Studio Ghibli Movie Guide Written by the Ent. This post contains affiliate links, you can find out more on our policies page or in the disclaimer at the bottom of the blog.
Studio Ghibli movies are known for their gorgeous hand-drawn animation, gentle pacing, and stories that respect kids’ intelligence. But not every Ghibli film is meant for every age! We put together this quick-reference guide with a short summary of every Studio Ghibli movie, plus the details you need to know before movie night!
- Studio Ghibli Moves Best for Younger Kids
- Ponyo Short Summary
- My Neighbor Totoro Short Summary
- Kiki’s Delivery Service Short Summary
- My Neighbors the Yamadas Short Summary
- Porco Rosso Short Summary
- The Secret World of Arrietty Short Summary
- Pom Poko Short Summary
- Castle in the Sky Short Summary
- The Cat Returns Short Summary
- Howl’s Moving Castle Short Summary
- Spirited Away Short Summary
- Studio Ghibli Moves Best for Older Kids
- Studio Ghibli Moves Best for Drama/Romance Fans
Studio Ghibli Moves Best for Younger Kids
Ponyo Short Summary
Length: 1 hr. 41 min.
Genre: Family, Fantasy
Date Released: July 19, 2008
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Rating: G
Suggested Age Range: 4 and up
A magical goldfish named Ponyo befriends a five-year-old boy and longs to become human, setting off a chain of events that puts the balance of the ocean at risk. Colorful, gentle, and a bit like a modern Little Mermaid, it’s one of the most accessible Ghibli films for very young children.
Why the Age Rating?
Scary Scenes/Imagery: Mild: a tsunami and storm, Ponyo’s transformation into a fish/girl may be weird for very young viewers
Sensitive Content/Mature Themes: Natural disaster, fear of separation from parents
No Violence, Sensual Content, Language, or Drugs/Alcohol References
Conclusion: Overall, Ponyo is a re-telling of The Little Mermaid and plays very well for young viewers. It is perhaps one of the most appropriate Ghibli movies
My Neighbor Totoro Short Summary
Length: 1 hr. 26 min.
Genre: Family, Fantasy
Date Released: April 16, 1988
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Rating: G
Suggested Age Range: 3 and up
Two young sisters move to the countryside with their father to be closer to their hospitalized mother, and soon discover a gentle forest spirit named Totoro living in the woods nearby. Sweet, whimsical, and nearly free of conflict, it’s one of the most family-friendly entries in the Ghibli catalog and a wonderful first Ghibli movie for little ones.
Why the Age Rating?
Scary Scenes/Imagery: There are a few creatures that may cause littles some fear, Totoro does roar, but ultimately is not a scary character, there is also a creepy house, which again ultimately is not scary
Sensual Content: A family bath scene with non-sexual nudity
Sensitive Content/Mature Themes: Mei’s mother is hospitalized and the Mei fears she may die (which ultimately does not happen)
No Violence, Language, or Drugs/Alcohol References
Conclusion: The main item of concern in this film would be the emotional moments with Mei, from fear of Totoro initially to the turmoil of the possibility of losing her mother. If your family can handle this, they are in for a classic Ghibli tale!
Kiki’s Delivery Service Short Summary
Length: 1 hr. 43 min.
Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Date Released: July 29, 1989
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Rating: G
Suggested Age Range: 5 and up
A young witch-in-training named Kiki moves to a new town with her talking cat, Jiji, and starts her own flying delivery service to gain independence and confidence. It’s a gentle coming-of-age story about growing up, finding your purpose, and pushing through creative burnout.
Why the Age Rating?
Scary Scenes/Imagery: There is a zeppelin accident that may be a bit frightening for younger viewers
Bad Language/Mean Words: A few snobby or dismissive comments aimed at Kiki.
Sensitive Content/Mature Themes: Loneliness, burnout, and Kiki losing her confidence and powers.
No Violence, Sensual Content, or Drugs/Alcohol References
Conclusion: Kiki’s Delivery Service does dive heavily into the fantasy world, so it is important that your kid can distinguish reality vs fantasy. There are also a few scenes that may frighten very young viewers, but ultimately should be enjoyable by most.
My Neighbors the Yamadas Short Summary
Length: 1 hr. 44 min.
Genre: Comedy
Date Released: July 17, 1999
Director: Isao Takahata
Rating: PG
Suggested Age Range: 6 and up
Told in a series of short comedic vignettes with a loose, watercolor-style art design, this film follows the everyday ups and downs of an ordinary Japanese family. It’s light, funny, and episodic rather than plot-driven, making it easy to watch in short bursts.
Why the Age Rating?
Violence: Mild slapstick
Bad Language/Mean Words: Light family bickering
Sensitive Content/Mature Themes: Everyday family strain, a brief lost-child scare
Drugs/Alcohol References: Mild drinking and smoking
No Scary Imagery or Sensual Content
Conclusion: This movie is probably one of the most unique Studio Ghibli movies as it is more of a collection of animated comic strips than one full length narrative film. I think the Yamada family does have their humorous moments, but ultimately may not grip younger viewers attention for the full length of this film.
Porco Rosso Short Summary
Length: 1 hr. 34 min.
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Date Released: July 18, 1992
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Rating: PG
Suggested Age Range: 8 and up
A cursed WWI flying ace who has been turned into a pig makes his living as a bounty hunter chasing air pirates over the Adriatic Sea. Equal parts action-adventure and old-movie romance, it’s a stylish tribute to early aviation with plenty of humor mixed in.
Why the Age Rating?
Violence: Cartoonish aerial dogfights, gunfire, and the movie ends in climactic fist fight
Scary Scenes/Imagery: Mild; mostly action
Bad Language/Mean Words: Some name-calling and insults
Sensual Content: Flirtation and romantic tension between Porco and Gina
Sensitive Content/Mature Themes: WWI trauma and lost friends; the main character is cursed to look like a pig
Drugs/Alcohol References: Frequent smoking and drinking, including bar scenes. One of the heavier ones in this category
Conclusion: This movie is a Casablanca-style war drama with lots of comedic and light-hearted elements. The character are generally more gruff than the other movies in this category, but overall the lightness of the animation and story-telling still places it in the generally appropriate for younger viewers category
The Secret World of Arrietty Short Summary
Length: 1 hr. 34 min.
Genre: Family, Fantasy
Date Released: July 17, 2010
Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Rating: G
Suggested Age Range: 6 and up
Based on The Borrowers, this film follows a tiny fourteen-year-old girl named Arrietty who lives secretly beneath the floorboards of a house with her family, surviving by ‘borrowing’ small items from the humans above. Her friendship with a sickly human boy is sweet and gentle, with very little in the way of scary content.
Why the Age Rating?
Violence: A crow attack and a housekeeper capturing the tiny family’s belongings
Scary Scenes/Imagery: Mild: the housekeeper hunting the small beings, a cat
Bad Language/Mean Words: Mild
Sensitive Content/Mature Themes: A boy’s serious heart condition and his fear of dying; displacement
No Sensual Content or Drugs/Alcohol References
Conclusion: This take on The Borrowers is pretty Innocuous overall and could be enjoyed by most families.
Pom Poko Short Summary
Length: 1 hr. 59 min.
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy
Date Released: July 16, 1994
Director: Isao Takahata
Rating: PG-13
Suggested Age Range: 10 and up
A community of shape-shifting raccoon dogs (tanuki) bands together to use their magical transformation powers to stop suburban development from destroying their forest home. It’s a fun and inventive environmental fable, though it also touches on some frank and folkloric adult humor that parents may want to know about ahead of time.
Why the Age Rating?
Violence: Tanuki fight humans; some tanuki are killed, including by cars
Scary Scenes/Imagery: A ghost-parade sequence and some grim moments
Bad Language/Mean Words: Some crude humor and name-calling
Sensual Content: The tanuki’s oversized scrotums are a recurring visual gag, and there is frank talk about mating. This does have direct influence from folklore, but still something that might come up for parents
Sensitive Content/Mature Themes: Habitat destruction, death, hopelessness. There are some moments where the characters do genuinely despair their fate, but ultimately things do work out
Drugs/Alcohol References: Some drinking and feasting
Conclusion: This film definitely has some darker and odder moments, but many of which may not be fully grasped by younger viewers. The appropriateness of this film will definitely depend on the individual(s) watching it
Castle in the Sky Short Summary
Length: 2 hr. 4 min.
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Date Released: August 2, 1986
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Rating: PG
Suggested Age Range: 8 and up
A young boy named Pazu and a girl named Sheeta, who literally falls from the sky wearing a mysterious glowing crystal, team up to outrun sky pirates and a shady government agent, all while searching for the legendary floating island of Laputa. It’s a swashbuckling adventure full of airships, robots, and a gentle message about the dangers of using power for the wrong reasons.
Why the Age Rating?
Violence: Gunfights, military attacks, robots destroying things, characters shot at. Cartoonish to moderate
Scary Scenes/Imagery: Robot soldiers, the villain Muska’s cruelty, and a climactic scene where Muska is blinded by light
Bad Language/Mean Words: Mild insults (“idiot,” “brat”)
Sensual Content: None.
Sensitive Content/Mature Themes: Militarism, the villain’s death, ruins of a dead civilization
Drugs/Alcohol References: Pirates and miners smoke; nothing prominent
Conclusion: The strong military storyline of this film will be the main thing to consider when determining if this film is good with your family. This is Studio Ghibli’s first major film and there are definitely some enjoyable moments if your family can handle the setting.
The Cat Returns Short Summary
Length: 1 hr. 15 min.
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy
Date Released: July 20, 2002
Director: Hiroyuki Morita
Rating: G
Suggested Age Range: 5 and up
After saving a cat’s life, a high school girl finds herself whisked away to the magical Cat Kingdom, where the Cat King insists she marry his son. Breezy, funny, and one of the shortest films in the collection, it’s a light adventure great for younger viewers.
Why the Age Rating?
Scary Scenes/Imagery: Haru partly turns into a cat in order to marry another cat
Sensitive Content/Mature Themes: A forced marriage arrangement (very light)
No Violence, Language, Sensual Content, or Drugs/Alcohol References
Conclusion: Despite this section being shorter than most, the partially transformation to a cat and the concept of a forced marriage may not be appropriate for younger viewers.
Howl’s Moving Castle Short Summary
Length: 1 hr. 59 min.
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Romance
Date Released: November 20, 2004
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Rating: PG
Suggested Age Range: 8 and up
A young hatmaker is cursed by a witch and transformed into an old woman, so she seeks refuge in the walking castle of a vain, secretive wizard named Howl. Set against the backdrop of a war neither of them wants any part of, it’s a romantic, visually stunning fantasy about aging, love, and self-acceptance.
Why the Age Rating?
Violence: War bombings, wizard battles, and some peril
Scary Scenes/Imagery: The Witch of the Waste, shadowy blob men, and Howl’s demon transformation
Bad Language/Mean Words: Mild insults
Sensual Content: Howl’s flirting and a romance; a gentle kiss
Sensitive Content/Mature Themes: War, aging, curses, and the moral cost of fighting
Drugs/Alcohol References: None notable
Conclusion: This movie is mostly a romantic drama with a few comedic moments thrown in for enjoyment. If you think your family would enjoy this genre, then it should be a fun movie to put on your list.
Spirited Away Short Summary
Length: 2 hr. 5 min.
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy
Date Released: July 20, 2001
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Rating: PG
Suggested Age Range: 8 and up
After her parents are turned into pigs, a sullen ten-year-old girl named Chihiro must work in a bathhouse for spirits to save them and find her way back to the human world. Widely considered Miyazaki’s masterpiece, it’s an imaginative, sometimes eerie adventure about courage, identity, and growing up.
Why the Age Rating?
Violence: Haku is attacked by paper birds, Yubaba hits characters, and No-Face attacks staff
Scary Scenes/Imagery: Chihiro’s parents turn into pigs, No-Face eats workers and is generally creepy, especially near the end of the film
Bad Language/Mean Words: Mild; Yubaba is bullying and threatening
Sensual Content: Mostly none. The bathhouse setting has non-sexual body-washing and some suggestive background gags
Sensitive Content/Mature Themes: Pollution, greed, identity, being separated from family
Drugs/Alcohol References: None prominent
Conclusion: Spirited Away may be Studio Ghibli’s strangest offering, but if your family can handle that amount of strange, you are also in for one of the most iconic Ghibli films.
Studio Ghibli Moves Best for Older Kids
Earwig and the Witch Short Summary
Length: 1 hr. 22 min.
Genre: Family, Fantasy
Date Released: December 30, 2020
Director: Goro Miyazaki
Rating: Not Rated
Suggested Age Range: 6 and up
An orphan girl named Earwig is adopted by a witch and her sinister-looking companion and must use her wits to survive in a house full of magic and chores. Notable as Ghibli’s first fully 3D-animated feature, it’s a lighter, mischievous story about outsmarting the adults around you.
Why the Age Rating?
Violence: Mild slapstick-style peril
Scary Scenes/Imagery: There are a few intimidating and at times scary characters and some witchy spells/themes
Bad Language/Mean Words: Name-calling and harsh tones
Sensitive Content/Mature Themes: Abandonment and abusive behavior
No Sensual Content or Drugs/Alcohol References
Conclusion: This movie deals a lot with abandonment and abusive relationships. Like most Ghibli movies, everything works out in the end, but this movie sure takes an intense journey to get there.
The Wind Rises Short Summary
Length: 2 hr. 6 min.
Genre: Drama, History
Date Released: July 20, 2013
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Rating: PG-13
Suggested Age Range: 12 and up
A fictionalized account of Jiro Horikoshi, the real engineer who designed Japanese fighter planes used in World War II, this film follows his lifelong passion for flight alongside a tender, tragic romance. It’s a mature, dialogue-heavy drama best suited to older teens and adults, dealing with themes of ambition, war, and loss.
Why the Age Rating?
Violence: The 1923 earthquake’s destruction and plane crashes
Scary Scenes/Imagery: The earthquake and fires
Bad Language/Mean Words: Mild explitives
Sensual Content: A tender, committed romance; the couple shares a bed after marriage, shown discreetly
Sensitive Content/Mature Themes: Tuberculosis and a young wife’s death, WWII weapons, the ethics of building planes for war
Drugs/Alcohol References: Near-constant cigarette smoking by Jiro and others, plus some drinking. The heaviest smoking in the catalog.
Conclusion: This movie neared the drama/romance section of this list, but due to the intensity of the war setting it moved here. The drama, setting, and intensity of the ending in particular would be very difficult for younger viewers.
The Boy and the Heron Short Summary
Length: 2 hr. 4 min.
Genre: Drama, Fantasy
Date Released: July 14, 2023
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Rating: PG-13
Suggested Age Range: 10 and up
Grieving the loss of his mother during wartime Japan, a young boy follows a talking gray heron into a strange, dreamlike world tied to his family’s past. Miyazaki’s most personal and symbolic film to date, it rewards patience and repeat viewings more than younger kids may have for it.
Why the Age Rating?
Violence: The boy hurts himself by striking his own head with a rock, plus knife-wielding parakeets and scenes with a fire
Scary Scenes/Imagery: There are several moments where seemingly innocent birds reveal themselves to be other creatures/people, which can be quite creepy for younger viewes
Bad Language/Mean Words: Mild
Sensitive Content/Mature Themes: A mother’s death in a hospital fire, grief, wartime, a boy’s resentment of his stepmother
No Sensual content or Drugs/Alcohol References
Conclusion: This movie is a combination of deeply emotional moments paired with unsettling imagery. Overall, I would say if this, combined with the more violent moments aren’t deterrents, then your family should be good to go watch this film!
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya Short Summary
Length: 2 hr. 17 min.
Genre: Drama, Fantasy
Date Released: November 23, 2013
Director: Isao Takahata
Rating: PG
Suggested Age Range: 8 and up
Based on a centuries-old Japanese folktale, a tiny girl found inside a glowing bamboo stalk grows rapidly into a beautiful young woman whose bamboo-cutter father pushes her toward a life of privilege she never wanted. Painted in a gorgeous, sketch-like watercolor style, it’s a moving, melancholy story about the pressure to conform.
Why the Age Rating?
Violence: None
Scary Scenes/Imagery: A dreamlike, frightening chase sequence
Bad Language/Mean Words: Some crude comments from suitors, and a character’s cruel mockery
Sensual Content: Brief non-sexual nudity (an infant, and a stylized stripping-off of clothes in the dream sequence)
Sensitive Content/Mature Themes: Arranged-marriage pressure, one suitor’s death on a quest, and the ending’s sense of loss
Drugs/Alcohol References: Some drinking at a celebration
Conclusion: This movie, along the some lines as The Cat Returns, is namely difficult to recommend to some viewers due to the nature of pre-arranged marriages (of children) and the overall drama of the film.
Princess Mononoke Short Summary
Length: 2 hr. 14 min.
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy
Date Released: July 12, 1997
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Rating: PG-13
Suggested Age Range: 12 and up
A young prince cursed by a demon travels west in search of a cure and finds himself caught between industrious humans clearing the forest and the fierce animal gods who protect it, including a human girl raised by wolves. It’s an epic, action-heavy tale with real battle violence, making it better suited to older kids and teens.
Why the Age Rating?
Violence: The heaviest in the Ghibli catalog: decapitations, severed limbs, arrows through bodies, bloody wolf and boar fights
Scary Scenes/Imagery: The demon-possessed boar with writhing tendrils, and the Forest Spirit’s night form
Bad Language/Mean Words: Some strong insults
Sensual Content: A few suggestive moments around the women of Irontown
Sensitive Content/Mature Themes: Environmental destruction, death, hatred and prejudice (a leprosy-afflicted community appears), curses
Drugs/Alcohol References: Some drinking and celebratory sake
Conclusion: This movie, though fantastic, is one of the most brutal Ghibli movies. If you believe your family can handle the intense violence and serious nature of the film, you are in for an incredible ride.
Tales from Earthsea Short Summary
Length: 1 hr. 55 min.
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy
Date Released: July 29, 2006
Director: Goro Miyazaki
Rating: PG-13
Suggested Age Range: 12 and up
A troubled young prince who has committed a terrible act joins a wandering wizard on a journey across a world where the balance between life and death is unraveling. Darker and more violent than most Ghibli films, it leans toward an older audience.
Why the Age Rating?
Violence: Opens with a stabbing (the prince kills his father), plus sword fights
Scary Scenes/Imagery: The villain Cob, slavery and slave trading, and a severely burned child character
Bad Language/Mean Words: Some harsh talk
Sensual Content: None notable
Sensitive Content/Mature Themes: Patricide, slavery, fear of death, trauma and child abuse
Drugs/Alcohol References: A drug called hazia is shown as addictive, and there are tavern scenes. The most direct drug reference in the set.
Conclusion: Quite a bit of violence plus the overall dark vibe of the film pretty firmly places it in the “older kid” category.
Grave of the Fireflies Short Summary
Length: 1 hr. 29 min.
Genre: Drama, War
Date Released: April 16, 1988
Director: Isao Takahata
Rating: Not Rated
Suggested Age Range: 13 and up (mature themes and plot)
Set during the final months of World War II in Japan, this devastating film follows a teenage boy and his little sister as they struggle to survive after losing their home and family in the firebombing of Kobe. It’s widely regarded as one of the most emotionally powerful anti-war films ever made, so parents should preview it and be ready for a heavy, heartbreaking watch.
Why the Age Rating?
Violence: Firebombing and its aftermath, including burned bodies
Scary Scenes/Imagery: Air raids, corpses, and a mother’s bandaged, badly injured body
Bad Language/Mean Words: Mild, but the aunt is cruelly dismissive of the children
Sensual Content: Brief non-sexual child nudity (bathing, swimming)
Sensitive Content/Mature Themes: Starvation, orphaned children, death of a parent and a child. Extremely heavy
Drugs/Alcohol References: Minimal
Conclusion: This movie is easily one of the heaviest movies of the whole franchise. Since much of the film revolves around orphaned children attempting to survive, the viewership of this one should only include watchers who can handle the deep grief of the plot and ending.
Studio Ghibli Moves Best for Drama/Romance Fans
There are a few Studio Ghibli movies that may not have anything inappropriate, but many viewers just wouldn’t care for the dramatic nature of the movie. This is a list of the Studio Ghibli movies that focus more on young love, dramatic relationships, or simply storytelling without any of the fantastical elements seen within the other Ghibli films
Whisper of the Heart Short Summary
Length: 1 hr. 51 min.
Genre: Drama, Romance
Date Released: July 15, 1995
Director: Yoshifumi Kondo
Rating: G
Suggested Age Range: 8 and up
A bookish middle schooler follows a mysterious cat and a name she keeps seeing on library checkout cards, leading her to a boy who inspires her to pursue her dream of becoming a writer. It’s a heartwarming, low-stakes story about first love and discovering your creative passion.
Why the Age Rating?
Bad Language/Mean Words: Mild teasing
Sensual Content: A sweet teen romance with a cheek or forehead kiss
Sensitive Content/Mature Themes: Pressure to choose a path, self-doubt about creative talent
No Violence, Scary Imagery, or Drugs/Alcohol References
Conclusion: This is a relatively simple, sweet story with a few moments of drama. If viewers can handle the slower tone and drama themes, you should be good.
Only Yesterday Short Summary
Length: 1 hr. 58 min.
Genre: Drama, Romance
Date Released: July 20, 1991
Director: Isao Takahata
Rating: PG
Suggested Age Range: 10 and up
A 27-year-old office worker takes a countryside vacation and finds herself reflecting on vivid memories of her 10-year-old self, weighing whether her adult life is really the one she wants. It’s a quiet, reflective film that resonates more with teens and adults than with young children.
Why the Age Rating?
Violence: A father slaps his young daughter
Scary Scenes/Imagery: None
Bad Language/Mean Words: Mild; some bullying and teasing in the flashbacks
Sensual Content: A school scene about puberty and menstruation, with boys teasing the girls. Adult romance is subtle
Sensitive Content/Mature Themes: Family tension, bullying, pressure to marry, adult self-reflection
Drugs/Alcohol References: Light social drinking and smoking
Conclusion: Overall this movie deals with puberty, particularly the onset of menstruation. As long as the viewers in your family are prepared for that concept and enjoy the dramatic nature of the film, you should be good to watch it!
When Marnie Was There Short Summary
Length: 1 hr. 43 min.
Genre: Drama, Mystery
Date Released: July 19, 2014
Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Rating: PG
Suggested Age Range: 10 and up
A withdrawn foster girl sent to the countryside for her health befriends a mysterious blonde girl named Marnie who lives in an old mansion across the marsh, though something about their friendship isn’t quite as it seems. Quiet and a little haunting, it deals with themes of loneliness, belonging, and identity.
Why the Age Rating?
Scary Scenes/Imagery: Eerie, ghostlike mansion atmosphere and a tense scene in a silo during a storm
Bad Language/Mean Words: Mean remarks directed at Anna; she is also self-critical
Sensitive Content/Mature Themes: Depression and isolation, foster care and abandonment, family loss
No Violence, Sensual Content, or Drugs/Alcohol References
Conclusion: Out of all of the romances, this one has quite a few dramatic moments and big feelings. Although most of them get resolved, the feelings are there and can be felt by the viewer, at times for long periods of the movie.
Ocean Waves Short Summary
Length: 1 hr. 12 min.
Genre: Drama, Romance
Date Released: May 5, 1993
Director: Tomomi Mochizuki
Rating: Not Rated (Originally a TV Movie)
Suggested Age Range: 10 and up
Made for Japanese television, this coming-of-age story follows a high schooler recalling a bittersweet love triangle between himself, his best friend, and a new transfer student. It’s a quieter, more grounded slice-of-life story than most Ghibli films, with no fantasy elements at all.
Why the Age Rating?
Violence: Minimal
Scary Scenes/Imagery: None
Bad Language/Mean Words: Mild teenage meanness and arguing
Sensual Content: Teen romance and a love triangle, nothing explicit
Sensitive Content/Mature Themes: Parental divorce, adolescent heartbreak
Drugs/Alcohol References: Teen and adult drinking
Conclusion: This movie deals with older teens who are trying to make their way in the world. There is a fair amount of bad decisions and drama all around. Ultimately, if none of that is an issue, neither is the movie overall.
From Up on Poppy Hill Short Summary
Length: 1 hr. 31 min.
Genre: Drama, Romance
Date Released: July 16, 2011
Director: Goro Miyazaki
Rating: PG
Suggested Age Range: 8 and up
Set in 1960s Yokohama, a high school girl and boy work together to save their school’s ramshackle clubhouse from demolition, while navigating a budding romance and family secrets from the past. It’s a nostalgic, low-key drama with more grounded, realistic stakes than most Ghibli films.
Why the Age Rating?
Violence: None
Scary Scenes/Imagery: None
Bad Language/Mean Words: Mild
Sensual Content: Teen romance and a plot twist where the couple fears they may be siblings (it is resolved; they are not)
Sensitive Content/Mature Themes: Loss of fathers in the Korean War, family secrets
Drugs/Alcohol References: Some smoking, mostly by adults
Conclusion: The is a teen romance with a few dramatic moments, but nothing too shocking or intense. Ultimately, this film can be enjoyed by most fans of the genre.
Thanks so much for reading our Studio Ghibli Movie Guide for Families. Let us know your thoughts and your favorite Ghibli movies!
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