Anime like Princess Mononoke

What is Princess Mononoke about?

Studio: Studio Ghibli
Status: Finished

A calm village residing in the mountains comes under attack from a demon-possessed boar one day.

Ashitaka, a young man and prince of the tribe, engages the creature in an attempt to save his village. During the battle, the boar bites him on the arm, leaving it blackened and cursed. Following his village's traditions, Ashitaka is exiled and becomes a wanderer, looking for a solution to the curse before it engulfs him.

Iron Town is a fortress under the leadership of Lady Eboshi. Through the clearing of the surrounding forests, Iron Town produces large amounts of Ironsand, used for gunpowder and other machinery. However, because of the forests destruction, nearby animal clans seek revenge led by a human girl of the Wolf clan called San.

When Ashitaka comes to Iron Town, he discovers the area consumed in battle. Horrified, he attempts to create peace and befriend the Wolf Clan. However, after the forest's eradication and the ongoing war between Human and Beast, will the Spirit of the Forest be forgiving and accept Ashitaka's request to expel his curse?

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Tags: Environmental , Animals , Mythology , Philosophy , Eco-Horror , War , Gods , Demons , Rural , Youkai , Revenge , Female Protagonist , Historical , Primarily Adult Cast , Male Protagonist , Guns , Disability , Travel , Archery , Urban Fantasy , Outdoor , Tomboy , Body Horror , Curses , Gore , Kaiju , Samurai , Slavery , Swordplay

Where to watch?

Netflix

Max

Kaze no Tani no Nausicaä

Also known as Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.

Studio: Studio Hibari , Topcraft , Walt Disney Studios , GKids
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Sci-Fi

A thousand years after a global war, a seaside kingdom known as the Valley Of The Wind remains one of only a few areas still populated. Led by the courageous Princess Nausicaä, the people of the Valley are engaged in a constant struggle with powerful insects called ohmu, who guard a poisonous jungle that is spreading across the Earth. Nausicaä and her brave companions, together with the people of the Valley, strive to restore the bond between humanity and the Earth.

Tags: Environmental , Post-Apocalyptic , Female Protagonist , Philosophy , Lost Civilization , War , Aviation , Military , Eco-Horror , Kaiju , Survival , Primarily Adult Cast , Cosmic Horror , Travel , Anachronism , Guns , Politics , Orphan , Tanks , Cult , Nudity , Elderly Protagonist

Where to watch?

Netflix

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Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi

Also known as Spirited Away.

Studio: Studio Ghibli , Studio Hibari , Walt Disney Studios , GKids
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Supernatural

On the way to their new home, 10-year-old Chihiro Ogino's family stumbles upon a deserted theme park. Intrigued, the family investigates the park, though unbeknownst to them, it is secretly inhabited by spirits who sleep by day and appear at night. When Chihiro's mother and father eat food from a restaurant in the street, angry spirits turn them into pigs. Furthermore, a wide sea has appeared between the spirit world and the human one, trapping Chihiro, the sole human, in a land of spirits. Luckily for her though, a mysterious boy named Haku appears, claiming to know her from the past. Under his instructions, Chihiro secures a job in the bathhouse where Haku works. With only her courage and some new found friends to aid her, Chihiro embarks on a journey to turn her parents back to their original forms and return home.

Tags: Female Protagonist , Youkai , Shapeshifting , Magic , Urban Fantasy , Work , Mythology , Curses , Gods , Witch , Anthropomorphism , Memory Manipulation , Travel , Dragons , Trains , Primarily Child Cast , Twins

Where to watch?

Netflix

Max

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Howl no Ugoku Shiro

Also known as Howl‘s Moving Castle.

Studio: Studio Ghibli , d-rights , Tokuma Shoten , Walt Disney Studios , GKids
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Romance

Sophie, a quiet girl working in a hat shop, finds her life thrown into turmoil when she is literally swept off her feet by a handsome but mysterious wizard named Howl. The vain and vengeful Witch of the Waste, jealous of their friendship, puts a spell on Sophie. In a life-changing adventure, Sophie climbs aboard Howl's magnificent flying castle and enters a magical world on a quest to break the spell.

Tags: Magic , Elderly Protagonist , Female Protagonist , Steampunk , Witch , War , Monster Boy , Shapeshifting , Heterosexual , Disability , Fairy Tale , Found Family , Travel , Philosophy , Rural , Time Manipulation , Politics , Maids , Demons , Aviation , CGI , Curses , Coming of Age

Where to watch?

Netflix

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Karigurashi no Arrietty

Also known as The Secret World of Arrietty.

Studio: Studio Ghibli , Walt Disney Studios
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Drama , Fantasy

Arrietty, a tiny but tenacious 14-year-old, lives with her parents in the recesses of a suburban garden home, unbeknownst to the homeowner and her housekeeper. Like all little people, Arrietty remains hidden from view, except during occasional covert ventures beyond the floorboards to "borrow" scrap supplies like sugar cubes from her human hosts. But when 12-year-old Shou, a human boy who comes to stay in the home, discovers his mysterious housemate one evening, a secret friendship blossoms. If discovered, their relationship could drive Arrietty's family from the home and straight into danger.

Tags: Rural , Family Life , Classic Literature , Female Protagonist , Coming of Age , Work , Iyashikei

Where to watch?

Netflix

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Tenkuu no Shiro Laputa

Also known as Castle in the Sky.

Studio: Studio Ghibli , Tokuma Shoten , Walt Disney Studios , GKids
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Fantasy , Sci-Fi

This high-flying adventure begins when Pazu, an engineer's apprentice, finds a young girl, Sheeta, floating down from the sky wearing a glowing pendant. Together they discover both are searching for a legendary floating castle, Laputa, and vow to unravel the mystery of the luminous crystal around Sheeta's neck. Their quest won't be easy, however. There are greedy air pirates, secret government agents and astounding obstacles to keep them from the truth, and from each other.

Tags: Lost Civilization , Environmental , Steampunk , Pirates , Aviation , Fugitive , Female Protagonist , Military , Travel , Male Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Heterosexual , Robots , Guns , Primarily Male Cast , Trains , Elderly Protagonist

Where to watch?

Netflix

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Fumetsu no Anata e

Also known as To Your Eternity.

Studio: Brain's Base , NHK Enterprises , NHK
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Psychological , Supernatural

In the beginning, an "orb" is cast unto Earth. "It" can do two things: change into the form of the thing that stimulates "it"; and come back to life after death. "It" morphs from orb to rock, then to wolf, and finally to boy, but roams about like a newborn who knows nothing. As a boy, "it" becomes Fushi.

Through encounters with human kindness, Fushi not only gains survival skills but grows as a "person". But his journey is darkened by the inexplicable and destructive enemy Nokker and cruel partings with the people he loves.

Tags: Shapeshifting , Tragedy , Coming of Age , Philosophy , Rural , Travel , Survival , Ensemble Cast , Body Horror , Agender , Foreign , Gore , Shounen , Animals , Time Skip , Afterlife , Prison , Language Barrier , Historical , Primarily Female Cast , Memory Manipulation , CGI , Snowscape , Orphan , Zombie , Adoption , Demons , Battle Royale , Yandere

Where to watch?

Crunchyroll

YouTube

iQ

Netflix

YouTube

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Kimetsu no Yaiba

Also known as Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.

Studio: ufotable , Aniplex , Shueisha , Aniplex of America , Madman Entertainment
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Supernatural

It is the Taisho Period in Japan. Tanjiro, a kindhearted boy who sells charcoal for a living, finds his family slaughtered by a demon. To make matters worse, his younger sister Nezuko, the sole survivor, has been transformed into a demon herself. Though devastated by this grim reality, Tanjiro resolves to become a “demon slayer” so that he can turn his sister back into a human, and kill the demon that massacred his family.

Tags: Demons , Shounen , Swordplay , Male Protagonist , Tragedy , Monster Girl , Primarily Teen Cast , Revenge , Travel , Orphan , CGI , Gore , Primarily Male Cast , Mythology , Rural , Slapstick , Historical , Rotoscoping , Super Power , Body Horror , Curses , Chibi , Time Skip , Snowscape

Where to watch?

Crunchyroll

Hulu

Netflix

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Ged Senki

Also known as Tales from Earthsea.

Studio: Studio Ghibli , GKids , Walt Disney Studios
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Fantasy

In the land of Earthsea, crops are dwindling, dragons have reappeared, and humanity is giving way to chaos. Journey with Lord Archmage Sparrowhawk, a master wizard, and Arren, a troubled young prince, on a tale of redemption and self-discovery as they search for the force behind the mysterious imbalance that threatens to destroy their world.

Tags: Magic , Travel , Male Protagonist , Dragons , Slavery , Dissociative Identities , Swordplay , Orphan , Ships , Agriculture , Drugs

Where to watch?

Netflix

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Shika no Ou: Yuna to Yakusoku no Tabi

Also known as The Deer King.

Studio: Production I.G , YTV , KADOKAWA , Production I.G , Nippon Television Network , Toho
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Fantasy

In the aftermath of a brutal war, former soldier Van toils in a mine controlled by the ruling empire. One day, his solitary existence is upended when a pack of wild dogs carrying a deadly and incurable disease attack, leaving only Van and a young girl named Yuna as survivors. Finally free, the pair seek out a simple existence in the countryside but are pursued by nefarious forces. Intent on protecting Yuna at all costs, Van must uncover the true cause of the plague ravaging the kingdom—and its possible cure.

Note: The film received an early premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 14, 2021.

Tags: Fugitive , Adoption , Pandemic , Male Protagonist , Slavery , Found Family , Politics , Medicine , War , Conspiracy , Agriculture , Tragedy , Orphan

Where to watch?

Hulu

Netflix

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Akatsuki no Yona

Also known as Yona of the Dawn.

Studio: Studio Pierrot , TOKYO MX , Docomo Anime Store , Hakusensha , VAP , Marvelous , AT-X , Age Global Networks , TOP-INSIGHT , Delfi Sound
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Drama , Fantasy , Romance

Since Yona is the only princess of a grand kingdom, she has been raised with great care by her doting father and protected by her childhood friend/guard Hak and others. However, her fate changes on her 16th birthday, when her beloved cousin Soo-won murders her father to claim the throne. She flees the castle to Hak's hometown and begins her new life.

Tags: Shoujo , Female Protagonist , Dragons , Royal Affairs , Ensemble Cast , Fugitive , Travel , Primarily Male Cast , Coming of Age , Mythology , Politics , Reincarnation , Revenge , Historical , Tragedy , Male Harem , Found Family , Heterosexual , Swordplay , Archery , Primarily Adult Cast , Foreign , Orphan , Pirates , Gods , Crossdressing

Where to watch?

Crunchyroll

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