6 Anime Movies Like Summer Wars [Recommendations]

Summer Wars was the first movie directed by Mamoru Hosoda that was completely based on his own ideas. With his three previous films being based on already existing books and anime, Mamoru Hosoda proved he was as talented of a writer as he was a director with the 2009 releases of Summer Wars. With the combination of sci-fi and romance, Summer Wars created a unique world that shows the viewers the powers of having a caring family around you. The use of a normal looking country town and a more colorful plate for the world of Oz gave the movie a unique art style.

As with any great movies, once you're finished watching it, you're left with the desire to experience it again for the first time. While you may not be able to get the same experience as before, you can find other movies that are similar. That's what we're here for. Today, we are going to go over six anime movies that are similar to Summer Wars.


Similar Anime to Summer Wars

1. Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo (The Girl Who Leapt Through Time)

  • Episodes: 1
  • Aired: Jul 15, 2006

In her last year of high school, Makoto Konno is struggling with her decision on what she is going to do with her future. On her way home from school one day, Makoto almost gets into an accident with a train, but before she gets hit by the train she is transported back to before the accident. Makoto learns that her ability is called time-leap, and it allows her to literally leap through time. As Makoto continues to use her new found powers, she learns that messing with time has its consequences.

Both Summer Wars and Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo were produced by Madhouse and directed by Mamoru Hosoda. These connections give both movies a similar visual style and pacing to the story. Both movies also feature heavy amounts of sci-fi elements and also have some minor romance elements. While the premise of both movies is vastly different, they still share a major story theme. The movies feature average main characters who ultimately end up having a huge impact on the world around them with the use of Makoto's time-leap and Kenji's involvement with OZ. They eventually learn the consequences of their actions and the second half of each movie focuses on their journey to fix the problems they caused.

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time - Official Trailer


2. Eve no Jikan (Time of Eve)

  • Episodes: 1
  • Aired: Mar 6, 2010

In future Japan, androids have become a regular part of everyday life. One day, Rikuo Sakisaka checks his home androids activity log and notices she has been acting on her own and returning home at strange times. Rikuo also notices a strange phrase in her, “Are you enjoying the Time of Eve?” Together with his friend, Masakazu Masaki, Rikuo follows the android Sammy to a mysterious cafe called, “The Time of Eve.” There they learn more about androids and start to see them more than just the personal assistants they have been using them as for years.

Eve no Jikan and Summer Wars feature heavy family themes, showing the joy of being surrounded by people that care for you even if they aren't related to you. Both Rikuo and Kenji get to experience this by being around a group of people they come to care for and want to protect. Both movies also both present the idea of AI being humanized and being able to act on its own. The plot revolves around these newly humanised AI, with the androids in Eve no Jikan learning to act more like humans causing Rikuo to change his thoughts on Androids and Love Machine going beyond its original programming and taking over the world of Oz forcing Kenji and his new friends to fight against it.


3. Hirune Hime: Shiranai Watashi no Monogatari (Napping Princess)

  • Episodes: 1
  • Aired: Mar 18, 2017

Kokonoe Monakawa has been trying to study for her upcoming entrance exams, but she keeps having problems staying awake. In her dreams, she goes to a place called Heartland, a society revolved around cars that is under attack by a huge molten monster. In her dreams, Kokonoe takes the place of the king's daughter Ancien, who uses her tablet to bring machines to life. Her dream world and the real world start to blend together when a man resembling the king's evil advisor shows up at her house and is involved in her father's arrest. With Kokonoe's dreams seeming to be more than just simple dreams, she must find out how Heartland and the real world are connected and how she can save them both.

Hirune Hime: Shiranai Watashi no Monogatari and Summer Wars both feature stories that take place in multiple worlds, with both movies spending a majority of the time in the fantasy worlds of Heartland and Oz. The shifting between the fantasy and reality and the way the characters deal with it are very similar. Hirune Hime: Shiranai Watashi no Monogatari and Summer Wars also feature some minor character similarities with Kokonoe and Natsuki being similar in appearance and personality. Artistically the movies are very similar as well, with similar looking backgrounds and characters and the use of more colorful worlds for their fantasy locations.

Napping Princess - Official Trailer



Any Anime Like Summer Wars ?

4. Kimi no Na wa (Your Name)

  • Episodes: 1
  • Aired: Aug 26, 2016

Mitsuha Miyamizu is a high school girl in the countryside that wishes she could escape and live in Tokyo. One day, Mitsuha wakes up in the body of Taki Tachibana and starts to live out her dream of being a boy living in Tokyo. Mitsuha wasn't the only one to switch places, as she learns that Taki was switched into her body while she was in his. As Mitsuha and Taki continue to switch bodies, they learn more and more about each other and grow closer by living each other's lives. One day the switches stop happening, forcing Taki to seek Mitsuha and find out what happened to her.

Kimi no Na wa and Summer Wars are both set in the countryside and use the main characters to juxtapose modern and traditional lifestyles. Taki and Kenji are from Tokyo and represent the more modern lifestyle. The story follows them as they spend time with the families of Mitsuha and Natsuki, and they experience a more traditional way of living. When they start experiencing the more traditional lifestyle, both movies focus on the closeness of families and their traditions. Both movies also incorporate romance and sci-fi elements into their stories.

Your Name - Trailer


5. Tsumiki no Ie (La Maison en Petits Cubes)

  • Episodes: 1
  • Aired: Jun 10, 2008

The story of Tsumiki no le takes place in a flooded town with waters that continue to rise. An elderly man must continue to add new levels to his home to avoid the rising water level. One day, the elderly man accidentally drops his favorite pipe into the lower levels of his home. As he goes to the lower levels of his home to find his pipe, he sees things throughout the home that make him reminisce about things that have happened during his time in his home.

Although Tsumiki no Ie is a short film with no dialogue, it still shares a major theme presented in Summer Wars. Both movies are centered around a caring family and show the importance of family. The elderly man and Sakae Jinnouchi are at very similar points in life. They are both nearing the end of their lives and spend their time remembering the great times they had throughout their lives with their family. Both films also have unique art styles and great soundtracks that enhance their stories.


6. Hoshi no Koe (Voices of a Distant Star)

  • Episodes: 1
  • Aired: Feb 2, 2002

In 2046, the people of earth have reached Mars and discovered the remnants of an alien civilization. This discovery has allowed mankind to massive advances in its technology and plans have been made to set up an expedition into space to fight against a group of aliens called the Tarsians. Junior high school girl Mikako Nagamine is selected to go on the mission as a pilot of a fighting mech. After she leaves on her mission, Mikako continues to send messages to her friend Terao Noboru back on Earth. As she begins to get further from Earth, the messages between them start to take longer to get to one another. The story follows their bond that transcends through space and time.

While not having many similar plot points and not being similar tones, Hoshi no Koe and Summer Wars are still similar in a variety of ways that are different from any other movie on this list. Both Hoshi no Koe and Summer Wars follow the story of a pair of teenagers that have their lives forever changed by technology. Even though Hoshi no Koe is focused much more on the romance between its two main characters and is more somber, the relationships between its main characters develop in a similar way. With the discovery on Mars and the world of Oz changing the way the world operates, they both have a direct impact on the relationship between the movies main characters and end up being the relationships end up the way they do at the end of the film.


Final Thoughts

Each of these movies is able to capture at least one of the three major aspects of Summer Wars. Whether it was the romance, the sci-fi, or the importance of family, each film utilizes one of these elements to make an amazing movie that is definitely worth your time. Which movie on this list is your favorite? Are there any other movies similar to Summer Wars you enjoy? Let us know in the comments below.

Summer-Wars-dvd-300x424 6 Anime Movies Like Summer Wars [Recommendations]

Writer

Author: Robby

I’m a lover of anime and manga and I spend most of my time working hard to accomplish my goals in life. Outside of anime and manga, I’m an avid Heroes of the Storm player and I love some good food.

Previous Articles

Top 5 Anime by Robby