Makoto Shinkai’s Weathering With You (2019) captivated audiences with its heartfelt narrative, stunning animation, and exploration of themes like youthful love, supernatural abilities, and the tension between personal desire and societal responsibility. It masterfully blends realism with fantasy, showcasing characters who face extraordinary choices in a world shaped by their emotions and decisions.
If you were moved by Weathering With You’s emotional storytelling, compelling character development, and thought-provoking metaphors about climate, sacrifice, and connection, these 15 underrated anime series offer similar experiences—each one a unique journey with echoes of Shinkai’s signature touch.
These selections may not have topped mainstream charts, but they deserve a spotlight for their deep themes, visual style, and storytelling finesse.
1. The Eccentric Family (2013)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, HIDIVE
- Episodes: 13
- MAL Rating: 7.92
- Studio: P.A. Works
- Notable Staff: Directed by Masayuki Yoshihara; original novel by Tomihiko Morimi
Plot: Set in modern Kyoto, this series follows a family of tanuki (shape-shifting creatures) navigating their complex relationships with humans and tengu.
Similarities: Explores the hidden mystical layers of a real-world city, blending fantasy with emotional character arcs and beautiful urban landscapes—much like Shinkai’s vision of Tokyo.
2. Children Who Chase Lost Voices (2011)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 1 (Film)
- MAL Rating: 7.51
- Studio: CoMix Wave Films
- Notable Staff: Directed by Makoto Shinkai
Plot: A young girl journeys to a mysterious underground world in search of a lost connection, uncovering secrets about life and death.
Similarities: Another Shinkai work, this film leans into emotional depth, fantastical realms, and complex themes of grief and acceptance.
3. Nagi no Asukara (A Lull in the Sea, 2013)
- Streaming: HIDIVE, Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 26
- MAL Rating: 8.00
- Studio: P.A. Works
Plot: A group of underwater-dwelling teens faces the challenges of integration into the surface world, while wrestling with love and growing up.
Similarities: Emotion-driven storytelling, supernatural elements grounded in emotional realism, and breathtaking animation reminiscent of Weathering With You.
4. Time of Eve (2008)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Amazon Prime
- Episodes: 6
- MAL Rating: 8.06
- Studio: Studio Rikka
- Awards: Jury Recommended Work at the Japan Media Arts Festival
Plot: In a future where androids exist, a secret café blurs the boundaries between humans and robots.
Similarities: Quiet introspection, deeply human themes hidden within sci-fi settings, and a minimalist yet striking animation style that mirrors Shinkai’s atmospheric tones.
5. The Great Passage (2016)
- Streaming: Amazon Prime
- Episodes: 11
- MAL Rating: 7.91
- Studio: Zexcs
- Awards: Best Animation of the Year at 21st Japan Media Arts Festival
Plot: A quiet man is recruited to help create a dictionary, revealing how language shapes life and love.
Similarities: Understated storytelling with strong emotional resonance and unique focus on small, human moments—ideal for fans of Shinkai’s subtle drama.
6. Pale Cocoon (2006)
- Streaming: YouTube, DVD
- Episodes: 1 (OVA)
- MAL Rating: 7.27
- Studio: Studio Rikka
Plot: In a post-apocalyptic future, an archivist uncovers a lost piece of Earth’s forgotten past.
Similarities: Deeply introspective with stunning visuals and sparse, evocative storytelling akin to Weathering With You’s quieter, more symbolic moments.
7. Tsuki ga Kirei (2017)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 8.16
- Studio: feel.
Plot: Two middle school students navigate their first love amidst pressures of growing up.
Similarities: Focus on youthful romance, emotional realism, and visual storytelling that captures quiet, heartfelt moments in daily life.
8. Haibane Renmei (2002)
- Streaming: Funimation, Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 13
- MAL Rating: 8.12
- Studio: Radix
- Notable Staff: Created by Yoshitoshi ABe (Serial Experiments Lain)
Plot: Winged beings known as Haibane live in a mysterious town as they search for meaning and redemption.
Similarities: Soft supernatural worldbuilding, spiritual undertones, and introspective characters echo the thematic ambiguity and emotional complexity of Weathering With You.
9. 5 Centimeters Per Second (2007)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 1 (Film)
- MAL Rating: 7.59
- Studio: CoMix Wave Films
- Notable Staff: Directed by Makoto Shinkai
Plot: A trilogy of vignettes portraying a couple drifting apart due to time and distance.
Similarities: Another Shinkai masterpiece that delves into themes of distance, longing, and the harsh realism of unfulfilled love.
10. The Tatami Galaxy (2010)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 11
- MAL Rating: 8.63
- Studio: Madhouse
- Awards: Grand Prize at the Japan Media Arts Festival
Plot: A college student repeatedly relives his university life, hoping to find the ideal outcome.
Similarities: Surreal storytelling, existential themes, and rapid-paced introspection that explores personal choice and consequence—echoing Weathering With You’s what-if scenarios.
11. Iroduku: The World in Colors (2018)
- Streaming: Amazon Prime, HIDIVE
- Episodes: 13
- MAL Rating: 7.54
- Studio: P.A. Works
Plot: A colorblind girl from a magical future is sent back to the past to rediscover emotional connection and her artistic roots.
Similarities: Beautiful animation, magical realism, and themes of emotional healing—very much in line with Shinkai’s style.
12. The Place Promised in Our Early Days (2004)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 1 (Film)
- MAL Rating: 7.53
- Studio: CoMix Wave Films
- Notable Staff: Directed by Makoto Shinkai
Plot: In an alternate Japan, three friends are separated by mysterious events and a looming war, but their promise ties them across dimensions.
Similarities: Melancholic storytelling, gorgeous visuals, and strong emotional ties—perfect for those who loved the tone of Weathering With You.
13. Somali and the Forest Spirit (2020)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 7.83
- Studio: Satelight
Plot: A golem journeys across a mystical world with a human child in search of her people.
Similarities: A heartfelt bond between characters, striking fantasy visuals, and emotional stakes grounded in themes of family, belonging, and sacrifice.
14. Kaiba (2008)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 8.13
- Studio: Madhouse
- Notable Staff: Directed by Masaaki Yuasa
Plot: In a world where memories can be transferred, a boy seeks answers about his identity and the nature of love.
Similarities: Philosophical undercurrents, stylized animation, and emotionally driven sci-fi elements that evoke the blend of reality and fantasy in Shinkai’s works.
15. Voices of a Distant Star (2002)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 1 (OVA)
- MAL Rating: 7.14
- Studio: CoMix Wave Films
- Notable Staff: Makoto Shinkai’s breakout work
Plot: Two lovers are separated across time and space as one travels through the galaxy on a military mission.
Similarities: A spiritual predecessor to Weathering With You, this short film masterfully captures longing, distance, and emotional connection under extraordinary circumstances.
Why These Anime Work for Weathering With You Fans
Each of these underrated anime brings something special to the table—whether it’s emotionally resonant character arcs, stunning atmospheric visuals, or subtle magical realism. Much like Weathering With You, they don’t just entertain; they reflect deeper truths about connection, sacrifice, and what it means to be human. Fans of Makoto Shinkai’s emotional storytelling and aesthetic will find rich, overlooked gems in this curated list that deserve far more attention than they’ve received.
