Movies Like Major: The Ball of Friendship

If you liked Major: The Ball of Friendship (2008), a animation and drama movie directed by Takao Kato, here are 20 movies with a similar feel, based on TMDB's recommendations. Each one links to its cast, trailer and where it's streaming.

1
Mai Mai Miracle (2009)
★ 7.1/10Also animation and drama
Inspired by her grandfather's stories, young Shinko embarks on wild flights of fancy about the history of the little town she lives in. But dreams can't fend off the realities of growing up.
2
100 METERS (2025)
★ 7.8/10Also animation and drama
A gifted runner trains a determined but unskilled classmate, unaware he's creating a rival who will challenge him on the track for years to come.
3
Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us (2018)
★ 7.2/10Also animation
A young athlete whose running days might be behind her, a compulsive liar, a shy researcher, a bitter old woman, and a little girl with a big secret—the only thing they have in common is the annual Wind Festival in…
4
The Colors Within (2024)
★ 6.9/10Also animation and drama
Totsuko is a high school student with the ability to see the 'colors' of others. Colors of bliss, excitement, and serenity, plus a color she treasures as her favorite. Kimi, a classmate at her school, gives off the…
5
Pokémon the Movie: White - Victini and Zekrom (2011)
★ 6.5/10Also animation and drama
The Kingdom of the People of the Earth once ruled over the land, but now all that remains is the Sword of the Earth. in the city of Eindoak. Satoshi, Iris, and Dent arrive in Eindoak during a harvest festival's Pokémon…
6
Pokémon the Movie: Black - Victini and Reshiram (2011)
★ 6.6/10Also animation and drama
The Kingdom of the People of the Earth once ruled over the land, but now all that remains is the Sword of the Earth. in the city of Eindoak. Satoshi, Iris, and Dent arrive in Eindoak during a harvest festival's Pokémon…
7
Liz and the Blue Bird (2018)
★ 7.5/10Also animation and drama
In their last year of high school, two girls in the brass band club perform a song inspired by a fairy tale that parallels their friendship.
8
Hurricane Touchdown (2000)
★ 6.8/10Also animation
After the older DigiDestined are abducted by the mysterious Kokomon, the next generation of kids team up with American DigiDestined Willis to rescue them - only to discover that their enigmatic enemy has an unexpected…
9
BLUE LOCK THE MOVIE -EPISODE NAGI- (2024)
★ 7.6/10Also animation and drama
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.
10
Animal Crossing: The Movie (2006)
★ 6.8/10Also animation and drama
Ai, a self-reliant girl who moves to Animal Village and works at Nook's Cranny, gradually becomes part of the community with guidance from its residents and embarks on a quest to plant pine trees for a Winter Festival…
11
Look Back (2024)
★ 8.2/10Also animation and drama
Popular, outgoing Fujino is celebrated by her classmates for her funny comics in the class newspaper. One day, her teacher asks her to share the space with Kyomoto, a truant recluse whose beautiful artwork sparks a…
12
From Up on Poppy Hill (2011)
★ 7.5/10Also animation and drama
Yokohama, 1963. Japan is picking itself up from the devastation of World War II and preparing to host the 1964 Olympics—and the mood is one of both optimism and conflict as the young generation struggles to throw off…
13
Doraemon: Nobita and the Windmasters (2003)
★ 7.2/10Also animation
After a typhoon hits Nobita's town, he and Doraemon discover a wind sprite who, with some help from Doraemon's 22nd-century tech, takes them and their friends to a fantastic world of wind and storm people. But the wind…
14
Persona3 THE MOVIE #1 Spring of Birth (2013)
★ 7.2/10Also animation
In the spring, male student Makoto Yuki transfers to Gekkoukan High School. However, as he heads to his new dormitory, listening to the music on his headphones, he is stopped. More precisely, time has stopped, and the…
15
Stand by Me Doraemon (2014)
★ 7.5/10Also animation and drama
Sewashi and Doraemon find themselves way back in time and meet Nobita. It is up to Doraemon to take care of Nobita or else he will not return to the present.
16
Bleach the Movie: Fade to Black (2008)
★ 7.1/10Also animation and drama
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…
17
Summer Ghost (2021)
★ 7.3/10Also animation and drama
An urban legend says that lighting fireworks at an abandoned airfield will beckon the "summer ghost," a spirit that can answer any question. Three teenagers, Tomoya, Aoi, and Ryo, each have their own reason to show up…
18
Pokémon: Zoroark - Master of Illusions (2010)
★ 6.8/10Also animation
Ash and his friends must stop a greedy media mogul from using the shape-shifting Zoroark to capture the time-travelling Celebi.
19
Digimon Adventure tri. Part 2: Determination (2016)
★ 6.9/10Also animation
The DigiDestined go to a nearby hot springs theme park and everyone has a good time, but Joe doesn't show up because he wants to study for his exams. Another infected Digimon, Ogremon, attacks Odaiba. Gomamon runs away…
20
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Tsuzumi Mansion Arc (2022)
★ 7.4/10Also animation
Tanjiro ventures to the south-southeast where he encounters a cowardly young man named Zenitsu Agatsuma, a fellow survivor from Final Selection. His sparrow asks Tanjiro to help keep him in line. A recap of Kimetsu no…