Mirai

PG

Released Nov 29, 2018

1 hr. 38 min.

Kids & Family

Fantasy

Adventure

Anime

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List

91%

85 Reviews

Tomatometer

79%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

A young boy named Kun feels forgotten by his family when his little sister Mirai arrives. Running away from home, Kun stumbles upon a magical garden that serves as a time-traveling gateway where he encounters his mother as a little girl and has a series of adventures with his baby sister who is all grown up, opening a new perspective on his world.

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Critics Consensus

The simplicity and colorful warmth of Mirai's animation is underscored by a story with surprising - and deeply affecting - depth and emotional resonance.

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James M

So bad I couldn't finish it. Why should I care about this little brat when there is nothing likeable about him?

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/30/24

Full Review

Alec B

Very few movies can say that they legitimately offer a child's perspective of the world. "Mirai" offers that and so much more. A beautiful little movie.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/08/24

Full Review

Taylor L

It's a tough sell to suggest that Mirai redefines its genre (Japanese animated family movies with a bit of a supernatural twist) or anything, because most Ghibli films fit in the same mold. But this Mamoru Hosoda story about a four-year-old boy (Kun) that discovers an ability to speak to other members of his family, including a human personification of his own dog, at different points in their lives is still very wholesome and cute. It's not very hard-hitting (most of the motivation comes from Kun's dislike of his new infant sister, mostly because he doesn't get the same level of attention that he did before; there's very little in the way of big stakes but there's a lot of charm in the way the plot is able to bridge the generational gaps that often keep family members from relating to one another too closely. Definitely a few Satoshi Kon influences later in the runtime, when Kun's imagination and love of trains manages to manifest a supernatural version of a Tokyo railway station. A fun bit of imagination that will work particularly well if you've got a sibling. (3.5/5)

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

Hasani W

Mirai was not a perfect film but it was close to it. It depicts the process of a 4-year-old boy transitioning into his role as big brother. The animation was fantastic and the music emotional. It made me think about my past and relationships with the members of my family. I was even tearing up.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

Full Review

isla s

This is a quite endearing anime film, with some lovely fantasy scenes, as are often present in anime films. I enjoyed the use and timing of piano music to accompany the main character rushing around at times. The colours used in the animation are quite light and cheery - it has a dreamy feel to it, which is common when it comes to anime films. The plot is one that I imagine the vast majority of children with siblings would be able to relate to, which is good. I also particularly liked the scenes towards the end, which feature decent integration between what appeared to be 2D and 3D/CGI animation. I certainly enjoyed this film and I would recommend it to others.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Mirai is definitely not going to be a movie for everyone. For starters, the main character of this film is a very bratty 4-year-old. The child can be extremely irritating to watch to the point of being unlikeable. It's worsen when everyone else is so nice and likeable, including the new baby sister. However, that is the intention of the film. The whole focus of Mirai is seeing this bratty kid learn important life lessons and growing into a more capable individual and a better brother for the new sister. Fantasy elements such as seeing an anthropomorphic dog or a middle school age version of his sister are there to give him these lessons in more interesting ways. This leads to some amazing visuals and animation with some stellar sequences. Additionally, the music is great and elevates the scenes. Overall, I enjoyed it a lot. It's not a movie with high-end stakes but it is a meaningful story that has a wonderful ending. I highly recommend giving Mirai a watch because it has a very beautiful message.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

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Mamoru Hosoda

Director

Haru Kuroki

Mirai-chan

Moka Kamishiraishi

Kun-chan

Gen Hoshino

Father

Kôji Yakusho

Grandfather

Kumiko Asô

Mother

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Emily St. James

Vox

This is a movie for patient viewers, but trust that you will be richly rewarded.

Feb 20, 2019

Full Review

Bruce DeMara

Toronto Star

There's enough wisdom to be found in this engaging tale for a trip to the theatre. Whether to take the whole family is up to parents to decide.

Rated: 2.5/4

Dec 20, 2018

Full Review

Carlos Aguilar

TheWrap

Merits comparison to works of similar relevance and poetic ambitions, like Shoplifters and Roma, masterworks that share its inquiries about familial ties, parental insecurities, and the inescapable pull of the past.

Nov 30, 2018

Full Review

Josh Parham

Next Best Picture

The dazzling animation does lift up an endearing story about finding the core connectivity one must find in family, and witnessing that journey in such a unique way was quite enjoyable.

Rated: 7/10

May 29, 2022

Full Review

Rob Aldam

Backseat Mafia

Beautifully animated and cleverly written, Kun's story will resonate with many.

Jan 29, 2021

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

One of those rare foreign animated features to be equally transformative in both its dubbed and subtitled versions.

Rated: 3.5/4.0

Sep 17, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

A young boy named Kun feels forgotten by his family when his little sister Mirai arrives. Running away from home, Kun stumbles upon a magical garden that serves as a time-traveling gateway where he encounters his mother as a little girl and has a series of adventures with his baby sister who is all grown up, opening a new perspective on his world.

Director: Mamoru Hosoda
Screenwriter: Mamoru Hosoda
Distributor: GKIDS
Production Co: Toho Animation, Dentsu, Kadokawa, Nippon Television Network
Rating: PG (Thematic Elements|Some Scary Images)
Genre: Kids & Family, Fantasy, Adventure, Anime
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 29, 2018, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 9, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $682.2K
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)