Best movies like Miss Hokusai
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
The time: 1814. The place: Edo, now known as Tokyo. A much accomplished artist of his time and now in his mid-fifties, Tetsuzo can boast clients from all over Japan, and tirelessly works in the garbage-loaded chaos of his house-atelier. He spends his days creating astounding pieces of art, from a giant-size Bodhidharma portrayed on a 180 square meter-wide sheet of paper, to a pair of sparrows painted on a tiny rice grain. Third of Tetsuzo's four daughters and born out of his second marriage, outspoken 23-year-old O-Ei has inherited her father's talent and stubbornness, and very often she would paint instead of him, though uncredited. Her art is so powerful that sometimes leads to trouble. "We're father and daughter; with two brushes and four chopsticks, I guess we can always manage, in a way or another.".
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Animation, Biography, Drama, History
Country: Japan
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: anime, touching, psychological, sentimental, captivating, manga, fairy tale
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Asura (2012)
Plot Summary:
Abandoned in the barren wasteland of Kyoto, a savage, enraged orphan does whatever it takes to survive in the wild. When he crosses paths with civilization, he must learn to tame the beast within.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Animation, Action, Drama, History, Horror
Country: Japan
Duration: 76 min
Plot tags: anime, atmospheric, serious, tense, suspense, psychological, bleak, realistic, stylized
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Funan (2018)
Plot Summary:
Cambodia, once the ancient kingdom of Funan, April 17th, 1975. The entire country falls under the tyranny of Angkar, the communist party of the Khmer Rouge. The cities are abandoned, the population is thrown to the roads and forced to walk towards an uncertain future.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Animation, Drama, History, War
Country: France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Cambodia
Duration: 84 min
Plot tags: exciting, disturbing, adult animation, anime, touching, visually appealing, social, sad
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Tatsumi (2011)
Plot Summary:
Animated film based on the life and stories of Manga writer Yoshihiro Tatsumi who revolutionised the art form with darker, more adult stories. The film animates several of his stories.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 852
Genere: Animation, Biography, Drama
Country: Singapore
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: realistic, touching, serious, stylized, manga, adult animation, anime, contemplative
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Buddha: The Great Departure (2011)
Plot Summary:
Prince Siddhartha is heir to the Shakya kingdom, which is constantly at war with the more powerful Kosala kingdom. His father tries to raise as him as a warrior leader and to shield him from the miseries of the world. Meeting the young outcast girl Migaila, Siddhartha experiences love for the first time but also witnesses the suffering that afflicts humankind. Meanwhile, in Kosala, Chapra rises through the military, despite his lowly origins, to become a hero and general of the army. A final showdown between the two kingdoms forces Siddhartha to re-evaluate the path he is following.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 477
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Biography, Drama, History
Country: Japan
Duration: 111 min
Plot tags: anime, exciting, captivating, tense, entertaining, contemplative, epic, serious, stylized
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The Murder Case of Hana & Alice (2015)
Plot Summary:
Prequel to 2004 coming-of-age live-action film Hana & Alice. After her parents separate, 14 year-old Tetsuko (who will soon be nick-named Alice) moves with her mother to a new town in what she calls "The Boonies" and must enroll as a transfer student in a new middle school. She immediately finds herself bullied due being assigned the seat of "Judas" who is said to have been murdered over a year before. She is told that if anybody knows his fate it would be Hana, the recluse in the house next door, who has been unable to bring herself to attend class since "Judas" disappeared.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Animation, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: anime, tense, captivating, psychological, touching, adult animation, yuri
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Hanasaku Iroha: Home Sweet Home (2013)
Plot Summary:
While sorting through a mess of books in the staff room, Ohana happens upon one of Denroku's log books from long ago. Within it, it recounts a story of Ohana's mom when she was the same age as her.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 383
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 66 min
Plot tags: anime, psychological, sentimental, sincere, touching, melancholic
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Blue Period (2021)
Plot Summary:
Bored with life, popular high schooler Yatora Yaguchi jumps into the beautiful yet unrelenting world of art after finding inspiration in a painting.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Animation, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: anime, captivating, disturbing, queer cinema
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Kuroko's Basketball: Last Game (2017)
Plot Summary:
Shortly after the Inter-High of Kagami and Kuroko's second-year, a street basketball team from the USA called Team Jabberwock came to Japan to play a friendly match against a Japanese college-level street basketball team, Team Strky. Despite their best efforts, Strky is brutally crushed by Jabberwock. After the match, the Jabberwock players insult the players from Strky and all of Japanese basketball, claiming Strky's basketball was at the same level as monkeys and telling the players and crowds to quit playing basketball and kill themselves. As a revenge match, Kagetora assembles a dream team of all members of Generation of Miracles plus Kuroko Tetsuya and Kagami Taiga, along with bench players Hyūga Junpei, Takao Kazunari, and Wakamatsu Kōsuke, forming Team Vorpal Swords, with the hopes of reclaiming the pride of Japanese basketball.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Animation, Drama, Sport
Country: Japan
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: anime, tense, light, uplifting, captivating
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Charlotte (2021)
Plot Summary:
The true story of Charlotte Salomon, a young German-Jewish painter who comes of age in Berlin on the eve of the Second World War. Fiercely imaginative and deeply gifted, she dreams of becoming an artist. Her first love applauds her talent, which emboldens her resolve. When anti-Semitic policies inspire violent mobs, she escapes to the safety of the South of France. There she begins to paint again, and finds new love. But her work is interrupted, this time by a family tragedy that reveals an even darker secret. Believing that only an extraordinary act will save her, she embarks on the monumental adventure of painting her life story.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 438
Genere: Animation, Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: Canada, France, Belgium
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: psychological, captivating, disturbing, adult animation, 2d animation
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Loving Vincent (2017)
Plot Summary:
The film brings the paintings of Vincent van Gogh to life to tell his remarkable story. Every one of the 65,000 frames of the film is an oil-painting hand-painted by 125 professional oil-painters who travelled from all across the world to the Loving Vincent studios in Poland and Greece to be a part of the production. As remarkable as Vincent’s brilliant paintings are his passionate and ill-fated life and mysterious death.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 62000
Genere: Animation, Drama, Mystery
Country: Poland, UK, USA, Switzerland, Netherlands
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: adult animation, thought provoking, artsy, sincere, visually stunning, captivating, disturbing, art film, philosophical, psychedelic
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Vincent (1987)
Plot Summary:
A biography of Vincent van Gogh using only images and the letters he wrote to his brother Theo.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 448
Genere: Animation, Biography, Drama
Country: Australia, Belgium
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: spiritual, sad, adult animation, anime, independent film, psychological, sentimental, sincere, thought provoking, touching
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Inu-oh (2021)
Plot Summary:
Born to an esteemed family, Inu-oh is afflicted with an ancient curse that has left him on the margins of society. When he meets the blind musician Tomona, a young biwa priest haunted by his past, Inu-oh discovers a captivating ability to dance. The pair quickly become business partners and inseparable friends as crowds flock to their electric, larger-than-life concerts. But when those in power threaten to break up the band, Inu-oh and Tomona must dance and sing to uncover the truth behind their creative gifts.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Animation, Drama, Fantasy, History, Music, Musical
Country: Japan, China
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: anime, psychological, captivating, disturbing, visual, 2d animation, period drama
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Barefoot Gen (1983)
Plot Summary:
A powerful statement against war, Barefoot Gen is a story about the effect of the atomic bomb on a boy's life and the lives of the Japanese people. Based on the acclaimed manga by Nakazawa Keiji, the author of Barefoot Gen, who was 6 years old at the time of the Hiroshima bombing, and is one of the survivors of the destruction. The bomb was responsible for the death of his father, his sister, and his brother. At the age of 6 he and his mother dug their remains out of the ruins of their home. In 1963 Nakazawa moved to Tokyo to become a manga artist, but returned to Hiroshima in 1966 to attend his mothers funeral. It was then that he learned of the true impact of the radiation from the bomb.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 9000
Genere: Animation, Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: Japan
Duration: 83 min
Plot tags: anime, disturbing, adult animation, heartbreaking, political, rough, bleak, retro, depressing, epic
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Persepolis (2007)
Plot Summary:
In 1970s Iran, Marjane 'Marji' Statrapi watches events through her young eyes and her idealistic family of a long dream being fulfilled of the hated Shah's defeat in the Iranian Revolution of 1979. However as Marji grows up, she witnesses first hand how the new Iran, now ruled by Islamic fundamentalists, has become a repressive tyranny on its own.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 99000
Genere: Animation, Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: France, USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: adult animation, political, thought provoking, black and white, serious, realistic, depressing, social, anime, visually stunning
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The Sky Crawlers (2008)
Plot Summary:
Youngsters called Kildren, who are destined to live eternally in their adolescence. The Kildren are conscious that every day could be the last, because they fight a war as entertainment, organized and operated by adults. But as they embrace the reality they are faced with, they live their day-to-day lives to the full.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Animation, Drama, Sci-Fi, War
Country: Japan
Duration: 122 min
Plot tags: anime, exciting, dieselpunk, captivating, entertaining, manga, suspense, adult animation, serious, stylized
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In This Corner of the World (2016)
Plot Summary:
Newlywed Suzu Urano moves to her new life in Kure City on the coast of Hiroshima Prefecture, where she perseveres through World War II with pluck and determination.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 12000
Genere: Animation, Drama, Family, History, War
Country: Japan
Duration: 129 min
Plot tags: anime, thought provoking, tense, touching, captivating, suspenseful, sad, manga, adult animation, seinen
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Colorful (2010)
Plot Summary:
Upon reaching the train station to death, a dejected soul is informed that he is lucky and will have another chance at life. He is placed in the body of a 14-year-old boy named Kobayashi Makoto, who has just committed suicide. Watched over by a neutral spirit named Purapura, the soul must figure out what his greatest sin and mistake in his former life was, before his time limit in Makoto's body runs out. He also has a number of other lesser duties he must complete, such as understanding what led Makoto to commit suicide in the first place and learning how to enjoy his second chance at life.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Animation, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery
Country: Japan
Duration: 126 min
Plot tags: anime, serious, manga, psychological, inspirational, touching, stylized, depressing, deep, adult animation
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Rurouni Kenshin: Requiem for the Ishin Patriots (1997)
Plot Summary:
The war against the Tokugawa Shogunate ended years ago. But there are some who are not happy with the outcome. Shigure Takimi watched his friends and family get slashed down in the name of freedom and prosperity. Now he and a band of desparate rebels have sworn to settle one final score. Only one man stands in their way: Rurouni Kenshin. Will the former assassin take up his sword to fight again? When Shigure discovers Kenshin's true identity and his fight becomes a personal vendetta, the young hero will have no choice.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Animation, Action, Drama, History, War
Country: Japan
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: anime, exciting, serious, stylized, crying
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Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms (2018)
Plot Summary:
A story of encounters and partings interwoven between people; this is a human drama with feelings that touch one's heart gradually, which everyone has experienced at least once.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 8000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 115 min
Plot tags: anime, touching, thought provoking, sentimental, exciting, sincere, manga, epic fantasy, josei, 2d animation
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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
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A Silent Voice (2016)
Plot Summary:
Shouya Ishida starts bullying the new girl in class, Shouko Nishimiya, because she is deaf. But as the teasing continues, the rest of the class starts to turn on Shouya for his lack of compassion. When they leave elementary school, Shouko and Shouya do not speak to each other again... until an older, wiser Shouya, tormented by his past behaviour, decides he must see Shouko once more. He wants to atone for his sins, but is it already too late...?.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 96000
Genere: Animation, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 130 min
Plot tags: anime, touching, sincere, romantic, sweet, inspirational, biting, manga, adult animation, epic
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Wandering Son (2011)
Plot Summary:
Yoshino and Shuichi are two friends, both starting at a new school, both starting puberty, and both transgender. This series follows them as they come out and find acceptance.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 342
Genere: Animation, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 25 min
Plot tags: anime, atmospheric, emotional, psychological, captivating, adult animation, adult anime
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Tokyo Godfathers (2003)
Plot Summary:
One Christmas Eve three people, a middle-aged alcoholic named Gin, a former drag queen Hana and a dependent runaway girl Miyuki, discover an abandoned newborn while looking through the garbage.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 45000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: anime, touching, adult animation, atmospheric, witty, emotional, feel good, light, talky, intense
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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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Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Plot Summary:
In the final months of World War II, 14-year-old Seita and his sister Setsuko are orphaned when their mother is killed during an air raid in Kobe, Japan. After a falling out with their aunt, they move into an abandoned bomb shelter. With no surviving relatives and their emergency rations depleted, Seita and Setsuko struggle to survive.
IMDB Rating: 8.5
IMDB Votes: 301000
Genere: Animation, Drama, War
Country: Japan
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: depressing, anime, touching, heartbreaking, sad, emotional, harsh, dramatic, sentimental, tear jerker
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The Garden of Words (2013)
Plot Summary:
Takao, who is training to become a shoemaker, skipped school and is sketching shoes in a Japanese-style garden. He meets a mysterious woman, Yukino, who is older than him. Then, without arranging the times, the two start to see each other again and again, but only on rainy days. They deepen their relationship and open up to each other. But the end of the rainy season soon approaches ….
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 51000
Genere: Animation, Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 46 min
Plot tags: anime, touching, sweet, atmospheric, melancholic, serious, romantic, colorful, visual, manga
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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