Okay, so I’ve been on this kick lately, trying to find more movies that give me the same feels as “Josee, the Tiger and the Fish.” You know, that bittersweet, coming-of-age, slightly melancholic vibe? It’s a tough one to nail, but I’ve dug up a few that come pretty close. I figured I’d share my little journey here, in case anyone else is on the same quest.
My Search Process…
First, I started by just plain old Googling. You know, typing in stuff like “movies similar to Josee the Tiger and the Fish” and “romantic anime movies with disabled characters.” That gave me a bunch of initial suggestions, some good, some… not so much.
Then, I hit up some of my favorite anime forums and subreddits. I figured, who better to ask than the real experts, right? I posted a few threads asking for recommendations, explaining what I liked about “Josee” – the realistic portrayal of disability, the complex characters, the emotional depth, all that good stuff.
I also checked out some “If you liked this, you’ll like that” lists on various movie review sites. Sometimes those are hit or miss, but they can be a good starting point.
The Results (So Far)
Here’s what I’ve come up with, after watching a bunch of trailers and reading tons of reviews. These aren’t perfect matches, but they each capture some aspect of what made “Josee” so special:
- “A Silent Voice (Koe no Katachi)”: Okay, this one is a classic, and for good reason. It deals with bullying, disability (deafness), and redemption in a really powerful way. The animation is gorgeous, and the emotional impact is HUGE. It’s not exactly a romance like “Josee,” but the central relationship is just as compelling.
- “I Want to Eat Your Pancreas (Kimi no Suizou wo Tabetai)”: This one is a tearjerker, fair warning! It’s about a terminally ill girl and the classmate who befriends her. It’s less about disability and more about facing mortality, but it has that same bittersweet, beautiful sadness that I loved in “Josee.”
- “Ride Your Wave (Kimi to, Nami ni Noretara)”: This has a bit more of the fantasy or magic realism. It is not spot-on but it deals with great sadness.
- “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo)”: This is a total shot, it is about a girl who gains the ability to time travel. It’s less about disability and more about the awkwardness and intensity of first love, and it has a similar bittersweet ending.
I’m still searching, though! I feel like there are more hidden gems out there, just waiting to be discovered. I’ll probably update this list as I find more. If anyone has any suggestions, drop them in the comments! I’m always up for a good cry (and a good movie, of course).
