10 Best Makoto Shinkai Movies, Ranked

Makoto Shinkai is a Japanese filmmaker and novelist who specializes in anime. Over the last three decades, he has established himself as one of the medium’s leading creators, with both cult classics (She and Her Cat) and blockbusters (Your Name.) under his belt. His work has been praised for its emotionally rich storytelling and stunning visuals, usually melding elements of fantasy with introspective themes.

Shinkai is deeply influenced by Hayao Miyazaki, as well as Hideaki Anno‘s The End of Evangelion, and these inspirations are evident in his own movies. However, the wistfulness and adolescent longing of his films is purely his own. He has succeeded in establishing his own voice and visual style and is sure to continue telling memorable stories for a long time to come. In particular, Shinkai has described some of his projects as “connecting the older and younger generations through this sort of communal or unified experience”. These are his best projects so far, ranked.

10 ‘Cross Road (2014)

Voice Cast: Kenshô Ono, Ayane Sakura, Masahiko Tanaka

In addition to his more creative work, Shinkai has also directed a number of commercials, which he usually storyboards as well. The most notable of them is this 2-minute short he made for the educational group Z-Kai. It centers on two college-bound high school students, Miho (Ayane Sakura) and Shōta (Kenshô Ono), who meet while preparing for their entrance exams. Miho hails from a remote island without access to cram schools, while Shōta juggles studying with a part-time job in bustling Tokyo.

Despite their different backgrounds, both are determined to succeed in their exams and secure admission to college. They both opt for Z-Kai’s correspondence education courses, leading their paths to intertwine unexpectedly as they navigate the challenges of exam preparation. Although Cross Road is limited by being an ad, it packs a surprising amount of heart and feels more like the trailer for an anime. Every frame is meticulously crafted and brimming with beauty.

9 ‘Someone’s Gaze’ 2013

Voice Cast: Fumi Hirano, Satomi Hanamura, Shinji Ogawa, Rina Endô

This futuristic short centers on Aya (Satomi Hanamura), a young woman who must leave home for a new job. Her father, Kōji (Shinji Ogawa), stays behind with their aging cat Mii (Fumi Hirano), who was once a source of comfort for Aya during her mother’s absence. As Aya navigates her newfound independence, her relationship with her father gradually shifts, marked by moments of both distance and connection. Aya’s return home from a challenging day prompts reflection on her childhood and the evolving dynamics within her family.

Someone’s Gaze is a touching story featuring both aging parents and pets, making for a real tearjerker. In just seven minutes, Shinkai skillfully looks at themes of loss, grief, and family bonds. The sci-fi aspect is also subtle and handled well, with just clues here and there to suggest that this story does not take place in the present. Plus, the cat Mii harks back to Shinkai’s early-career gem, She and Her Cat.

8 ‘She and Her Cat’ (1999)

Voice Cast: Makoto Shinkai, Mika Shinohara

“No human is always strong, but no human is weak forever, either.” This 5-minute, monochrome short film drew Shinkai significant attention early in his career. It’s about the bond between a young woman, identified only as She (Mika Shinohara), and her cat, Chobi (Shinkai). Through the eyes of Chobi, the audience witnesses the quiet moments of their daily life together, from shared meals to contemplative evenings spent gazing out the window. However, as the seasons change, so too does She’s life, as she grapples with loneliness, uncertainty, and the passage of time.

She and Her Cat is less plot-based and more of a tone poem, capturing the feel of a year in the lives of these two characters. Impressively, Shinkai handled almost all the production aspects himself and worked on the short during his free time while employed by the video game company Falcom. The effort paid off: She and Her Cat won several awards and hugely boosted Shinkai’s profile.

Watch on Criterion

7 ‘The Place Promised in Our Early Days’ (2004)

Voice Cast: Hidetaka Yoshioka, Masato Hagiwara, Yuka Nanri, Unshô Ishizuka

“In the dream, I am alone in an empty universe.” The Place Promised In Our Early Days was Shinkai’s feature debut, which once again saw him wearing many hats. Here, he’s director, producer, writer, and editor. The film envisions an alternate history where Japan is divided between the Soviet Union and the United States after World War II. Three friends grow up in the Soviet zone, where they are united by their shared fascination with a mysterious tower erected on the border.

The impact of World War II on Japanese society is a theme that Japanese storytellers frequently explore, from Kazuo Ishiguro‘s An Artist of the Floating World to Takashi Yamazaki’s Godzilla Minus One. Shinkai puts his own unique spin on those ideas here, told with his trademark whimsy and poignancy. The film is also rich in references, with allusions to Japanese poets and novelists, as well as a few winks at Shinkai’s own films. The result is a confident debut that set the stage for the more ambitious projects that would follow.

Watch on Criterion

6 ‘Children Who Chase Lost Voices’ (2011)

Voice Cast: Hisako Kanemoto, Miyu Irino, Kazuhiko Inoue, Junko Takeuchi

“I heard a voice telling me to live, and embrace the loss.” This fantasy adventure is one of Shinkai’s more action-packed movies. It follows Asuna (Hisako Kanemoto), a young girl who discovers a mysterious world beneath the surface of the Earth, known as Agartha, where the dead can be resurrected. Fascinated by this hidden realm, Asuna embarks on a journey accompanied by a mysterious boy named Shun (Miyu Irino) and her teacher, Mr. Morisaki (Kazuhiko Inoue). However, their quest takes a perilous turn as they encounter secrets lurking in the depths.

Children Who Chase Lost Voices is certainly ambitious and owes much to Miyazaki. The film boasts lush animation, intricate detailing, and thoughtful coming-of-age struggles. The world is fittingly complex, although this means that, at times, unnecessary scenes and side stories detract from the main plotline. It’s the kind of movie that anime veterans should adore, but that might be a little too much for newcomers.

Watch on Criterion

5 ‘The Garden of Words’ (2013)

Voice Cast: Miyu Irino, Kana Hanazawa, Fumi Hirano, Gou Maeda

“To me, she represents nothing less than the very secrets of the world.” Set against a rainy Tokyo, this drama tells of the unlikely bond between Takao (Wataru Sekine), a high school student aspiring to be a shoemaker, and Yukari (Kana Hanazawa), a mysterious 27-year-old woman he meets in a garden shelter. Despite their age difference, Takao and Yukari find solace in each other’s company. Their relationship blossoms, but they soon discover that their personal challenges threaten to keep them apart.

While Children Who Chase Lost Voices channeled Miyazaki, The Garden of Words is the work of a singular, authentic artistic voice. It’s unmistakably Shinkai. Once again, this is a simple tale of understanding and connection, and how fragile these can be. The whole affair has an ethereal, meditative feel, emphasized by the gorgeous imagery. “This film as a whole uses color differently than other anime,” Shinkai explains. “This film’s key color is green and its theme is rain […] The reflected green, the white of the sun’s rays, and so on.”

Watch on Criterion

4 ‘5 Centimeters per Second’ (2007)

Voice Cast: Kenji Mizuhashi, Satomi Hanamura, Yoshimi Kondou, Ayaka Onoue

“Reality is brimming over with beautiful things, scintillating feelings. How many of them have I been missing?” 5 Centimeters Per Seconds unfolds in three interconnected segments spanning 1991 to 2008, each capturing moments in the lives of Takaki (Kenji Mizuhashi) and Akari (Yoshimi Kondou), childhood friends whose paths diverge as they grow older. Wistful and bittersweet, the movie is all about the fleetingness of youth and the ache of unfulfilled longing.

The title refers to the speed at which cherry blossoms fall, one of the film’s recurring motifs. It’s notable for being the most realistic of Shinkai’s early works, lacking any fantasy or sci-fi elements. Instead, the focus is purely on rich characterization and memorable animation. 5 Centimeters Per Second received rave reviews, with particular praise for its emotional depth and dreamy landscape visuals. Most notably, it sees Shinkai using lush visual effects and intricate background designs to mirror the characters’ inner worlds.

Watch on Criterion

3 ‘Weathering with You’ (2019)

Voice Cast: Kotaro Daigo, Nana Mori, Tsubasa Honda, Sakura Kiryu

“Tokyo is scary. But I’m not going home. Never again.” With this film, Shinkai returns to his passion for rainy aesthetics. Weathering With You is set in a Tokyo where rain falls incessantly. Teenage runaway Hodaka (Kotaro Daigo) escapes to the metropolis in search of a new life. There, he encounters Hina (Nana Mori), a mysterious girl with the ability to control the weather. Together, they set out to bring sunshine back to the city, offering their services to those in need. However, the two learn that defying fate requires sacrifice.

Narratively, Weathering with You is one of Shinkai’s more straightforward movies, but its complexity lies in its deep understanding of teenage experience. Through Hodaka and Hina, the director hits on some of the universal struggles of adolescence. These themes are complemented by animation that finds the magical in the everyday. As a result, the movie performed well at the box office and received positive reviews, becoming Japan’s submission for the Best International Feature Oscar.

Watch on Max

2 ‘Suzume’ (2022)

Voice Cast: Nanoka Hara, Hokuto Matsumura, Eri Fukatsu, Shôta Sometani

“How much meaning must we overcome before we reach our destination?” 17-year-old Suzume (Nanoka Hara) meets the enigmatic Souta (Hokuto Matsumara), a young man who reveals himself as a “Closer,” tasked with sealing magical doors to prevent a malevolent force, the worm Namazu, from wreaking havoc. As they race to seal the worm’s portals, Suzume discovers her own connection to the supernatural realm – and her pivotal destiny.

Narratively, Suzume may not top Your Name., but visually, it might be Shinkai’s most accomplished work to date. Simply put, it boasts some of the most remarkable animation ever. Much of this is thanks to the input of visual effects artist Ryōsuke Tsuda. Thematically, the film draws heavily on the 2011 earthquake that caused meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Shinkai has said that he wanted the film to keep the memory of that disaster alive, so that future generations could learn from it. “If I depict [the earthquake] in my films or novels, I can share the memories with teens who don’t know about it, and I think it’s not too late,” he explains.

Watch on Netflix

1 ‘Your Name.’ (2016)

Voice Cast: Ryunosuke Kamiki, Mone Kamishiraishi, Ryo Narita, Aoi Yûki

“Treasure the experience. Dreams fade away after you wake up.” Your Name. revolves around two teenagers, Mitsuha (Mone Kamishiraishi) and Taki (Ryunosuke Kamiki), who inexplicably begin to swap bodies intermittently. Despite never having met in person, they form a deep connection as they navigate each other’s lives and experiences. They resolve to find each other, even as they struggle against the forces of time and fate.

This is a fantastical premise, but Shinkai mines it for everyday teenage angst and drama. The initial awkwardness and humor of their meddling in each other’s lives gradually give way to a more serious and emotionally resonant storyline in the second half. This was a recipe that connected with audiences: Your Name. was a smash hit, quickly becoming the third highest-grossing Japanese film of all time. Critics likewise flipped out over it, with many declaring Shinkai to be the second coming of Miyazaki. The film has already begun to exert an influence on anime and manga, cementing its place as a modern classic.

Watch on Criterion

NEXT: The 10 Worst Hitchcockian Thrillers, Ranked