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.
Spirited Away
(2002, Rated PG, Family and kids, Starring Jason Marsden, Daveigh Chase, Suzanne Pleshette)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 |
Have you seen it? 
Most Recent Reviews
Parent & Educator Reviewers Say | Kid Reviewers Say
- 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
- 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 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 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
- 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 on for age 7 and give it
I don't think you need to wait until age 11
This film is scary at points, but the monsters in this film aren't much more terrifying than, say, scenes in Ratatouille in which Remy is attacked with a shotgun, and are a lot less realistic. The film has important things to say about fear: that the things that scare us are the things we don't yet understand, and that the way to overcome fear is not besting opponents, but getting to know them. Maybe in the theater the monsters would be too intense, but I think on DVD a 7-year-old will be able to stay with the film long enough to see how the little girl learns to overcome her fears, which renders the monsters a lot less scary. The parents' behavior at the top (gorging themselves on food in an abandoned shop) is a little troubling, parents could explain to kids that a magic spell is causing them to forget their manners (this is actually the case, but the magic is not apparent until later in the film).
- I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
I love this movie even for younger kids
I showed this movie to young kids, ages 5 & 7 who are easily frightened at movies and they had no problems with it. It has so many good fundamental lessons in it and is superbly done. I recommend this and especially Princess Mononoke (same directory) below the age levels that they suggest.
- I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
great movie
This is my favorite movie by Miyazaki. The characters are well done and the movie's storyline is imaginative.
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
Magnificent
Quirky original screenplay is scary and amusing.
- I rate this title iffy for age 8 and give it
- I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
I loved it!
This is greatly animated.
- I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it
Fantastic
I loved this movie, it was absolutely amazing. There are some very scary scenes, so I would be cautious with your kids watching it. Not as good as some of his other work, but I have watched it too many times to count, I love this movie. Teens will especially enjoy it.
- I rate this title off for age 8 and give it
This was so bizarre!
I hated this movie. I did not buy this movie. Part of the reason for my loathing is information that most of this type of animation is made by people who also dabble in animated porn. Anyway. This movie was very strange and my daughter (age 5 at the time) didn't "get it" and it gave her nightmares.
- I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
Classic Miyazaki
I must admit, I'm not a fan of Miyazaki's work, and Spirited Away didn't sway me (Laputa did that, not Spirited Away). It works well as a movie somewhat oriented for kids. It's a movie that both kids and parents will enjoy. However, I'm still scratching my head at some parts. Ah, at least the voice acting was well done. ^_^; My only complaint is that it was rather confusing, but it had a descent ending and a good plot. Thumbs up and kudoes to Miyazaki-sama. =D
Parent & Educator Reviewers Say | Kid Reviewers Say
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
one of my favorite movies
this movie is so incredibly imaginable! i love the adventures the girl goes through to save her parents. all the frinds and bad guys she makes. it's so creative and exiting! i wan to see it again. besides i out this on and it calms my annoying cousins down^^
- I rate this title on for age 9 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Very Sweet
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.
- 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 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
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 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 ^.^
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Spirited Away
I love it because It tells the story of a 10 year old girl who started out from being a coward and whiner who in the end has a new outlook and attitude towards things. I loved it since I was 5 or 6 and my sister loves it at the age of 8.5.
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My highlights are:
Scary for a few, but great for all!
If you haven't already figured out that cartoons are for more than just little kids and perverts, then you really need to watch this and Miyzaki's other works. Another newcomer misconception is that this and other animated films are all comedies. This is not true. What Spirited Away is is a fantastically animated and heartwarming fantasy. The film may be a bit scary for younger kids, but most will be able to handle it.
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
AWESOME!!! XD
COME ON!!! 11+... Please!! Commonsense is wrong bout this one i was 6 when i watched this movie and i loved it!!!
- I rate this title for age 10 and give it
Awesome movie
Omigosh probably one of the BEST movies ever!! Enjoyed it so much!
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Heartwaming...
Hmmm Princess mononoke is made by the same people and is pg-13, but in this website says that everyone over 9 can veiw it, while this is pg, and says over 11. They got this completely wrong. This movie is not like the comedy or playing kind, but it is very heartwarming, and feels very good when you watch it. Kids should be over age 7 maybe to watch it. The only innapropriatte sence is when a dragon is poked and scratched by a thousand paper birds, and the dragon has red blood, like 30% over his body, and when he crashes into the building, blood splatters. The dragon survives though. This 20 second sence is the only part of the movie where there is very very mild blood. 20 seconds out of 3 hours. Yes, the movie is very long. It is nightmare fantasy-ish. Kids under 7 may be scared... be warned. ( my sister, the age of 6 thought it was "awesome" and not "scary" )
- I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
:]
I don't think it necessarily needs to be 11. Just know your kid. Some scenes are a little scary, but more or less in a Harry Potter 1 sort of way. It is fantasy. The main character triumphs and generally sets a good example. Chihiro doesn't give up, even when the situation seems totally hopeless.
- I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it
make sure your kids can handle it.
I think the one word for this movie is culture shock. Ok, that's two words, but whatever. I watched it with my family last night, and it was the first anime movie we'd ever seen. I wouldn't recommend starting with it. I guess id you've seen other japanese movies it isn't so weird, but at the beginning ti was kinda spooky just because we were trying to orient ourselves. By the time Chihiro went up to Yubaba, it had stopped being scary and settled at just bizarre. My nine year old brother had no problem with it, but you should probably check it out before showing it to anyone under ten, as the spirit world is initially very disturbing- red lamps go on everywhere as it gets dark, shadowy spirits start to appear, and chihiro finds her parents, who had been eating at the only restaurant that had had food, were still there eating but had turned into pigs. Afterward, though, you kinda get used to just- well, the culture difference. The light touches are done well (for example, she tries to get a job in a boiler room and is refused, but then a little soot-spider drops the coal it's carrying and she rescues it. The boiler-room man appears to be starting to relent, so all the little soot-spiders pin themselves under their coal), much better than in, say, animal farm (a bizarre little chick that follows the other animals and keeps falling down). I found all the voices to be done pretty well, except, for some reason, chihiro's. The only other spooky thing is No-Face, but all in all, it's a pretty good movie. Just make sure your kids can handle it.
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
SEE IT
BEAUTIFUL AND STUNNING
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
SEE IT
Beautiful Movie
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
This movie is WONDERFUL!!! Beautiful movie!!! When i first watched this movie i was watching with a five year, it was a little scary to him in the beginning were the parents turn into pigs but other than that i HIGHLY reccomend!!!
- I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
A best!
Love this anime movie. One of the best, The plot was smoothed out and was easy to understand.
- I rate this title iffy for age 9 and give it
Magnificent.
