Best Japanese short movies

embah (2010)

Girl who watches something in glass. Young person who looks into it from the outside to house. Bear that held fishbowl.

Pikachu's PikaBoo (2001)

At a giant beachside mansion, Pikachu and some of its buddies decide to play a game of hide-and-seek. Pikachu is “it,” and it goes off in search of its friends. Meanwhile, Larvitar, sick of being all by itself, kicks a rock in anger. The rock hurtles through the air—and hits a lawnmower, turning it on and sending it tearing off after Pikachu and its friends! The group draws the lawnmower into a maze and even gets it into the water, but the lawnmower just keeps on chasing. The Pokémon build a road out of logs, hoping to get the lawnmower into a shack, but Psyduck trips and ruins the whole setup. How will the friends ever escape the lawnmower? This fantasy will have you on the edge of your seat!

Ghiblies: Episode 2 (2002)

Ghiblies (pronounced with a hard "g" as in "gallop") is a short film aired during a TV special about Ghibli. It's about a fictional animation studio named "Ghibli" and the people who work there. This rare Ghibli Comedy is a look into who the people making the films are. Plotlines run from office jokes to Nonaka's first love, bringing together a short feature of random events.

I and i (2014)

Short animated film by Shuhei Nishizawa

Crying Bitch (2018)

An unfaithful husband discovers a dark side to his wife that proves to be very frightening.

Beyond Creation (2019)

While drawing, Rui is surprised by the presence of Epsilon, a mysterious girl with magical powers.

Pokémon: Gotta Dance! (2003)

Meowth is in charge of the Team Rocket secret base, a mysterious place full of odd gadgets and gizmos. Desperate to impress the boss, Meowth wants to use the Dancing PokéBaton—a device that lets users control Pokémon as they please—to create a show that’s sure to wow. Meanwhile, Pikachu and its friends finish up playing in the forest and stumble on the base. The gang hears Whismur, the Whisper Pokémon, crying for help—but when they try to make their rescue, the Dancing PokéBaton goes off and sends the whole group into a dancing frenzy! When a noise-loving Loudred and Ludicolo get caught up in the dancing, the madness gets even wilder! What’s going to happen to Meowth’s precious secret base?

Ai (2008)

The traces left by the era of the samurai are still with us today. From this rich history of this ancient warrior culture comes a tale of honor, vengeance and redemption with a dark, sense of meaningless fatality. It is the origin story of a cursed vigilante, Ai, hell-bent on disposing those responsible for her clan's demise. Inspired by the great tradition of samurai cinema, Ai is an exploration of the era of the samurai and explores the themes of dormant fury for those who have lost loved ones and are driven to the point of madness with revenge.

Lesbian Citizen Naoko-san (2010)

Naoko-san is an alien from the planet Yuri, who is plotting to conquer the Earth by yurifying it. Misuzu is a junior high girl and is always troubled by Naoko-san, who lives on the roof of her house. They hear rumors that a molester is wandering around in the area, so they decide to investigate.

Kamen Rider Gotchard Ver.: Romeo and Juliet Complete Edition (2024)

The extended version of the Romeo & Juliet play performance as seen in Kamen Rider Gotchard's 31st episode, and presented like it was shot in-universe.

Goddess of Light (2014)

A promotional video for the new Super Smash Bros Wii U and Super Smash Bros 3DS featuring Pit, Link, Dark Pit, and Palutena.

Arichan the Ant (1941)

Arichan the Ant finds a violin in a sandbox and keeps it. However, realizing how important it is to its owner, he returns it to her.

Inazuma Eleven Reloaded ~Reformation of Soccer~ (2018)

Special prologue episode of the Inazuma Eleven: Ares no Tenbin series. It is a remake of the original Inazuma Eleven episode 27. After defeating Zeus and becoming the Football Frontier champions, the members of Raimon return to the soccer club. Unlike episode 27, the club is not invaded by aliens. Instead, everyone congratulates the team members for their remarkable achievements. Kidou Yuuto and Gouenji Shuuya then propose to take on the world. Hibiki Seigou comes in and, incidentially, proposes a match between Raimon and the Spanish youth league champion, Barcelona Orb.

Man in Phone (2015)

A Japanese man mysteriously wakes up inside of his phone and is forced to confront the destruction his addiction to technology has wreaked on his life.

Kamen Rider Hibiki: Asumu Transform! You can be an Oni, too!! (2005)

Asumu Adachi imagines if he could be like Kamen Rider Hibiki, and are approached by talking Disc Animals who teach him how to be like Hibiki, eventually allowing Asumu to transform into Kamen Rider Armed Hibiki.

Circle (2010)

Last Orders (1997)

The 60-second film features six fierce samurai who rush through a post-futuristic megalopolis using the most unpredictable means of transport (including a kite!) as to make it on time for the last order at their favorite pub.

Crayon Angel (1975)

A psychedelic collage of wartime stock footage and family photos, suggesting an underlying message of peace.

Mabo's Big Race (1936)

A boy competes in various events during the Olympic games. Short film from 1936.

Shadow (1967)

Independent animation by Hayashi Seiichi.

Muku no Ki no Hanashi (1947)

Short animated film from 1947

Hyoei and Heibei's Tengu Hunt (1934)

A short Japanese animation film from 1934.

Mottainai (2015)

A commercial aimed at Japanese youths in order to generate an appreciation of their present lives, such that it would be a waste to give up on their futures. Joint campaign by NHK and Advertising Council Japan.

Yuki no Hi no Tayori (1978)

A short animated film by Tadanari Okamoto

Mr. Super Bear (2003)

Super Kuma-san is a big stuffed bear that trudges with a drum and drum stick in his hand. While playing the drum and without any expression on his face, Mr. Bear rescued Maa-kun from a bank robber. One day, Maa-kun found Super Kuma-san and a clown entertaining kids by performing for them...

Step Into the Third Dimension (1989)

Nishika 3D cameras were the inexpensive cousins to the Nimslo 3D cameras made in the mid to late 1980's (the Nimslo cameras used glass lenses, while the Nishika ones used plastic lenses). The cameras used regular 35mm film that captured 4 simultaneous images onto 2 frames of film. These images were printed onto photo stock with a lenticular surface bonded to it which allowed 3D to be seen without glasses, like the old kids story books with the 3D covers. The basic 3D camera kit came with this VHS instructional video that was hosted by Vincent Price. It was one of the last things he did.

Bloomed Words (2007)

Two little creatures discuss possible travel plans to Hong Kong. As they talk to each other, their thoughts are animated above their heads.

Obāchan (2020)

Obāchan is Japanese. She left her native archipelago in 1941 to marry one of her compatriots, 17 years older, settled in Mexico. Through fragments of family films, manga and sequences that she has shot, Nicolasa Ruiz sculpts a complex and delicate memory landscape between the two shores of the Pacific.

TAN - The Dream of a Young Actor (2016)

Animation by Jixin Zhou. Music by Taishiro Seguchi.

Flow (2005)

Eight woman, one life. Short animation by Sumito Sakakibara. The 9th Japan Media Art Festival Animation Division Grand Prize Winner