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Makoto Shinkai is back at it again with yet another anime masterpiece. Suzume is right up there with the likes of Your Name as far as his films go. The supernatural budding romance story about a high school girl and the boyband idol version of Howl from Howl’s Moving Castle is– like all of Makoto Shinkai’s films, a beautiful anime movie.
However, there is one glaring problem with Suzume; it eventually ends. Perhaps too soon.
The feature format, along with the signature cliffhanger ending that Makoto Shinkai is so fond of, didn’t help fans who wished that it had the length of a 12 or 24-episode anime.
But it’s no use crying over spilled milk. And you’ll be pleased to know that there are actual anime series (not movies) you can watch after a viewing of Suzume, so you can maybe preserve that state of perpetual bliss while nestled in the cocoon of your blankets right next to a cat in your darkly-lit room.
We won’t judge you for forgetting to bathe under that prolonged period of entrancement; just don’t forget to feed the cat while you binge-watch these 8 anime series like Suzume.
She and Her Cat: Everything Flows
Speaking of pets, cats make for the best viewing partners– this is not up for debate; they’re quieter— sort of. In any case, She and Her Cat: Everything Flows agrees with this sentiment toward cats.
It’s a four-episode anime about a girl named Miyu and her cat named Daru. The anime offers a surprising perspective viewed from the cat’s marbly eyes as her owner performs “human things” in order to balance their lives. It’s definitely one of the better cute anime shows to watch if you’re looking for something quick to binge.
You ought to be fond of cats by now after watching Suzume.
Mushishi
If you enjoyed the supernatural side of Suzume better than the barely-there romantic tension, then an anime like Mushishi offers plenty of the former aspect in spades.
It’s about a man named Ginko and his unending journey to find out the meaning of life and humanity’s place in the hierarchy of the universe by chasing “Mushi,” ghost-like beings with no purpose other than to exist.
You can already tell that this one will be heavy with philosophical and existentialist undertones, and as an added bonus, you get 26 episodes. That’s plenty of time to ruminate about life and existence.
Natsume’s Book of Friends
Not enough cats? Well then, how about some supernatural cats? Natsume’s Book of Friends is about an outcast named Takashi Natsume who happens upon a powerful cat who somehow resembles his late exorcist grandmother.
Instead of continuing his grandmother’s work through the super-cat he recently adopted, Takashi took it upon himself to make peace with the “youkai,” or spirits whom his late grandmother imprisoned. In the process, he gained new friends, both human and inhuman. Sounds familiar enough for those who have seen Suzume.
Barakamon
Suzume’s journey saw the titular protagonist leaving the quaintness of her countryside home for the hustle and bustle of the Tokyo metropolis while chasing something bigger (lovely metaphor), Barakamon does the opposite.
Barakamon is about a formerly narcissistic famous calligrapher named Seishuu Handa, whose arrogance was rewarded by an exile to the countryside, courtesy of his concerned father. This exile wasn’t just a punishment but also served as some kind of spiritual awakening and practice in humility for Seishuu.
It’s a relaxing anime about learning how to take it slow in the peaceful unconditional caress of country life, something Makoto Shinkai has depicted masterfully in his films, Suzume included.
Kino’s Journey
While on the topic of meditative countryside journeys, Kino’s Journey might be something of interest to those who loved that aspect of Suzume. Each episode in this anime is a presentation of a social parable, each presenting a conundrum or a puzzle for the titular protagonist.
At its core, it’s about a young woman who travels around to different civilizations with her trusty motorcycle and astute survival instincts.
Her primary role is to observe, not judge which is right or wrong, only letting the natural course of society and nature flow, for there is beauty in the world’s chaos and variety.
Girls’ Last Tour
For an even darker anime with a bittersweet tale of social commentary like Suzume, Girls’ Last Tour ought to spark some profound musings. It’s a post-apocalyptic story about two girls forced to survive amid the bleak ruins of society, specifically in a war-torn city.
Like Kino’s Journey, it also involves a trusty motorcycle as the two protagonist girls try to get by, scavenging the ghosts of once-thriving cityscapes while also dealing with the solitude of their situation as they might be two of the last humans alive.
Thankfully, that desolate environment and atmosphere are ironically counterbalanced by the two girls’ optimistic outlook and cute appearances, perfect for those looking for a glimmer of hope against an overbearing catastrophe.
Noragami
Noragami is a perfect anime series for those who found Suzume’s rag-tag partnership adventure a little too endearing. It features a similar accord by a self-proclaimed minor deity named Yato, who struggles to gain worshippers, and a girl named Hiyori, with whom he crossed paths.
The only problem is that Hiyori’s soul became loose after getting hit by a truck in an attempt to save Yato, and now Yato has to help her become normal again.
Sure enough, a rare kind of friendship and escapade bloomed from a reluctant partnership, and it’s worth seeing the anime alone for that kind of interaction.
ReLIFE
Last but not least on our list of anime series like Suzume is ReLIFE. ReLIFE explores the story of a young man whose dissatisfied with the current state of his life and career, so he signed up for an experimental program, one that reverted him back to his 17-year-old self in a different world– something he thought would be an easy and clean restart.
Except, things didn’t go the way he planned, and he soon realized that the problem wasn’t the opportunities he was presented with but himself. This journey of self-realization and awareness is something that will surely communicate some epiphanies to fans of Suzume and similar Makoto Shinkai films.
If not, then you can just sit back and enjoy the high-school shenanigans and teenage drama (and awkwardness) that came with the package.
