Overview
A young boy's world is turned upside down, but magic awaits in his backyard.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- whimsical
- warm
- witty
- family movie night
- rainy day
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Mamoru Hosoda's emotionally resonant, personal family fantasy and expressive animation, while some found its child-centered episodes and gender dynamics uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Kun enters different moments in his family's past through the garden behind his home.
Meeting his mother as a child and his great-grandfather as a young man broadens Kun's view of his family.
The magical adventures emerge directly from Kun's jealousy, tantrums, and adjustment to life with a baby sister.
The film presents time travel and family encounters through the experiences of four-year-old Kun.
Films like Mirai, and why
The Boy and the Beast
shares heartfelt family drama, magical time travel, and an imaginative child-centered perspective
Wolf Children
shares Japanese animated fantasy, family relationships, and emotionally grounded supernatural adventure
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
shares whimsical time travel, childhood wonder, and gentle coming-of-age themes
Movie Details
- Director
- Mamoru Hosoda
- Release Date
- 2018-07-20
- Runtime
- 98 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (890)
Cast
- Moka Kamishiraishi
- Haru Kuroki
- Gen Hoshino
- Kumiko Aso
- Mitsuo Yoshihara
- Yoshiko Miyazaki
- Koji Yakusho
- Masaharu Fukuyama
- Kaede Hondo
- Hakuzan Kanda
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Mirai about?
- A jealous young boy journeys through his family’s past and a magical garden to discover empathy for his new baby sister.
- What is Mirai like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Mirai as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Mirai violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Mirai.
- What did critics think of Mirai?
- Critics broadly praised Mamoru Hosoda's emotionally resonant, personal family fantasy and expressive animation, while some found its child-centered episodes and gender dynamics uneven.
- Which films are like Mirai?
- Films with a similar feel include The Boy and the Beast, Wolf Children, and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time.
- How long is Mirai?
- Mirai runs 98 minutes.
- Where can I watch Mirai?
- In United States, Mirai is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
