Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Lovable movie about loving movies has some mature content.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Pompo the Cinephile
What's the Story?
In POMPO THE CINEPHILE, Gene Fini (voiced by Hiroya Shimizu) is a production assistant for a movie studio that specializes in "B" movies like Marine, a film featuring bikini-clad beauty Mystia (Ai Kakuma), fighting giant sea monsters. Gene's boss, Joelle D. Pomponette -- or "Pompo" for short (Konomi Kohara) -- is the studio head, who inherited the job from her legendary grandfather. She has a brilliant eye for talent, and her films are successful. After auditioning a new actor, Nathalie Woodward (Rinka Otani), Pompo is inspired to write a screenplay for a more artistic movie, to be called Meister, and she taps Gene to direct it. Working with legendary actor Martin Braddock (Akio Otsuka), Gene successfully makes his way through the shoot using his instincts. But then it comes time to edit, and Pompo demands a 90-minute film! Worse, Gene realizes he needs one more scene...
Is It Any Good?
A beautiful, kinetic Valentine to movies and the love of movies, this film isn't very deep (or universal), but it celebrates artistic inspiration, collaboration, and craft with passion and joy. Based on a manga series that began in 2017, Pompo the Cinephile is a little overwhelming at first. Gene looks as if he's locked in fear, with permanent dark circles under eyes eyes. And it's difficult to describe exactly how Pompo fits into this otherwise fairly realistic story: Her appearance and voice suggest that she's a young girl, and yet she's a natural leader and decision-maker, with apparently no need to go to school or be a kid.
Then there's Mystia, who initially seems to be around for her voluptuous figure, flowing blonde hair, and little else. But hang in there -- the movie's characters tend to find their groove and become almost like a sweet little family. And Pompo the Cinephile doesn't forget to be a movie, either. Its montages and juxtapositions and visual flourishes are always ebullient and grand, especially the sequences in which Gene edits, slicing through giant strips of film. This is a movie that loves everything about movies, from cheesy monsters to Oscar-winning performances, from trailers to features, all the way up to Cinema Paradiso itself. If you haven't already been bitten by the movie-loving bug, it might not mean much, but if you have, Pompo will have you smiling for 90 solid minutes.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Pompo the Cinephile's depiction of sexuality. Is Mystia sexualized? If so, what message does that send? Does her character evolve or change?
Do you consider Pompo a role model? Why, or why not?
How are teamwork and cooperation demonstrated?
Gene needed to discover his "aria" to make the movie personal and complete. What did he discover? Have you ever discovered your "aria" while creating something?
What distinguishes anime and manga from other forms of storytelling?
Movie Details
- In theaters : April 29, 2022
- On DVD or streaming : June 28, 2022
- Cast : Hiroya Shimizu , Konomi Kohara , Rinka Otani
- Director : Takayuki Hirao
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Asian Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : GKIDS
- Genre : Anime
- Topics : Arts , Family Stories ( Grandparents ) , Friendship , Travel
- Run time : 94 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 6, 2025
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