Kimitachi wa Dou Ikiru ka

Fractured narrative style, lets the audience fill in the gaps, heavy on symbolism and themes and both are absolutely gorgeous to look at even though they were made on opposite ends of the budget spectrum. 

It is basically the same setting but mixed in a historic period 

-Coming-of-age movie -Fantasy pocket dimension where timelines converge -Subtle metaphors on trauma and pain -The protagonists lose a family member at an early age; that person helps the protagonist move on from their trauma and stagnant life, into a new beginning.  

They give similar vibes of alternate worlds/realities that were created and revolve family dynamics and relations while also trying to leave the world. both are very visually beautiful and give off similar vibes and feelings  

Both movies are slice-of-life stories about a boy who meets his relative(s) younger-versions and has a similar feel 

Both movies take place in a magical underworld where the young main character has to learn how to cope with a loss 

Full of symbolism, reflections about death and afterlife, a main character that gets bullied in school, mother-son relationship being a central focus. 

Similar themes of a main character having conflicts with change and both venture into a mysterious plane/realm of existence w/ another character roughly their age. There's too many other similarities that I cannot recommend this alternative enough.