38 Underrated Films You Need to Discover

In 1940, young Kayoko begins first grade, unaware of the hardships that await. By 1945, she faces a world irrevocably changed by difficult times.

The film follows a peaceful journey through Iblard, a fantastical realm first visualized in the paintings of Naohisa Inoue. Inoue's artwork drew inspiration from Impressionism and Surrealism.

Princess Arete, held captive by a sorcerer who believes she poses a threat to his immortality, finds an unlikely ally in a kind villager. Together, they devise a plan for her escape.

A short film about a young rabbit with human-like qualities grappling with the grief of losing his mother.

Toru Ishihara leads a normal life, juggling a relationship and a job with a train enthusiast. His world is turned upside down when a mysterious, ghostly train called the X Train appears, wreaking havoc as it travels the tracks. Toru…

When a colossal monster appears, terror grips a town's residents, but Yuki and her classmate Tetsu remain calm. Tetsu also has a peculiar pet of his own, a creature called Cenco. Meanwhile, another boy, Shuu, is the one controlling the…

This three-part film series features a variety of stories for different viewers. The first, "Labyrinth labyrinthos," follows a curious girl and her cat who are mysteriously transported to a strange world full of puzzling obstacles. "Running Man" is an action…

Fumiko, a schoolgirl who recently confessed her love, is rejected by the boy, who wants to focus on baseball. Heartbroken, she runs downhill through the town, increasing her speed as she cries.

GENIUS PARTY is a collection of seven very different but equally impressive short films. Atsuko Fukushima offers a visually stunning abstract piece. Masaaki Yuasa, known for MIND GAME and CAT SOUP, presents "Happy Machine," a deceptively simple story exploring a…

Black and White, two orphaned children, fight to survive in the harsh streets of Treasure Town. Their lives are upended when a powerful corporation plans to demolish the town for a new amusement park, forcing them into a desperate struggle…

This drama centers on Mr. Takazawa, an elderly man cared for by Haruko, a dedicated nursing student. The Japanese Ministry of Public Welfare introduces Z-001, a new computerized hospital bed with robotic functions, designed to be more efficient than human…

Japanese legend says eating mermaid flesh grants immortality, but it's far more likely to cause death or turn you into a monstrous creature called a Lost Soul. Mermaid Saga follows Yuta, an immortal who has lived for five centuries, as…

Studio 4°C, a leading animation studio, presents a collection of five short films by five acclaimed directors. Each director brings a unique style and approach, united by a shared commitment to maximum creativity. The films range from classic anime to…

Orphaned and hardened by a violent past, Sawa is a highly skilled assassin working for a mercenary group. She's a master of disguise and lethal combat, but hides a troubled inner life behind a charming facade. When her partner, Oburi,…

This film features two people having a candid conversation about their past relationship. They explore the complexities of love, heartbreak, and how they both made choices. The intimate setting reveals the subtleties of their connection as they discuss the reasons…

In a distant future where history has been lost, humanity lives in a decaying, completely artificial world. The sea and sky are gone, and glimpses of a real world exist only in recovered records from the past. The Bureau of…

In a future world consumed by war between the nations of Honneamise and The Republic, a group of dreamers launches an ambitious space program to escape the violence. Shirotsugh Lhadatt, an astronaut candidate, joins this program and undergoes a profound…

This is a dark story of revenge in a strict, old-fashioned society. On her wedding night, a young woman is brutally attacked by the lord she's supposed to marry. Afterward, she's exiled from her village and family. Desperate, she makes…

For centuries, the Solnoids and the Paranoids have been locked in war. After narrowly escaping a major space battle, seven Solnoids journey to Chaos, a planet intended as their new home. A malfunction during their warp jump sends their ship…

"1001 Nights," the inaugural film in the innovative "Filmharmonic" series, unfolds like a vivid dream. It features original music composed by a renowned filmmaker and a celebrated composer.

Sawa has been missing since the events in Kite, and a new killer is terrorizing the city. Known as the Angel of Death, this assassin is admired for her efficient and elegant killings, leaving only feathers behind. The public doesn't…

"She and Her Cat" offers a unique look at the lives of a young woman and her cat in a city apartment. The story is told entirely from the cat's point of view, showing its thoughts, feelings, and relationship with…

Open Your Mind explores the extraterrestrial origins of life, depicting six deities arriving from outer space. These beings evolve through water, air, and earth, each ruling one of the six elements of the godai philosophy: Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, Sky,…

The film follows Taeko as she reflects on her life, moving between the present and memories of her youth. It explores the difference between her youthful dreams and the reality of her adult life. As we experience these personal moments…

Ai, a student, encounters an alien who possesses a time machine. Ai also appears in the short film "Kobe to Watashi."

"Elliptical Orbit" follows the Flying Dutchman as it returns to Earth after a long journey, carrying valuable "protons" for energy. However, a terrorist group in military gear attacks the station where the ship docks, aiming to weaponize the proton cargo…

"Dimension Loop" is an original animation by Koji Morimoto about an ethereal alien and a young boy who can move vertically. Morimoto's visuals are presented at an unprecedented pace. Combined with Kicell's gentle, nostalgic singing, the film creates a feeling…

Katari, a budding novelist, writes a love letter to a classmate. Unbeknownst to her, the letter transforms into a heartfelt story that deeply touches a young girl.

A diverse group of people are gathered in a café one evening: two girls gossiping, two men debating, a reader, and a young man recently heartbroken. The waitress strikes up a conversation with the boy, drawing his attention to an…

Six individuals, unaware of each other's true identities, live together as a family within a sealed environment. Each has been implanted with fabricated memories, shielding them from the reality of the world outside. Unbeknownst to them, their lives are broadcast…

*La Maison en Petits Cubes* follows a grandfather who builds his house with blocks to keep the rising floodwaters at bay, triggering a cascade of cherished memories.

A country doctor urgently recounts being called to a young patient late one night. The situation quickly becomes bizarre when he's transported to the bedside by strange horses. Distracted by his own problems and resentment towards his patients, the doctor…

This darkly humorous story follows Nyatta, a kitten who walks and talks, as he journeys to the afterlife to rescue his sister's soul.

After a nuclear war devastates the planet, soldiers in a futuristic society discover a damaged robot while exploring the ruins.

In a world that seems parallel to our own, time moves at a drastically slower rate. Here, the ocean exists as a solid surface, allowing its inhabitants – a collection of unusual people – to walk across it with ease.

At the Personality Plant, robots are created and gradually given artificial memories of actual people. Suzu is one of these robots, designed to replace a child a family has lost. He meets Hitori, a young girl who is losing her…

Konoha Inoue and Tōko Amano, who calls herself "the Literary Girl," are the only members of their high school literature club. Their lives change when Konoha's forgotten past resurfaces, drawing them into a complex mix of emotions: love, jealousy, revenge,…

Kojiro Shishido's short amateur film, a 2005 winner at the 10th annual Student CG Contest, demonstrates a keen eye for subtle shifts in light and shadow found in nature. The film is accompanied by an equally delicate soundtrack composed by…