Parents' Guide to

Princess Arete

By Brian Costello, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Slow-paced anime has some peril, profanity.

Movie PG 2001 104 minutes
Princess Arete Poster Image

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

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Is It Any Good?

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Kids say (1):

While not without merit, PRINCESS ARETE is slow-paced and feels about 20 minutes longer than it needs to be to tell the story. Because of this, its themes of empathy and looking beyond outward appearances may get lost for younger kids. Children who aren't anime fans already may feel bored.

Overall, it's the titular character who manages to keep this movie interesting and somewhat engaging. Her desire to see and experience the world, to live and work as those she observes while locked away in her tower, makes her a princess much different from the archetypal princesses seen in so many kids' movies. For kids beginning to come of age and starting to see and imagine a larger world outside their usual surroundings, these qualities alone make Arete a relatable character, one the viewer can't help but root for as she struggles against characters less interesting than she.

Movie Details

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