Studio Ghibli Vibes but It's Not Ghibli
Anime
Here are some anime that do give Ghibli vibes like it has magic realism, nature, wonder, strong female leads and many more things that lot of ghibli movies have . They feel like they are made by ghbli team, but they are not
Movie, 2012,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:9
Follows a mother raising children with a mysterious nature.
It captures quiet emotion, family love, and nature's beauty.
Feels like My Neighbor Totoro with a deeper maturity.
It captures quiet emotion, family love, and nature's beauty.
Feels like My Neighbor Totoro with a deeper maturity.
Movie, 2011,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:-
A girl descends into a mythical world searching for meaning.
Inspired directly by Ghibli aesthetics and philosophy.
Made by Makoto Shinkai’s most Ghibli-esque vision.
Inspired directly by Ghibli aesthetics and philosophy.
Made by Makoto Shinkai’s most Ghibli-esque vision.
TV, 2008,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:-
A boy can see spirits and slowly befriends them.
Warm, episodic stories full of emotion and peaceful magic.
Feels like Spirited Away meets Whisper of the Heart.
Warm, episodic stories full of emotion and peaceful magic.
Feels like Spirited Away meets Whisper of the Heart.
TV, 2013,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:-
Supernatural creatures coexist in a modern Kyoto.
It blends folklore, family, and light-hearted tragedy.
Odd, beautiful, and deeply rooted in Japanese myth
It blends folklore, family, and light-hearted tragedy.
Odd, beautiful, and deeply rooted in Japanese myth
TV, 2005,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:-
A wanderer travels to study mysterious lifeforms called Mushi.
Minimalist, calm, and full of wonder and nature.
The tone is serene, mystical — pure Ghibli spirit.
Minimalist, calm, and full of wonder and nature.
The tone is serene, mystical — pure Ghibli spirit.
Movie, 2012,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:-
A girl moves to a rural town and meets strange beings.
It explores grief and growth through fantasy creatures.
Soft visuals and spirit-world metaphors feel Ghibli-perfect.
It explores grief and growth through fantasy creatures.
Soft visuals and spirit-world metaphors feel Ghibli-perfect.
Movie, 2015,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:8
A runaway boy enters a hidden beast realm.
Coming-of-age with colorful worlds and deep bonds.
Directed by Mamoru Hosoda, often dubbed the “new Miyazaki.
Coming-of-age with colorful worlds and deep bonds.
Directed by Mamoru Hosoda, often dubbed the “new Miyazaki.
Movie, 2006,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:-
Soft sci-fi about a girl with an unusual power.
Balances the magic of youth with emotional weight.
Feels whimsical but grounded like Kiki’s Delivery Service.
Balances the magic of youth with emotional weight.
Feels whimsical but grounded like Kiki’s Delivery Service.
TV, 2003,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:-
A traveler visits different lands, each with a lesson.
Thoughtful, philosophical, and minimal on action.
Similar to Ghibli’s quiet depth and world exploration
Thoughtful, philosophical, and minimal on action.
Similar to Ghibli’s quiet depth and world exploration
TV, 2016,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:-
A man returns to his hometown and meets a mystical child.
Soft, wholesome, with themes of family and nostalgia.
Ghibli-like rural magic and emotional storytelling.
Soft, wholesome, with themes of family and nostalgia.
Ghibli-like rural magic and emotional storytelling.
Movie, 2007,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:-
A boy finds an ancient Kappa and hides him at home.
Blends Japanese folklore with slice-of-life emotions.
Feels like Totoro meets Pom Poko.
Blends Japanese folklore with slice-of-life emotions.
Feels like Totoro meets Pom Poko.
TV, 2014,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:9
A city artist moves to the countryside to rediscover purpose.
He finds joy in slowness and village life.
No fantasy, but pure Ghibli heart.
He finds joy in slowness and village life.
No fantasy, but pure Ghibli heart.
TV, 2009,
50 eps
Me:-
Author:-
A girl bonds with magical creatures and seeks her own path.
Slow, methodical world-building with environmental depth.
The Ghibli DNA is strong, especially Nausicaä.
Slow, methodical world-building with environmental depth.
The Ghibli DNA is strong, especially Nausicaä.
TV, 2019,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:-
A quiet author begins caring for a stray cat.
Told partially from the cat’s perspective.
Wholesome, quiet, and emotionally subtle — pure healing.
Told partially from the cat’s perspective.
Wholesome, quiet, and emotionally subtle — pure healing.
OVA, 2019,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:-
A human child and a cursed beast form a gentle bond.
Fairy-tale visuals and tragic beauty define its tone.
It’s hauntingly lovely — like a dark Ghibli short
Fairy-tale visuals and tragic beauty define its tone.
It’s hauntingly lovely — like a dark Ghibli short
Movie, 2019,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:-
A boy travels to a magical parallel world.
Literally designed by Ghibli animators (game + anime).
Same fantasy heart, but with an original twist.
Literally designed by Ghibli animators (game + anime).
Same fantasy heart, but with an original twist.
TV, 2018,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:-
A boy adopts a tiny, adorable mummy spirit.
Cute, magical slice-of-life interactions.
Feels like a Ghibli short — soft and silly but emotional.
Cute, magical slice-of-life interactions.
Feels like a Ghibli short — soft and silly but emotional.
TV, 2017,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:-
Two girls explore a quiet, post-apocalyptic world.
Calm, thoughtful, and full of small emotional moments.
A darker but still-Ghibli-feeling journey of discovery.
Calm, thoughtful, and full of small emotional moments.
A darker but still-Ghibli-feeling journey of discovery.
TV, 2008,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:8
A surreal sci-fi with strange shapes and colors.
Beneath the weirdness is a story about love and memory.
It’s as bold and tender as Ghibli’s dream sequences.
Beneath the weirdness is a story about love and memory.
It’s as bold and tender as Ghibli’s dream sequences.
TV, 2007,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:-
Kids navigate a digital world overlapping their own.
Blends nostalgia, sci-fi, and childlike wonder.
Very Ghibli in how it sees technology with heart.
Blends nostalgia, sci-fi, and childlike wonder.
Very Ghibli in how it sees technology with heart.
TV, 2011,
11 eps
Me:-
Author:-
A man raises a little girl on his own.
Slice-of-life family themes with quiet affection.
Like My Neighbor Totoro, but more grounded.
Dont continue the manga after the anime ......
Slice-of-life family themes with quiet affection.
Like My Neighbor Totoro, but more grounded.
Dont continue the manga after the anime ......
ONA, 2016,
5 eps
Me:-
Author:-
A man meets a robot girl in a ruined planetarium.
Their bond is innocent, hopeful, and sad.
Soft beauty in a broken world — Ghibli melancholy.
Their bond is innocent, hopeful, and sad.
Soft beauty in a broken world — Ghibli melancholy.
TV, 2013,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:7
Sea-dwelling children attend school on the surface.
Romance, nature, and emotional worldbuilding shine.
Ghibli-style fantasy layered over real feelings.
Romance, nature, and emotional worldbuilding shine.
Ghibli-style fantasy layered over real feelings.
ONA, 2005,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:-
Short, artistic anime about a girl waiting in the rain.
Minimal dialogue, visual storytelling.
Feels like a Ghibli music video.
Minimal dialogue, visual storytelling.
Feels like a Ghibli music video.
Movie, 2014,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:-
A simple love story in a small shopping district.
Warm characters and strong community vibes.
Slice-of-life magic without literal magic.
Warm characters and strong community vibes.
Slice-of-life magic without literal magic.
TV, 2003,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:-
A modern Japan where young mages use magic for small things.
Gentle tone, pastel visuals, soft pacing.
A rare “sorcerers-in-the-city” anime that feels grounded
Gentle tone, pastel visuals, soft pacing.
A rare “sorcerers-in-the-city” anime that feels grounded
Movie, 2008,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:-
A short film about an old man revisiting his submerged home.
Silent, poetic, and visually breathtaking.
Pure Ghibli-style soul in under 15 minutes.
Silent, poetic, and visually breathtaking.
Pure Ghibli-style soul in under 15 minutes.
TV, 2012,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:-
Boys bond through fishing and one strange alien visitor.
Whimsical tone, bright color palette, emotional undercurrent.
Like Ponyo in structure, but with more coming-of-age depth.
Whimsical tone, bright color palette, emotional undercurrent.
Like Ponyo in structure, but with more coming-of-age depth.
TV, 2016,
11 eps
Me:-
Author:-
A team builds a dictionary over many years.
About communication, time, and quiet persistence.
No fantasy, but full Ghibli warmth and life philosophy.
About communication, time, and quiet persistence.
No fantasy, but full Ghibli warmth and life philosophy.
Movie, 2013,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:-
A short film about a boy’s elaborate daydreams and crush.
Highly visual, fast-paced, but emotionally tender.
Ghibli meets hyper imagination.
Highly visual, fast-paced, but emotionally tender.
Ghibli meets hyper imagination.
Movie, 2009,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:-
A girl enters a hidden world where lost things are kept.
Very close in vibe to Spirited Away.
Whimsical, vibrant, and adventure-filled.
Very close in vibe to Spirited Away.
Whimsical, vibrant, and adventure-filled.
Movie, 2006,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:5
Though more surreal and adult, its dream logic feels like Spirited Away.
It explores identity and fantasy through dreams.
It’s Satoshi Kon’s most Ghibli-compatible work.
It explores identity and fantasy through dreams.
It’s Satoshi Kon’s most Ghibli-compatible work.
ONA, 2020,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:-
A girl turns into a cat to get closer to her crush.
Folklore, magical realism, emotional arcs.
Feels like The Cat Returns and Whisper of the Heart combined.
Folklore, magical realism, emotional arcs.
Feels like The Cat Returns and Whisper of the Heart combined.
TV, 2018,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:-
A soft, meditative anime about the sport of archery.
Quiet countryside energy and personal healing.
Nature + emotion = Ghibli energy.
Quiet countryside energy and personal healing.
Nature + emotion = Ghibli energy.
Movie, 2019,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:-
A girl can control the weather; a boy falls into her orbit.
Shinkai's visuals and emotion resemble Laputa and Howl.
Hopeful magic in a messy world.
Shinkai's visuals and emotion resemble Laputa and Howl.
Hopeful magic in a messy world.
TV, 2017,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:-
A tribe lives on a giant sand ship and uses mystical powers.
Beautiful design, emotional core, and mystery.
Nature, emotion, and otherworldliness — very Ghibli.
Beautiful design, emotional core, and mystery.
Nature, emotion, and otherworldliness — very Ghibli.
TV, 2017,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:-
A shy girl’s disappearance leads to supernatural signs.
Gentle pacing and soft melancholy.
Magical realism with a reflective tone.
Gentle pacing and soft melancholy.
Magical realism with a reflective tone.
Movie, 2013,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:8
A quiet connection grows between two strangers in the rain.
Nature, silence, emotion, and beauty.
Ghibli-level art with Shinkai's emotional subtlety.
Nature, silence, emotion, and beauty.
Ghibli-level art with Shinkai's emotional subtlety.
Movie, 2018,
3 eps
Me:-
Author:-
Anthology by ex-Ghibli animators at Studio Ponoc.
Different stories about courage and vulnerability.
Feels like Ghibli short films.
Different stories about courage and vulnerability.
Feels like Ghibli short films.
Movie, 2019,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:-
A surfer girl falls in love with a firefighter.
Emotional and wave-filled with magical realism.
Beautiful water animation and bittersweet emotion
Emotional and wave-filled with magical realism.
Beautiful water animation and bittersweet emotion
Movie, 2018,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:-
A girl runs an inn with the help of friendly spirits.
Themes of grief, growth, and hospitality.
Very Totoro + Spirited Away.
Themes of grief, growth, and hospitality.
Very Totoro + Spirited Away.
TV, 2021,
20 eps
Me:-
Author:6
A being learns what it means to be human.
Slow fantasy evolution with strong emotion.
Ghibli-like existential storytelling.
Slow fantasy evolution with strong emotion.
Ghibli-like existential storytelling.
TV, 2017,
25 eps
Me:-
Author:-
A cheerful girl enters a school of magic to follow her dream.
Classic magical girl joy and wonder.
Feels like Kiki's younger cousin.
Classic magical girl joy and wonder.
Feels like Kiki's younger cousin.
Movie, 2019,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:-
A girl visits a colorful, surreal world to fulfill a prophecy.
Ghibli-style whimsy, but more chaotic.
Ghibli-style whimsy, but more chaotic.
Movie, 2017,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:-
A seaside town is shaken by a mermaid’s arrival and a boy’s music.
Visually wild but emotionally pure, with themes of acceptance.
From the director of Devilman Crybaby — but way more kid-friendly and whimsical.
Visually wild but emotionally pure, with themes of acceptance.
From the director of Devilman Crybaby — but way more kid-friendly and whimsical.
Movie, 2010,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:-
A group of kids is whisked into a wild intergalactic summer adventure.
Vibrant, full of alien wonder, yet emotionally grounded.
It’s Spirited Away if it went cosmic.
Vibrant, full of alien wonder, yet emotionally grounded.
It’s Spirited Away if it went cosmic.
Movie, 2013,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:-
Aimed at kids, but it's beautifully done with animal characters, music, and gentle adventure.
Great use of color, nature, and childlike heart.
Pure, simple, and sweet — very Totoro in energy.
Great use of color, nature, and childlike heart.
Pure, simple, and sweet — very Totoro in energy.
Movie, 2015,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:-
A painter’s daughter navigates art, spirituality, and family in Edo-period Japan.
Blends the real with subtle fantasy elements and ghosts.
Emotionally restrained but rich in soul and culture.
Blends the real with subtle fantasy elements and ghosts.
Emotionally restrained but rich in soul and culture.
Movie, 2017,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:5
A surreal night unfolds in Kyoto with magic, drinks, and destiny.
Tons of whimsy, beautiful city lights, and random spiritual moments.
More chaotic than Ghibli, but shares the same fantastical spark.
Tons of whimsy, beautiful city lights, and random spiritual moments.
More chaotic than Ghibli, but shares the same fantastical spark.
TV, 2018,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:-
Two boys with different lives find common ground through music and nature.
Forests, rivers, old pianos — all drawn with soul and grace.
It’s soft, sincere, and captures Ghibli’s love for talent and harmony.
Forests, rivers, old pianos — all drawn with soul and grace.
It’s soft, sincere, and captures Ghibli’s love for talent and harmony.
