous, tense
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Senryu Girl (2019)
Plot Summary:
At first glance Yukishiro Nanako seems like a normal high school girl, but she has a notable eccentricity: instead of speaking, she communicates only through written senryu poetry! This means she expresses herself only in 5-7-5 syllables. To most this might seem like an inconvenience, but for Nanako and her ex-delinquent bestie, Busujima Eiji, it adds to the experience of their high school lives as they run the Literature Club.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 406
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 12 min
Plot tags: anime, light, touching, humorous, captivating, shoujo, absurd, shounen, super sentai
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Love Me, Love Me Not (2020)
Plot Summary:
Yuna and Akari are two high school girls with very different views on love: Yuna dreams about romance through rose-coloured glasses, while Akari is down-to-earth and practical. Meanwhile, high school boys Kazuomi and Rio also have different views on love: Kazuomi is an airhead who can't grasp the concept of love, while Rio grabs onto any confession as an opportunity—so long as the girl looks cute. Will these four classmates end up leading a youthful romance that meets their expectations?.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 523
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: anime, captivating, light, romantic, shoujo, entertaining, humorous
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Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day - The Movie (2013)
Plot Summary:
A year has passed since Menma's ghostly return to the Super Peace Busters. Although the time they spent together during that summer was short, the five members reminisce about what happened as they each write a letter to their lost friend.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: anime, psychological, emotional, sentimental, touching, serious, stylized, islamic, seinen
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The Anthem of the Heart (2015)
Plot Summary:
A young girl had her voice magically taken away so that she would never hurt people with it, but her outlook changes when she encounters music and friendship. Will Naruse be able to convey the anthem of her heart?.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Animation, Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration: 119 min
Plot tags: anime, sincere, touching, psychological, sentimental, romantic, epic
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Kamisama Kiss (2012)
Plot Summary:
Nanami was just a normal high school girl down on her luck until a stranger’s lips marked her as the new Land God and turned her world upside down. Now, she’s figuring out the duties of a deity with the help of Tomoe, a reformed fox demon who reluctantly becomes her familiar in a contract sealed with a kiss. The new responsibilities—and boys—are a lot to handle, like the crow demon masquerading as a gorgeous pop idol and the adorable snake spirit who’s chosen the newly minted god to be his bride. As the headstrong Tomoe tries to whip her into shape, Nanami finds that love just might have cute, pointed fox ears. With romance in the air, will the human deity be able to prove herself worthy of her new title?.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 23 min
Plot tags: anime, shoujo, exciting, romantic, humorous, touching, captivating, semi serious
Similar in 76%
Flavors of Youth (2018)
Plot Summary:
Three different stories of youth set in different cities of China. 1 Shanghai Love. 2 Sunny Breakfast. 3 Small Fashion Show. Directed by Zhenxing Yi, the plot revolves around a young man working in Beijing. He used to live with his grandma in his less developed hometown Hunan. While he is drown in his childhood reminiscence, he receives an unexpected call – Grandma is in critical condition.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 8000
Genere: Animation, Drama, Romance
Country: China, Japan
Duration: 74 min
Plot tags: anime, anthology, light, manga, psychological, atmospheric, uplifting, sweet, captivating, scenic
Similar in 77%
Yobi, The Five-Tailed Fox (2007)
Plot Summary:
After losing her family to fox hunters, five-tailed Yobi lives in the forest with some shipwrecked aliens, far away from the humans. When one of her alien friends gets captured by a villager, Yobi has no choice but to adventure into the human world to rescue him. At the village, Yobi meets many humans, including Geum Yee who studies at a school for maladjusted children. Interested in Geum Yee, Yobi joins the students and revels in the fun of human life, but both a fox hunter and a mysterious shadow man are on her trail.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 967
Genere: Animation, Fantasy
Country: South Korea
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: anime, sincere, captivating, entertaining, light, 2d animation
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To the Forest of Firefly Lights (2011)
Plot Summary:
One hot summer day a little girl gets lost in an enchanted forest of the mountain god where spirits reside. A young boy appears before her, but she cannot touch him for fear of making him disappear. And so a wondrous adventure awaits.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 21000
Genere: Animation, Drama, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration: 45 min
Plot tags: anime, exciting, touching, captivating, sincere, sad, manga, art house, deep, cute
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Ah! My Goddess!: The Movie (2000)
Plot Summary:
It has been three spring-times since Belldandy came to Earth to grant Keiichi one wish. Things seem to be fine with them while living in the temple with Belldandy's sisters Urd and Skuld, but little do they know that a fallen god from Belldandy's past has escaped from his lunar prison. He has plans for everyone which do not include what the goddess and her human lover wanted for themselves.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 106 min
Plot tags: anime, stylized, semi serious, exciting, tense, sentimental, captivating, humorous, adult animation, psychotronic
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A Whisker Away (2020)
Plot Summary:
Miyo "Muge" Sasaki is a peculiar second-year junior high student who has fallen in love with her classmate Kento Hinode. Muge resolutely pursues Kento every day, but he takes no notice of her. Nevertheless, while carrying a secret she can tell no one, Muge continues to pursue Kento. Muge discovers a magic mask that allows her to transform into a cat named Tarō. The magic lets Muge get close to Kento, but eventually it may also make her unable to transform back to a human.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 13000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: anime, captivating, feel good, unusual plot structure, visually appealing, manga
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Weathering with You (2019)
Plot Summary:
Hodaka, a high school boy who moves from his isolated island home to the city of Tokyo, who immediately becomes broke! After finally finding work at a shady occult magazine, the sky rains every day until amidst the hustle and bustle of the big city, he meets a young woman called Hina. She lives a cheerful life with her younger brother, but also has a certain power: to stop the rain and clear the sky.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 52000
Genere: Animation, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: Japan, China
Duration: 112 min
Plot tags: anime, touching, exciting, captivating, feel good, fairy tale, epic, manga, light, visually stunning
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Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You (2009)
Plot Summary:
Kuronuma Sawako is completely misunderstood by her classmates. Her timid and sweet demeanor is often mistaken for malicious behavior. This is due to her resemblance to the ghost girl from "The Ring," which has led her peers to give her the nickname Sadako. Longing to make friends and live a normal life, she is naturally drawn to Kazehaya Shouta, the most popular guy in class, whose "100% refreshing" personality earns him great admiration from Sawako. So when Kazehaya starts talking to her, maybe there is hope for the friendships Sawako has always longed for. Maybe... there is even a little hope for some romance in her future.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: anime, shoujo, touching, sweet, romantic, sincere, captivating, entertaining, semi serious, light
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Ride Your Wave (2019)
Plot Summary:
Hinako is a surf-loving college student who has just moved to a small seaside town. When a sudden fire breaks out at her apartment building, she is rescued by Minato, a handsome firefighter, and the two soon fall in love. Just as they become inseparable, Minato loses his life in an accident at sea. Hinako is so distraught that she can no longer even look at the ocean, but one day she sings a song that reminds her of their time together, and Minato appears in the water. From then on, she can summon him in any watery surface as soon as she sings their song, but can the two really remain together forever? And what is the real reason for Minato’s sudden reappearance?.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: anime, touching, romantic, sweet, feel good, captivating, light, sincere, shoujo, corny
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Wolf Children (2012)
Plot Summary:
After her werewolf lover unexpectedly dies in an accident, a woman must find a way to raise the son and daughter that she had with him. However, their inheritance of their father's traits prove to be a challenge for her.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 48000
Genere: Animation, Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration: 117 min
Plot tags: anime, heartbreaking, sweet, atmospheric, colorful, sentimental, touching, manga, depressing, epic
Similar in 76%
Your Name. (2016)
Plot Summary:
High schoolers Mitsuha and Taki are complete strangers living separate lives. But one night, they suddenly switch places. Mitsuha wakes up in Taki’s body, and he in hers. This bizarre occurrence continues to happen randomly, and the two must adjust their lives around each other.
IMDB Rating: 8.4
IMDB Votes: 306000
Genere: Animation, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 106 min
Plot tags: anime, sweet, touching, melancholic, romantic, captivating, surprise ending, sentimental, scenic, suspense