Cozy Anime Movies To Watch This Fall

The Autumn season is upon us, which means it’s the perfect time to start rounding up all of the cozy shows and movies we can. So, that means it’s time for us to turn to a medium that’s no stranger to heartwarming stories and cozy films – Japanese animation movies! There are plenty of beautiful anime movies to watch for a chill, autumn-themed vibe this season, but we’ve managed to narrow our list down to only the best cozy anime movies to add to your list this season.

For this list, we’ve included anime movie recommendations that give you that warm, cozy feeling – so, as much as I love them, you won’t find any movies like Perfect Blue or Grave of the Fireflies here (though I recommend you check those out also). Don’t be fooled though – it’s rare to find any animated movies from Japan that don’t include some sort of grief and loss, so be prepared to get cozy, but with a box of tissues in hand – these movies often get emotional. With that being said, let’s get into the list!

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Your Name (2016)

Image by CoMix Wave Films

If you were to call Your Name the best anime movie of all time, it’s unlikely that many people would disagree with you. Makoto Shinkai and CoMix Wave Films are a match made in heaven, and spoiler alert, this is not the last time that this duo has found a spot on this list. A body swap supernatural romance movie, with a sprinkle of disaster films for good measure, Your Name is a masterclass in anime cinema, with one of the most compelling plots of the medium.

While the plot I just described may sound like a thrill ride, Your Name manages to keep its stakes high, while maintaining a cozy, warm anime vibe the whole time. The film achieves this through being not only one of the most heartwarming stories out there, but also thanks to its beautiful animation quality and visual style. With one of the most iconic musical sequences in anime film history, while there are definitely more relaxing anime movies than Your Name to watch, it is certainly one of the most well-written and beautiful anime movies of all time, and a perfect choice if you’re looking for cozy animes to watch this season.

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Into The Forest of Fireflies’ Light (2011)

Image by Brain’s Base

It’s difficult to say whether Into the Forest of Fireflies’ Light is actually a movie or not. Coming in at only 44 minutes in total, this title is probably more appropriate to call a short film, but by all accounts, this is a movie, so it gets a spot on this list! There’s perhaps no forbidden love story more poignant than Into the Forest of Fireflies’ Light, a story about a young girl who comes across a mysterious, ghostly boy in the forest, who will disappear forever if she touches his skin.

With the majority of the film taking place in a fantasy forest setting, Into the Forest of Fireflies’ Light is one of the coziest emotional experiences on this list – for the majority of its runtime, the movie focuses on the magical adventures between our two protagonists as their countryside romance blooms. If spiritual powers and existential themes are your thing, I can’t think of a more appropriate film to add to your cozy movie watchlist – and with its short runtime, it won’t feel like too much of a task to watch.

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I Want To Eat Your Pancreas (2018)

Image by Studio VOLN

It’s difficult to imagine a movie where the title is more contrasting to the contents of the film than this one. Despite sounding like some sort of B-grade slasher movie, I Want To Eat Your Pancreas is actually a coming-of-age story, with a heartbreaking twist. A young boy finds a diary in a hospital, and discovers that it belongs to his classmate, Sakura, who reveals that she is suffering from a fatal pancreatic illness. The story quickly becomes a tale about Sakura’s bucket list, as our male lead helps her fulfill it.

Fair warning – though I Want To Eat Your Pancreas is a beautiful movie, and can certainly be enjoyed on a cozy night in, it is certainly a tear-jerker of a tale, and if you’re looking for wholesome anime movies, I would count this one out until you’re ready to confront its very emotionally heavy narrative. As far as character dynamics go, the relationship between the two leads of this movie is compelling to watch, and visually, the film is stunning. Bring tissues though, this one gets sad.

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Weathering With You (2019)

Image by CoMix Wave Films

Makoto Shinkai and CoMix Wave Films make their second appearance on our list with Weathering With You, a slice of life anime movie filled with gorgeous visual imagery, and an unconquerable aesthetic. If you’re looking for some truly relaxing anime movies to watch this season, I cannot recommend Weathering With You enough, particularly if you’re someone who finds comfort in the weather.

Weathering With You tells the story of two teenagers who run from their troubled backgrounds and cross paths – and importantly, the girl just so happens to be able to control the weather. Watching her power in action is spectacular, and if you’re looking for a visual treat, this movie will be right up your alley. Though I have some problems with Weathering With You’s overall narrative, the movie is undeniably gorgeous, and makes for easy viewing if you’re looking for fun anime movies to watch. It is one of Shinkai’s weaker outings story-wise however, so be aware of that before you go in expecting a triumph like Your Name.

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Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)

Image by Studio Ghibli

Let’s be honest – you could make an entire chill anime movies list based on Studio Ghibli’s catalogue alone. The studio has become renowned over the years for creating fantasy worlds and magical adventures to stand as the Japanese equivalent of the golden years of Disney, and this reputation is earned. Though most would turn to Spirited Away as the studio’s magnum opus, it is Howl’s Moving Castle that stands out to me as their greatest triumph, and a perfect fit for our cozy list.

Part of what makes Studio Ghibli such an enchanting studio is their ability to tell truly meaningful human stories through the use of a complete fantasy world. Howl’s Moving Castle is, on the surface, a tale about a cursed woman who finds her way to a wizard’s grandiose home and alternate dimensions. Beyond the surface, however, the film is an anti-war tale about loyalty, feminism, embracing old age, and the value of compassion. Within the first few moments of Howl’s Moving Castle, the viewer knows they’re in for a magical treat – it’s the perfect choice for a cozy autumn-themed anime experience, as are many of Studio Ghibli’s outings. The film is also based on the 1986 novel of the same name, by British author Diana Wynne Jones, though Ghibli’s take is a lot more focused on the anti-war elements, due to director Hayao Miyazaki creating the film in opposition to the 2003 US invasion of Iraq. Two distinct enough stories come from this same title, but both make for their own unique, comforting experiences.

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Suzume (2022)

Image by CoMix Wave Films

Makoto Shinkai and CoMix Wave Films have certainly made their mark on this list, but I do feel the need to give their most recent outing a spot on this list, because out of all of them, Suzume is perhaps the most whimsical. Suzume is the story of a young girl who teams up with a stranger to prevent disasters across Japan caused by a giant worm – Shinkai’s ability to make disaster films a wholesome experience should really be studied.

Featuring doorways to alternate dimensions, a cat who turns people into chairs, and commentary on the afterlife, Suzume is a fantastical experience that leans fully into its magical elements. Many have commented that given the frequency of natural disasters in Japan, Shinkai has used his films to provide some comfort around the topic, while also adding emotional poignancy, as viewers experience a sort of magical realism while watching. As is true of Shinkai’s other entries on the list, this film is visually stunning, and while the plot is grandiose, it never becomes convoluted, making it a great chill anime movie experience for the Autumn season.

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The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)

Image by Madhouse

Based on a 1967 novel of the same name, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is a story of, as you may have guessed, time travel. After a near-death experience, Makoto Konno discovers that she has obtained the ability to time-leap, allowing her to control the world around her. Though the stakes do get fairly high as the film progresses, Makoto is a 17-year-old student, and as such, a lot of her time hijinx involves mundane, everyday activities, making the majority of the experience quite the calming, slice of life anime movie.

Many of the films on our list feature spiritual powers and magical elements, but none lean into sci-fi as much as The Girl Who Leapt Through Time. The film’s ability, however, to perfectly walk the line between a cozy, coming-of-age story, and a grandiose sci-fi narrative makes it a standout for anyone looking to be enthralled in the narrative of their wholesome anime movies. I recommend you check this one out, it’s a rare gem.

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A Silent Voice (2016)

Image by Kyoto Animation

The final movie on this list also happens to be my personal favourite. 2016’s A Silent Voice is an incredible experience, though much like I Want To Eat Your Pancreas, it covers some very heavy topics – though it’s a great movie, you should be prepared if you want to watch it. Its visual style and environments are beautiful, making for a perfect cozy vibe, but the film’s narrative surrounding disability, bullying and redemption can take an emotional toll.

Ultimately though, the movie is heartwarming, and alongside its anti-bullying message, the movie’s insistence that it’s never too late to amend past mistakes makes it a wholesome experience, even if the emotional heights can sometimes be a lot to process. Animated movies can sometimes suffer from the assumption that they shy away from serious topics, but A Silent Voice proves that the medium can tackle these stories extremely well, while also capturing a beautifully relaxing vibe that live-action movies often struggle to rival. If you’ve never seen A Silent Voice, make sure to check it out – it’s an emotional experience like no other.

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Conclusion

There are plenty of chill anime movies out there, but I hope that this list of anime movie recommendations for the Autumn season gives you some ideas of what to watch for your cozy film sessions this season. Have you seen any of the movies on our list? If so, which was your favourite, and what other cozy anime movies do you recommend? Thank you for reading, and happy watching!

See also: The Saddest Anime Ever Made

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