What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedColorful
Eto Mori · Book · 2021
If you loved Colorful, start with Colorful (Keiichi Hara, 2010) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Colorful across media.
What hooked you in Colorful was the way a brush with mortality forces a profound, soul-searching reevaluation of human existence.
Start with the source
The source
Colorful
Keiichi Hara · Film · 2010
Films on the same thread
Your Name.
Makoto Shinkai · Film · 2016
Shares a thread with Colorful: Identity.
Much like the protagonist in Colorful, the characters here navigate a displacement that challenges their sense of self, using their interconnected journey to uncover the true meaning of their lives.
Spirited Away
Hayao Miyazaki · Film · 2001
Shares a thread with Colorful: identity.
This story mirrors the transformative journey found in Colorful, as a young protagonist must navigate a strange, otherworldly environment to reclaim her identity and find her place in reality.
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Olivia Newman · Film · 2026
Explores: Grief and healing, Intergenerational friendship, Hidden secrets.
If the redemptive power of connection in Colorful moved you, this narrative offers a similar path to healing, showing how unexpected bonds can help an individual rediscover joy after grief.
Hotarubi no Mori e
Film · 2011
Shares a thread with Colorful: Coming-of-Age.
This tale captures the same bittersweet melancholy present in Colorful, exploring the transience of life and the deep emotional impact of fleeting human connections within a mystical, transformative setting.
Series on the same thread
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
Series · 2021
Shares a thread with Colorful: Redemption.
Like the soul in Colorful, this character is granted a second chance at life, focusing on the difficult but necessary process of personal redemption and growth after a traumatic end.
Orange
Series · 2016
Shares a thread with Colorful: Coming-of-Age.
This story echoes the themes of second chances and suicide prevention central to Colorful, using a supernatural intervention to help a teenager reconsider the value of their own life.
To Your Eternity
Series · 2021
Shares a thread with Colorful: Existentialism.
Sharing the philosophical depth of Colorful, this journey follows an immortal being who experiences the breadth of human existence, constantly learning what it means to truly live and suffer.
Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-
Series · 2016
Explores: Reincarnation, Character Death, Overcoming Adversity.
Fans of Colorful will recognize the struggle for self-improvement through repeated life experiences, where the protagonist must overcome intense adversity to finally understand his purpose in a new world.
Podcasts on the same thread
Kuru Podcast : Start Living!
Podcast
Explores: quarter-life crisis, twenties, life choices.
This podcast provides a real-world extension of the themes in Colorful, offering listeners a space to process their own regrets and life crises through the lens of personal growth.
Torta Podcast
Podcast
Explores: embracing life, positive mindset, self-acceptance.
Reflecting the ultimate lesson of Colorful, this podcast encourages you to embrace the fragility of your existence, promoting self-acceptance and a positive mindset as the key to living well.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Colorful based on a book or a movie?
Colorful originated as a 2021 novel written by Eto Mori. Following the success of the original story, a film adaptation of Colorful was released in 2010. Both versions explore the same narrative of a soul given a second chance at life through a cycle of rebirth.
Should I read the book Colorful before watching the movie?
You can experience either version of Colorful first. The 2021 book and the 2010 movie both follow the story of a soul tasked with recalling the biggest mistake of its past life. Neither format is required to understand the plot, as both adapt the same source material.
Is Colorful similar to The Midnight Library?
Yes, Colorful is often recommended for readers who enjoyed The Midnight Library. Both stories feature protagonists navigating a transition between life and death. The narrative of Colorful centers on a soul winning a second chance to rectify past mistakes, mirroring the existential themes found in The Midnight Library.
What is the premise of the story in Colorful?
In Colorful, a formless soul is told by an angel named Prapura that it has won a lottery for a second chance at life. To remain in the cycle of rebirth, the soul must successfully recall the biggest mistake it made during its previous life.