Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Touching coming-of-age adventure has fights, language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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The Boy and the Beast
What's the Story?
THE BOY AND THE BEAST is an animated Japanese fantasy about an orphaned 9-year-old boy, Ren (voiced by Aoi Miyazaki in the original movie and Luci Christian in the English dub), who would rather take to the streets of Tokyo than move in with distant relatives. Grieving, he wanders the streets of the city's busy Shibuya district. While walking in dark alleys, he ends up stumbling into an alternate universe called Jutengai, which is filled with speaking "beasts." A huge bear-like warrior called Kumatetsu (Koji Yakusho/John Swasey) intrigues Ren, who asks to learn Kumatetsu's fighting skills. The warrior takes Ren on as an apprentice, renaming him Kyuta (translates as "nine," the boy's age at the time), but the two are so strong-willed that they spend most of their time bickering—until they finally find their rhythm and for years spar, eat, and live together. But when Kyuta is 17 (now voiced by Shota Sometani/Eric Vale), he begins to feel a pull back to the human world. He starts traveling there more often and eventually meets a sweet girl, Kaede (Suzu Hirose/Bryn Apprill), who teaches him to read. Back in Jutengai, Kumatetsu must prepare for an important battle to decide whether he or his rival will be the next lord of the kingdom. Kyuta, caught between two worlds, must ultimately decide whether he's a human or a beast.
Is It Any Good?
Fabulously voice-acted and featuring lovably flawed characters, this is a touching animated story about an orphaned boy who's raised by a warrior beast. Though The Boy and the Beast takes a while to establish Kyuta and Kumatetsu's uniquely comical, bickering relationship, their mentor-mentee rapport eventually grows into something quite sweet and powerful. Director Mamoru Hosoda has created a coming-of-age tale that's epic, gorgeously animated, and emotional. While too mature for most single-digit-aged viewers, older tweens and teens (especially those familiar with subtitled movies) will connect with Kyuta and enjoy how he not only learns from Kumatetsu but teaches him, too.
One of the best sequences in the movie is when Kyuta and Kumatetsu, along with a monk-like pig and a wisecracking monkey, visit the lords of various realms to discover the true meaning of strength, only to find that each has his own definition of the word. Kumatetsu is a bulky behemoth who thinks he doesn't need any advice, but of course he—also an orphan who taught himself everything—does, just as Kyuta needs a family. Once a teenager, Kyuta's forays back into the human world are heart-tugging as he develops a friendship (with a hint of romance) with Kaede. Longing to belong somewhere but feeling stuck between both worlds, Ren/Kyuta is the kind of protagonist audiences will love.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether the language and violence are necessary to the story of The Boy and the Beast. Do you perceive the violence differently when it takes place in the human world rather than the beast world? Why? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
Do you think any of the characters are role models? How does Kyuta demonstrate the value of teamwork and perseverance? Why are those important character strengths?
Some people think any animated film is OK even for very young children, but is that the case here? Why are the themes in this story more appropriate for older tweens and teens?
Discuss the appeal of Japanese animated films. How are they different from—and similar to—Hollywood-made animated movies? Which do you prefer, and why?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 4, 2016
- On DVD or streaming : June 7, 2016
- Cast : Koji Yakusho , John Swasey , Shôta Sometani , Eric Vale
- Director : Mamoru Hosoda
- Inclusion Information : Asian Movie Director(s) , Japanese Movie Director(s) , Asian Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Funimation
- Genre : Anime
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic )
- Character Strengths : Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time : 119 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some violence and language
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : January 21, 2026
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