Ride Your Wave (2019), directed by Masaaki Yuasa, is a heartfelt anime film blending romance, grief, and magical realism. It’s not just a love story but an exploration of how people process loss and carry memories forward. With vibrant animation and subtle storytelling, it celebrates human resilience while leaving viewers with bittersweet emotions.
For fans who connected with its themes of love, healing, and emotional growth, there are many underrated anime series that echo the same spirit. These selections aren’t just about fantasy or romance—they focus on character development, emotional storytelling, and unique artistic direction. Below are 15 lesser-known anime series that share the heart and depth of Ride Your Wave.
1. Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day (2011)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Netflix
- Episodes: 11
- MAL Rating: 8.32
- Studio: A-1 Pictures
Plot: A group of childhood friends reunite after the ghost of their deceased friend, Menma, appears to one of them, forcing them to confront grief and regret.
Similarity: Like Ride Your Wave, it deals with loss, healing, and how love transcends time and memory, using a delicate mix of the supernatural and heartfelt realism.
2. Tsuki ga Kirei (2017)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 8.10
- Studio: feel.
Plot: Two shy middle schoolers slowly fall in love while navigating family expectations and personal insecurities.
Similarity: Its gentle, slice-of-life romance mirrors the tender first-love elements of Ride Your Wave, emphasizing emotional authenticity over drama.
3. Orange (2016)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Hulu
- Episodes: 13 + 1 OVA
- MAL Rating: 7.61
- Studio: Telecom Animation Film
Plot: A high school girl receives letters from her future self, urging her to prevent the regrets surrounding a new transfer student.
Similarity: Both stories explore themes of regret, the fragility of life, and how one’s presence can profoundly change another’s future.
4. Sarabande of the End: The Melody of Life (2018)
- Streaming: HIDIVE (rare find)
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 7.45
- Studio: Studio VOLN
Plot: Following the death of her musician brother, a girl rediscovers his unfinished compositions and begins a healing journey through music.
Similarity: Just as Ride Your Wave ties emotions to the ocean, this anime uses music as a metaphor for memory and love beyond death.
5. Nagi-Asu: A Lull in the Sea (2013)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, HIDIVE
- Episodes: 26
- MAL Rating: 8.02
- Studio: P.A. Works
Plot: In a world where humans live both underwater and on land, a group of friends struggles with love, prejudice, and change.
Similarity: The sea imagery and emotional storytelling strongly parallel Ride Your Wave, with water symbolizing both connection and separation.
6. Just Because! (2017)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 7.24
- Studio: Pine Jam
Plot: A transfer student’s arrival at the end of senior year stirs quiet but meaningful changes in a group of high school friends.
Similarity: Its slow, realistic pacing and exploration of fleeting youth echo the bittersweet atmosphere of Yuasa’s film.
7. Glasslip (2014)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 13
- MAL Rating: 5.40
- Studio: P.A. Works
Plot: A girl with the ability to glimpse fragments of the future meets a mysterious boy who shares her gift.
Similarity: While divisive, its reflective tone, supernatural touches, and focus on adolescence resemble Ride Your Wave’s thematic rhythm.
8. Sagrada Reset (2017)
- Streaming: HIDIVE
- Episodes: 24
- MAL Rating: 7.29
- Studio: David Production
Plot: A girl with the ability to reset time teams up with a boy who remembers everything, navigating mysteries in their unusual town.
Similarity: Like Ride Your Wave, it fuses supernatural elements with deep emotional character arcs about memory, loss, and moving forward.
9. Eve no Jikan (Time of Eve) (2008)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, HIDIVE
- Episodes: 6
- MAL Rating: 8.03
- Studio: Studio Rikka
Plot: In a future where androids and humans coexist, a hidden café offers a space where the boundaries between them dissolve.
Similarity: The intimate storytelling, human connection, and exploration of empathy resonate with Ride Your Wave’s narrative warmth.
10. Someday’s Dreamers (2003)
- Streaming: HIDIVE
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 7.01
- Studio: J.C. Staff
Plot: A trainee mage learns to use her powers responsibly while experiencing the joys and sorrows of those around her.
Similarity: Both works ground magical elements in everyday life, weaving emotional lessons into subtle, character-driven storytelling.
11. KimiKiss: Pure Rouge (2007)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 24
- MAL Rating: 7.36
- Studio: J.C. Staff
Plot: High school friends navigate romance and self-discovery through interwoven stories of first love.
Similarity: Like Ride Your Wave, it emphasizes the innocence and vulnerability of young romance, with realistic emotional payoffs.
12. Amanchu! (2016)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 12 + OVA
- MAL Rating: 7.32
- Studio: J.C. Staff
Plot: A cheerful girl introduces her introverted classmate to the joys of scuba diving and new experiences.
Similarity: Ocean imagery, themes of personal growth, and healing through friendship make it an ideal companion to Ride Your Wave.
13. True Tears (2008)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 13
- MAL Rating: 7.27
- Studio: P.A. Works
Plot: A high school boy becomes entangled in complex romantic relationships with three very different girls.
Similarity: Its grounded emotions and soft, melancholic tone parallel the bittersweet romance in Ride Your Wave.
14. Colorful (2010)
- Streaming: HIDIVE, Amazon Prime
- Episodes: Movie (2h)
- MAL Rating: 8.00
- Studio: Sunrise
Plot: A soul given a second chance at life inhabits a boy’s body, exploring themes of regret, love, and redemption.
Similarity: Much like Ride Your Wave, it combines magical realism with a tender exploration of mortality and human bonds.
15. Scum’s Wish (2017)
- Streaming: HIDIVE, Amazon Prime
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 7.16
- Studio: Lerche
Plot: Two teenagers form a false relationship to cope with their unrequited loves, exploring raw and painful emotions.
Similarity: Though darker in tone, its exploration of flawed love, vulnerability, and emotional healing aligns with the deeper currents in Ride Your Wave.
Why These Anime Work for Ride Your Wave Fans
What makes Ride Your Wave special is how it balances everyday love with extraordinary circumstances, all while exploring human vulnerability. The series and films listed above carry that same spark—they intertwine emotional authenticity with supernatural or symbolic elements, creating stories that stay with viewers long after the credits roll. Whether it’s through the healing power of memory (Anohana), the quiet gentleness of first love (Tsuki ga Kirei), or the vast imagery of the sea (Amanchu! and Nagi-Asu), these anime remind us that love and loss are universal tides we all must navigate.
