15 Enticing Animes Similar to Big Hero 6

Big Hero 6 blends grief, innovation, and found family into a story about using technology for good. These underrated anime mirror its themes of resilience, legacy, and teamwork, offering emotional depth and creative storytelling that deserve more recognition.

1. Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms (2018)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll
• Plot: An immortal girl adopts a human orphan, navigating motherhood while confronting the pain of outliving her child.
• Similarities: Explores legacy and love transcending time, akin to Hiro’s bond with Tadashi and Baymax.
• MAL: 7.8 | Runtime: Film | Studio: P.A. Works | Awards: Japan Academy Prize nomination.

2. Somali and the Forest Spirit (2020)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll
• Plot: A golem becomes a guardian to a human girl in a dying world, learning humanity through paternal love.
• Similarities: Found family dynamics mirror Hiro and Baymax’s relationship, blending warmth with existential stakes.
• MAL: 7.8 | Episodes: 12 | Studio: Satelight.

3. To Your Eternity (2021)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll
• Plot: An immortal being learns empathy through human connections, enduring loss while preserving memories.
• Similarities: Themes of remembrance and growth, paralleling Baymax’s evolution from machine to emotional companion.
• MAL: 8.2 | Episodes: 20+ | Studio: Brain’s Base.

4. The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013)

• Streaming: Max
• Plot: A celestial being raised by humans grapples with identity and societal expectations.
• Similarities: Visually lush exploration of legacy and self-discovery, echoing Hiro’s struggle between ambition and family.
• MAL: 8.3 | Runtime: Film | Studio: Studio Ghibli | Awards: Oscar nomination.

5. Barakamon (2014)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll
• Plot: A calligrapher rediscovers his passion in a rural community, forming bonds with quirky locals.
• Similarities: Celebrates community and personal growth, much like Hiro’s journey from isolation to teamwork.
• MAL: 8.2 | Episodes: 12 | Studio: Kinema Citrus.

6. Wolf Children (2012)

• Streaming: Hulu
• Plot: A widow raises half-wolf children, balancing their unique identity with human society.
• Similarities: Maternal sacrifice and cultural duality mirror the Hamada family’s protective love.
• MAL: 8.6 | Runtime: Film | Studio: Studio Chizu | Awards: Japan Academy Prize.

7. Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 (2009)

• Streaming: HiDive
• Plot: Siblings survive an earthquake, relying on strangers to reunite with their family.
• Similarities: High-stakes resilience and familial bonds, akin to Hiro’s determination to protect his loved ones.
• MAL: 7.9 | Episodes: 11 | Studio: Bones.

8. Haibane Renmei (2002)

• Streaming: Funimation
• Plot: Winged beings in a walled town seek redemption while grappling with mysterious pasts.
• Similarities: Quiet introspection about identity and forgiveness, resonating with Baymax’s ethical programming.
• MAL: 8.0 | Episodes: 13 | Studio: Radix.

9. Mushi-Shi (2005)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll
• Plot: A wanderer mediates between humans and primordial spirits, exploring coexistence and loss.
• Similarities: Ethereal tone and focus on ancestral connections, mirroring Big Hero 6’s spiritual undertones.
• MAL: 8.7 | Episodes: 46 | Studio: Artland.

10. A Place Further Than the Universe (2018)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll
• Plot: Teens embark on an Antarctic expedition to fulfill a lost parent’s dream.
• Similarities: Balances adventure with emotional catharsis, like Hiro’s quest to honor Tadashi.
• MAL: 8.7 | Episodes: 13 | Studio: Madhouse.

11. The Great Passage (2016)

• Streaming: Amazon Prime
• Plot: A lexicographer spends decades crafting a dictionary, finding meaning in collaboration.
• Similarities: Celebrates perseverance and legacy, akin to Tadashi’s belief in technology’s potential for good.
• MAL: 7.8 | Episodes: 11 | Studio: Zexcs.

12. Orange (2016)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll
• Plot: Friends use letters to prevent a classmate’s suicide, mending relationships through empathy.
• Similarities: Focuses on healing and cherishing bonds, mirroring Hiro’s reconciliation with loss.
• MAL: 8.1 | Episodes: 13 | Studio: Telecom Animation Film.

13. Tiger & Bunny (2011)

• Streaming: Netflix
• Plot: Aging superheroes compete in a corporate-sponsored league while tackling personal struggles.
• Similarities: Team dynamics and underdog heroes, echoing Big Hero 6’s blend of action and camaraderie.
• MAL: 7.8 | Episodes: 25 | Studio: Sunrise.

14. Children Who Chase Lost Voices (2011)

• Streaming: Crunchyroll
• Plot: A girl ventures into a mythical underworld to resurrect a loved one.
• Similarities: Explores grief and legacy through stunning visuals, paralleling Hiro’s emotional journey.
• MAL: 7.6 | Runtime: Film | Studio: CoMix Wave Films.

15. A Silent Voice (2016)

• Streaming: Netflix
• Plot: A former bully seeks redemption by reconnecting with a deaf girl he tormented.
• Similarities: Themes of forgiveness and healing fractured relationships, akin to Hiro’s growth from grief to leadership.
• MAL: 8.9 | Runtime: Film | Studio: Kyoto Animation | Awards: Tokyo Anime Award.

Why These Anime Work for Big Hero 6 Fans

These series capture the essence of Big Hero 6: balancing technological wonder with emotional authenticity.

From Maquia’s exploration of fleeting time to Tiger & Bunny’s underdog heroism, each anime emphasizes resilience, legacy, and the power of community.

Whether through quiet introspection or high-stakes teamwork, they remind us that heroism lies in compassion as much as courage.