Parents' Guide to

Mune: Guardian of the Moon

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Original animated fantasy has a few frightening elements.

Movie PG 2017 86 minutes
Mune: Guardian of the Moon Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 7+

Based on 22 parent reviews

verd02
verd02 Parent of 6 and 11-year-old
February 6, 2023
age 8+

Awful, antiquated sexism

Like the other review said, this movie is sexist in a way that hard to believe was produced in 2014. There is precisely one female character. She is treated as a sexual object by the male characters. She shows bravery and in her one act of agency, sacrifices herself for everyone else (again, all of whom are male). She is restored to life by one of the male characters and in the final scene, after he has taken his place of responsibility and power, flings herself into his arms. I left disgusted. Would not show this to any child of any gender. It's got some great visuals.
Zury
Zury Adult
May 7, 2020
age 12+

Opportunity for Conversation

The storyline itself is fine. Some characters are SCARY looking! The only bad word they use is "damn", no big deal if you aren't religious imo. Sexism is present, they dismiss the ideas of a girl & treat her as a pretty object. An old man character asks for a kiss from the young girl.. super gross. Watch this movie if you want to take it as an opportunity to converse such topics with kids & if weird characters don't easily spook your kids..

This title has:

Too much sex
See all 22 parent reviews

What's the Story?

MUNE: GUARDIAN OF THE MOON takes place in a fantasy world where creatures are either of the day or of the night, and both the sun and the moon have a specific guardian. During the special ceremony in which the newest guardians are to be named, arrogant, muscular Sohone (voiced by Rob Lowe) is selected as the new Guardian of the Sun -- as predicted. But somehow Mune (Joshua J. Ballard), a young faun watching the proceedings from the sidelines, is chosen to be the Guardian of the Moon, instead of the front-runner who was expected to take up the mantle. When the untrained Mune makes a mistake with the moon, causing night to start much earlier than it should, Sohone is convinced to leave his post to fix the problem ... not realizing he's leaving the sun unprotected. After villain Necross (Davey Grant), a fallen former guardian who's now evil, takes the opportunity to steal the sun, Mune and Sohone must work together, with a little help from Glim (Nicole Provost) -- a waxy girl creature of the "dawn and dusk" -- to head into the underworld and save their universe.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (22):
Kids say (6):

This hero's-journey tale takes place in a wondrously original fantasy world that's best suited for older kids who can follow the complex plot. First-time director Alexandre Heboyan is a veteran animator who's worked on such films as Kung Fu Panda and Monsters vs. Aliens, and -- with his directing partner, Benoit Philippon -- has mixed animation styles to create an interesting landscape of day and night creatures. Some of the story's darker, more detailed parts may lose the littlest viewers, but the overall adventure is compelling enough for audiences to root for Mune, Sohone, and Glim to restore the harmony between night and day.

On the other hand, the light romance between Mune and Glim feels a bit unnecessary, particularly when it would have been just as effective to have Glim prove she doesn't need either of the guardians to make a difference. But they're so sweet with each other that it's ultimately charming. What isn't as charming are Sohone's many references to impressing girls, being good with the ladies, etc. Those comments start out feeling harmless but quickly devolve into eye-rolling interruptions to the heart of the story. Still, the overall plot of Mune: Guardian of the Moon captures the imagination and is unique enough to intrigue and entertain. It helps, too, that there are obvious positive messages about teamwork, courage, and friendship.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the frightening parts of Mune: Guardian of the Moon. What makes Necross scary? Is the violence necessary to the story? How much scary stuff can young kids handle?

  • How do the characters demonstrate teamwork and courage? Why are those important character strengths?

  • There are several jokes about "the ladies," flirting, and girls needing to be protected. Do you think these comments are necessary? How does that tie in to gender stereotypes? How does Glim prove she's necessary to Mune and Sohone's mission?

  • Discuss the idea of balance/harmony and how it's central to the story. Do you think night is needed for there to be day, or the moon for there to be the sun?

Movie Details

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