Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Solid, sentimental fantasy about outcast teens has bullying.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Lonely Castle in the Mirror
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
LONELY CASTLE IN THE MIRROR is based on the same-named Japanese manga comic and novel by illustrator Tomo Taketomi and author Mizuki Tsujimura, respectively. Shy, quiet Kokoro (voiced by Ami Touma in the original Japanese and Micah Lin for the English dub) refuses to go to school, where she's been mercilessly bullied and threatened by a group of mean girls. One day at home, her full-length mirror starts to shimmer and shine, and she steps through it. She finds herself in a titular castle, where she meets six other kids who've been gathered by a creepily masked girl who calls herself the Wolf Queen. The Wolf Queen explains the rules: The students can visit the castle only between 9 and 5, and if anyone overstays, they -- and any visitors there at the same time -- will be eaten by a killer wolf. On the bright side, the students can also look for a secret key that unlocks exactly one wish for one of them, but if they do, then they'll all wake up with no memory of their time at the castle together.
Is It Any Good?
The entertaining but thinly plotted adaptation explores mature themes, focusing on misfit teens who need a safe space to make friends and be themselves. Directed by Keiichi Hara (Miss Hokusai), the movie works best when the castle kids are getting to know one another, proving that these "outcasts" are capable of experiencing friendship and camaraderie. It's painful to watch the flashbacks of Kokoro and the other castle teens, who understandably don't want to share why they're all available to visit the fantasy location when their classmates are at school. They play games, talk, and just spend time together. The Wolf Queen pops up occasionally to answer questions and ask why they aren't searching for the key, but she's a somewhat mysterious figure.
The animation is memorable, but a couple of disturbing scenes switch the style, blur faces, and make use of the soundtrack in a way that detracts from rather than enhances the seriousness of the action. The fantasy elements don't extend beyond the castle, and the big reveal will be easy for eagle-eyed viewers to guess. Although younger audiences might be drawn to the film, it's firmly a young-adult story aimed at older tweens and younger teens.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how bullying and abuse are depicted in Lonely Castle in the Mirror. Is the violence and fear that the middle schoolers experience believable? What can you do if you witness bullying or violence against children?
Do you consider anyone in the movie a role model? Which character strengths do they demonstrate?
How are family relationships depicted in the movie? Which of them are healthy, and which are troubled?
Does watching Lonely Castle in the Mirror make you interested in reading the manga or novel on which the movie is based?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 21, 2023
- On DVD or streaming : September 26, 2023
- Cast : Yuki Kaji , Ami Touma , Takumi Kitamura
- Director : Keiichi Hara
- Inclusion Information : Asian Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : GKIDS
- Genre : Anime
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Friendship , School ( Middle School )
- Character Strengths : Empathy , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time : 116 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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