Spirited Away - Recommendations

Alt title: Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi

If you're looking for anime similar to Spirited Away, you might like these titles.

Whisper of the Heart

Whisper of the Heart

Whisper of the Heart is a touching Ghibli slice-of-life story, about a young girl named Shizuku. While riding the train, she notices a fat cat riding alongside her. Following the cat, she finds a shop where she is told an enchanting story of a gold statue named "The Baron". WotH follows Shizuku in her struggles to grow, and her budding love with the shopkeeper's son.

6 votes

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Reasons you might like Whisper of the Heart...

dracoflame dracoflame says...

Although Spirited Away and Whisper of the Heart seem like they are worlds apart they have many similarities in plot. Both lead characters are pushed into situations that will make them re-evaluate their feelings and goals. Each is definitely a well thought-out movie that makes you want to watch it again and again.

Foop Foop says...

Spirited Away and Whisper of the Heart are about girls who have nothing going on in their lives. Both meet someone and learn that even they are brave and of value. These are very good movies; you should see them both!

Nocturnalgloria Nocturnalgloria says...

Spirited Away and Whisper of the Heart feature a young girl's journey to self-fulfillment. Both are Ghibli productions and it shows; the visual aspect of these movies is very similar in terms of character design and animation. Spirited Away is more flamboyant and uses a fantasy element that is inherent to the plot, while Whisper of the Heart is more slice of life driven, being mostly slow paced and keeping the fantastic aspect in a psychological frame that does not interfere with the plot directly. In both cases a budding romance ensues, more pronounced in WotH than in SA. The general impression of one is reminiscent of the other, all things considered.

KittyEmperor KittyEmperor says...

Well both are directed and produced by Hayao Miyazaki which should really be all I have to say for you to go and see either one of these films, but if you need more of a reason as to why you should then how about this.  They both movies feature a young female who ends up in a situation where they are forced to re-evaluate their lives and come the end they have grown as grown as a person.  Though they both feature similar artstyles Spirited Away tends to have more of a fantasy element to it opposed to Whisper of the Heart is more slice of life.  But in any event if you liked one then you should check out the other.

Nuuuuu Nuuuuu says...

Its a really beautiful and calming movie. You would love it. The characters are soo fun to watch. The whole atmosphere of the film makes you want to get invovlved in it so much. It is beautiful...

Seawooo Seawooo says...

Beautiful animation, same studio, same art style, same chilled feel, likeable characters, and overall memorable movies.

Paprika

Paprika

In Japan, a team of scientists have created a medical breakthrough: a device that allows the wearer to enter the dreams of a patient, for the purpose of healing. The talented Paprika is a master at her profession, but complications have now appeared in the form of a “dream terrorist” – an unknown foe who inserts nightmares into the minds of those who use the device. The victims are swept up in a ghoulish parade of dolls, kitchen appliances, and musical animals, and are reduced to a vegetable state – or worse. Now, Paprika and the team of scientists must delve into the minds of those affected to figure out the source of the tampering before more people, including themselves, are damaged beyond repair.

6 votes

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Reasons you might like Paprika...

whatismyname whatismyname says...

Both these shows have a beautiful atmosphere to them. The colors and characters are vivid and full of life. Some may say Paprika caters to an older audience, but both shows engulf your senses in the sights and sounds of even the most minute details.

sunspot sunspot says...

As for me, I think in both of these you just get suck into the movie the way that one part of you is on the couch, but another is already in the movie. Yes, Spirited Away is kind of more fast paced, but both of them is so continious that there is no time to go and look for a snack as you just can't take eyes of the screen.

scizorg45 scizorg45 says...

Both of these movies are basicly set in a world besides our own and humans intruding there. While SA deals more with the spiritual side of this, Paprika is more about what people dream about.

If you liked one, cheack out the other.

KittyEmperor KittyEmperor says...

Both series will delight the viewer with a unique artstyle, characters, and atmosphere.  While Paprika does somewhat move towards a slightly more mature audience than Spirited Away but both are sure to draw you into their worlds making the viewer not wanting to miss a minute of either.

hamletsmage hamletsmage says...

Both of these anime are taken from a world full of mystery, wonder, and beautiful colors. While Paprika is a little more cerebral than Spirited Away, both offer a land of pure imagination to explore. The animation style of "let's animate a thousand little things at once" is also present in both animes. 

Fargo Fargo says...

These movies boast fluid and eye-catching animation with magical qualities. Paprika is for more mature audiences, but both movies follow a female lead trying to reestablish the status quo and they take them on a journey with many ups and downs that are sure to engage anyone watching.

Grave of the Fireflies

Grave of the Fireflies

With their father serving overseas in the Navy towards the end of the World War 2, Seita and his younger sister Setsuko are living as normally as they can. One day during a firebomb raid on the city their mother suffers fatal wounds and the two siblings' lives are turned upside down as they go to live with a relative. After suffering the cruel treatment of their aunt, who makes it clear that their very presence is a nuisance, Seita and Setsuko decide to leave and go to live in an abandoned bomb shelter. With no one else to rely on, Seita and Setsuko try their hardest to live from day to day. Though when food becomes ever more scarce and no one is willing to sell what little provisions they have, life for the pair is increasingly difficult. Then when Setsuko falls ill, Seita begins to realize just how fragile life is...

5 votes

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Reasons you might like Grave of the Fireflies...

kamirura kamirura says...

Grave of the fireflies really reminds me of Spirited away. Especially the art. The story is abit similar too since those two children gets lost from their parents. But Spirited away is alot more color full than Grave of the firelies so Grave of the fireflies is a more dramatic version of Spirited away I would say.

SpErAnZa SpErAnZa says...

Spirited Away and Grave of the Fireflies are captivating from the start, and have a mysterious storyline. The characters in each movie fight very hard for what they want, and it's amazing to see if they achieve what they desire. With their vivid experiences, the characters help make their stories be exceptionally powerful.

eaper eaper says...

Both being Ghibli films, there is a striking resemblance ranging from the story structure to the artwork. a few similar themes run through each. That being said, if you liked one then it is worthwhile to check the other one out (although GotFF is a lot more sad).

sgray3 sgray3 says...

They are both focused on the journey and hardships of a child. Although Grave of the Fireflies is much, much sadder. Both of these movies also have a decent cultural aspect. They also both tend to emphasize the lack of aid and overall uselessness of the adults involved. Grave of the Fireflies is pretty upfront with everything, while Spirited Away is a little more child-friendly.

paudkny10 paudkny10 says...

appart they are from the same studio (Ghibli), they both show the life of children, one in a war, and the other one with some strange creatures. It's Ghibli and they are clasics,so you'll love them. 

Den-noh Coil

Den-noh Coil

In a futuristic world, the virtual world is merely a layer on top of reality; within it, cyberpets are abundant and information is plentiful, and it is only visible by wearing special cyberglasses. In Daikoku City, this cyberspace is behaving strangely: cyberpets are going missing, dark entities known as "the Illegal" roam obsolete space that shouldn’t exist, and a large pink antivirus program known as Satchii wanders the streets, attacking both virus and pets alike. Sixth grader Yuko Okonogi has just moved to Daikoku City, and after cyberdetective children help her rescue her lost dog, she soon joins the others in a search for the truth behind these strange occurances.

5 votes

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Reasons you might like Den-noh Coil...

sothis sothis says...

There's a reason Denno Coil is referred to as "Miyazaki does cyberpunk". Both Spirited Away and Denno Coil excel at showing us the cute and quirky underbelly of a hidden world. While Denno Coil is definitely cyberpunk at its core, it and Spirited Away have a remarkably similar feel; even the character designs look the same. If you liked one, you'd definitely like the other.

Michichan Michichan says...

Dennou Coil has a very original storyline that will delight any fan of a masterpiece such as Spirited Away. Dennou Coil is clearly aimed at children, but just like any Miyazaki film, it is not dumbed down to meet its target audience. I would recommend Dennou Coil to Miyazaki fans of all ages.

Releashi Releashi says...

If you love the skewed perspective of children you will like both Denno Coil and Spirited Away. They remind you how exciting, scary and utterly isolated from adults the world was.

Fei Fei says...

Both Denno Coil and Spirited away are my favorite childhood animes. The animation, the characters, the values are all so similar and absolutely lovably weird. If you know what I'm talking about, then you should definitely take a look at this series/movie.

papereels papereels says...

There's definitely a striking similarity in the animation between the modernized and cybernetic Denno Coil and the more traditional and magical Spirited Away. The main heroes are children and they grow emotionally while dealing with the concept of two merging worlds and interacting with the supporting cast involved such as the ederly, the pets and the "mystical creatures" (represented in their own context).

Both stories left a deep and warm impression on me, which is why I think you'll appreciate both. 

xxxHOLiC Movie: A Midsummer Night's Dream

xxxHOLiC Movie: A Midsummer Night's Dream

Watanuki faces challenges in every area. Spirits chase him, his best friend Doumeki isn't really a friend, and his boss Yuuko seems to have mistaken him for a servant come housewife. When Yuuko requests that both of them join her in accepting a special invitation to a collector's house, he can just hear the trouble coming. Upon arrival, the house proves to be more than a bit unusual, and the other guests are almost scary with their fanatical collecting. But, the worst thing about the situation is the knowledge that for all the weirdness Watanuki can see, it is absolutely certain that the mysteries are way more complicated that he thinks. Depending on Yuuko's arcane knowledge may be the only hope.

5 votes

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Reasons you might like xxxHOLiC Movie: A Midsummer Night's Dream...

ZenithAstrali ZenithAstrali says...

From the moment the characters of these two movies step thru the doors of apparently common places : a house and amusement park respectively, they find themselves taken away to different worlds. They can get out only after discovering the secrets of these places and of the creatures that inhabit them. If you like mysteries and fantasy then you will surely enjoy these movies.

AirCommodore AirCommodore says...

The xxxHolic movie is like a grown-up version of Spirited Away. They are both supernatural stories set in a crazy-awesome enormously cool building (either a mansion or a bath-house) filled with all sorts of oddities. Also: people eating like pigs.

eaper eaper says...

XXXHolic would likely be what Spirited Away could have been if it was placed with older characters. A lot of fantasy and many similar themes cause these titles to be a good fit for one another.

Starletka Starletka says...

Spirited Away is like a childish version of xxxHolic Movie. Both are about people trapped in a strange world full of mystery and spirits.

hamletsmage hamletsmage says...

Both of these anime take a step away from reality and put the main character in a realm of fantasy and mythology. Similar themes show up in both movies, and both are set in a place that is far from ordinary (bath house/mansion).

Natsume's Book of Friends

Natsume's Book of Friends

Natsume is lonely; he has an ability that separates him from others: he can see and interact with spirits. Soon, however, Natsume discovers that he’s not alone: his grandmother Reiko also had the gift. But things get hectic and possibly dangerous for Natsume when he finds out that he also inherited the 'Book of Friends', a book that contains the names of all the spirits Reiko defeated and subjugated. He finds himself hounded by his grandmother's underlings and, with the help of a 'cat' charm spirit, decides to free them from the Book's shackles, as well as protect the book from those who seek to misuse its power...

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Reasons you might like Natsume's Book of Friends...

SinfulWun SinfulWun says...

Both of the main charecters of Natsume Yuujinchou and Spirited Away both find themselfs in a situation where they are faced with spirits and the supernatural and stride forward even though you can tell they are afrade. The animation styles and music are very simular and they both have a great charecter devlopment. I am positive that if you liked one you will like the other.

Darkrystal Darkrystal says...

It's difficult to pinpoint exactly why I want to recommend these two. Yes, they both focus on a young human who is thrust into a world of spirits and the supernatural, but there's more to it than that. They both present their stories in a slow, thoughtful manner, with moments of comedy and action throughout, and both focus heavily on the concept of family to drive their narratives. But more than anything it's because they will undoubtedly both leave you feeling exactly the same way, very very happy. Both are completely refreshing and uplifting, if you liked one I guarantee you'll find something to love in the other.

cassiesheepgirl cassiesheepgirl says...

Both Natsume Yuujinchou and Spirited Away are essentially about the interaction between humans and spirits. In particular, heavy focus is placed on the prejudice and hatred of humans that the spirits possess. If you enjoyed this and the gentle nature of either one of these anime, then I highly suggest checking the other out.

eaper eaper says...

Each of these titles are very fantasy based, focusing on humans interacting with and getting close to demons/oni. There is a similar feel throughout each title that's hard to describe, but perhaps could be called relaxing, If you liked one title you'll surely enjoy the other.

snivets snivets says...

With similar supernatural content and a focus on human weaknesses/strengths, Spirited Away is a natural recommendation for Nastume Yuujinchou. They have a similar quiet pace and good storytelling.

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

Makoto Konno is a somewhat foolish and tomboyish high school student who spends most of her time hanging out with her two male friends. Things change one day when she suddenly gains the ability to leap through time! At first, she uses her newfound ability to do things such as preventing her sister from stealing her dessert, cheating on a test, and singing Karaoke for 10 hours. However, the small alterations she makes to the timeline turn out to have unforeseen consequences that snowball into dramatic and lethal situations for her and those around her...

5 votes

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Reasons you might like The Girl Who Leapt Through Time...

CrazyAce01 CrazyAce01 says...

While Spirited Away is fantasy and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time has a Sci-Fi aspect, they are both similar in how they use the unrealistic to set up the plot.  The protagonists accidentally stumble upon something amazing and thus beings the story.

Chihiro and Makoto are both very similar female leads: initially they are immature and selfish.  Through the course of the movie they are confronted with difficult situations that force them to face their flaws, making each anime a journey of self-discovery.

The male leads in both movies are both more than they seem to be at first.  The other supporting characters are varied and dynamic, lending a lot of support to the overall story.  As each movie settles into the gut of its tale, they both take on a heartwarming slice of life feel.

As well as both being widely accepted as excellent movies in general, they are also completely family friendly.  If you loved one I guarantee you will like the other.

Morwen Morwen says...

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and Spirited Away are, at their cores, both coming of age stories. The heroine from "Toki wo..." is a very "Miyazaki-style" heroine, cute but strong and independant. Both of the main characters learn to grow up and accept the consequences of their actions throughout the films, and the relationships between the girls and their male friends are somewhat similar. Also, both have simply gorgeous animation. They're definitely must-see movies if you enjoy fantastic anime coming-of-age stories.

eaper eaper says...

Each of these series focus around a coming to age story of a girl in very odd circumstances. Each title has a nice mixture of comedy and drama while being a good watch.

SadisticTendencies SadisticTendencies says...

Both 'Spirited Away' and 'The Girl Who Leapt Through Time' have female protanogists, that are growing, and learning how to take responsibility. Also, both Makoto and Chihiro always seemed kind of like tomboys to me, although I can't put my finger on why...

scizorg45 scizorg45 says...

Both movies start out normal, but are quickly mixed with some supernatural elements. In both of them, the main characters will learn some valuable lessons of life through mistakes in their own actions.

If you liked one, check out the other.

Amatsuki

Amatsuki

When Tokidoki Rikugou donned a pair of virtual reality glasses and entered a Bakumatsu-era exhibit at a museum, he had no idea that his life would drastically change. While walking across a bridge in the fabricated reality, Tokidoki ran across a small being and a monster called a nue - and he was promptly attacked. His eye was damaged, but more importantly, Tokidoki discovered that he was now stuck inside the "virtual reality" filled with samurai and spirits. Now, with the help of Kuchiha, a warrior woman possessed by a dog spirit; and Shinonome, a fellow student who has been stuck, just like Tokidoki, for the past two years, Tokidoki must search for the truth behind the nue and try to find a way home.

4 votes

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Reasons you might like Amatsuki...

SaiAkuto SaiAkuto says...

Both shows are about somebody who unintentionally fall into a world ofthe spirits. The main characters in both have to find a wayof releasing themselfes back into the real world, what they trying to accomplain with help of their firends. Both animes are also about very open-hearted people.

LLORAtheLLAMA LLORAtheLLAMA says...

Both Amatsuki and Spirited Away has to do with a person who crosses over to a mysterious and spirit-filled world. There they meet new people and make friends which makes being in the strange world not that bad.

Join them both as they try to find their way home.

wolfangel87 wolfangel87 says...

Amatsuki and Spirited Away have characters from the modern day world that magically get transferred back into a timeless world of the spirits.  They each have to try and find a way to get back to their own time.

Gavia Gavia says...

Both revolve around a person who has to find their way back to the home after being trapped in a spirit-world. Both series take place in historical japanese environments, with a lot of mythological creatures added.

If you like one you should try out the other.

Brave Story

Brave Story

One day, the young Wataru decided to visit a haunted building in search of a ghost, but ended up meeting a boy by the name of Mitsuru instead. He has the ability to use magic, and tells Wataru about another world where the wondrous Goddess of Destiny lives – a goddess who can grant any wish. The next day, Wataru returns home only to discover that his parents are getting a divorce, and subsequently, his mother ends up in the hospital in critical condition. In an attempt to fix his family, Wataru goes back to the building and sets off on a journey to the magical world in order to gather five jewels, and ultimately, to gain an audience with the Goddess of Destiny...

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Reasons you might like Brave Story...

crystalphoenix crystalphoenix says...

Both of the movies are about kids trying to restore/save their families. Chihiro and Wataru are both thrown into strange and magical worlds that are completely different from the world they are used to. Chihiro's (Spirited Away) adventure is more paranormal than Wataru's. Wataru is practically thrown into an RPG videogame and must complete several tasks to "fix" his family. Both characters make friends, meet fantastical, magical, and crazy creatures, and take journeys in an attempt to accomplish their goals. The stories are extremely similar, and the artwork in both is great. If you like one will most likely like the other.

KiraRin KiraRin says...

Both focussing on a young child completely out of their depth in a fantastical world, both Spirited Away and Brave Story are family friendly. They posess something that will appeal to all age ranges, plenty of action and story, but charming characters that younger anime viewers can appreciate.

The blend of exciting animation, gripping script and an affable cast make these two shows the perfect recommendations for each other.

Deer50 Deer50 says...

They both are beautifully animated. Well developed characters. Both main characters go into a different world to try and save their parent(s). Both main characters go through growing up.

ergunnbaxter ergunnbaxter says...

Similar to Spirited Away in both art style and content. They both feature younger heros who travel to a distant magical world from a situation that they wish to escape from. Both come to terms at the end.

Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea

Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea

Ponyo is a goldfish who lives in the sea, and has an over-protective magician for a father. Soon Ponyo runs away from home and is rescued by a five-year-old boy named Sosuke. As she wants nothing more than to understand what it's like to be a human being, Ponyo uses magic to transform into a human girl, and the two begin to form a special bond. However, this magic results in drastic consequences, and one final test stands in Ponyo's way before she can truly be human. Can Ponyo fulfill her dream, or is she destined to return to the sea?

4 votes

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Reasons you might like Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea...

jessj4 jessj4 says...

Both very cute and imaginative films with loveable characters and amazing scenery. If you liked one, youll definately like the other :)

kenikki kenikki says...

The stories here are basicly opposites. While Spirited Away is an "Alice in Wonderland"-like tale, Ponyo is about magi erupting into out, ordinary world. But the magical wonders in both features are filled with similar amazing powers of creativity. Not to mention they both center around a cild protagonist.

QuenOScots QuenOScots says...

If you like Studio Ghilmi's work, you have to see Ponyo. I didn't think a story about a 5 year old would be something I would enjoy, but I LOVED every secnd of that movie.  Give it a shot, you will be surprised how good it is.

nicklesthepickle nicklesthepickle says...

I think that one would like both movies not only because of the work of Studio Ghibli, but because both movies focus on family. They are extremely cute movies, full of excellent imaginative scenes. Great for the family, or for anyone who likes a good fantasy!