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Mirai (2018) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Mirai (2018) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2018 · 98 min · Japanese
Echo score 84
Starring
Masaharu Fukuyama, Kumiko Asô, Kôji Yakusho, John Cho, Erin Fitzgerald, Crispin Freeman

A young boy named Kun struggles to adjust to the arrival of his baby sister, Mirai. He retreats into a fantastical family tree that transports him through time, allowing him to meet his relatives at various stages of their lives. He encounters his mother as a young girl and his sister as a teenager, gaining a new perspective on their experiences and the importance of family connections. Through these adventures, Kun learns valuable lessons about empathy, patience, and his own place within his family's history.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (4)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Mirai
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Mirai (2018)

Where can you watch Mirai? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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4 main characters · contains spoilers

Mirai Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Mirai (2018), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Kun

    played by Jaden Waldman

    Kun is a spirited and imaginative 4-year-old boy grappling with the challenges of becoming an older brother. His initial jealousy towards his baby sister Mirai leads him on a transformative journey where he learns about family and compassion. His character evolves from a self-centered child to one who embraces his role within the family.

    • 👶 Childhood
    • 🐶 Playful
  • Yukko

    played by Crispin Freeman

    Yukko is Kun's beloved pet dog who embodies loyalty and companionship. Transformed into a human, he represents the bridge between the magical and the mundane. Yukko's perspective helps Kun navigate his emotions and offers wisdom on the significance of family love.

    • 🐕 Loyalty
    • 💖 Friendship
  • Mirai

    played by Haru Kuroki

    Mirai, Kun's baby sister, symbolizes the future and the changes that come with new family dynamics. Through her character, Kun learns the importance of acceptance and responsibility. She serves as a catalyst for his emotional growth and understanding of familial bonds.

    • 👶 New Beginnings
    • 🌟 Family
  • Father

    played by John Cho

    Kun's father is dedicated to his work, which often takes away from family time. His remote work adds to Kun's feeling of neglect, but he represents the struggles of modern parenting. Through the story, the father’s journey reflects changing priorities as the family grows.

    • 👨‍👦 Parent
    • 💼 Responsibility

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:30

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Setting

Where and When Does Mirai Take Place?

The setting of Mirai (2018): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Contemporary, possibly around the 2010s

The film is set in a contemporary period, reflecting modern family dynamics, where the challenges of parenting and sibling relationships are explored. The story captures the nuances of childhood, as well as the lasting effects of family history, making it relevant to audiences of today.

Location

Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Tokyo Station

Kanazawa-ku in Yokohama is known for its unique architectural designs, blending modernity with tradition. The family residence, built around a grand tree, serves as a central setting for the film, representing stability and growth. Tokyo Station, a bustling hub of travel, contrasts this intimate home environment, encapsulating the theme of exploration and the emotions associated with being lost.

  • 🏡 Home
  • 🚉 Transportation

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:30

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3 major themes

Mirai Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Mirai (2018) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Family Growth

    The theme of family growth is central to the film, as it explores the changes that come with the arrival of a new sibling. Kun's journey from jealousy to understanding highlights the complexities of familial love. Through magical encounters, he learns to appreciate his family's history and connections, ultimately embracing his role as an older brother.

  • Time Travel

    Time travel serves not only as a plot mechanism but also as a conduit for Kun to explore his family's past and future. Encounters with younger family members and future versions shed light on the impacts of choices through generations. This theme underscores the importance of history in shaping personal identity.

  • Imagination

    Imagination plays a crucial role in Kun's story, allowing him to navigate his feelings of jealousy and confusion. The anthropomorphized Yukko and encounters with Future Mirai spark creativity and wonder, reflecting how children cope with their emotions. This whimsical approach emphasizes the value of imagination in understanding family dynamics.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:30

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Character & theme questions

Mirai Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Mirai (2018): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is the movie set?

The film takes place primarily in Kanazawa-ku, a district in Yokohama, Japan. The family lives in a distinctive residence built around a grand tree, which serves as the magical gateway for Kun's time-traveling adventures. The contrast between this intimate home and the bustling Tokyo Station represents the theme of exploration and finding one's place in the world.

  • yokohama
  • kanazawa-ku
  • setting
  • family home
  • japan
Q2

What time period does the story take place in?

The movie is set in contemporary times, likely around the 2010s. This modern setting reflects today's family dynamics and captures the relatable challenges of parenting and sibling relationships, making the story immediately relevant to modern audiences.

  • contemporary
  • modern
  • time period
  • 2010s
Q3

What is the main theme of the movie?

Family Growth is the central theme. The story explores how the arrival of a new sibling transforms a family, following Kun's emotional journey from jealousy to understanding. Through magical encounters with family members across time, he learns to appreciate his family's history and embraces his role as an older brother.

  • family growth
  • sibling rivalry
  • themes
  • empathy
  • family bonds
Q4

How does time travel work in the story?

Time travel serves as both a plot mechanism and a thematic device. Through a magical family tree, Kun can visit different time periods and meet relatives at various stages of their lives, including his mother as a young girl and his sister as a teenager. This allows him to understand how family choices across generations shape personal identity.

  • time travel
  • family tree
  • past
  • future
  • generations
Q5

What role does imagination play in the movie?

Imagination is a crucial coping mechanism for Kun. When he's jealous and confused about his new sister, his imagination transforms his pet dog Yukko into a human and creates fantastical time-travel adventures. This whimsical approach shows how children process complex emotions through creative play.

  • imagination
  • creativity
  • emotions
  • whimsy
  • childhood
Q6

Who is Kun and what is his journey?

Kun is a spirited 4-year-old boy who struggles with the arrival of his baby sister Mirai. Initially jealous and feeling neglected, he undergoes a transformation through his magical time-travel experiences, ultimately learning empathy, patience, and appreciating his place within the family's history.

  • kun
  • protagonist
  • older brother
  • character
  • growth
Q7

Who is Mirai and why is she important?

Mirai is Kun's baby sister, whose name means 'future' in Japanese. She symbolizes the changes that come with a new sibling and serves as the catalyst for Kun's emotional growth. Through encounters with future versions of Mirai, Kun learns about acceptance, responsibility, and the importance of family bonds.

  • mirai
  • sister
  • baby
  • future
  • family dynamics
Q8

Who is Yukko and what is his role?

Yukko is the family's pet dog who magically transforms into a human companion throughout Kun's adventures. He represents the bridge between the magical and the mundane, offering wisdom and emotional support. Yukko's loyalty and perspective help Kun navigate his feelings and understand the significance of family love.

  • yukko
  • dog
  • pet
  • companion
  • magical transformation
Q9

What is the father's role in the story?

Kun's father works remotely and is often occupied with his job, which creates tension and contributes to Kun's feeling of neglect. His character represents the struggles of modern parenting and work-life balance. As the family grows, his journey reflects the changing priorities and challenges of raising children.

  • father
  • parenting
  • work-life balance
  • modern family
  • dad
Q10

What does the family tree represent in the movie?

The grand tree around which the family home is built serves as both a literal and symbolic setting. It represents stability, growth, and the interconnectedness of family generations. Most importantly, it functions as the magical portal that enables Kun's time-travel adventures through the family history.

  • family tree
  • symbolism
  • growth
  • home
  • magic tree
Q11

What kind of movie is it in tone and style?

The film has a whimsical, gentle tone despite dealing with emotional themes like sibling jealousy. It's a child-friendly animated adventure with magical elements, a talking dog, time travel, and imaginative escapades. The pacing varies between everyday childhood frustrations and faster-paced fantastical journeys, maintaining a light emotional weight throughout.

  • tone
  • style
  • whimsical
  • animation
  • family friendly
  • light

Movie threads

More Movies Like Mirai, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Mirai tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Whimsical Journeys Through Family History like in Mirai

Gentle stories using time travel and magic to explore the bonds of family. Find movies like Mirai that use gentle magical elements to explore family relationships. These similar films often feature time travel or fantasy settings that help characters understand their relatives, blending heartfelt drama with a sense of wonder for a nostalgic and hopeful viewing experience.

  • whimsical
  • nostalgic
  • heartwarming
  • magical
  • reflective
  • hopeful
  • Tone: whimsical, heartwarming, reflective
  • Pacing: variable, blending everyday life with magical leaps
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically centers on a protagonist, often a child, grappling with a family-related emotional challenge. They are granted access to a magical conduit—a place, object, or guide—that allows them to non-linearly encounter their relatives from different times. Through these encounters, they gain empathy and a new understanding of their family's story, resolving their initial conflict with newfound maturity.

Why they belong together: They are grouped by their shared use of low-stakes fantasy to tackle universal family themes. The tone is consistently whimsical and hopeful, the pacing allows for quiet reflection amidst magical escapades, and the emotional core revolves around healing and connection rather than high-stakes conflict.

Child's-Eye View of Magical Realism like in Mirai

Stories where a child's imagination and emotions make the world magical. Discover movies similar to Mirai that use a child's perspective to tell magical stories. These films capture the feeling of childhood, where emotions and imagination transform the ordinary world, offering lighthearted adventures with meaningful lessons about growing up and understanding feelings.

  • childlike
  • playful
  • imaginative
  • heartwarming
  • whimsical
  • hopeful
  • Tone: whimsical, playful, hopeful
  • Pacing: variable, shifting between reality and fantasy
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The story is driven by the emotional state of a young child. Their feelings, such as jealousy over a new sibling or anxiety about change, are externalized into a fantastical world or series of events. The narrative follows their journey within this magical space as they work through their emotions, leading to personal growth and a happier, more secure outlook by the end.

Why they belong together: These movies share a specific mood and perspective. They prioritize a light, playful tone even when dealing with complex emotions, maintain a low intensity suitable for family viewing, and use variable pacing to alternate between the child's mundane reality and their vibrant inner world, creating a uniquely charming and insightful experience.

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Movies Like Mirai

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Every angle

Mirai (2018) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Mirai in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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