Common Sense Media Review
By Christie Cronan
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Compelling but violent, mature anime explores afterlife.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Dragon Heart: Adventures Beyond This World
What's the Story?
DRAGON HEART: ADVENTURES BEYOND THIS WORLD is an epic anime fantasy that follows teens Ryusuke (voiced by Yûsuke Kobayashi in the original Japanese and Zach Aguilar in the English dub) and Tomomi (Chinatsu Hirose/Ren Holly Liu) as they explore the spirit world. Through their journey, they realize that they're actually in the depths of hell, surrounded by constant peril, fear, and violence. But their voyage doesn't end in darkness—in fact, their adventure eventually leads them to Shambhala and beyond. But will Ryusuke and Tomomi be able to discover their life's purpose and return home?
Is It Any Good?
Director Isamu Imakake's storytelling and visuals aren't quite as magical as those of Hayao Miyazaki or Makoto Shinkai, but there's enough edge and entertainment to make the film work. Imaginative and visually compelling, Dragon Heart: Adventures Beyond This World explores the afterlife with considerable creativity and depth, and demonstrates both adoration and utmost respect for Japanese culture, mythology, and spirituality.
At the same time, the film's fear-based depiction of heaven and hell may be too scary for younger viewers, with its heavy focus on the urgent need for people to repent from evil and live a life worthy of avoiding eternal punishment. But the film's underlying message of finding your purpose is poignant, and its provocative visuals will appeal to anime fans. It's clear that Imakake is continuing to grow his voice in the genre.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about director Isamu Imakake's representation of heaven and hell in Dragon Heart: Adventures Beyond This World. Do you believe in an afterlife? Why do you think the afterlife is a popular theme in movies?
How do Ryusuke and Tomomi discover their life purpose? Why was their spiritual world journey necessary to find their purpose?
How would you describe the film's overall message? What role do Japanese culture, spirituality, and mythology play in this message?
Did you know that the movie was produced by the founder of a religious movement (Happy Science)? Does that affect your opinion of its messages and purpose?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 6, 2025
- On DVD or streaming : March 3, 2026
- Cast : Yusuke Kobayashi , Zach Aguilar , Ren Holly Liu
- Director : Isamu Imakake
- Inclusion Information : Asian Movie Director(s) , Japanese Movie Director(s) , Asian Movie Actor(s) , Multiracial Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Chinese Movie Actor(s) , Asian Movie Writer(s) , Japanese Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Freestyle Digital Media
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Adventures , Faith ( Christianity ) , Fantasy ( Magic )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Curiosity , Empathy , Perseverance
- Run time : 119 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violent content/bloody images, thematic content and some language
- Last updated : February 4, 2026
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate