Coco’s celebration of memory, legacy, and intergenerational bonds resonates deeply, but few explore these themes as richly in anime. This list highlights underrated series that mirror its heartfelt storytelling, cultural reverence, and focus on personal growth.
1. Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms (2018)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: An immortal girl raises a human orphan, grappling with love and loss as he ages while she remains unchanged.
- Similarities: Explores legacy through motherhood and the pain/joy of fleeting connections, much like Miguel’s bond with Héctor.
- MAL: 7.8 | Episodes: Film | Studio: P.A. Works | Awards: Japan Academy Prize nomination.
2. A Silent Voice (2016)
- Streaming: Netflix
- Plot: A former bully seeks redemption by reconnecting with a deaf girl he tormented, confronting guilt and forgiveness.
- Similarities: Focuses on healing fractured relationships and the weight of memory, akin to Coco’s intergenerational reconciliation.
- MAL: 8.9 | Episodes: Film | Studio: Kyoto Animation | Awards: Tokyo Anime Award.
3. Somali and the Forest Spirit (2020)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: A golem becomes a guardian to a human child in a dying world, learning humanity through paternal love.
- Similarities: Themes of found family and preserving fleeting moments, mirroring Coco’s emphasis on cherishing time.
- MAL: 7.8 | Episodes: 12 | Studio: Satelight.
4. To Your Eternity (2021)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: An immortal being learns empathy through human connections, enduring heartbreak as loved ones age and die.
- Similarities: Explores how memory defines existence, paralleling Coco’s “to be remembered is to be alive” ethos.
- MAL: 8.2 | Episodes: 20+ | Studio: Brain’s Base.
5. Natsume’s Book of Friends (2008)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: A boy inherits a book binding spirits to his family, forging bonds while reconciling with his ancestors’ past.
- Similarities: Blends supernatural lore with familial legacy, akin to Coco’s bridge between the living and the dead.
- MAL: 8.4 | Episodes: 75+ | Studio: Shuka.
6. The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013)
- Streaming: Max
- Plot: A celestial being raised by humans confronts her dual identity and the cost of immortality.
- Similarities: Visually lush and thematically rich in cultural roots, echoing Coco’s reverence for heritage.
- MAL: 8.3 | Episodes: Film | Studio: Studio Ghibli | Awards: Oscar nomination.
7. Barakamon (2014)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: A calligrapher reconnects with his craft and humanity in a rural community after a personal crisis.
- Similarities: Celebrates community and rediscovering purpose, much like Miguel’s journey to balance passion and family.
- MAL: 8.2 | Episodes: 12 | Studio: Kinema Citrus.
8. Hotarubi no Mori e (2011)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: A girl befriends a masked spirit, navigating a bittersweet bond constrained by supernatural rules.
- Similarities: Poignant exploration of ephemeral connections, mirroring Coco’s themes of love transcending time.
- MAL: 8.3 | Episodes: Film | Studio: Brain’s Base.
9. Wolf Children (2012)
- Streaming: Hulu
- Plot: A widow raises half-wolf children, struggling to preserve their identity while honoring their human roots.
- Similarities: Focuses on maternal sacrifice and cultural duality, akin to Imelda’s protective love in Coco.
- MAL: 8.6 | Episodes: Film | Studio: Studio Chizu | Awards: Japan Academy Prize.
10. Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 (2009)
- Streaming: HiDive
- Plot: Siblings survive a catastrophic earthquake, relying on strangers to reunite with their family.
- Similarities: Highlights resilience and the unbreakable ties of family during crises, much like Coco’s emotional stakes.
- MAL: 7.9 | Episodes: 11 | Studio: Bones.
11. Haibane Renmei (2002)
- Streaming: Funimation
- Plot: Winged beings in a walled town seek redemption while grappling with their mysterious pasts.
- Similarities: Subtle, introspective storytelling about identity and forgiveness, resonating with Coco’s quieter moments.
- MAL: 8.0 | Episodes: 13 | Studio: Radix.
12. 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, akin to Coco’s spiritual undertones.
- MAL: 8.7 | Episodes: 46 | Studio: Artland.
13. A Place Further Than the Universe (2018)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: Teens embark on an Antarctic expedition to fulfill a lost parent’s dream, confronting grief and growth.
- Similarities: Balances adventure with emotional catharsis, similar to Miguel’s quest to honor Héctor.
- MAL: 8.7 | Episodes: 13 | Studio: Madhouse.
14. The Great Passage (2016)
- Streaming: Amazon Prime
- Plot: A lexicographer spends decades crafting a dictionary, finding meaning in collaboration and legacy.
- Similarities: Quietly celebrates perseverance and leaving a mark, mirroring Coco’s theme of remembrance.
- MAL: 7.8 | Episodes: 11 | Studio: Zexcs.
15. Orange (2016)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Plot: Friends use letters to prevent a classmate’s suicide, confronting regret and mending relationships.
- Similarities: Focuses on healing past wounds and cherishing bonds, akin to Coco’s intergenerational reconciliation.
- MAL: 8.1 | Episodes: 13 | Studio: Telecom Animation Film.
Why These Anime Work for Coco Fans
These series mirror Coco’s core themes: the weight of memory, the resilience of familial love, and the quest to honor one’s roots.
From Maquia’s exploration of fleeting time to A Silent Voice’s redemption arcs, each offers emotional depth and cultural richness often overlooked in mainstream anime.
Their unique animation styles and nuanced storytelling provide a gateway to stories where legacy isn’t just remembered-it’s lived.
