Cozy huts in flower fields, mushrooms on a log, home-baked pies, herb gardens, and the smell of honeysuckle are all cottagecore elements. For those that are not in the loop, cottagecore is a trending Internet sensation. Basically, it is an aesthetic of the idealization of rural living. The trend has especially picked up in 2020 in times where many families are quarantining in their homes. In times of being stuck in the house, it is not unusual to dream of better settings. It is also worth noting that cottagecore is more than just cute plants laying around a whimsical house; it is the idea of wholesome work and craftsmanship without the stress of need.
While the term cottagecore was only coined in recent years, there are films and T.V. shows that certainly reflect all that cottagecore is, and its a trend on which anime has long since picked up. There are a lot of anime movies and shows with cottagecore aesthetics. These animations really reflect a love of rural life and the whimsy behind such a way of living.
Howl's Moving Castle (2004)
Studio Ghibli films often make for great examples of cottagecore. The movies, such as Howl's Moving Castle, often reflect the morals of environmentalism and show the beauty of nature in loving detail. Not only does it show the cleanliness of nature, but also the warmth of living in it.
While Howl does live in a moving castle, the castle tends to remain in the rolling hills of nature. The most cottagecore moments, though, are when Howl shows Sophie the cottage he spent time in as a child.
My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
This adorable family film is about two little girls with the ability to see nature spirits. They, along with their father, move into a rural home and have a fun time exploring the wilderness and all its wonders.
The idea of forest spirits and the magic of nature is not foreign to cottagecore, as that idea is another facet of romanticizing rural life. This movie also revels in the cottagecore aesthetic of simplicity. There is no major plot other than exploring and meeting these creatures.
When Marnie Was There (2014)
Set in a rural countryside, this movie takes its protagonist, Anna, out of the stressful life of the city of Sapporo and into the whimsy of the Kushiro wetlands. The buildings and wetlands are all detailed with moss, hanging plants, and mushrooms.
The movie is not the most well-known Studio Ghibli work, but it is certainly a hidden gem of cottagecore. As with My Neighbor Totoro, the plot is also rather simple, focusing on the friendship between two young girls.
Hakumei To Mikochi (2018)
Not all cottagecore anime are made by Studio Ghibli, nor are they all feature-length films. Some anime are T.V. shows, like Hakumei to Mikochi. Based on a manga, this show is pretty short with just 12 episodes. The show is about three tiny women who are about the size of mice that live in the woods together.
When it comes to stories about tiny beings, like fairies, for example, there tends to be a lot of cottagecore aesthetics. They live intimately with nature and use all the natural resources around them.
Ancient Magus' Bride (2017 - 2018)
Another cottagecore T.V. series is Ancient Magnus' Bride. The story revolved around an orphan girl who is bought by demon-like magnus to eventually be his bride. In terms of genre, the show is a supernatural romance and slice-of-life.
The magnus, Elias, has a cottage that cottagecore fans dream about. The home is isolated among gardens and flowers with vines growing upon its walls. Even better, the protagonist gets magical animals to keep her company, as well.
Mary And The Witch’s Flower (2017)
This movie is often mistaken as a Studio Ghibli title, but it actually is not. Part of why it is mistaken as such has a lot to do with its cottagecore settings, young female protagonist, and magical adventure. That is all on-brand for Ghibli, and they might be so similar because some of the creators were formally at Studio Ghibli.
Much of the movie takes place in the English countryside with rolling hills, gardens, wildflowers, and cozy homes. The peak cottagecore aesthetic, however, is found at the witches' secret island home.
Wolf Children (2012)
Another movie outside of Studio Ghibli that is cottagecore is Wolf Children. The movie is about a single mom with supernatural wolf children who moves to the countryside to raise them in a safe environment for their unusual qualities.
The hardworking mom has to learn to garden and live in nature with her kids. In the country, their lives are simple and happy. The kids, being part wolf, are especially adventurous.
Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
This coming-of-age movie is another Studio Ghibli title. The main protagonist is a young witch named Kiki who works in a port city. Despite the city, though, there are plenty of cottagecore scenes. Firstly, she makes deliveries for a bakery of home-baked goods. Her mother is also an herbalist whose place is a plant-haven inside and out.
The movie is just one of many examples of how witches and cottagecore just seem to go naturally together.
Moomin (1990-1991)
This show actually has a long history. Originally, it was a series of Swedish books. However, the anime industry fell in love with it and has made numerous anime after it, with the earliest being in the late 60s, and the latest being in the 90s. Despite its age, the characters and world have been highly trending, especially in Japan.
The fictional land of Moominvalley is basically a cottagecore dream world. The world is pastoral and full of rivers, forests, flowers, and hills. The plots are also whimsical and simple, dealing with either something magical or an everyday situation.
The Secret Life Of Arrietty (2010)
Like Hakumei to Mikochi, The Secret Life of Arrietty is a cottagecore aesthetic movie about tiny people. They are called "Borrowers" in this movie, and they live in secret alongside humans that live in their own pretty cottagecore house. The Borrows take the cottagecore element to another level, though. They live in the coziest way possible, with all their nooks and crannies filled with plants and natures' bounty.