Spirited Away (2001) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
A young girl, Chihiro, becomes trapped in a strange new world of spirits. When her parents undergo a mysterious transformation, she must call upon the courage she never knew she had to free her family.
Rated PG • 2001 • 2h 5m
Spirited Away earned its PG rating for some scary moments and mature themes that may be too intense for very young children. The story follows a girl whose parents are turned into pigs, trapping her in a world of spirits where she must work to survive. Parents should be aware of several frightening sequences, including a monstrous creature (No-Face) that swallows other characters and goes on a rampage, and a dragon that is shown… Sign up for the full guide
Cast
Is Spirited Away appropriate for kids?
Spirited Away earned its PG rating for some scary moments and mature themes that may be too intense for very young children. The story follows a girl whose parents are turned into pigs, trapping her in a world of spirits where she must work to survive. Parents should be aware of… Read more — free account
Content severity in Spirited Away
What happens in Spirited Away, moment by moment
- 0:12 🔥 Mature Themes 6/10
- 0:16 🔥 Mature Themes 4/10
- 0:25 🔥 Mature Themes 5/10
Sex and nudity in Spirited Away
Practically non-existent. A large radish spirit is briefly seen from behind, showing cartoonish, non-detailed buttocks. There is no sexual context, innuendo, or romantic content.
Violence and gore in Spirited Away
Moderate, but mostly stylized and without gore. A dragon character is attacked and is later seen bleeding with red splatters on the walls. The monstrous No-Face swallows three characters whole (they are later regurgitated unharmed). A 'stink spirit' gushes dark muck when an object is removed from its body. A character crushes a black slug under her foot. Most of the violence is fantastical, but some scenes of peril and injury could be intense for younger viewers.
Language in Spirited Away
None. There is no profanity in the film.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in Spirited Away
Mild and incidental. In the background of bathhouse scenes, various spirit characters are shown drinking from small cups (implied to be sake) and smoking pipes or cigarettes in a manner appropriate to the setting. This is never the focus of a scene.
Mature themes in Spirited Away
The film's most significant content concerns are thematic. The central premise—a young girl's parents are magically transformed into pigs, and she is left utterly alone in a frightening world—is a source of sustained peril and emotional distress. Themes of identity loss (having one's name stolen), enslavement (a magical work contract), greed, and loneliness are prominent. Several sequences are scary and intense, including a monstrous character's rampage and a key character's near-death injury.
Scary moments in Spirited Away
No standout scary moments have been catalogued for Spirited Away 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 Spirited Away appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests Spirited Away is best for ages 10+. It's rated PG. Spirited Away earned its PG rating for some scary moments and mature themes that may be too intense for very young children. The story follows a girl whose parents are turned into pigs, trapping her in a world of…
What age rating does Spirited Away have?
Spirited Away is officially rated PG. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 10+.
What is Spirited Away about?
Spirited Away earned its PG rating for some scary moments and mature themes that may be too intense for very young children. The story follows a girl whose parents are turned into pigs, trapping her in a world of spirits where she must work to survive. Parents should be aware of several frightening sequences…
Is there sex or nudity in Spirited Away?
Practically non-existent. A large radish spirit is briefly seen from behind, showing cartoonish, non-detailed buttocks. There is no sexual context, innuendo, or romantic content.
How violent is Spirited Away?
Moderate, but mostly stylized and without gore. A dragon character is attacked and is later seen bleeding with red splatters on the walls. The monstrous No-Face swallows three characters whole (they are later regurgitated unharmed). A 'stink spirit' gushes…
Is the language in Spirited Away appropriate for kids?
None. There is no profanity in the film.
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in Spirited Away?
Mild and incidental. In the background of bathhouse scenes, various spirit characters are shown drinking from small cups (implied to be sake) and smoking pipes or cigarettes in a manner appropriate to the setting. This is never the focus of a scene.
What mature themes appear in Spirited Away?
The film's most significant content concerns are thematic. The central premise—a young girl's parents are magically transformed into pigs, and she is left utterly alone in a frightening world—is a source of sustained peril and emotional distress. Themes of…
How long is Spirited Away?
Spirited Away runs 125 minutes, directed by Hayao Miyazaki, released in 2001.
Where can I read the full Spirited Away 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.
Parents also checked these movies for 10-year-olds
Sign up to filter
Movies like Spirited Away with similar intensity
Sign up to filter
Less intense movies for families
Sign up to filter
More animation movies with parent guides
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone parent guide
- The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring parent guide
- The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King parent guide
- The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers parent guide
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets parent guide
- Inside Out parent guide
- Doctor Strange parent guide
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban parent guide
- Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl parent guide
- Thor parent guide
- Suicide Squad parent guide
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire parent guide
More movies with Bontent parent guides
- To the Wonder parent guide
- Sibyl parent guide
- An American Pickle parent guide
- Science Fiction Volume One: The Osiris Child parent guide
- The Layover parent guide
- Grand Piano parent guide
- Ophelia parent guide
- Marvel One-Shot: All Hail the King parent guide
- Full Speed parent guide
- Barbie Presents: Thumbelina parent guide
- Barbie: The Princess & the Popstar parent guide
- Mr. Church parent guide
- Them parent guide
- Day Watch parent guide
- Don't Worry, I'm Fine parent guide
- The Night Before the Exams parent guide