Netflix's new anime movie, Drifting Home, is being praised by viewers and critics alike for its unique storyline about several children stuck on a floating tower block inside a massive ocean. The production company behind Drifting Home, Studio Colorido, worked on another equally creative movie -- and fans will likely enjoy this strange sci-fi tale just as much.

Released in 2018, Penguin Highway is an adaptation of the novel written by Tomihiko Morimi, which first arrived in bookstores in 2010. It was also highly praised by critics, winning the prestigious Nihon SF Taisho Award in 2010. The 2018 film was produced by Studio Colorido, with Hiroyasu Ishida -- the director of Drifting Home -- also taking the role for this movie.

Related: Dorohedoro and Dai Dark: Q Hayashida’s Uniquely Dark Takes on Fantasy and Sci-fi

The Plot of 2018's Penguin Highway

Penguin Highway 2

Penguin Highway follows Aoyama, a young schoolboy who is so naturally curious that he keeps a notebook to write down anything he learns. He does well in school and frequently outpaces his peers as a result, but is often targeted by the school's bullies -- and this upsets Aoyama deeply. The young boy then befriends a strange woman he meets at the dentist, and even develops a crush on her.

One day, however, something weird happens as a load of penguins descend on the town; they're all seemingly following the same route, as if they're going somewhere specific. As Aoyama investigates the penguins, he learns a lot about himself and the mysterious woman he has befriended and realizes that all may not be what it seems. The more he digs, the harder it gets -- especially as each discovery seems to uncover something even weirder. All of this will force the young boy and his friends to learn about themselves and the world around them.

RELATED: The Very First Isekai Story Didn't Come From Japan

Penguin Highway is a fascinating film with an intriguing storyline that fuses a slice-of-life and coming-of-age tale with surprisingly deep sci-fi elements that ask interesting questions about the world. While some concepts sound overly quirky in summary, they all come together flawlessly into one intriguing and emotional story. This is something many sci-fi movies like this often struggle with, creating plots full of thought-provoking themes that are nearly impossible to understand or follow on first viewing. But while Penguin Highway has many deeper themes, its core plot is still easy to follow, making it a must-watch film for both general audiences and hardcore sci-fi fans.

The film's animation is truly stunning, and fans of Drifting Home will see a lot of similarities between the two. Both feature awe-inspiring landscapes that expertly use light to great effect. In fact, the early segments of Penguin Highway perfectly capture the quiet feeling of small-town life. These warm and relatable locations contrast perfectly with the weirder elements, helping the audience understand and feel the locals' confusion about the situation they have been thrown into.

Related: Why Anime Movie 'Bubble' Couldn't Live Up to The Hype

Penguin Highway's Complex Characters (And Its Penguins) Are Wonderfully Realized

Penguin Highway 3

Fittingly, the movie's penguins are also incredibly realized. They're adorable, and their movement perfectly blends realism with a slight cartoony edge, further driving home their otherness. Despite their cute factor, they never distract from the story being told or overshadow the plot, making them perfect additions.

Penguin Highway also handles its characters superbly, giving them loads of personality while allowing the audience to understand what's going on in their heads, no matter how complex their emotions are at the time. Despite the film's odd scenario, they're also supremely relatable. Aoyama's struggle with young love and desire to find a social connection in a world that is hostile to him and his passions is easily understandable and will resonate with many. The other characters are similar, and most viewers will absolutely see people they know or have known in these characters.

Fans of Drifting Home will find lots to love in Penguin Highway. While telling different stories, both films touch on similar themes, including the idea of trying to survive in an unfamiliar situation and embracing one's evolving life and the changing world around them. Both have deeper themes but present them in an easily accessible and beautifully animated package that will stay long in the memory. If Drifting Home has left fans wanting to check out more of Studio Colorido's work -- or just looking for a great animated sci-fi film -- then Penguin Highway is the perfect choice.

Penguin Highway is now streaming on Crunchyroll.