Amazing animation. Weird... very cool. I watched it on my birthday when I was 10 and the kids all loved it. Also see My Neighbor Totoro.
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Spirited Away
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Is it age appropriate?
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Not age appropriate for kids under 9, age appropriate for kids over 11; suggested age 11. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Magnificent, spellbinding movie has a bit of edge.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 11 and Up
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
About Spirited Away
Parents need to know that this is an outstanding movie but it has a dark side. The heroine, Chihiro, is whiny in the beginning but transforms to save her parents. Scary scenes include a frightening old lady and a scary faceless ghosty spirits. If you're expecting Totoro -- don't. You might discuss the themes of loyalty and belief in the good in people that the film depicts.
Read our full review by Liz Perle
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about how this movie compares to the average American animated film. What's different? What's similar?
Our Members Say
See all 73 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title on for age 9 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Very Sweet
- I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
One of the best
One of my person favorite by Miyazaki (tied with HMC); this movie is remarkable. I was (I think) 10 when I watched it; my brother was 6 or 7, and he didn't like it very much. The best example I can think of right now, is that it's got a polished kind of grotesque-ness to it, and the boy's sensitive so he generally avoids such things (a good comparison might be "Nightmare Before Christmas" - brilliant as it is, it was too dark for him the first few times we watched it). As to what might trigger that leeriness, the protagonist's parents are turned into pigs to symbolize their gluttony early in the movie; there are strange creatures throughout the movie, including No-Face, who appears as a black silhouette distinguished only by a mask; there are a trio of ogre-reminiscent heads that bounce around; there is a scene in which the protagonist is submersed in a muddy golden sludge-like stuff; there is a baby that stands about fifteen feet tall; late in the movie, a dragon coughs up quite a bit of blood. (Most of these probably wouldn't bother kids, but I'm just trying to be thorough). My only personal complaint is that Chihiro's parents really were kind of lousy, even if she did need to toughen up a bit. Otherwise, the movie is remarkable, just tread cautiously with younger ones.
- I rate this title on for age 9 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Wondrous Film; Hail Hayao Miyazaki
On Chihiro's move to a new town, her parents unexpectedly stop to check out a mysterious building. Little do they know that an entirely new realm of spirits lay beyond it. The film is really child-based and is one of Miyazaki's more child-oriented works. Chihiro, the lead, is a strong protagonist who, though scared at points, is able to outsmart evil and help those in need. She accepts a spirit who was looked down upon by others and receives a reward for doing so. There is a scene with BLOOD though, which some parents may not like their children to see. The movie has excellent morals and will keep your child's eyes glued to the screen through the whole thing.
- I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
BEST MOVIE EVER
This movie is fine for kids about 7 and on, I think. There is one scene with blood, but when I was 7, animated blood would not really bother me a whole lot. This is a really good movie, and it teaches kids a lot about love, life, growing up, and maturity. It saddens me that the only discussion this horrible website can come up with is 'how does this differ from American animation?'. There are a lot more beautiful, poetic messages from Spirited Away that you could discuss with your children.
- I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
absolute adorable movie for all kids and even for adults
incredible film with an impeccable imagination. though gets a bit violent in some scenes but that is negligible. Miyazaki succeeds again in conveying his message to others.
- I rate this title on for age 5 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
loved it
i watched when i was 5 and i loved it!!!!!!!!!
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Great, but always 10+
Spirited Away was amazing and fun. I watched when I was about seven, so I didn't remember it until I watched it again at a party. Sure it's an awesome movie, but it's a little on the creepy side. Also, if you have kids that are not at least ten, there going to forget the whole movie by the time they really are ten.
- I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
AWESOME MOVIE
i have to say i never really liked animated films for kids but this one is great!its such a beautiful tale but little ones wont like it
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
tweens will love it, don't even try to show the little ones:)
this movie is one of my favorites i love it. i would and do watch it over and over again.
- I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Great Movie; Pretty Scary For Tweens And Under
Don't take the fact that this is a cartoon and think that this is not a frightening movie. There are a lot of out-of-the-blue, sudden surprises, plus an extremely important character nearly bleeds to death. On the good side, though, the movie is about a young girl who does anything she can to turn her parents back into humans, since they were turned into pigs in the beginning. (If this was a live action film rather than a cartoon, it would most likely be rated PG-13.)
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Positive flick
Chihiro learns her strength in this movie. She finds a clever way to set things right. She is motivated by danger to her family and uses her wits to reunite them.
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
rock on miyazaki!! rock on!
This movie is one of my favorite movies. if you liked howls moving castle your going to love this!!
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
A true Japanese Animation Classic - for 8+ year-olds
Our family classified "Spirited Away" as an instant family favorite and classic. We just fell in love with the story, the message it was imparting and the animation was just incredible! The only reservation I had was that the film might be a little bit scary for some 8+ year-olds due to the parents turning into pigs and the main character of the little girl, Sen, being badly treated by some adult authority figures. However as usual in Hollywood, the story has a geat ending and everyone lives happily ever after.....
- I rate this title on for age 12 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
- I rate this title on for age 12 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Negative role models
Very dark and creepy, and depressing as well. Although it received good ratings from critics, I did not like the film at all, and my son hated it (granted, he was probably too young to see it (7), although by the standard guidelines it was supposed to be okay ). In the film, parents lead their young child into what is clearly an unsafe situation and don't pay attention to warming signs and certainly don't think about being careful in unknown situations. The young girl is left to fend by herself but unlike a movie like the Wizard of Oz, almost everyone she meets is menacing and unkind. I did not find the redemption at the end overcame the negativity of the movie.
- I rate this title and give it
my son likes legos too
my son likes legos too
- I rate this title iffy for age 6 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Okay
Good but kind of out there if you know what i mean.
- I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
5+
a little weird. but you have to expose your kids to that kind of stuff wright?
- I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
I LOVE this movie!!! And always will! A classic!
I have to admit my affinity for dragons was one of the main reasons I wanted to see this movie as a kid. And oh boy did I love it...It warmed my heart and gave me that good feeling at the end of the movie where you think anything is possible...and life just seems to drift away for that moment. I especially loved the scene where she nuzzles her dragon-friend, that made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside as a kid ^.^
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Ratings at a Glance
| 44% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
| 33% | of parents say there are good role models |
| 33% | of parents say it's too violent |
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