Anime like Doujouji

Shanshui Qing

Also known as Feeling from Mountain and Water.

Studio: Shanghai Animation Film Studio
Status: Finished
Genres: Music

The only noises you can hear are the sounds of water and wind. The story shows us a young girl and an elderly man. She cares about him and in a return, he gives her guqin lessons.

Tags: No Dialogue , Philosophy , Musical Theater , Foreign , Female Protagonist

Kataku

Studio: Video Market
Status: Finished
Genres: Supernatural

Many years ago, a young woman named Unai-Otome lived in the village of Ikuta. As she was beautiful it was no surprise that she had two suitors, both deeply in love with her. The girl was torn apart over which one to choose. In her desperation she chose a third option - taking her own life. Although her intentions were absolutely pure, not even in death did she find the solace she desired. Many decades later, a pilgrim walking by her grave meets a beautiful young woman and her story once again rises from the depths of time.... With a plot based on a classic play of Noh traditional theatre, the film presents the peak of Kawamoto’s mastery thanks to its expert mediation of the absurdity of the human condition.

Source: http://www.kviff.com/en/film-archive-detail/20050895-house-of-flames/

Tags: Demons , Historical , Afterlife , Puppetry , Stop Motion

Matsugae wo Musubi

Studio: Tomoyasu Murata Company
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama

"The Pine's Branches" is the latest work in Murata Tomoyasu's series "Journey through memories of life and death,” which he began following the Tohoku earthquake in 2011.

Tags: Stop Motion , Tragedy , Rural , Family Life , Twins , Female Protagonist , Time Skip

Kaguya-hime no Monogatari

Also known as The Tale of The Princess Kaguya.

Studio: Studio Ghibli
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Romance

Okina is a bamboo cutter in ancient rural Japan. One day in the forest, he finds a tiny baby in the folds of a bamboo shoot. He brings the creature home to his wife Ounaa and they decide to keep her and raise her as a princess. She is clearly not of this world. Kaguya grows at an unnatural rate, soon maturing into an uncommonly beautiful young woman. Since Okina has now also found a cache of gold and treasure in the forest, every suitor wants Kaguya. But this is not a fairy tale of courtship and marriage.



Tags: Philosophy , Classic Literature , Tragedy , Historical , Fairy Tale , Female Protagonist , Rural , Family Life , Gods , Religion , Primarily Adult Cast , Amnesia , Travel , Adoption , Heterosexual , Agriculture , Unrequited Love , Environmental , Calligraphy

Totsukuni no Shoujo

Also known as The Girl From the Other Side: Siúil, a Rún.

Studio: Wit Studio , Production I.G
Status: Finished
Genres: Fantasy , Mystery

In a world split between the Inside and the Outside, those living in both realms are told never to cross over to the other side, lest they be cursed. A young girl named Shiva lives on the other side, in a vacant village with a demonic guardian known only as “Teacher.” Although the two are forbidden to touch, they seem to share a bond that transcends their disparate appearances. But when Shiva leaves Teacher’s care to seek out her grandmother, the secret behind her mysterious living arrangement comes to light.



Note: Bundled with the limited edition of the manga's 8th volume.

Tags: No Dialogue , Family Life , Demons , Fairy Tale , Rural , Orphan , Female Protagonist , Anthropomorphism

Lu Ling

Studio: Shanghai Animation Film Studio
Status: Finished
Genres:

An old man and his granddaughter found a wounded fawn while searching for Chinese medicinal herbs in the mountains. Under the girl's careful care, the fawn gradually recovered and became an inseparable friend with the girl...



Tags: Animals , No Dialogue

Nekojiru-sou

Also known as Cat Soup.

Studio: J.C. Staff
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Horror , Psychological

Cat Soup is an extremely difficult film to describe, due to its awesome surrealism and almost nonexistant dialogue. It is more a work of art than an anime. There are many underlying themes, such as the transcience of man's existence, but it can be enjoyed without understanding any of them. The plot, though simple, isn't necessarily understandable without being explained. The main character, a cat named Nyatto, embarks upon a journey to save his sister's soul, which was ripped in two when Nyatto tried to save her from Death. She trails after him, brain-dead. They encounter many brilliant, mind-bending situations, beginning with a disturbing magic show.



Tags: Animals , Surreal Comedy , No Dialogue , Philosophy , Afterlife , Cosmic Horror , Urban , Survival , Primarily Animal Cast , Seinen , Anthropomorphism , Gods , Male Protagonist , Circus , Time Manipulation , Body Horror , Outdoor , Rural , Ships , Religion , Nudity , Cannibalism , Gore , Revenge

1001 Nights

Status: Finished
Genres: Fantasy , Romance

Presented in the form of a feverish love dream, 1001 Nights (based on Amano's book of artwork) is the first performance of the groundbreaking "Filmharmonic" series, which presents new orchestral works by film composers in tandem with short films made by A-list directors. 1001 Nights is the series's only animated work, and plans originally called for the film to be completely computer animated.

Tags: Fairy Tale , Mythology , Foreign , No Dialogue , Nudity , Demons , Classic Literature , Female Protagonist , Male Protagonist , Heterosexual , Historical , CGI , Dragons

Oni

Studio: Hifumi Shobou
Status: Finished
Genres: Supernatural

One morning, two brothers living in a hut with their mother set out for the mountains to set traps for deer. They move silently through the forest undergrowth until suddenly a demon's arm reaches out from the treetops and grabs the younger brother. The older brother aims carefully, calms the shaking of his hands and lets an arrow fly, thus saving his brother's life. The demon's arm is left behind and somehow it looks familiar. After returning home a horrible truth is revealed.... Drawing on an early medieval Japanese legend, the film is reminiscent of the horror psychodrama Kwaidan. The Demon (1972) took awards at many animation festivals.



Tags: Demons , Historical , Stop Motion , Puppetry , Tragedy , Cannibalism , Archery , Primarily Adult Cast , Rural , Gore , Outdoor

Cello Hiki no Gauche

Studio: Gakken
Status: Finished
Genres: Fantasy , Music

A Miyazawa Kenji story adapted as a puppet animation.

Tags: Puppetry , Animals