Best movies like Night on the Galactic Railroad
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
Giovanni currently lives a dreary life of near non-stop work. At school, his peers ridicule him incessantly, and his employer at work is distant and cold. As his isolation from society becomes unbearable, he suddenly finds himself on a train heading far away from his miserable home. Accompanied by Campanella, an acquaintance from school, Giovanni embarks on a journey that will define the rest of his life.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Mystery
Country: Japan
Duration: 113 min
Plot tags: anime, psychedelic, surreal
Best tv shows and movies like Night on the Galactic Railroad (1985):
Similar in 84%
The Life of Guskou Budori (2012)
Plot Summary:
Remake of The Life of Guskou Budori (1994). The fairy tale follows a young man named Guskou in the Tohoku forests of northeastern Japan in the 1920s. After an onslaught of droughts and natural disasters, Guskou is forced to leave his home and search for a better life elsewhere. Guskou joins a group of scientists at the Ihatov Volcano Department, which deals with the same natural disasters that drove Guskou from his home.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 304
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: anime, tense, captivating, fairy tale, super sentai
Similar in 82%
Yuki – The Snow Fairy (1981)
Plot Summary:
Up in Heaven, Yuki’s grandparents decide that, having turned thirteen years old, she must go down to Earth to a village that is torn by bandits and intervene to save its people. However if she does not succeed within one year she will become as insubstantial as the wind. Down in the village, Yuki is befriended by a group of orphans whose parents have all been killed by the bandits and who now subsist by begging. Yuki amazes them by taming the wild horse Blizzard. She is instrumental in getting the orphans and farmers to stand up to first the warring bandits and then Goemon, the greedy lord that owns the region. But Yuki must face her greatest challenge yet when the displeased Demon God that lives in the volcano emerges to destroy those who live beneath.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 85
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: anime
Similar in 84%
The Mouse and His Child (1977)
Plot Summary:
The Mouse and his child (the two parts of a single small wind-up toy), go on a quest to become "self-winding".
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 517
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Drama, Family
Country: Japan, USA
Duration: 83 min
Plot tags: anime, philosophical, independent film, 2d animation, cult film
Similar in 87%
The Fantastic Adventures of Unico (1981)
Plot Summary:
Unico the Unicorn has the amazing power to make anyone he meets happy. Whether it's because of his personality or the powers of his horn, no one knows. However, the gods become jealous of Unico, thinking that only they should be able to decide or allow people to be happy. Unico is banished to the Hill of Oblivion, and the West Wind is ordered to take him there. She can't stand giving this fate to Unico, so Unico's adventures begin, as the West Wind takes him from one place and time to the next, in a neverending journey to escape the wrath of the gods.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 885
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: anime, crying
Similar in 81%
Gauche the Cellist (1982)
Plot Summary:
Gauche is a diligent but mediocre cellist who plays for a small town orchestra and the local cinema in the early 20th century. He struggles during rehearsals and is often berated by his conductor during preparations for an upcoming performance of Beethoven's Sixth Symphony (the Pastoral Symphony).Over the course of four nights, Gauche is visited at his mill house home by talking animals as he is practicing.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Animation, Fantasy, Music
Country: Japan
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: anime
Similar in 88%
Adieu Galaxy Express 999 (1981)
Plot Summary:
Two years after the events of Galaxy Express 999, Earth has become a battlefield, and Tetsuro is summoned to board the Three-Nine once more. In this, the shattering, full-length theatrical conclusion to Leiji Matsumoto's epic story, all questions will be answered and all mysteries will be revealed as Tetsuro embarks on a journey which will reveal a secret so awful, even Maetel herself can hardly bear to speak of it.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 585
Genere: Animation, Action, Drama, Sci-Fi
Country: Japan, USA
Duration: 135 min
Plot tags: anime
Similar in 78%
Sea Prince and the Fire Child (1981)
Plot Summary:
Years after the war between the Children of Water and the Children of Fire, Oceanus, a god of the sea, presents Prince Sirius with the eye of Algarock, thereby putting him in charge of those that dwell under the waves. But when Sirius encounters a beautiful Fire Child named Malta (the daughter of the Queen of Fire), he is lost in love and defies the law that states that Children of Water and Children of Fire must forever remain separate to prevent war from breaking out once more. Sirius and Malta struggle to be together while running into obstacles and suffering great losses along the way. But in the end, are the echoes of history too loud to overcome, or can the two lovers be united and bring peace to the land?.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 575
Genere: Animation, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: anime, fairy tale, adult animation, aesthetic, epic, corny
Similar in 78%
Taro the Dragon Boy (1979)
Plot Summary:
Patterned after Japanese art and silk screens, Taro, The Dragon Boy is an animated feature about Japanese mythology and cultures, focusing on Taro, a young boy who has to make a voyage to a distant lake to save his mother, who has been turned into a dragon.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 896
Genere: Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Animation
Country: Japan
Duration: 75 min
Plot tags: anime, vintage
Similar in 82%
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 79%
One Piece: Episode of Skypiea (2018)
Plot Summary:
One day, a giant ship falls onto the Straw Hats from the sky. After a narrow escape, and while they are still in shock, a map to the “Sky Island” is carried to them by the wind. While researching for the way there, they meet another pirate and learn that he is a descendant of an infamous Sky Island explorer who was even depicted in a picture book “Noland The Liar” four centuries ago. However, Noland was possibly not a liar after all and might actually have gone to the Sky Island.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 447
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: anime, exciting, captivating, entertaining, semi serious, shounen
Similar in 76%
Mai Mai Miracle (2009)
Plot Summary:
In 1955 in western Japan, nine-year-old Shinko knows she comes from a family that dates back to over a thousand years. This long genealogy and stories about it feed her daydreams: she invents an imaginary friendship with a young girl in the Japan of a thousand years ago. One day, Kiiko, a timid child from Tokyo, is transferred into Shinko's class at school. Struggling to fit in, she finds a friend in Shinko. They set off together on a magical adventure into a story from ancient history.Adapted from the Takagi Nobuko novel Mai Mai Shinko — winner of the prestigious Akutagawa Prize —, this animated feature film portrays the relationship of two children linked not only by friendship, but also by that power that transcends eras: imagination. And perhaps it might become reality?.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: anime, feel good, light, captivating, entertaining, touching, offbeat, social, manga, semi serious
Similar in 75%
Space Firebird (1980)
Plot Summary:
Phoenix 2772 starts with twelve minutes without dialogue, much like a silent film, recalling the birth and education of Godo. In this brave new world, children are born in test tubes and are raised by computers and robots. Godo learns the skills that will make him into a great pilot, assisted by the robotic wonder Olga. Everything that Godo needs is provided for him until he eventually goes for training with his automaton companion. He soon realizes that the world is not what he expected.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 574
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi
Country: Japan
Duration: 122 min
Plot tags: anime, serious, futuristic, suspenseful
Similar in 87%
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
Similar in 89%
Blue Exorcist: The Movie (2012)
Plot Summary:
Rin Okumura is raised by a famous exorcist named Father Fujimoto. After an argument between the two, Rin discovers he is the son of the devil. Rin decides to fight his fate by joining the True Cross Academy to become an exorcist and defeat demons. However, when he draws his father's sword a dark power is released.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: anime, exciting, suspenseful, captivating, tense, suspense, manga, semi serious, dark fantasy
Similar in 81%
Tamala 2010: A Punk Cat in Space (2002)
Plot Summary:
Tamala is a cat living on Planet Cat Earth in the Feline Galaxy. In attempt to leave the Feline Galaxy, which is practically owned by a mega corporation called Catty & Co., she crashes on the violence-ridden Planet Q where she meets Michelangelo. Together they have fun, while Tamala seaches for her connections to Catty & Co. and her mysterious homeworld Orion.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 561
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Country: Japan
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: anime, captivating, surreal
Similar in 75%
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
Similar in 81%
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
Similar in 85%
Stormy Night (2005)
Plot Summary:
A goat named Mei wanders into a barn one night seeking shelter from a storm. In the barn, the goat meets another refugee. The two can neither see nor smell each other, but never the less they huddled together fending off the cold, and begin to talk. Eventually they establish a friendship. The two decide to meet later and will recognized each other by using the password "one stormy night." The next day, when they meet, Mei learns that his companion from the night before was a wolf named Gabu. Despite their natural predisposition as enemies, they share a common bond and begin meeting regularly. However, Mei's flock and Gabu's pack eventually find out about their relationship and forbid the friendship. Mei and Gabu, hoping to preserve their friendship, cross a river during a storm. They hope to find an "emerald forest" free from persecution.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Drama, Family
Country: Japan
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags: anime, semi serious, sad, emotional, allegory, sentimental, touching
Similar in 77%
Code Geass: Lelouch of the Re;Surrection (2019)
Plot Summary:
The story takes place several years after Lelouch's "Zero Requiem" plan.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: Japan
Duration: 112 min
Plot tags: anime, captivating, rough, suspenseful, touching
Similar in 82%
Welcome to the Space Show (2010)
Plot Summary:
Five children save the life of a dog-like alien while at a self-run summer camp. He attempts to reward them by taking them to an alien colony on the Moon. Events take a turn for the worse when his report on that attack that injured him causes passage from the Moon to the Earth to be banned, and children are stranded in space. The children need to find a way back home before camp ends and their parents discover that they are missing. They also have to avoid the poachers that injured their alien friend, and now seem to be stalking them all.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Country: Japan
Duration: 136 min
Plot tags: anime, feel good, humorous, semi serious, sincere, captivating, light, futuristic, exciting, urban fantasy
Similar in 85%
My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
Plot Summary:
Two sisters move to the country with their father in order to be closer to their hospitalized mother, and discover the surrounding trees are inhabited by Totoros, magical spirits of the forest. When the youngest runs away from home, the older sister seeks help from the spirits to find her.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 368000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: anime, feel good, atmospheric, sweet, touching, fairy tale, offbeat, manga, uplifting, emotional
Similar in 79%
Children Who Chase Lost Voices (2011)
Plot Summary:
The film centers on Asuna, a young girl who spends her solitary days listening to the mysterious music emanating from the crystal radio she received from her late father as a memento. One day while walking home she is attacked by a fearsome monster and saved mysterious boy named Shun. However, Shun disappears and Asuna embarks on a journey of adventure to the land of Agartha with her teacher Mr. Morisaki to meet a Shun again. Through her journey she comes to know the cruelty and beauty of the world, as well as loss.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 17000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration: 116 min
Plot tags: anime, touching, captivating, sentimental, serious, manga, suspense, spiritual, educational, sad
Similar in 80%
Castle in the Sky (1986)
Plot Summary:
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.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 177000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration: 125 min
Plot tags: anime, fairy tale, manga, visual, atmospheric, stylized, epic, dieselpunk, inspirational, retro
Similar in 87%
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)
Plot Summary:
When 17-year-old Makoto Konno gains the ability to, quite literally, "leap" backwards through time, she immediately sets about improving her grades and preventing personal mishaps. However, she soon realises that changing the past isn't as simple as it seems, and eventually, will have to rely on her new powers to shape the future of herself and her friends.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 70000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi
Country: Japan
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: anime, touching, feel good, humorous, manga, surreal, mind bending, mind twisting, psychological, funny
Similar in 82%
Angel's Egg (1985)
Plot Summary:
A mysterious young girl wanders a desolate, otherworldly landscape, carrying a large egg.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 11000
Genere: Animation, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Country: Japan
Duration: 71 min
Plot tags: anime, gothic, avant garde, dark fantasy, surreal, adult animation, psychedelic, experimental, disturbing, fairy tale
Similar in 79%
The House (2022)
Plot Summary:
Across different eras, a poor family, an anxious developer and a fed-up landlady become tied to the same mysterious house in this animated dark comedy.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 21000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: surreal, adult animation, anthology, dark comedy, suspenseful, experimental, gloomy, fairy tale, funny, suspense