15 Japanese Anime films that deserve an Oscar

By Sayan

Modified Jan 05, 2025 10:42 ET

Paprika (Image via Sony Pictures)

7) The Garden of Words (2013)

The Garden of Words (Image via Toho Co., Ltd.)

Makoto Shinkai directed The Garden of Words, which was released in 2013. The story follows Takao, a high school student who skips class to sketch shoes in a park. He meets Yukari, an older woman who appears troubled. They bond over rainy mornings but face challenges when her past as a teacher and his as a student collide. The movie highlights loneliness and unspoken feelings through soft dialogue and detailed visuals. Its rain-soaked animation captures every drop, making the setting feel alive. The film’s focus on emotion and its ability to tell so much in a short runtime deserved more recognition.

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Edited by Sugnik Mondal