"Any manga movies like Studio Ghibli?" Topic

My daughters (13 and 14) really like the Studio Ghibli movies and Escaflowne, but not Akira or Appleseed – they are probably more steampunk than sci fi. Any recommendations?

I can understand not liking Akira but Appleseed!?! Disown them and sell them into servitude immediately. ;-)

My youngest, 20 and a great SG fan, says that no-one does films like Studio Ghibli but suggests the following

The Who Girl Leapt Through Time

Wolf Children

Summer Wars

5cm per second

The Children Who Chased Lost Voices

The last one is a bit more violent and dark than the rest so be better if you check first. Hope this helps

Fatman

Oh and how about the Cowboy Bebop series Sci-Fi but fun.

Castle Cagliostro, and if they are into daft Japanese series, One Piece or Tenchi Muyo might amuse.

As an aside, Bellevue Rhendezvous might also appeal.

I'm hesitant to suggest the 1970s TV show Future Boy Conan as you may have a hard time getting hold of it (and if you do, I think it will only have Japanese audio with subtitles – personally I prefer anime this way but I know many/most Americans like it with English dubbing instead). It was made by Hayao Miyazaki long before before Studio Ghibli existed. I found it absolutely delightful (a fairly "happy" kind of post-apoc vision of bright blue seas dotted with idyllic islands). Quite childish in tone, but not in a way that made me dislike it. Of course, being such an old TV show, the quality of animation is not like that in the Ghibli movies.

Rapier Miniatures already mentioned it, but another pre-Ghibli Miyazaki production is the film Castle of Cagliostro. This, too, I found delightful. Just don't expect the other Lupin III movies to be as good, they weren't made by Miyazaki so they don't have that "magic" that he always brings to his movies.

Full Metal Alchemist
Wolf's Rain

Steamboy is a good choice

Oban Star Racers

Steamboy and Fullmetal Alchemist are definitely titles worth watching.

There are two Fullmetal Alchemist series and two movies, each paired.

The original is just titled Fullmetal Alchemist and the movie Conqueror of Shambala ends the storyline.

The reboot is Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood and its movie Sacred Star of Milos is just a side story that takes place roughly 1/3rd-ish of the way through the storyline.

The primary difference between the two is that Brotherhood is longer and more true to the Manga. It tend to feel more serious as well.

Trigun maybe? Spice and Wolf is a pretty universally good series, although it doesn't fit either of the criteria.

I'll second Fatman's suggestions, especially "The Girl Who Leapt through Through Time"

"Cowboy Bebop" can be a bit bloody, but so is Ghibli's "Princess Mononoke"

If series are acceptable, in steampunk/dieselpunk (Flying machines that look like Auburns, Cords and similar cars?) I would suggest "Last Exile".

link

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Exile

For something more in a fantasy vein, closer to Ghibli's Princess Mononoke and Totoro, look at the Natsume Yuujinchou (Natsume's Book of Friends) series.

link

link

Shingu!

link

Avater: The last Air bender is brilliant the sequel; Korra is pretty good as well.

Eve no Jikan (Time of Eve), Sci-Fi but not like Akira or Appleseed. Fatman and Rochon have already mentioned the others that come to mind.

Sakura Wars
The Sky Crawlers

If they want to branch out I recommend Rumiko Takahashi:

Ranma 1/2
Inuyasha

Thanks all appreciate the suggestions

We found Summer Wars and just watched it this last week; pretty good, reminded me a bit of the book "Ready Player One." Thanks again all for making the suggestions, vey much appreciated.