Parents' Guide to Toilet-bound Hanako-kun

TV Hulu , Crunchyroll Anime 2020
Toilet-bound Hanako-kun TV poster: A smirking Hanako and frightened Kuo cling to a nervous Nene. They're surrounded by flowers and various objects.

Common Sense Media Review

By Danae Stahlnecker , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 12+

Teens face mild danger in creepy cute comedy with innuendo.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 12+?

Any Positive Content?

  • Toilet-bound Hanako-kun: Hanako floats over Nene's shoulder. She looks nervous. They pass by Kuo, walking away, in the hallway.
  • Toilet-bound Hanako-kun: Hanako, intimidating, holds Nene close as she makes a neutral face. He holds a chef's knife up to a scared Kuo's neck.
  • Toilet-bound Hanako-kun: Aoi grasps Nene's hands as they stand facing each other in front of a classroom window. Golden sunlight streams in.
  • Toilet-bound Hanako-kun: Nene and Kuo stare down at a table of disastrous cooking attempts. Nene is ashamed. Kuo is shocked.

Parent and Kid Reviews

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What's the Story?

In TOILET-BOUND HANAKO-KUN, Nene (voiced by Tia Ballard) just wants her crush to like her back. She seeks the help of Hanako-kun (voiced by Justin Briner), the spirit haunting the school's cursed bathroom. When her wish goes wrong, she and Hanako become spiritually bound! Hanko uses this chance to get Nene to help him with his work—solving the mysteries of the other school curses.

Is It Any Good?

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

This teen horror comedy is just dark enough to satisfy kids seeking thrills without being nightmare fuel. Toilet-bound Hanako-kun will appeal to viewers who like creepy but cute stories. It's fun and interesting enough, with a few good messages about self-confidence, friendship, and accepting others even with their flaws. There aren't a lot of anime just like it, so it stands out. But while it touches on some important topics, it doesn't dig very deep with them.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • How do the spirit characters represent Japanese folklore? What common themes do you see in their stories? What does that teach about the culture?

  • Characters get in fights but usually solve problems in non-violent ways. What do you learn by comparing how and when characters use violence versus not?

  • How do characters talk about their bodies and sexual innuendo? How does this influence how you see the characters? Does it influence how you view yourself?

TV Details

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Toilet-bound Hanako-kun TV poster: A smirking Hanako and frightened Kuo cling to a nervous Nene. They're surrounded by flowers and various objects.

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