If you love Studio Ghibli films, the best next anime series depends on what you want more of: folklore, nature, warmth, fantasy adventure, or reflective pacing. “Ghibli-like” is a loose fan shorthand, not a promise that another series reproduces Hayao Miyazaki’s style. Start with Natsume’s Book of Friends for gentle supernatural encounters and an episodic structure; use the guide below to match other candidates to the particular appeal you’re after.
What “Ghibli-like” can mean in a series
Viewers use the phrase for different qualities: rural settings, folklore, patient storytelling, thoughtful characters, fantasy worlds, or expressive animation. Those qualities do not always come together in one show, and a shared ingredient does not make two works interchangeable. Fan discussions offer examples of how people describe the resemblance, but they are subjective recommendations rather than evidence of a single standard. A discussion of non-Ghibli anime with a Ghibli feel illustrates that range.
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The Collected Works of Hayao Miyazaki (Amazon Exclusive) | $144.94 | Buy on Amazon |
It helps to choose by the part of Ghibli you want to revisit: encounters with spirits, a sense of the natural world, a close-knit emotional story, or a sustained adventure. Also check the format: the recommendations here are television-series candidates, not a list of films.
Start with Natsume’s Book of Friends
For a gentle, reflective series built around recurring supernatural encounters, Natsume’s Book of Friends is the clearest starting point in this guide. Takashi Natsume has been able to see yokai since childhood. He inherits his grandmother Reiko’s Book of Friends, which contains the names of yokai she bound to her, and sets out to return those names with help from Nyanko-sensei, who calls himself Natsume’s bodyguard. The official overview describes the story as one of encounters between people and yokai, and of Natsume finding his way with support from friends. The official series overview
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The structure makes it a natural fit for viewers who enjoy stories that pause over individual meetings and relationships rather than rushing from one major battle to the next. That is a point of overlap in mood and subject matter—not evidence that the anime is formally modeled on Ghibli. The series has seven television seasons listed on its official portal. The seventh season aired from 2024-10-07 through 2024-12-23, according to its official season page.
Its manga connection
The anime adapts Yuki Midorikawa’s manga, which was serialized in Hakusensha’s LaLa and LaLa DX. The official first-season page credits Takahiro Omori as director and Brain’s Base as the animation studio. If you want to continue with the original source, look for the manga by Midorikawa; the cited official page establishes that connection, but not a particular edition or retailer. Official first-season information and credits
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to choose among the other series candidates
Several titles are often grouped into Ghibli-adjacent watchlists, but the available verified information here is not enough to make detailed, title-by-title claims about their premises, tone, or production. Treat these as leads to check against an official title or distributor page before deciding, rather than as fully documented recommendations.
- Mushi-shi: A candidate commonly associated with episodic supernatural stories and rural atmosphere. Verify its official series information if those are the qualities you want.
- The Ancient Magus’ Bride: A fantasy-series candidate; its specific story and emotional tone should be checked in an official synopsis before treating it as a match.
- Aria the Animation: A series candidate for viewers seeking a quieter, contemplative watch. Confirm the premise and format in an authoritative listing.
- Haibane Renmei: Often mentioned among atmospheric fantasy anime, but the comparison alone does not tell you whether its tone suits your preference.
- Kino’s Journey: A candidate for a journey-centered series; check which adaptation and listing you are considering before watching.
- Somali and the Forest Spirit: A fantasy-series candidate whose family-oriented appeal may interest some viewers, but verify the official synopsis and tone first.
Other fan-mentioned possibilities include The Vision of Escaflowne, Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water, and Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit. These are useful search leads, not endorsements backed by production details in the sources cited here.
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Keep films separate from series
A watchlist promising television series should not quietly count films as entries. The Place Promised in Our Early Days, Children Who Chase Lost Voices, and Wolf Children are films, not episodic television series, so they belong in a separate feature-film list. An earlier article with the same “Ghibli-like anime series” framing includes those titles alongside series; its format mismatch is a reason to check each title rather than rely on the list label. The earlier mixed-format list
Where to watch
Streaming catalogs change by country and over time. The official series pages cited here establish Natsume’s Book of Friends’ story, seasons, and credits, but do not establish current streaming availability in a particular region. Check a licensed service’s current catalog in your country before planning a watch order.
Quick Recap
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