Mirai

Mirai

Year: 2018

Runtime: 98 min

Language: Japanese

Echo Score: 84
AdventureDramaFantasyAnimationFamily

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.

Mirai (2018) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Mirai (2018) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In a quiet suburban neighborhood of Yokohama, a modest house is built around a towering tree that seems to watch over the family living within its branches. The everyday rhythm of play, school runs, and quiet evenings is gently disturbed when a new member arrives: a baby sister whose name means “future.” The arrival brings a wave of attention that shifts the household’s focus, leaving the elder child to wrestle with feelings of displacement and curiosity about his changing role.

Kun, a bright‑spirit four‑year‑old, becomes the emotional core of the story. He navigates the bewildering mix of love and rivalry that a newborn often sparks, while his loyal dog, Yukko, provides a touchstone of comfort and wonder. As he grapples with jealousy and yearning for his parents’ affection, the house’s unique tree begins to reveal its quiet magic, opening fleeting windows to moments beyond the present. Through these glimpses, Kun encounters relatives at different stages of their lives, from a youthful mother to a teenage sister, each encounter offering a subtle lesson about the threads that bind a family together.

The film’s tone balances gentle humor with a poetic sense of wonder, inviting viewers into a world where the ordinary and the fantastical coexist seamlessly. The animation style captures the soft glow of domestic life while allowing the tree’s secret pathways to blossom into vivid, dream‑like sequences. Within this richly textured setting, Kun embarks on an internal journey of empathy and self‑discovery, hinting at the deeper connections that shape our identities without revealing the specific paths his adventure will take.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 02:11

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

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.

whimsicalnostalgicheartwarmingmagicalreflectivehopefulfamily-focusedchildlike

Narrative Summary

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 These Movies?

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.

childlikeplayfulimaginativeheartwarmingwhimsicalhopefulempatheticgrowing up

Narrative Summary

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 These Movies?

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.

Unlock the Full Story of Mirai

Don't stop at just watching — explore Mirai in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Mirai is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Mirai Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Mirai, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Mirai Summary

Mirai Timeline

Track the full timeline of Mirai with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Mirai Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Mirai

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Mirai. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Mirai

More About Mirai

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Mirai: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Mirai

Similar Movies to Mirai

Discover movies like Mirai that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.