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Anime like Folktales from Japan

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Cover of Future Folktales

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Future Folktales

Asatir: Mirai no Mukashibanashi

2020, ONA, 13 eps, 51%, Toei Animation

Primarily Child Cast, Historical, Kids

In 2050 Riyadh, a grandmother named Asma takes her cherished grandchildren on a whirlwind journey to the past, showcasing the heritage and history of the Arabian Peninsula through retellings of the region’s most beloved folktales. With the help of their robotic cat, Anis, the…

More anime for fans of Folktales from Japan

  1. Cover of Gurren Lagann
    Gurren Lagann

    2007, TV, 27 eps, 85%

    Super Robot, Coming of Age, Found Family

  2. Cover of Slam Dunk
    Slam Dunk

    1993, TV, 101 eps, 83%

    Basketball, Shounen, School

  3. Cover of Renegade Immortal
    Renegade Immortal

    2023, ONA, 180 eps, ongoing, 85%

    Full CGI, Cultivation, Revenge

  4. Cover of Perfect Blue
    Perfect Blue

    1998, Movie, 1 ep, 85%

    Female Protagonist, Acting, Idol

  5. Cover of Link Click
    Link Click

    2021, ONA, 11 eps, 86%

    Time Manipulation, Super Power, Photography

  6. Cover of BOCCHI THE ROCK!
    BOCCHI THE ROCK!

    2022, TV, 12 eps, 87%

    Band, Female Protagonist, Primarily Female Cast

  7. Cover of Samurai Champloo
    Samurai Champloo

    2004, TV, 26 eps, 84%

    Travel, Swordplay, Samurai

  8. Cover of Delicious in Dungeon
    Delicious in Dungeon

    2024, TV, 24 eps, 85%

    Dungeon, Food, Magic

  9. Cover of The Apothecary Diaries
    The Apothecary Diaries

    2023, TV, 24 eps, 88%

    Female Protagonist, Medicine, Ancient China

  10. Cover of DAN DA DAN
    DAN DA DAN

    2024, TV, 12 eps, 83%

    Urban Fantasy, Youkai, Ghost

  11. Cover of Journal with Witch
    Journal with Witch

    2026, TV, 13 eps, 87%

    Female Protagonist, Adoption, Estranged Family

  12. Cover of Cosmic Princess Kaguya!
    Cosmic Princess Kaguya!

    2026, ONA, 1 ep, 84%

    Female Protagonist, Virtual World, Fairy Tale

  13. Cover of Spirited Away
    Spirited Away

    2001, Movie, 1 ep, 86%

    Female Protagonist, Youkai, Coming of Age

  14. Cover of Love Unseen Beneath the Clear Night Sky
    Love Unseen Beneath the Clear Night Sky

    2026, TV, 12 eps, 84%

    Disability, Heterosexual, Primarily Adult Cast

  15. Cover of BANANA FISH
    BANANA FISH

    2018, TV, 24 eps, 84%

    Gangs, Mafia, Crime

  16. Cover of Orb: On the Movements of the Earth
    Orb: On the Movements of the Earth

    2024, TV, 25 eps, 86%

    Astronomy, Philosophy, Religion

  17. Cover of Takopi's Original Sin
    Takopi's Original Sin

    2025, ONA, 6 eps, 86%

    Denpa, Bullying, Primarily Child Cast

  18. Cover of Kizumonogatari Part 1: Tekketsu
    Kizumonogatari Part 1: Tekketsu

    2016, Movie, 1 ep, 83%

    Vampire, Urban Fantasy, Rotoscoping

  19. Cover of 108 Ward Inside and Out: Make-Up Artist
    108 Ward Inside and Out: Make-Up Artist

    1990, TV short, 22 eps, 77%

    Historical

  20. Cover of MUSHI-SHI
    MUSHI-SHI

    2005, TV, 26 eps, 85%

    Environmental, Iyashikei, Youkai

  21. Cover of Grave of the Fireflies
    Grave of the Fireflies

    1988, Movie, 1 ep, 83%

    Tragedy, Orphan, Survival

  22. Cover of Steins;Gate
    Steins;Gate

    2011, TV, 24 eps, 89%

    Time Manipulation, Time Loop, Male Protagonist

  23. Cover of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2
    Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2

    2026, ONA, 10 eps, 84%

    Cyberpunk, Cyborg, Crime

Manga for fans of Folktales from Japan

Mushishi1999, Manga, 50 ch, 85% Your Ryan2025, Manga, ongoing, 83% Hyouge Mono2005, Manga, 273 ch, 83% Isabella Bird in Wonderland: Unbeaten Tracks in Japan2013, Manga, 71 ch, 82% My Dear Detective: Mitsuko’s Case Files2021, Manga, 45 ch, 82% Blade of the Phantom Master2001, Manga, 75 ch, 79% Mukashi no Hanashi2020, Manga, ongoing, 68% Mononobe Koshoten Kaikitan2015, Manga, ongoing, 73%

About Folktales from Japan

2012, TV, 258 eps, 69%, Tomason

Like in any culture, Japanese kids grow up listening to the stories repeatedly told by their parents and grandparents. The boy born from a peach; the princess from the moon who is discovered inside a bamboo; the old man who can make a dead cherry tree blossom, etc. These short stories that teach kids to see both the dark and bright sides of life have passed traditional moral values from generation to generation.

Each half-hour episode of Folktales from Japan consists of three self-contained stories, well-known and unknown, with a special focus on heartwarming stories that originate from Tohoku, the northern region heavily touched by the earthquake of 2011. May this program help cheer up earthquake victims and cast a light of hope for them.

(Source: Crunchyroll)

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