Movies like I Shall Never Return (1994)
The best movies like I Shall Never Return (1994) are Yes, No, or Maybe? (2020), Given (2020) and Sasaki and Miyano: Graduation (2023). If I Shall Never Return hooked you with its animation, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedDou kyu sei – Classmates (2016)8.3/10 from 469 votes
- NewestSomeone Special (2024)Released 2024
- In JapaneseYes, No, or Maybe? (2020)Also in Japanese
Yes, No, or Maybe? (2020)
A polished newscaster hides behind a mask when he meets a gentle artist—but the lie complicates everything when feelings start to grow.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisGiven (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.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisSasaki and Miyano: Graduation (2023)
As Sasaki prepares for his college entrance exams, Miyano tries to make the most of their limited time together while grappling with his own emotions.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisUrusei Yatsura: Beautiful Dreamer (1984)
As the perpetually lecherous Ataru and his friends prepare for a carnival at Tomobiki High School, they gradually realize the days are literally repeating themselves. Any effort to break the pattern dumps them back where they started.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisDou 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.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisBLUE LOCK THE MOVIE -EPISODE NAGI- (2024)
When apathetic gamer Nagi agrees to join his rich classmate Mikage in soccer, their partnership leads to the famous Blue Lock program — and to changes.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisKase-san and Morning Glories (2018)
Yamada may be shy and rather clumsy, but the flower gardens at her school have always brought her happiness. Suddenly, a different sort of beauty catches her eye—the vivacious track star, Kase-san. Although the two girls don't seem to have much in common, they soon start a romance where each must learn an important lesson in tending their budding relationship. Can the two girls, so different from each other, learn how to make their first love blossom?
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisFragtime (2019)
Misuzu Moritani is an introvert who has always had difficulty interacting with her classmates, quickly becoming flustered whenever someone tries to talk to her. Sometimes, she will use her ability to stop time for three minutes to escape troublesome social situations. One day, as Misuzu watches the suspended environment around her, she observes that her classmate, Haruka Murakami, is somehow able to move despite her temporal influence. From that moment on, Misuzu experiences new wonders as she explores more of the world she has long avoided; no matter where time may take her, Misuzu can count on Haruka to always be at her side.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBeyond the Boundary: I'll Be Here – Future (2015)
The battle is over, and they can go about their normal lives now... or so they thought. With no time to rejoice after miraculously saving Mirai from Beyond the Boundary, Mirai lost all her memories. Akihito, now a high school senior, starts to avoid Mirai thinking it’s for the better. Not aware of Akihito’s feelings, Mirai tries to get closer to Akihito. Then, someone who knows of Mirai appears in front of the two. With Akihito’s troubles in vain, Mirai once again sets forth on a battle that forces her to look within.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisLove, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! Rikka Version (2013)
Summary of the first season of the show, as seen from Rikka's perspective with new elements.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisBLAME! (2017)
In the distant technological future, civilization has reached its ultimate Net-based form. An "infection" in the past caused the automated systems to spiral out of order, resulting in a multi-leveled city structure that replicates itself infinitely in all directions. Now humanity has lost access to the city's controls, and is hunted down and purged by the defense system known as the Safeguard. In a tiny corner of the city, a little enclave known as the Electro-Fishers is facing eventual extinction, trapped between the threat of the Safeguard and dwindling food supplies. A girl named Zuru goes on a journey to find food for her village, only to inadvertently cause doom when an observation tower senses her and summons a Safeguard pack to eliminate the threat. With her companions dead and all escape routes blocked, the only thing that can save her now is the sudden arrival of Killy the Wanderer, on his quest for the Net Terminal Genes, the key to restoring order to the world.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisRocko's Modern Life: Static Cling (2019)
After 20 years in space, Rocko returns to a technologically advanced O-Town and makes it his mission to get his favorite show back on the air.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Moment You Fall in Love (2016)
Following Natsuki Enomoto's confession rehearsals with Yuu Setoguchi, their younger siblings Kotarou and Hina struggle to confess their own love. Despite a disastrous first meeting in middle school with her upperclassman Koyuki Ayase, Hina’s heart is captured by his warm smile. Initially confused by these newfound feelings, Hina soon realizes that she has fallen in love for the very first time. Chasing after her brother Yuu and her crush Koyuki, Hina also enrolls in Sakuragaoka High School; but the threads of love are far-reaching, and they entangle Hina and her friends. Boisterous but sensitive, Hina hopes to confess her feelings to the tender-hearted Koyuki. Meanwhile, Kotarou, oblivious to his own feelings for her, is determined to always keep Hina smiling. This movie follows Hina, Kotarou, and Koyuki in high school. Their youthful love forges new relationships, but also threatens to break others.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisTamako Love Story (2014)
Devoted to her family’s rice-cake–making business and the high school baton club, Tamako is a little slow when it comes to love. She’s oblivious to her childhood friend Mochizo’s affections, even though all their friends know. With graduation closing in and Mochizo leaving for Tokyo, will Tamako realise her feelings and tell him in time?
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisFruits 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...
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisInvader Zim: Enter the Florpus (2019)
ZIM discovers his almighty leaders never had any intention of coming to Earth and he loses confidence in himself for the first time in his life, which is the big break his human nemesis, Dib has been waiting for.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisBleach the Movie: Fade to Black (2008)
A strange disturbance in the World of the Living sends Ichigo and Kon to the Soul Society, where the Seireitei has been devastated by an explosion of reishi and Rukia is missing. Stranger still, none of the Soul Reapers remember Ichigo, and they think he’s the one responsible for the destruction. Now on the run, Ichigo is forced into a lonely battle in order to find Rukia and stop the real culprits!
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisYo-kai Watch: The Movie - The Great Adventure of the Flying Whale & the Double World, Meow! (2016)
A giant whale appears and flies above Sakura New Town. With the whale’s sound of crying, some changes occur to Kenta Amano and Yokai.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisModest Heroes (2018)
Two tiny, aquatic humanoids search for their missing father, a boy battles a lethal allergy to eggs, and an invisible salaryman tries to become a hero.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisRide Your Wave (2019)
Hinako is a surf-loving college student who has just moved to a small seaside town. When a sudden fire breaks out at her apartment building, she is rescued by Minato, a handsome firefighter, and the two soon fall in love.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisTwittering Birds Never Fly: The Clouds Gather (2020)
In the hyper-masculine criminal underworld, a masochistic high-ranking yakuza and his newly-assigned bodyguard become increasingly drawn to each other.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
Orbits (2013)
Orbitas is the story of an impossible love which revolves around a planet at war.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
I Like Girls (2016)
Four women share funny and intimate tales of one-sided infatuation, mutual attraction, erotic moments, and fumbling attempts at sexual expression. For them, discovering that they’re attracted to other women comes hand-in-hand with a deeper understanding of their personal identity and a joyful new self-awareness.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
Apples and Oranges (2003)
Apples and Oranges is designed to raise children's awareness of the harmful effects of homophobia and gender-related name calling, intolerance, stereotyping and bullying. In the course of a lively in-class discussion among elementary students and an equity educator, children's paintings magically dissolve into two short animated stories. In Anta's Revenge, Anta finds out that creativity--not revenge--is the best way to deal with a school bully who makes fun of her for having two moms. Defying Gravity tells the story of Habib and Jeroux, two skateboarding friends whose relationship comes to a screeching halt when one of them finds out the other is gay.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
The Acorn Princess (2020)
Princess Cornelia and the Flower Prince have been betrothed for as long as they can remember. The two have grown inseparable...as friends. Cornelia pines for the heart of the guard captain, and the Flower Prince is involved with another in secret. On the eve of their wedding day, the pair dread what may be the end of their lives as they know it.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
In a Heartbeat (2017)
A closeted boy runs the risk of being outed by his own heart after it pops out of his chest to chase down the boy of his dreams.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisSouth Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999)
The third graders of South Park sneak into an R-rated film by ultra-vulgar Canadian television personalities Terrance and Phillip, and emerge with expanded vocabularies that leave their parents and teachers scandalized. When outraged Americans try to censor the film, the controversy spirals into a call to wage war on Canada and Terrance and Phillip end up on death row, with the kids their only hope of rescue.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisCupcake (2021)
The story of a baker named Allyson who, with the help of a little bit of magic, realizes that love knows no gender, race, or orientation.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
Someone Special (2024)
Lisa matched with Xuân through a dating app, and she is to meet her for the first time. But there is a problem : to appeal to Xuân, Lisa lied and told her that she is fluent in Vietnamese, her native language, despite not understanding a single word. Getting deeper into her lies, there is only one week left before the date for Lisa actually to learn vietnamese. Otherwise, Xuân will find out she’s a fraud.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
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.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation
Worth the HypeMovies like this
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like I Shall Never Return?
The closest matches to I Shall Never Return are Yes, No, or Maybe? (2020), Given (2020) and Sasaki and Miyano: Graduation (2023). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after I Shall Never Return?
Start with Yes, No, or Maybe? (2020), the closest match to I Shall Never Return.
What is the highest-rated movie like I Shall Never Return?
Dou kyu sei – Classmates (2016), rated 8.3/10 by 469 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like I Shall Never Return?
Someone Special (2024) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there Japanese movies like I Shall Never Return?
Yes: Yes, No, or Maybe? (2020), Given (2020) and Sasaki and Miyano: Graduation (2023).
How are movies similar to I Shall Never Return chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside I Shall Never Return, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.