Parents' Guide to Rudolf the Black Cat

Movie NR 2016 89 minutes
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Common Sense Media Review

Jennifer Green By Jennifer Green , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 7+

Tender animated cat friendship tale has sad, scary parts.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 7+?

Any Positive Content?

  • Rudolf the Black Cat Movie: Scene #2
  • Rudolf the Black Cat Movie: Scene #3
  • Rudolf the Black Cat Movie: Scene #1

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What's the Story?

RUDOLF THE BLACK CAT has always been curious about what lies beyond his beloved owner's front gate. When he finally works up the courage to venture out, despite the warnings of a wiser and older neighbor cat, Rudolf (voiced in the Japanese original by Mao Inoue) accidentally boards a truck bound for faraway capital city Tokyo. Once in Tokyo, he befriends a large stray cat (Ryohei Suzuki), whom he calls "Gottalot" because he's got a lot of names -- every human they encounter calls him by a different name. Rudolf also meets scrappy neighborhood gossip Buchi (Norito Yashima) and local bully "Devil" the dog (Arata Furuta). Gottalot takes Rudolf under his care, protecting him from city dangers, teaching him how to find the best food as well as how to read and write, mentoring him as he grows from kitten to cat, and eventually helping him hatch a plan to travel back to his hometown of Gifu to reunite with his owner, Rie (Rio Sasaki). The reunion doesn't go as planned, and Rudolf decides to travel back to Tokyo and live with his adopted family of pets.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

This is a charming film with big-hearted animal characters, gorgeous Japanese scenery, and a sweet story about true friendship. The lead characters are cats, each a different type, and there's plenty of feline fun in their adventures, from snatching fresh fish to outsmarting the dogs. Humans are portrayed as largely loving toward the animals, putting food out for strays and caring deeply for pets.

But it's the relationship between the lost kitten Rudolf and gruff street cat Gottalot that makes Rudolf the Black Cat such a tender tale. Gottalot starts as annoyed caretaker, morphs into mentor and teacher, and then transforms into dear friend, a lasting role that ultimately makes him as vulnerable as Rudolf. The computer animation and soundtrack perfectly complement the touching storyline, bringing both the setting and the characters to life. You can't help but root for these pets as if they were people.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the bonds between pets and their human owners seen in Rudolf the Black Cat. Have you ever had a pet, and what did he or she mean to you?

  • Does the story of a lost pet remind you of other movies you've seen or books you've read? How do the tales compare?

  • Which parts of the movie were scary and why? How much scary stuff can young kids handle?

  • Rudolf is taught to read and write by another cat. Besides the novelty of literate cats, there's a message here about the importance of being educated. What's your opinion about that? How can a good education help you in life?

Movie Details

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