Life, Animated (2016) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
At three years old, a chatty, energetic little boy named Owen Suskind ceased to speak, disappearing into autism with apparently no way out. Almost four years passed and the only stimuli that engaged Owen were Disney films. Then one day, his father donned a puppet—Iago, the wisecracking parrot from Aladdin—and asked “what’s it like to be you?” And poof! Owen replied, with dialogue from the movie. Life, Animated tells the remarkable story of how Owen found in Disney animation a pathway to language and a framework for making sense of… Sign up for the full guide
Rated PG • 2016 • 1h 31m
Life, Animated is an inspirational documentary about Owen Suskind, a young man who used Disney films to navigate autism and reconnect with the world. The PG rating is for mature thematic elements and some language. Parents should be aware of emotional scenes discussing Owen's childhood regression, loneliness, and bullying experiences. The film also includes a brief suggestive reference and mild profanity (one use of "shit"). While… Sign up for the full guide
Cast
Is Life, Animated appropriate for kids?
Life, Animated is an inspirational documentary about Owen Suskind, a young man who used Disney films to navigate autism and reconnect with the world. The PG rating is for mature thematic elements and some language. Parents should be aware of emotional scenes discussing Owen's… Read more — free account
Content severity in Life, Animated
What happens in Life, Animated, moment by moment
- 0:05 🔥 Mature Themes 5/10
- 0:12 🔥 Mature Themes 3/10
- 0:20 ⚔ Violence & Gore 3/10
Sex and nudity in Life, Animated
A brief, innocent discussion of romance and kissing is present. Owen talks about his girlfriend and wanting to kiss her, and his family offers him advice. The MPAA rating notes a "suggestive reference," which is likely tied to this conversation, but it remains very mild and non-graphic.
Violence and gore in Life, Animated
This documentary contains no real-world violence. However, it frequently shows clips from classic Disney animated films which contain scenes of cartoon peril and conflict. For example, viewers see moments like the battle between Jafar and Aladdin or a stampede from The Lion King. These scenes are brief and used for context, but involve animated fighting and menacing villains.
Language in Life, Animated
There are a couple instances of mild profanity. The phrase "what the hell" is used once. In a moment of frustration, one character exclaims a single use of "shit".
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in Life, Animated
None. There is no depiction or discussion of alcohol, tobacco, or illicit drug use.
Mature themes in Life, Animated
The film's primary focus is on mature themes, handled with care. It documents the emotional journey of a family dealing with a child's autism, including the parents' initial fear and despair. It also directly addresses Owen's feelings of loneliness, his experience being bullied, and the complexities of his first romantic relationship and subsequent heartbreak. The overarching themes are of perseverance and family support.
Scary moments in Life, Animated
No standout scary moments have been catalogued for Life, Animated yet. Because this title is recommended for younger kids, sign up to get community-flagged jump scares, tense scenes, and startling imagery as parents submit them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Life, Animated appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests Life, Animated is best for ages 10+. It's rated PG. Life, Animated is an inspirational documentary about Owen Suskind, a young man who used Disney films to navigate autism and reconnect with the world. The PG rating is for mature thematic elements and some language…
What age rating does Life, Animated have?
Life, Animated is officially rated PG. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 10+.
What is Life, Animated about?
Life, Animated is an inspirational documentary about Owen Suskind, a young man who used Disney films to navigate autism and reconnect with the world. The PG rating is for mature thematic elements and some language. Parents should be aware of emotional scenes discussing Owen's childhood regression, loneliness, and…
Is there sex or nudity in Life, Animated?
A brief, innocent discussion of romance and kissing is present. Owen talks about his girlfriend and wanting to kiss her, and his family offers him advice. The MPAA rating notes a "suggestive reference," which is likely tied to this conversation, but it…
How violent is Life, Animated?
This documentary contains no real-world violence. However, it frequently shows clips from classic Disney animated films which contain scenes of cartoon peril and conflict. For example, viewers see moments like the battle between Jafar and Aladdin or a…
Is the language in Life, Animated appropriate for kids?
There are a couple instances of mild profanity. The phrase "what the hell" is used once. In a moment of frustration, one character exclaims a single use of "shit".
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in Life, Animated?
None. There is no depiction or discussion of alcohol, tobacco, or illicit drug use.
What mature themes appear in Life, Animated?
The film's primary focus is on mature themes, handled with care. It documents the emotional journey of a family dealing with a child's autism, including the parents' initial fear and despair. It also directly addresses Owen's feelings of loneliness, his…
How long is Life, Animated?
Life, Animated runs 91 minutes, directed by Roger Ross Williams, released in 2016.
Where can I read the full Life, Animated parent guide?
Create a free Bontent account to unlock the full scene-by-scene notes, filter by your kids' ages, and save titles to your personal watchlist.
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