The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006) is a beloved anime film directed by Mamoru Hosoda, following high schooler Makoto Konno who gains the ability to time-leap and must navigate the consequences of altering her past while grappling with friendship, romance, and personal growth. Its core themes revolve around time manipulation, the ripple effects of choices, coming-of-age struggles, and the bittersweet nature of youth, blending sci-fi elements with emotional depth and character-driven narratives.
The following 15 underrated anime series share similar motifs of time travel or temporal reflection, introspective character development, and poignant storytelling—yet they’ve flown under the radar compared to mainstream hits, deserving more attention for their innovative approaches to adolescence, regret, and human connections.
1. Erased (2016)
- Current Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll, Netflix
- Brief Plot Summary: Satoru Fujinuma, a struggling manga artist with the ability to rewind time to prevent tragedies, is thrust back to his childhood to solve a series of kidnappings and murders linked to his past.
- Specific Similarities: Like The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, it explores time manipulation’s consequences on personal relationships and growth, with a focus on fixing past mistakes in a high school setting, emphasizing emotional maturity and the weight of choices.
- MAL Rating: 8.29
- Episode Count: 12
- Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Tomohiko Itō at A-1 Pictures; music by Yuki Kajiura.
- Awards/Recognition: Nominated for Best TV Anime at the 2017 Crunchyroll Anime Awards.
2. Orange (2016)
- Current Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll
- Brief Plot Summary: High schooler Naho Takamiya receives letters from her future self warning her about regrets involving her new classmate Kakeru, prompting her to change events to save him from a tragic fate.
- Specific Similarities: Shares themes of temporal intervention and preventing regrets, mirroring Makoto’s leaps to alter outcomes, with strong emphasis on teenage friendships, romance, and the emotional toll of hindsight.
- MAL Rating: 7.61
- Episode Count: 13
- Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Hiroshi Hamasaki at Telecom Animation Film; based on Ichigo Takano’s manga.
- Awards/Recognition: Praised for its mental health awareness, featured in discussions at anime conventions like Anime Expo.
3. ReLIFE (2016)
- Current Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll
- Brief Plot Summary: Unemployed 27-year-old Arata Kaizaki takes a pill to appear as a teenager and relives high school as part of an experiment, learning to confront his adult failures through new relationships.
- Specific Similarities: Echoes the coming-of-age reset in The Girl Who Leapt Through Time by revisiting youth to fix personal flaws, focusing on character growth, social dynamics, and the nuances of teenage emotions.
- MAL Rating: 7.93
- Episode Count: 13 (plus 4 OVAs)
- Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Tomo Kosaka at TMS Entertainment; character designs by Junko Yamanaka.
- Awards/Recognition: Won Best Slice-of-Life at the 2017 Newtype Anime Awards.
4. Charlotte (2015)
- Current Streaming Availability: Netflix, Crunchyroll
- Brief Plot Summary: Yuu Otosaka hides his mind-control abilities while attending a school for superpowered teens, but a crisis forces him to use his powers responsibly and face the consequences.
- Specific Similarities: Similar to Makoto’s discovery of time-leaping, it delves into supernatural abilities’ impact on youth and relationships, with themes of responsibility, loss, and emotional maturation.
- MAL Rating: 7.75
- Episode Count: 13
- Notable Staff/Studio: Written by Jun Maeda and produced by P.A. Works; directed by Yoshiyuki Asai.
- Awards/Recognition: Nominated for Animation of the Year at the 2016 Tokyo Anime Award Festival.
5. AnoHana: The Flower We Saw That Day (2011)
- Current Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll, Netflix
- Brief Plot Summary: A group of estranged childhood friends reunite when the ghost of their deceased friend Menma appears, urging them to fulfill her forgotten wish and confront their lingering guilt.
- Specific Similarities: Mirrors the reflective narrative on past events and friendships, akin to Makoto’s time leaps affecting others, with deep character development through themes of regret and healing.
- MAL Rating: 8.30
- Episode Count: 11
- Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Tatsuyuki Nagai at A-1 Pictures; script by Mari Okada.
- Awards/Recognition: Won Best Television Series at the 2012 Japan Media Arts Festival.
6. Your Lie in April (2014)
- Current Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll, Netflix
- Brief Plot Summary: Prodigy pianist Kousei Arima, traumatized by his mother’s death, regains his passion for music through a vibrant violinist, leading to personal healing and self-discovery.
- Specific Similarities: Focuses on emotional growth and the passage of time in youth, similar to Makoto’s journey of self-realization, with poignant explorations of loss, romance, and artistic expression.
- MAL Rating: 8.64
- Episode Count: 22
- Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Kyohei Ishiguro at A-1 Pictures; music composed by Masaru Yokoyama.
- Awards/Recognition: Won Sugoi Japan Award for Best Anime in 2016.
7. The Tatami Galaxy (2010)
- Current Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll
- Brief Plot Summary: An unnamed college student relives his university years in parallel timelines, searching for the ideal “rose-colored campus life” while learning from repeated mistakes.
- Specific Similarities: Like time-leaping in the main film, it uses looping narratives to explore choices and regrets, emphasizing character introspection and the fluidity of personal growth.
- MAL Rating: 8.56
- Episode Count: 11
- Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Masaaki Yuasa at Madhouse; based on Tomihiko Morimi’s novel.
- Awards/Recognition: Won the Grand Prize at the 2010 Japan Media Arts Festival.
8. Ping Pong the Animation (2014)
- Current Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll
- Brief Plot Summary: Two childhood friends, Peco and Smile, navigate their passions and rivalries in table tennis, confronting personal insecurities and the pressures of adolescence.
- Specific Similarities: Shares coming-of-age themes through sports metaphors, akin to Makoto’s leaps revealing interpersonal dynamics, with raw character development and emotional depth.
- MAL Rating: 8.62
- Episode Count: 11
- Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Masaaki Yuasa at Tatsunoko Production.
- Awards/Recognition: Won Best Animation at the 2015 Tokyo Anime Award Festival.
9. March Comes in Like a Lion (2016)
- Current Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll, Netflix
- Brief Plot Summary: Professional shogi player Rei Kiriyama battles depression and isolation, finding solace in a supportive family and his evolving relationships.
- Specific Similarities: Reflects introspective growth and the passage of time in youth, similar to Makoto’s emotional journey, focusing on mental health and subtle life changes.
- MAL Rating: 8.37 (Season 1)
- Episode Count: 22 (Season 1); ongoing seasons
- Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Akiyuki Shinbo at Shaft; based on Chica Umino’s manga.
- Awards/Recognition: Won Best TV Anime at the 2017 Crunchyroll Anime Awards.
10. A Place Further Than the Universe (2018)
- Current Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll
- Brief Plot Summary: Four high school girls embark on an expedition to Antarctica, overcoming personal fears and forging unbreakable bonds along the way.
- Specific Similarities: Emphasizes youthful adventure and self-discovery, mirroring Makoto’s leaps into new experiences, with themes of friendship and breaking free from regrets.
- MAL Rating: 8.52
- Episode Count: 13
- Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Atsuko Ishizuka at Madhouse.
- Awards/Recognition: Won Anime of the Year at the 2019 Crunchyroll Anime Awards.
11. Barakamon (2014)
- Current Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll
- Brief Plot Summary: Calligrapher Seishuu Handa is exiled to a rural island, where interactions with quirky locals help him rediscover his artistic passion and maturity.
- Specific Similarities: Focuses on personal growth through everyday reflections, akin to Makoto’s time-based realizations, blending humor with themes of change and community.
- MAL Rating: 8.38
- Episode Count: 12
- Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Masaki Tachibana at Kinema Citrus.
- Awards/Recognition: Nominated for Best Comedy at the 2015 Newtype Anime Awards.
12. Silver Spoon (2013)
- Current Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll
- Brief Plot Summary: City boy Yuugo Hachiken enrolls in an agricultural high school, learning life’s harsh realities through farm work and friendships.
- Specific Similarities: Explores coming-of-age via new environments and choices, similar to Makoto’s leaps affecting her worldview, with emphasis on responsibility and growth.
- MAL Rating: 8.08
- Episode Count: 11 (Season 1)
- Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Tomohiko Itō at A-1 Pictures; by Hiromu Arakawa (Fullmetal Alchemist author).
- Awards/Recognition: Won Best Adaptation at the 2014 Manga Taisho Awards (manga basis).
13. Summertime Rendering (2022)
- Current Streaming Availability: Disney+
- Brief Plot Summary: Shinpei returns to his island hometown for a funeral and gets trapped in a time loop involving shadows that mimic and kill people.
- Specific Similarities: Directly parallels time-loop mechanics and consequence exploration, like Makoto’s leaps, with mystery-driven character development in a youthful setting.
- MAL Rating: 8.49
- Episode Count: 25
- Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Ayumu Watanabe at OLM.
- Awards/Recognition: Highly praised in 2022 Reddit anime communities as an underrated gem.
14. Link Click (2021)
- Current Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll
- Brief Plot Summary: Two friends run a photo studio that allows them to enter photographs and alter past events for clients, uncovering emotional truths.
- Specific Similarities: Uses time manipulation via media to fix regrets, echoing Makoto’s abilities, with focus on interpersonal consequences and heartfelt narratives.
- MAL Rating: 8.79
- Episode Count: 11 (Season 1)
- Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Li Haoling at LAN Studio (Chinese production).
- Awards/Recognition: Won Best Original Anime at the 2022 Bilibili Awards.
15. Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song (2021)
- Current Streaming Availability: Funimation
- Brief Plot Summary: AI singer Vivy is tasked by a future entity to prevent an AI uprising by altering historical events across a century.
- Specific Similarities: Involves time-travel missions to change outcomes, similar to Makoto’s leaps, blending sci-fi with themes of purpose, emotion, and human-like growth.
- MAL Rating: 8.40
- Episode Count: 13
- Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Shinpei Ezaki at Wit Studio; written by Tappei Nagatsuki (Re:Zero author).
- Awards/Recognition: Nominated for Best Sci-Fi at the 2022 Crunchyroll Anime Awards.
Why These Anime Work for The Girl Who Leapt Through Time Fans
These series capture the essence of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time by weaving temporal or reflective elements into stories of youth, regret, and transformation, often with understated emotional depth that rewards attentive viewers. They prioritize character arcs over spectacle, offering fresh takes on familiar themes while remaining accessible yet profound—perfect for fans seeking hidden gems that evoke the same sense of wonder and introspection. Exploring them not only expands your anime horizons but highlights the genre’s richness beyond blockbuster titles.
