Movies like Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya (2014)
The best movies like Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya (2014) are Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio: Handcarved Cinema (2022), The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness (2013) and The Pixar Story (2007). If Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya hooked you with its documentary, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedThe Pixar Story (2007)7.6/10 from 251 votes
- NewestBTS: THE RETURN (2026)Released 2026
- In JapaneseThe Kingdom of Dreams and Madness (2013)Also in Japanese
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio: Handcarved Cinema (2022)
With mesmerizing footage and time lapses of animators at work, this behind-the-scenes special captures the artistry of a unique tale years in the making.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Kingdom of Dreams and Madness (2013)
Follows the behind-the-scenes work of Studio Ghibli, focusing on the notable figures Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and Toshio Suzuki.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Pixar Story (2007)
A look at the first years of Pixar Animation Studios - from the success of "Toy Story" and Pixar's promotion of talented people, to the building of its East Bay campus, the company's relationship with Disney, and its remarkable initial string of eight hits. The contributions of John Lasseter, Ed Catmull and Steve Jobs are profiled. The decline of two-dimensional animation is chronicled as three-dimensional animation rises. Hard work and creativity seem to share the screen in equal proportions.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisOur Planet: Behind the Scenes (2019)
Years spent recording footage of creatures from every corner of the globe is bound to produce a bit of drama. Here's a behind-the-scenes look.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisBeyond Infinity: Buzz and the Journey to Lightyear (2022)
Explore the evolution of Buzz Lightyear from toy to human in the making of Pixar’s Lightyear. Dive into the origin and cultural impact of everyone’s favorite Space Ranger, the art of designing a new “human Buzz,” and the challenges faced by the Lightyear crew along the way.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisEmbrace the Panda: Making Turning Red (2022)
A feature length documentary about the all-women team at the helm of Pixar's original feature, Turning Red. With unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to Director Domee Shi and her core leadership crew, this story shines a light on the powerful professional and personal journeys that brought this incredibly comical, utterly relatable, and deeply heartfelt story to the screen.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisCapturing Avatar (2010)
Capturing Avatar is a feature length behind-the-scenes documentary about the making of Avatar. It uses footage from the film's development, as well as stock footage from as far back as the production of Titanic in 1995. Also included are numerous interviews with cast, artists, and other crew members. The documentary was released as a bonus feature on the extended collector's edition of Avatar.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisWho Are You, Charlie Brown? (2021)
Lupita Nyong'o narrates a documentary about Peanuts and its creator, Charles M. Schulz. Famous fans—including Drew Barrymore, Kevin Smith, and Al Roker—share its influence on them, and a new animated story finds Charlie Brown on a quest.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Making of Star Wars (1977)
Learn the incredible behind-the-scenes story of how the original Star Wars movie was brought to the big screen in this fascinating documentary hosted by C-3PO and R2-D2 which includes interviews with George Lucas and appearances by Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Crystal Calls - Making The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019)
Go behind the scenes with stars, puppeteers and creators as they bring Jim Henson's magical world of Thra back to life in a sweeping fantasy series.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisBeing James Bond (2021)
Daniel Craig candidly reflects on his 15 year adventure as James Bond. Including never-before-seen archival footage from Casino Royale to the upcoming 25th film No Time To Die, Craig shares his personal memories in conversation with 007 producers, Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisGirl Rising (2013)
Nine filmmakers each profile a young girl from a different part of the world to weave a global tapestry of youth in the 21st century.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisMore Brains! A Return to the Living Dead (2011)
Retrospective documentary about the making of the horror cult classic "The Return of the Living Dead."
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Summers of It - Chapter Two: It Ends (2019)
This documentary focuses on the actors and their journey over two summers to create the remake to the original IT, by Stephen King. The documentary originally released as bonus material, bundled with IT: Chapter Two.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisPiece by Piece (2024)
A unique cinematic experience that invites audiences on a vibrant journey through the life of cultural icon Pharrell Williams. Told through the lens of LEGO® animation, turn up the volume on your imagination and witness the evolution of one of music's most innovative minds.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisNaqoyqatsi (2002)
A visual montage portrait of our contemporary world dominated by globalized technology and violence.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBehind the Planet of the Apes (1998)
Roddy McDowall takes you, film by film, from production meetings to make-up sessions, then right onto the movie set to see the actual filming of the science fiction masterpiece. The most comprehensive history of Planet of the Apes ever created, this fascinating 127-minute documentary explores one of the most imaginative and influential series in movie history.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisHeart of a Dog (2015)
Musician and performance artist Laurie Anderson reflects on the deaths of her husband Lou Reed, her mother and her beloved dog.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMaria by Callas (2017)
Told through performances, TV interviews, home movies, family photographs, private letters and unpublished memoirs, the film reveals the essence of an extraordinary woman who rose from humble beginnings in New York City to become a glamorous international superstar and one of the greatest artists of all time.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisCameraperson (2016)
As a visually radical memoir, CAMERAPERSON draws on the remarkable footage that filmmaker Kirsten Johnson has shot and reframes it in ways that illuminate moments and situations that have personally affected her. What emerges is an elegant meditation on the relationship between truth and the camera frame, as Johnson transforms scenes that have been presented on Festival screens as one kind of truth into another kind of story—one about personal journey, craft, and direct human connection.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisKanye West: College Dropout [Video Anthology] (2005)
A collection of music videos and behind the scenes footage released to promote Kanye West's upcoming debut album, College Dropout. The compilation features the videos to the previously unreleased "Two Words", "Slow Jamz", "Through the Wire", "All Falls Down", the three versions of "Jesus Walks", and "The New Workout Plan", all previously unseen before its release.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
BTS: THE RETURN (2026)
They're back! BTS gathers in LA to record their album "Arirang" in this documentary offering unprecedented access to the band as they enter a new era.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Treasures Untold: The Making of Disney's 'The Little Mermaid' (2006)
Find out how the spectacular music inspired the animation, and learn more about the development of the characters—such as how Ursula ended up being a big octopus—and how the memorable song "Part of Your World" almost got cut from the film.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Lee Chanwon Concert Changa: Dear My Chance (2025)
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Team America: Building the World (2005)
A documentary on the design and construction of the sets of Team America: World Police (2004).
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Minecraft: The Story of Minecraft (2016)
Since its development in 2009, Minecraft has taken the digital world by storm. It’s now played by millions of people on a global scale. Its impact on the gaming community is unrivalled, so much so that Microsoft purchased Minecraft for an eye watering $2.5 billion. With new game modes being developed, there is every chance Minecraft will be the worlds No. 1 game for many years to come. With exclusive interviews from YouTube celebrities such as The Diamond Minecart and Ali A, as well as industry experts, this documentary takes an in depth look at how one game took over the gaming world. Get lost in a digital universe, follow the story of Minecraft.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Huz: Drawn to Life (2026)
A documentary about the life and career of the first Black animator at Disney, Ron Husband.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Exploring the Set of 'Moonrise Kingdom' (2015)
Martin Scali, who was Wes Anderson's assistant on "Fantastic Mr. Fox", shot this short documentary in Newport, Rhode Island, during the filming of "Moonrise Kingdom".
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Biancaneve e i sette nani: la realizzazione dell’impossibile (2026)
In 1934, Walt Disney set out to do what no one had dared before: transform animation, until then confined to short, rhythmic gags, into a feature-length film. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs forced his studio to reinvent techniques, working methods, and even the art of visual storytelling itself. Amid delays, runaway budgets, and hundreds of artists at work, what seemed like madness turned into an unprecedented challenge. This is the story of making the impossible a reality.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Lorne (2026)
An unprecedented, behind-the-scenes glimpse at the man who built the inimitable empire of comedy, shaping television and culture for generations. The documentary features exclusive footage, archival treasures, and candid interviews with the show’s most iconic cast members and writers including Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph, John Mulaney, Andy Samberg, Conan O’Brien, Chris Rock and many more.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
![Kanye West: College Dropout [Video Anthology] (2005) poster](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w342/iJoIAh8NaChoVN0GRYVHaa4Yxlq.jpg)
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya?
The closest matches to Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya are Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio: Handcarved Cinema (2022), The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness (2013) and The Pixar Story (2007). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya?
Start with Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio: Handcarved Cinema (2022), the closest match to Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya.
What is the highest-rated movie like Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya?
The Pixar Story (2007), rated 7.6/10 by 251 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya?
BTS: THE RETURN (2026) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there Japanese movies like Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya?
Yes: The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness (2013).
How are movies similar to Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.