There is no doubt that there is a unique taste in Makoto Shinkai anime films and manga series, that every Anime lover must watch.
Every year, thousands of brand-new anime broadcasts flood the airwaves. If you’re looking for recommendations for new anime to watch in the wake of the phenomenal success of Makoto Shinkai’s Your Name, I’d like to present you some of the amazing director’s works.
Ranking Top Makoto Shinkai Anime Films Ever
As a result of the success of his 2016 film, Your Name (Kimi no Na wa), which is already among the top 10 most-grossing anime films of all time, Makoto Shinkai has become a household name throughout the anime world. Also, with the 2019 success of his most recent anime, Weathering with You, he has solidified his place as the global top of the anime business.
| Makoto Shinkai Titles | Japanese English name | Genres | Run Time | Release Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| She and Her Cat: Their Standing Points | Kanojo to Kanojo no Neko: Everything Flows | Romance, Slice Of Life | 32 Minutes | 2016 |
| Children Who Chase Lost Voices | Hoshi o Ou Kodomo | Adventure, Action, Fantasy | 2 Hours | 2011 |
| Voices Of a Distant Star | Hoshi no Koe | Action, Mecha, Sci-Fi | 25 Minutes | 2002 |
| The Place Promised in Our Early Days | Kumo no Mukou, Yakusoku no Basho | War, Drama, Sci-Fi | 1 Hours 30 Minutes | 2004 |
| Someone’s Gaze | Dareka no Manazashi | Slice Of Life, Drama | 6 Minutes | 2013 |
| Five Centimeters Per Second | Byousoku 5 Centimeter | Romance, Nature | 30 Minutes | 2007 |
| The Garden Of Words | Kotonoha no Niwa | Romance, Nature, Drama | 50 Minutes | 2013 |
| Weathering With You | Tenki no Ko | Romance, Fantasy, Nature | 1 Hours 55 Minutes | 2019 |
| Suzume | Suzume no Tojimari | Fantasy, Nature | 2 Hours 2 Minute | 2023 |
| Your Name | Kimi no Na wa | Romance, Drama, Fantasy | 1 Hour 50 Minute | 2016 |
10. She and Her Cat: Their Standing Points
Makoto Shinkai did voice work for the first time in a movie with She and Her Cat. Since it was one of Shinkai’s earliest works, its animation technique is noticeably different and older than in his later films.
- Japanese English Name: Kanojo to Kanojo no Neko: Everything Flows
- Release Date: 2016
- Time Duration: 32 Minutes
She and Her Cat is about more than just a woman and her cat, though. Following the woman’s rescue, the cat develops feelings for her. Considering that Shinkai did most of the work on the film, it is both amazing and original.
9. Children Who Chase Lost Voices
One of Shinkai’s most obviously surreal works is Children Who Chase Lost Voices. Your Name and Weathering With You both feature supernatural elements, although the surreal flair is usually tempered by an urban realism that roots the scenario.
- Japanese English Name: Hoshi o Ou Kodomo
- Release Date: 2011
- Time Duration: 2 Hours
Asuna Watase, the protagonist, is a sixth-grader whose life has progressed more rapidly than that of her peers. Asuna had to swiftly pick up new skills after the death of her father and her mother’s heavy work hours. Asuna’s life takes a dramatic turn after she meets a mysterious boy. Because of the abundance of mysterious occurrences, she resolves to investigate them.
8. Voices Of a Distant Star
Since Shinkai had previously only worked on very short films, Voices of a Distant Star is typically considered his first significant animation. Despite being only 25 minutes long, Shinkai’s latest animation, Voices of a Distant Star, is a vastly different beast from his previous efforts.
- Japanese English Name: Hoshi no Koe
- Release Date: 2002
- Time Duration: 25 Minutes
As a personal endeavour early in his career, the director’s ability to write, direct, animate, and even provide voice acting is amazing. Although it lacks the professional sheen of Shinkai’s subsequent films due to its indie origins, this early work is fascinating to watch because of its place in the director’s canon.
7. The Place Promised in Our Early Days
After the success of his 2002 film Voices of a Distant Star , animator Makoto Shinkai returned in 2004 with The Place Promised in Our Early Days. Since Makoto Shinkai essentially worked alone on the short film Voices of a Distant Star, this is also considered to be his first full-length animation produced by a team.
- Japanese English Name: Kumo no Mukou, Yakusoku no Basho
- Release Date: 2004
- Time Duration: 1 Hours 30 Minutes
His earlier works, such as The Place Promised in Our Early Days, serve as inspiration for the plots of his more recent anime, such as Weathering with You and Your Name. The protagonists in these stories risk everything to achieve their goals.
6. Someone’s Gaze
The runtime of Makoto Shinkai’s short film Someone’s Gaze is less than 8 minutes. Despite its short length, the film was highly effective in its presentation of its story. The film expertly illustrates how Aya has evolved from her earlier persona.
- Japanese English Name: Dareka no Manazashi
- Release Date: 2013
- Time Duration: 6 Minutes
The plot of the film centers on Aya Okamura and her family in the far future. She looks back on her life and how she grew to be the lady she is throughout the film. She makes a concerted effort to figure out how she become so far from her loved ones.
5. Five Centimeters Per Second
Many consider 5 Centimeters per Second to be one of Makoto Shinkai’s early career classics. The 2007 anime film runs for around an hour and a half and is divided into three acts.
- Japanese English Name: Byousoku 5 Centimeter
- Release Date: 2007
- Time Duration: 30 Minutes
This anime is a depiction of “reality,” which may be both harsh and unavoidable. Thanks to the unfiltered realism presented by Makoto Shinkai, I can empathize with their predicament on a profound level.
4. The Garden Of Words
Although only South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong showed The Garden of Words in theatres outside of Japan, it is highly advised that you see it if you haven’t already.
- Japanese English Name: Kotonoha no Niwa
- Release Date: 2013
- Time Duration: 50 Minutes
The anime is currently available on worldwide streaming services. The Garden of Words is a perfect representation of Makoto Shinkai’s work as an animator; the gorgeous realism and the innocent “boy meets girl” storyline are hallmarks of his work.
3. Weathering With You
According to some critics, Weathering with You is the best anime film of 2019, even surpassing Makoto Shinkai’s previous film, Your Name. The director’s seventh anime film, Weathering with You, outperformed his six previous films at the domestic box office.
- Japanese English Name: Tenki no Ko
- Release Date: 2019
- Time Duration: 1 Hours 55 Minutes
Similarly to Your Name, it is being shown in more than 100 nations and territories. Much like Makoto Shinkai’s earlier works, several popular tourist destinations in Tokyo have been inspired by the anime.
2. Suzume
Suzume is one of the most anticipated anime film for the Otaku’s. As of writing, the movie has already won the hearts of millions of fans around the world and is on the top 25 highest grossing anime films.
- Japanese English Name: Suzume no Tojimari
- Release Date: 2023
- Time Duration: 2 Hour 2 Minutes
The protagonist, Suzume, is a seventeen-year-old girl who, at the beginning of the novel, finds a mysterious entrance in the mountains. When the doors open, tragedy and destruction are unleashed, and it is up to Suzume to seal them back up.
1. Your Name
Our favorite anime of all time is Your Name, directed by Makoto Shinkai. In 2016, Your Name gives anime fans all over the world a much-needed emotional kick.
- Japanese English Name: Kimi no Na wa
- Release Date: 2016
- Time Duration: 1 Hour 50 Minute
Your Name has gained international recognition. Besides its massive success in theatres, where it was shown in over 120 countries and territories, Your Name also saw skyrocketing sales in China and South Korea.
