Movies Like Ride Your Wave (2019)

Ride Your Wave is a 2019 animation, comedy, drama, fantasy, romance film from Masaaki Yuasa with a MovieMagicScore of 7.6/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with Hotarubi no Mori e and Natsume's Book of Friends the Movie: Ephemeral Bond.

Animation Comedy Drama Fantasy Romance

Hotarubi no Mori e

2011

One hot summer day a little girl gets lost in an enchanted forest of the mountain god where spirits reside. A young boy appears before her, but she cannot touch him for fear of making him disappear. And so a wondrous adventure awaits...

8.3

MagicScore

Natsume's Book of Friends the Movie: Ephemeral Bond

2018

Natsume has been busy, navigating between humans and Yokai when he coincidentally reunites with an old classmate, Yuki. It brings back painful memories of a certain Yokai. Meanwhile, Natsume also became acquainted with Yorie Tsumura, a woman in the memories of a Yokai whose name he had returned. Yorie knew much about Reiko, but now lived a peaceful life with her only son, Mukuo. Being with this family was comforting for Natsume, but apparently a mysterious Yokai has been lurking in their town. On the way back from investigating, a “Yokai seed” that had latched itself to Nyanko Sensei drops into the Fujiwaras’ garden and grows overnight into a fruit tree. When Nyanko Sensei eats a fruit that is somehow shaped like himself, he suddenly splits into three!

7.3

MagicScore

Pompo the Cinephile

2021

Operating out of the movie capital "Nyallywood," Pompo has been shooting one B-grade entertainment flick after another that anyone would enjoy. One day, Pompo's "movie buff" assistant Gene spots a new script written by Pompo and is moved by its exquisite story. In a fit of passion, he proclaims, "I want to see this as a finished work in theaters as soon as possible!" However, Pompo tells him, "So you shoot this film." Thus, Gene takes on his first directing gig. Meanwhile, Natalie, an ordinary girl who just arrived in town with movie actress dreams, has been discovered by Pompo...

7.1

MagicScore

Fruits Basket -prelude-

2022

Kyoko, who couldn't believe anything in the world and lived a desolate life, meets Katsuya Honda, who has been assigned as an educational trainee. She is at the mercy of Katsuya, who is rude and has a strong habit, and she is gradually attracted to her. However, she is disowned by her parents in the wake of an incident with her bad fellow. It's a punishment that I've been doing as much as I like. Katsuya appears in front of Kyoko who thinks so...

7.0

MagicScore

Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl

2019

In Fujisawa, Sakuta Azusagawa is in his second year of high school. Blissful days with his girlfriend and upperclassman, Mai Sakurajima, are interrupted by the appearance of his first crush, Shoko Makinohara.

8.2

MagicScore

Age of Summer

2018

A determined teenage boy struggles to find acceptance within the Jr. Lifeguards of Hermosa Beach while juggling relationships and challenges in the summer of 1986.

6.0

MagicScore

Your Name.

2016

High schoolers Mitsuha and Taki are complete strangers living separate lives. But one night, they suddenly switch places. Mitsuha wakes up in Taki’s body, and he in hers. This bizarre occurrence continues to happen randomly, and the two must adjust their lives around each other.

8.5

MagicScore

Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Movie

1999

In a loose retelling of the Revolutionary Girl Utena TV series, Utena Tenjou arrives at Ohtori Academy, only to be immediately swept up in a series of duels for the hand of her classmate Anthy Himemiya and the power she supposedly holds. At the same time, Utena reunites with Touga Kiryuu, a friend from her childhood who seems to know the secrets behind the duels. Utena must discover those secrets for herself, before the power that rules Ohtori claims her and her friends, new and old.

7.4

MagicScore

Given

2020

Haruki secretly had feelings for Akihiko for years, but Akihiko was still in a relationship with his roommate, the violinist Ugetsu Murata. Haruki, Akihiko, and Ugetsu's love clashes and starts to move forward.

8.2

MagicScore

#10

Non Non Biyori: Vacation

2018

Even when you're fortunate enough to live in a place as beautiful as the country village of Asahigaoka, you should never turn down the chance to explore someplace else. So, when Suguru wins a free trip to Okinawa just as the summer vacation is coming to an end, the town's entire school… all 5 students and 1 teacher, plus the local candy shop owner… can hardly wait for their 3-day trip to begin! Between kayaking, swimming and meeting new people, there's always something fun happening, but the best part of all is that big city girl Hotaru and her new small-town friends all get to explore the wonders of Japan's famous vacation destination together. Prepare for the perfect trip as the whole gang boards the plane!

7.7

MagicScore

#11

The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes

2022

Urashima Tunnel – Once you enter that tunnel, you can get whatever you want, but at a price. Kaoru Tohno, who seems to have an elusive personality and traumatic past, and Anzu Hanashiro, who is struggling to reconcile her ideal image and true-to-heart attitude, team up to investigate the Urashima Tunnel and get what they want. This is an unforgettable summer story of nostalgia and sprinting in a remote countryside.

7.7

MagicScore

#12

5 Centimeters per Second

2007

Three moments in Takaki's life: his relationship with Akari and their forced separation; his friendship with Kanae, who is secretly in love with him; the demands and disappointments of adulthood, an unhappy life in a cold city.

7.3

MagicScore

#13

Your Voice -KIMIKOE-

2017

The story focuses on high school girl Nagisa Yukiai who lives in a seaside town. She has believed her grandmother's story that spirits dwell in words and they are called "kotodama" (word spirit). One day, she strays into a mini FM station that has not been used for years. As an impulse of the moment, she tries to talk like a DJ using the facility. But her voice accidentally broadcasted reaches someone she has never expected.

6.1

MagicScore

#14

My Beautiful Girl, Mari

2002

Kim Nam-woo struggles through life as people around him constantly leave him; his best friend, Jun-ho, is going to study in Seoul and in some ways his widowed mother is "leaving" him too by paying more attention to her new boyfriend. To escape, he goes to a dream world, where he meets a girl named Mari. The story follows Nam-woo in discovering himself and maturing.

5.8

MagicScore

#15

Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms

2018

Fleeing the war, the immortal Maquia, graced with eternal youth, finds a baby abandoned in the forest and decides to raise it as her own child, sparking a moving story between a mortal and a being who does not age.

8.1

MagicScore

#16

Dou kyu sei – Classmates

2016

Rihito Sajo, an honor student with a perfect score on the entrance exam and Hikaru Kusakabe, in a band and popular among girls, would have never crossed paths. Until one day they started talking at the practice for their school’s upcoming chorus festival. After school, the two meet regularly, as Hikaru helps Rihito to improve his singing skills. While they listen to each other’s voice and harmonize, their hearts start to beat together.

8.3

MagicScore

#17

anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day - The Movie

2013

A year has passed since Menma's ghostly return to the Super Peace Busters. Although the time they spent together during that summer was short, the five members reminisce about what happened as they each write a letter to their lost friend.

7.5

MagicScore

#18

Her Blue Sky

2019

High school student Aoi Aioi lives with her elder sister, Akane, after a tragic accident took their parents away 13 years ago. Because Akane has since been taking care of her single-handedly, Aoi wants to move to Tokyo after her graduation to relieve her sister's burden and pursue a musical career, inspired by Akane's ex-boyfriend Shinnosuke "Shinno" Kanamuro. Shinno was part of a band until he left for Tokyo to become a professional guitarist after the sisters' parents passed away, and he was never to be seen again.

7.2

MagicScore

#19

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train

2020

Tanjiro Kamado, joined with Inosuke Hashibira, a boy raised by boars who wears a boar's head, and Zenitsu Agatsuma, a scared boy who reveals his true power when he sleeps, boards the Infinity Train on a new mission with the Fire Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku, to defeat a demon who has been tormenting the people and killing the demon slayers who oppose it!

8.2

MagicScore

#20

Wings of Fame

1990

A famous movie actor claims that he has written a book. As result, a real author, not a very well known writer, vengefully kills him but then dies as a result of an accident. Next, they both find themselves in after-life, where souls of all famous people are gathered.

6.4

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Ride Your Wave?

The top films similar to Ride Your Wave by MovieMagicScore are Hotarubi no Mori e (8.3), Natsume's Book of Friends the Movie: Ephemeral Bond (7.3), Pompo the Cinephile (7.1). Each shares animation/comedy/drama/fantasy/romance themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Ride Your Wave worth watching?

Ride Your Wave holds a MovieMagicScore of 7.6/10 from 354 viewer ratings, putting it among the better-reviewed titles in its genre.

What kind of movie is Ride Your Wave?

Ride Your Wave (2019) is a animation, comedy, drama, fantasy, romance film directed by Masaaki Yuasa, starring Ryota Katayose, Rina Kawaei, Honoka Matsumoto.

Where can I find more recommendations like Ride Your Wave?

Browse the full ranked list above, or explore more animation recommendations on MovieMagicScore, where every list is ordered by genuine viewer ratings.

Keep exploring

Movies like Hotarubi no Mori e Movies like Natsume's Book of Friends the Movie: Ephemeral Bond Movies like Pompo the Cinephile Movies like Fruits Basket -prelude-Movies like Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl Movies like Age of Summer

About movies like Ride Your Wave

This ranked list pairs Ride Your Wave (2019), a animation and comedy and drama and fantasy and romance film from Masaaki Yuasa, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Ryota Katayose take note). Unlike critic-driven sites, every position here is ordered by MovieMagicScore — a rating built only from real viewers, with no studio marketing or paid placement. Scores update as more people rate, so the list stays current.

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