Parents' Guide to

Knights of Sidonia

By Joyce Slaton, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Thoughtful anime series has subtitles, quirky sex.

TV Netflix Action 2013
Knights of Sidonia Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Vosij
Vosij Adult
October 1, 2015
age 18+

Don't trust age ratings....

I love this show, it has some excellent visuals, intelligent concepts and sci-fi, and a compelling world. However, I was very displeased with *how* I discovered it. Rated for age 9+ in the Netherlands, I though it would be a safe pick for my ten year old... who has sat though and loved such titles as Jaws and Arachnophobia... only to be shocked at the rather graphic nature of the violence, and its brutally realistic depiction. I watched as my boy was pushed to the very limits of his tolerance during a scene in which thousands of people fall to their deaths, colliding with the "ground" in a hail of thuds' to become smears of blood, and the dark aftermath of thousands of injured, shocked, and grieving. As an adult, I found the scene to be devastatingly effective and beautiful in terms of narrative and impact... But I really wish I had screened the first season (as I normally do) before letting my son jump into it. I absolutely recommend this for the 14-16 plus age range, but no younger.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
Too much sex
Endasil
Endasil Adult
April 6, 2015
age 9+

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

On the massive ship Sidonia, created from the remains of an Earth destroyed 10 centuries ago, the KNIGHTS OF SIDONIA continue to fight for the survival of humankind. Giant monsters known as "Gauna" were responsible for the obliteration of the solar system, sending the Sidonia and other ships hurtling into space. With no other home to cling to, humankind then made something of a new start on Sidonia, pioneering new skills such as cloning, human photosynthesis, and asexual reproduction. As the story begins, young "underdweller" Nagate Tanikaze (Ryota Ohsaka), who has been living in the subterranean levels of Sidonia with only his grandfather, has made contact with the rest of the Sidonian population. All the time he's been underground, he's been using an outdated training module to sharpen his space-fighting skills. Now he's swiftly selected to be one of the elite Guardian pilots who defend Sidonia from the ever-attacking Gauna.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (4 ):

For the uninitiated, Japanese anime can be a little hard to get into. Every character looks alike, females coo and giggle, male characters huff and grimace, and there's a tendency for the animation to freeze on a character's giant-eyed face as his or her hair swirls around the head, which is often meant to convey an emotion that may be a mystery to new viewers. In addition, since Knights of Sidonia is an example of "mecha" anime, which heavily favors visuals and sounds of industrial machinery, it may turn off those who aren't enthralled by huge spaceships squirting firepower. Knights of Sidonia, though, is better plotted than most anime, with interesting quirks such as a main character who's neither male nor female -- its body will transform into one gender or the other once it finds true love.

Alas, Netflix's decision to subtitle instead of dub for American viewers likely will shrink its audience in the States. Even adult Americans grumble about subtitles; it's too much to expect a child under age 12 to be able to read these quick-moving subtitles while simultaneously decoding dialogue loaded with subtext. This is an interesting whole-family watch -- but only for families with older kids.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the intended audience for Knights of Sidonia. Is it young people? Old people? Men or women, or both? People with particular types of interests or enthusiasms? How can you tell?

  • Compare Knights of Sidonia with an American animation about space battles such as Titan A.E. or The Clone Wars. How are they similar? How are they different?

  • Are you familiar with Japanese anime conceits, such as all the characters looking alike? Do you think being familiar with Japanese animation style helps viewers appreciate Knights of Sidonia?

TV Details

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