If you’re a fan of the emotional and beautifully animated film A Silent Voice, you’re probably looking for more movies that will tug at your heartstrings in a similar way. A Silent Voice tells the powerful story of a former bully seeking to make amends with the deaf girl he tormented in elementary school. It’s a moving tale of redemption, friendship, and learning to understand each other despite our differences.
The film resonated with audiences around the world thanks to its realistic portrayal of complex issues like bullying, disability, and mental health. It also featured stunning animation from the renowned studio Kyoto Animation.
If you loved A Silent Voice and are craving more touching anime dramas, look no further. Here are 20 fantastic movies that explore similar themes and are sure to leave an impact, just like A Silent Voice did. Get your tissues ready, because these films are real tearjerkers!
1. I Want to Eat Your Pancreas (2018)
I Want to Eat Your Pancreas is a heartbreaking story about an introverted boy who befriends a terminally ill girl. When he discovers her secret diary, he learns she only has a few months left to live due to a pancreatic illness. The two form an unlikely bond and set out to make the most of the time she has left.
Like A Silent Voice, this movie doesn’t shy away from heavy topics but handles them with care and sincerity. It will make you laugh, cry, and appreciate the beauty of living life to the fullest. Keep the tissues handy for this one.
2. Your Name (2016)
Your Name became a global phenomenon and the highest grossing anime film of all time when it was released. And for good reason! This creative body-swap romance follows two teenagers, a country girl and a Tokyo boy, who mysteriously start switching bodies.
As they navigate each other’s very different lives, a comet threatens to destroy the girl’s rural town. Can they figure out the meaning behind their strange connection in time to save everyone? With jaw-dropping animation and a gripping story, Your Name is an unforgettable experience, much like A Silent Voice.
3. Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day (2011)
Anohana is a bittersweet supernatural drama about a group of childhood friends reuniting to help the ghost of their friend Menma find peace. Her sudden death tore the friend group apart years ago, but her spirit returns, visible only to her friend Jinta.
As Jinta and Menma work to grant her final wish, old wounds reopen and the friends must confront their guilt and pain. This poignant story about grief, growing up, and the bonds that tie us together is perfect for any fan of A Silent Voice. Just be ready to ugly cry!
4. The Garden of Words (2013)
From Makoto Shinkai, the visionary director of Your Name, comes this breathtaking drama about an unlikely pair who find solace in each other. Takao is a 15-year-old aspiring shoemaker who skips class to sketch in a beautiful garden. There, he meets a mysterious older woman named Yukari.
As the rainy season brings them together again and again, they develop a tender bond and help each other overcome their troubles. With gorgeous rain-soaked animation and a touching central relationship, The Garden of Words is an exquisite film that A Silent Voice fans are sure to adore.
5. A Whisker Away (2020)
A Whisker Away is an enchanting story about Miyo, a girl who gains the ability to transform into a cat. She uses her powers to get close to her crush, Kento. But as she spends more time as a feline, she risks getting stuck in cat form forever.
This sweet movie uses its magical realism premise to explore Miyo’s family troubles, insecurities, and dreams. For fans of A Silent Voice, A Whisker Away offers another poignant look at youth, love, and finding your place in the world. Plus it has lots of adorable kitties!
6. Josee, the Tiger and the Fish (2020)
Based on a short story, Josee, the Tiger and the Fish is a heartwarming romance about Tsuneo, an ordinary college student, and Josee, a talented artist who uses a wheelchair. When Tsuneo takes a job as Josee’s caretaker, the two grow closer as Josee starts to expand her isolated world.
However, their relationship hits a snag when Josee’s grandmother, who has raised her, passes away. Beautifully animated and full of charm, this moving film echoes A Silent Voice‘s themes of breaking down barriers and seeing people for who they truly are.
7. Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms (2018)
Maquia is a sweeping fantasy film about an immortal girl from a mystical clan. When her people are attacked, Maquia escapes and finds an orphaned baby in the forest. She chooses to raise him as her own, knowing she will outlive him since she never ages.
This unique mother-son story spans years as Maquia’s son Ariel grows from a boy to a man. While the setting is very different from A Silent Voice, the emotional storytelling and complex relationships will appeal to any fan of the film. Bring tissues for this beautiful epic.
8. Liz and the Blue Bird (2018)
From the studio behind A Silent Voice comes another emotionally resonant anime film. Liz and the Blue Bird focuses on two best friends, quiet Mizore and outgoing Nozomi, in their final year of high school. As they prepare a duet for their school’s band competition, their relationship grows strained.
Interwoven with their story is a fairy tale about a girl named Liz and a mysterious blue bird. With stunning artwork and a delicate touch, this coming-of-age drama captures the bittersweet beauty of youth and friendship. A Silent Voice fans will find a lot to love here.
9. Weathering With You (2019)
Weathering With You is another hit from Makoto Shinkai, the mastermind behind Your Name. In this supernatural romance, Hodaka is a runaway teen trying to make it in Tokyo. He befriends Hina, a girl with the power to manipulate the weather.
Together they start a business providing sunny days for special occasions. But Hina’s abilities come at a high cost. With dazzling visuals and an imaginative story, Weathering With You is a thrilling ride that also packs an emotional punch, much like A Silent Voice.
10. The Anthem of the Heart (2015)
After young Jun wishes her family would disappear, they get into a terrible accident. Traumatized, Jun stops speaking entirely. Years later, she’s a quiet high school student who never talks. But when she’s invited to join a community outreach group, Jun starts to open up.
She even lands the lead role in the group’s musical! The Anthem of the Heart is a moving story about the power of communication and self-expression. Like A Silent Voice, it shows how even the most closed-off people can learn to connect with others.
11. Orange (2016)
Orange follows Naho, a 16-year-old girl who receives a letter from her future self with a warning. The letter claims that Naho’s new classmate Kakeru will die in a few months and lists actions she can take to prevent the tragedy.
Naho and her friends rally around Kakeru, whose depression makes it hard for him to open up. But can they change his fate? Based on a popular manga, Orange is a sci-fi tinged drama about the lengths we go to protect the ones we love. It’s a tearjerker with a lot of heart, just like A Silent Voice.
12. March Comes in Like a Lion (2016)
March Comes in Like a Lion is a slice-of-life anime series about Rei, a 17-year-old professional shogi player. Estranged from his adoptive family, Rei leads a lonely life, finding solace only in shogi. But his world starts to change when he meets the Kawamoto sisters.
This found family helps Rei slowly come out of his shell and enjoy life beyond the shogi board. While it’s a series rather than a movie, March Comes in Like a Lion shares A Silent Voice‘s nuanced look at depression, anxiety, and human connection. It’s a must-watch for fans of the film.
13. Ride Your Wave (2019)
Ride Your Wave is a quirky romantic drama with a supernatural twist. It centers on Hinako, a college student and surfing enthusiast who falls for Minato, a firefighter. But after Minato dies in an accident, Hinako discovers she can summon his spirit by singing their song.
As Hinako surfs the waves, Minato appears in the water, allowing the two to be together again. But Hinako must learn to move forward. This unique film combines humor, heart, and stunning ocean visuals. It’s a more lighthearted pick than A Silent Voice but has a similar emotional core.
14. Penguin Highway (2018)
Based on a novel by Tomihiko Morimi, Penguin Highway is a delightfully odd sci-fi adventure. Aoyama is a precocious fourth grader who loves studying the world around him. When penguins start popping up in his landlocked town, he decides to investigate the strange phenomenon.
Aoyama teams up with a mysterious woman from his dentist’s office to solve the mystery. As they conduct research, the boy starts to fall for her, despite their age gap. Penguin Highway is a coming-of-age gem with an absurdist sense of humor and a ton of heart. It captures the feeling of youthful curiosity and connection in a way that will resonate with A Silent Voice fans.
15. Wolf Children (2012)
In this moving fantasy drama, a young woman named Hana falls in love with a wolfman. They build a happy life together and have two children. But after the wolfman dies, Hana must raise their son and daughter alone while keeping their supernatural heritage a secret.
As the kids grow up and struggle with their wolf instincts, Hana does her best to help them fit into the human world. Wolf Children is a beautiful meditation on the joys and challenges of parenthood. Like A Silent Voice, it’s a thought-provoking film that will make you laugh, cry, and reflect on what it means to be human.
16. Patema Inverted (2013)
Patema Inverted is a creative sci-fi romance about two people from opposite worlds – literally! Patema comes from an underground society where gravity is reversed. Age lives on the surface under a totalitarian government. When the two meet, they form an unbreakable bond.
As Patema and Age work together to stay safe from the authorities, they uncover the secrets that connect their worlds. With inventive animation and worldbuilding, Patema Inverted is a mind-bending adventure. But at its core, it’s a story about bridging divides and seeing from new perspectives, much like A Silent Voice.
17. Summer Wars (2009)
From Mamoru Hosoda, the acclaimed director of Wolf Children, Summer Wars is a sci-fi comedy drama about a digital apocalypse. Kenji is a shy math whiz roped into posing as his crush Natsuki’s fiancé. But when an AI goes rogue in the virtual world of OZ, Kenji and Natsuki’s eccentric extended family must save the day.
Summer Wars is a wild, visually inventive ride that also celebrates the power of family bonds. While it’s more of a crowd-pleaser than a tearjerker like A Silent Voice, it shares the film’s insight into the way technology shapes our relationships and sense of self.
18. Mirai (2018)
Mirai is a charmingly offbeat family fantasy from Mamoru Hosoda. When four-year-old Kun gets a baby sister named Mirai, he struggles with jealousy over the new addition. But then Kun encounters a teenage Mirai from the future who whisks him away on adventures through time.
As Kun travels to the past and future, he gains a new perspective on his family history and his role as a big brother. Mirai is a lighthearted, imaginative film that captures the magic and wonder of childhood. Like A Silent Voice, it’s a poignant story about growing up and learning to empathize with others.
19. The Night is Short, Walk On Girl (2017)
From the brilliant mind of Masaaki Yuasa, The Night is Short, Walk On Girl is a surreal romantic comedy set over the course of one epic night. The film follows a nameless boy trying to win the heart of his crush, a quirky girl known only as Otome.
As the night stretches on, the two have a series of bizarre, hilarious encounters with the colorful residents of Kyoto. This trippy, freewheeling film is a love letter to youth, art, and the endless possibilities of human connection. It’s a more abstract and comedic pick than A Silent Voice, but its insight into the beautiful chaos of young adulthood is sure to resonate with fans of the film.
20. Millennium Actress (2001)
Millennium Actress is a stunning work of art from the legendary director Satoshi Kon. It tells the story of Chiyoko Fujiwara, an elderly former movie star reflecting on her life and career. As she shares her memories with a documentary crew, reality and cinema blur together in a kaleidoscopic journey through the 20th century.
Chiyoko’s personal story becomes intertwined with the history of Japanese film and the turbulent times she lived through. With its inventive, nonlinear structure and gorgeous animation, Millennium Actress is a true masterpiece. It’s a very different film from A Silent Voice, but its deep humanity and visual storytelling will captivate any fan of artful anime.
Whether you’re looking for more tearjerkers or just beautifully crafted animated films, this list has something for every A Silent Voice fan. These movies will make you laugh, cry, and marvel at the emotional and artistic heights that anime can reach. So grab some popcorn, queue up one of these gems, and get ready to feel all the feels. Happy watching!
