Spirited Away is the perfect gateway to Japanese animation — a girl trapped in a spirit world, working at a bathhouse to save her parents. Hayao Miyazaki's masterpiece won the Oscar and broke Western audiences' expectations of what animation could be.
If you've just watched it and want more, here are 10 films that deliver similar magic.
All streaming in the UK.
More Studio Ghibli
1. Howl's Moving Castle (2004)
UK streaming: Netflix
A girl is cursed to become an old woman and seeks help from a wizard in a walking castle. Miyazaki adapts Diana Wynne Jones.
Why it fits: Same director, same magical world, same coming-of-age transformation. Christian Bale voices Howl in the English dub.
2. Princess Mononoke (1997)
UK streaming: Netflix
A prince gets caught between industrialists and forest gods. Miyazaki's most epic film.
Why it fits: Same world-building ambition, same environmental themes, same moral complexity.
Note: More violent than Spirited Away. Appropriate for teens.
3. My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
UK streaming: Netflix
Two sisters befriend a forest spirit in rural Japan. Miyazaki's gentlest film.
Why it fits: Pure magic without conflict. If you want Spirited Away's wonder without the darkness.
4. Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
UK streaming: Netflix
A young witch starts a delivery business in a European seaside town. Miyazaki's most charming film.
Why it fits: Same coming-of-age journey, same young female protagonist, same warmth.
5. Ponyo (2008)
UK streaming: Netflix
A fish-girl wants to become human after befriending a boy. Miyazaki's take on The Little Mermaid.
Why it fits: Similar aquatic imagery, similar magical transformation, most accessible for younger viewers.
Beyond Ghibli
6. Paprika (2006)
UK streaming: Prime Video
A device that records dreams is stolen. Reality and dreams blur. Satoshi Kon's masterpiece influenced Inception.
Why it fits: Same boundary-blurring between worlds, same visual imagination, more surreal.
Note: Not for children — themes are mature.
7. The Boy and the Heron (2023)
UK streaming: Netflix (expected)
A boy enters a mysterious tower world searching for his missing mother. Miyazaki's latest and possibly final film.
Why it fits: Same director returning to similar themes. Won the Oscar. If you can find it streaming, don't miss it.
8. Wolf Children (2012)
UK streaming: Prime Video
A woman raises her half-wolf children after their father dies. Mamoru Hosoda's most emotional film.
Why it fits: Same emotional depth, same beautiful animation, same sense of wonder at nature.
9. Mirai (2018)
UK streaming: Netflix
A boy meets versions of his family from different times. Hosoda again, Oscar-nominated.
Why it fits: Same family themes, same magical realism, same Japanese animation quality.
10. Coraline (2009)
UK streaming: Netflix
A girl discovers a parallel world behind a small door. Laika's stop-motion masterpiece.
Why it fits: Same "trapped in another world" structure, same coming-of-age, same visual imagination. Not anime, but same energy.
UK Streaming Quick Reference
| Title | Netflix | Prime Video |
|---|---|---|
| Howl's Moving Castle | ✓ | — |
| Princess Mononoke | ✓ | — |
| My Neighbor Totoro | ✓ | — |
| Kiki's Delivery Service | ✓ | — |
| Ponyo | ✓ | — |
| Paprika | — | ✓ |
| The Boy and the Heron | Expected | — |
| Wolf Children | — | ✓ |
| Mirai | ✓ | — |
| Coraline | ✓ | — |
Availability checked March 2026
By Type
More Miyazaki: → Howl's Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke, Totoro, Kiki's, Ponyo, The Boy and the Heron
Mature Anime: → Paprika (not for kids)
Family-Friendly Non-Ghibli: → Wolf Children, Mirai, Coraline
FAQ
What's the most similar? Howl's Moving Castle — same director, same transformation story.
What if I want something gentler? My Neighbor Totoro. Zero conflict, pure wonder.
What's good for kids? Ponyo, Totoro, and Kiki's Delivery Service are all appropriate for young children.
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