Summary
Those who prefer their forbidden love stories gate-kept by supernatural or metaphysical elements instead of social and cultural taboos will certainly findSuzumeto be another masterpiece from director Makoto Shinkai. And in true Makoto Shinkai fashion, the animation and visual style showcased inSuzumeare exceptional.
Actually, just about everything inSuzumeis exceptional.Long after the credits roll, viewers will find themselvescraving for more or something similar— perhaps even an anime film about peculiar romances but with more conclusive or generous endings. So, for those still stricken with the expected Makoto Shinkai-hangover, these anime films will provide a fix.
Updated on July 28, 2025, by C.M. Edwards:Animated films all over the world tell stories that touch hearts, bring out tears, and leave a sense of wonder for those who watch them.Anime films are no different and allow studios and directors to get a chance to go all out on production and finely construct a beautiful story from top to bottom. Over the years, magical stories such as Princess Mononoke, Encanto, and others have set the standard for fantastical animated stories. Suzume is a bright example of this, as the entire production of Comix Wave Films put their all into the film and created something truly special. Anime films take viewers on magical, heart-wrenching, fantastical journeys and tell a complete story that often leaves a strong impression on those who take the time to view them. Outside the traditional episodic anime, there are thousands of films available that are just as well-made as Suzume that fans should check out.
16The Tunnel To Summer, The Exit Of Goodbyes
A Great Story About The Weight The Heart Carries
Not often does a film tackle such a complicated collection of emotions and adequately portray them in such a way as to leave a lasting impression. Kaoru is not an exceptional young teen by any standard, and his life is slowly dwindling as his family splits apart afterthe death of his sibling.
Seeking an escape, Kauru travels down a tunnel that takes him to another place in time. After accidentally stumbling upon a wish-granting tunnel, Kaoiru wonders if the answer to fixing his life comes at the cost of his own.The Tunnel to Summer, The Exit of Goodbyesis a film with a polarizing story, but it is more than worth the watch for fans ofSuzume’s more magical elements.
15Children Who Chase Lost Voices
Girls Leaping Through Different Worlds
Comix Wave Films is a prominent animation studio that has put out some of the most talked about animated films in the last decade.Children Who Chase Lost Voicesis an exciting film that takes viewers on a beautiful adventure when a young girl named Asuna finds herself an overachievingmiddle school studentone day and then follows a strange boy into another world the next.
The story tells a wonderful soul-searching story as Asuna realizes she’s looking for something she didn’t know she had lost. Fans ofSuzumecan easily step into this movie and follow the light-hearted but emotional story.
14To The Forest Of Firefly Lights
To the Forest of Firefly Lights(orHotarubi No Mori e) is a classic-animated film by the exceptional and well-known Brains animation studio, known forBlood LadandIn-Spectre. The film features an emotionally deep tone and follows young Hotaru as she has a brush with supernatural love.
After being lost in a spirit-inhabited forest, she meets a boy who has been cursed. While the boy helps Hotaru escape the forest, years later, she returns to find that touching the boy will cause him to disappear.To the Forest of Firefly Lightsisa tearjerker of a filmand is a great watch for those who enjoy the sadder elements featured throughoutSuzume.
13Spirited Away
A Girl Faces Off Against The Supernatural
The consistency of magical animation that comes out of Studio Ghibli and the mind of Hayao Miyazaki never fails to touch the hearts of fans all over the world.Spirited Awayis perhaps the most celebrated Ghibli film that follows a young girl who becomes entangled in the world of spirits and magic.
Chihiro and her parents become trapped in the spirit world while on vacation, and Chihiro must work to survive until she finds a way to escape.Spirited Awayprovides viewers with a deeply rich world full of charming magical elements. Though it features more moving parts thanSuzume, it is arguably one of the best anime movies to check out for those who enjoyed Suzume Iwato’s slightly more straightforward adventure.
12Weathering With You
Features A Girl Who Can Change The Weather In A Flooding World
Weathering With Youshares supernatural similarities withSuzumeand tells a story where a mysterious downpour of rain plagues Tokyo and washes out the inhabitants with nearly no end in sight.
Hodaka is a struggling young man trying to make ends meet when he saves a young girl who has the ability to summon the sun into the sky.Weathering With Youis an emotional tale about how all that glitters is not gold, and it’s certain to tug at the tear ducts of viewers. For those who enjoyed the high stakes ofSuzume,Weathering With Youis a must-watch.
11Drifting Home
A Stunningly Animated Tale That Examines Grief
In this heavy-hearted tale, a group of young children who used to be friends find themselves lost in the sea after a strong current drags their old apartment complex into the ocean. The story focuses mainly on Yasuji and Natsume, who have come at odds after both suffered grave losses.
With no one but each other to depend on, Natsume and Yasuji must try and look past their inner feelings and find a way home.Drifting Homeis a movie thatdebuted on Netflixand features a strong visual narrative with stunning animation to keep viewers engaged.
10Your Name
A Compelling Love Story That Features Body Swap And Time Travel Elements
Of course, as far as Makoto Shinka films go,Your Nameis still his magnum opus (at least according to critics).Your Namewas a bit more endearing for the typical target demographics of anime and had more clever twists to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
RecommendingYour Nameafter a showing of a Makoto Shinkai film is also common practice, just so fans can compare them and discover which one fiddled with their heartstrings more. Just asSuzumeis a forbidden romance revolving around alternate dimensions,Your Namewalls off its two star-crossed lovers using time, and there’s a splash of the time travel trope sprinkled in, too, making it partly sci-fi.
9Howl’s Moving Castle
The Inspiration Behind The Story Of Suzume
Those who have seenSuzumewill surely have noticed that one of the film’s primary inspirations was Ghibli’sHowl’s Moving Castle.It’sHayao Miyazaki’s filmabout a cursed hatter who gets entangled with a handsome sorcerer (and his multiple layers of issues).
Heck, even the male protagonist ofSuzumebears a striking resemblance to Howl, the aforementioned sorcerer. Moreover, there are obviousHowl’s Moving CastleEaster eggs inSuzume, such as the main character’s home locale being called Miyazaki Island. It’s as if Makoto Shinkai was subconsciously telling viewers to re-watchHowl’s Moving CastleafterSuzume.
8Whisper Of The Heart
Features Similar Character Dynamics
Whisper of the Heartlays out a simple premise — it’s a coming-of-age story where a young girl must determine her self-worth and future, featuring a constructive friendship with a young boy and a weird anthropomorphic and bipedal cat who calls himself the Baron.
It’s not as high stakes asSuzumeor some of Makoto Shinkai’s feature-length films since it’s a Ghibli film as well, but there’s plenty of refreshing countryside romance to be found here, along with two innocent young people and their heartwarming hangouts (which is usually just a front for existential crisis themes).
7Patema Inverted
Shares The “Across Different Worlds” Trope
Anime fans who love their juvenile lovers held back by their opposite worlds will also adore the story ofPatema Inverted. The two main characters were literally on both sides oftwo different worlds, where they could only meet in an inverted manner.
It’s not clear who has gravity on their side, but the titular main girl was part of an underground civilization whose members would literally “fall” into the sky if they came to the surface. It’s quite possibly one of the most dazzling takes on aRomeo and Julietplot, and fans ofSuzume’s more romantic elements are sure to enjoy what’s on offer.
