
Josee, the Tiger and the Fish
By Tom Cassidy,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Romantic anime offers honest, positive look at disability.

A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Josee, the Tiger and the Fish
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
In JOSEE, THE TIGER AND THE FISH, Josee (voiced by Suzie Yeung) is a 24-year-old woman who has been a life-long wheelchair user and has grown to fear independent living and the outside world. After a chance encounter, 22-year-old Tsuneo (Howard Wang) is invited to work as her carer. Slowly, Josee starts to open up to new possibilities and experiences.
Is It Any Good?
Gentle and empathetic, this Japanese animation celebrates friendship and the joys of encouraging others. Josee, the Tiger and the Fish is also thoughtful, never taking its central character, Josee, a wheelchair user, for granted. We accompany her on her journey from shut-in to independent adult and sometimes she's not great company. Her carer and friend Tsuneo is shouted at, picked on, and abused by her. Like the movie, Tsueno understands that Josee's life experiences may well have caused her emotions to be mixed up. He doesn't fight back, he just keeps trying to help how he can.
When they first set out, we're with Josee at a train station. She feels in the way and a man bangs into her and loses his temper. At first it looks like Josee's grandmother is right -- the world's a bad place. But Josee sticks around long enough to see the guy's being rude to someone else, it wasn't personal. She boards the train with assistance from the guard, who respectfully puts down a ramp. In the carriage, she's in the section designated for wheelchairs. Suddenly the world seems OK. In this short scene, our perspective shifts. The movie constantly and subtly shows the importance of how we see the world and ourselves, and how that impacts how we live our lives, regardless of our situation. Beautifully animated and even smarter than it seems on the surface, Josee, the Tiger and the Fish is an inspirational triumph.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Josee, the Tiger and the Fish portrayed disability. Are you or someone you know a wheelchair user? How did this portrayal compare? Why is it important that we have stories about people who live with disabilities
How do the characters demonstrate perseverance, compassion, and empathy? Why are those important character strengths?
Discuss Josee and Tsueno's relationship. How did it evolve? What did they learn from each other?
What do you think the movie was trying to say about how our lives are shaped by our perspective?
Movie Details
- In theaters: July 12, 2021
- On DVD or streaming: February 8, 2022
- Cast: Suzie Yeung , Howard Wang , Dani Chambers
- Director: Kôtarô Tamura
- Inclusion Information: Female actors, Black actors
- Studio: Funimation
- Genre: Anime
- Topics: Book Characters , Friendship
- Character Strengths: Compassion , Empathy , Perseverance
- Run time: 99 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: August 2, 2023
Inclusion information powered by
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 suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Best Anime Movies
Movies with Characters Who Have Physical Disabilities
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