Parents' Guide to Golden Kamuy

TV Crunchyroll Anime 2018
Golden Kamuy TV show poster: Sugimoto’s group and various other characters hunting for the stash of gold are seen standing around a yellow background,

Common Sense Media Review

By Jeremy Looney , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 14+

Lots of bloody action in historical adventure anime.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 14+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 10+

Based on 1 kid review

What's the Story?

GOLDEN KAMUY follows the story of Saichi Sugimoto (voiced by Ian Sinclair), a gruff former soldier who fought in the Russo-Japanese war. Sugimoto desperately participates in a gold rush to make a fortune so that he can keep a promise he made to his late friend who died in the war. Sugimoto promises to take his friend's widow to America in order to get her treatment for her failing eyesight. Through a chance meeting, Sugimoto learns of a prisoner who stole a fortune in gold. Sugimoto quickly teams up with a group of companions in search of this gold so that he can fulfill his promise to his late best friend.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say ( 1 ):

This adventure anime series mixes solid amounts of action, comedy, and history in a satisfying manner. Golden Kamuy has an interesting story and unique historical setting that draws viewers in. Set in the aftermath of the Russo-Japanese War, the show follows a large cast of characters who are after a hidden stash of stolen gold. The main character Sugimoto and his companions are also after the gold, although they have more honorable motivations than simply getting rich. There'is a lot of violence and action, but the series also has a lot of lighthearted and comedic moments that keep it fun.

The series also explores indigenous cultures like the Ainu people. It dedicates a significant amount of time describing Ainu culture through the eyes of Asirpa, a young Ainu girl. Some episodes cover their history, their unique cuisine and cooking techniques. Other scenes explore how important independence and hunting are to the people, how they hunt, and how they make traps. And how they view their relationships with nature and wildlife. Other interesting aspects include how the Ainu people are perceived and treated by the larger nations of Japan and Russia who surround them. The history and cultural exploration definitely balance out all the bloody action throughout the show.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how independence and self-reliance are themes in this series. Families can talk about what it means to be independent. How do you practice self-reliance in your own life?

  • This series takes place following the Russo-Japanese War. Why do you think the creator chose to use this setting as the backdrop for the series? How accurate is the series representation of the events that took place?

TV Details

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Golden Kamuy TV show poster: Sugimoto’s group and various other characters hunting for the stash of gold are seen standing around a yellow background,

What to Watch Next

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