...to buy Spirited Away for my daughter's 6th birthday?

[PrettyPenguin]

I'm not sure if I am BU or not. I know it's a PG but as I've not seen it, I don't know if it's a PG because of language, scary parts or maybe violence?

My kids (7, almost 6 and 3.5) all love Studio Ghibli films. We already have Ponyo (their fave), Arriety, Kiki's Delivery Service and My Neighbour Totoro (another big hit). These ones are all rated U though, so I'm not sure about Spritied Away. I've heard rave reviews for it but they are probably for adults.

Anyone able to help me out?

It's really weird, bit scary, and very different to the ones you've listed! My seven year old has all the ones you have but I wouldn't let her watch Spirited Away yet. Saying that, she is sensitive, so if your DC are robust, maybe your children will be fine!
Definitely don't give it to her without watching it first anyway.

www.imdb.com/title/tt0245429/parentalguide

I'm struggling to think what the problem with it would be, but it was a long time ago that I watched it. A 6 year old might not get the weirdness, although they might get upset at the girl's parents being changed into pigs!

It's an amazing film, a little scary for younger kids and tbh my 7 yo found it a bit hard going. I loved it though so money well spent howls moving castle is a good alternate I agree with callmenancy

I don't know that I want to get Howl's Moving Castle, CallMeNancy - I seem to recall it being quite different to the book and I'd rather they read the book first (I'm a big fan of Diana Wynn Jones!).

I can't seem to find any other U rated Studio Ghibli films that she might like. Perhaps I'll get the Mysterious Cities of Gold boxset for me her instead

My DS watched spirited away before he was 6 he started his Ghibli love with Laputa

Of course it's strange, it's Ghibli. Watch it with her and she'll be fine

Weird scariness is the reason for the rating, I've not shown it to my kids yet but don't think it's too bad for a 6 year old, I think it might just be a bit complex. Years since I've seen it though. We've got all the ones you've listed plus 'Howl's Moving Castle' which is also a U so might be a slightly better option.

My DD is anime mad but was still scared by spirited away at that age.

What about The Cat Returns?

The Cat Returns is a PG too, isn't it?

I took my 4 DC to see it at the cinema when the youngest was 6 and the eldest was 11. (I just checked the Canadian release date as it was a long time ago now ).

They all loved it and are all still studio Ghibli fans 13 years later. It went over the younger kids heads a bit but they were captivated by it. We all watched it this Xmas too. It's the type of film you have to conserntrate on when you watch it.

I love Ghibli and Spirited Away is a great film, but a bit scary and slightly dark / disturbing. Second the recommendations for Cat Returns or Laputa

My dd saw that one at about 8. She would have loved it aged 6 too. The Cat Returns is brilliant.

There's The Wind Rises but it's a bit bland for small kids.

Whatever you do, don't let them watch Grave of the Fireflies yet, or Princess Mononoke.

Ds loved it at 8, but dd at 11 still won't watch it, having seen some of it at about 7

Spirited away is fab, but defn a step up in the wierd/scary stakes to the ones you've watched so far. Girls parents turned into pigs, scary witch, and no face is very creepy if you decide to take him that way (although my kids always loved him). I'd go with a howls moving castle or the cat returns - both much gentler. Plenty of time for the freakier end of ghibli!

I can't remember the ratings but TBH with anime I decided to generally try to watch films/series before showing them to DD, regardless of rating. There's much more variation in content IME than say Disney. Eg Princess Mononoke mentioned above is a PG but there is NO WAY my DD would handle that but the cat returns is pretty low key. Can't remember the rating of the wind rises but wouldn't let DD watch it due to the ending.

Glad to see lots of Ghibli fans here... Now that we have a Films board on MN would anyone be interested in an anime chat thread? :)

We have the entire ghibli collection. My kids find the mum being ill in totoro far more horrible than no face. My daughter loves no face e. I love Laputa best, closely followed by the moving castle but we love them all. Dd always loved the weirder ones. She loves cat returns and monoke.She is 6. She went as princess monoke to the school dress up day.

My middle child (the one who's coming up 6) is far less sensitive in terms of films etc than my eldest. The eldest cries at pretty much every film she's ever seen (even Wall-E!). We recently watched Tinker Bell and the Never Beast and she was in bits for about half an hour at the end!

The middle DD is extremely wacky and so takes weirdness in films in her stride really.

I've ordered The Cat Returns for now and I think my next one will be From Up On Poppy Hill or Pom Poko as both of those (particularly the latter) look quite good.

I'm not all that clued up with anime - my experience extends to Mysterious Cities of Gold, Belle and Sebastian, and Unico - but the kids absolutely adore it! Even my DS, who hardly ever sits and watches anything, will sit and watch Totoro or Ponyo with rapt attention. I was getting rather bored with Disney and Barbie films so thought Studio Ghibli would make a nice change!

My 6 and 3 year old love Spirited away.
They love all Studio Ghibli films, especially Totoro, Ponyo, Howls moving castle and Princess Mononoke.

Do it!! <img loading="lazy" class="inline-flex mumsnet-emoji" alt="Grin" src="https://www.mumsnet.com/build/assets/grin-D7Eg_B6y.png">

My eldest loves No Face, wants to dress as him for Halloween hehe!!
We have nearly all the Ghibli collection as well, the only one I have struggled with was Grave of the Fireflies. I was pregnant with DD2 when we watched it, never again!!
Ooo Arriety is also really child friendly and has some beautiful music

We are big Ghibli fans, have the full collection except the two most recent as they've not been subtitled yet, and recently visited the Ghibli museum in Tokyo (which was fantastic). However dd got nightmares from Spirited Away the first time he watched it (she found no face frightening) so if you have a sensitive child in the mix I'd watch it yourself first just to check.

I hope you love the Cat Returns, it's one of our favourites. dh and dd love Howl's Moving Castle, but I much prefer the book (I am a big DWJ fan, and the film isn't totally faithful, it's very good, but too different for me).

Pom Poko is fun, and Poppy Hill is lovely and gentle. We also really enjoyed Whispers of the Heart, but I think it's probably less small child friendly.

Grave of the Fireflies is devastating.

More ghibli fanatics here - DS is 6.5 and has been watching them since year dot. He's generally quite sensitive but because I think he's seen Spirited Away from quite young he's not scared of it but finds it a bit dull.

He loves all the usual younger ones but his fav PG is Howl, so I second/third/fourth that as a recommendation for your 6yo

My 3 and 5 year old are huge ghibli fans and absolutely love spirited away it's entirely up to you but no problems with it here

Watched one once where a lady goes back to her childhood in the country then goes to the city. Cant remember its name but think it had one and day in the title. Never seen one of these films before but very impressed by that one. Whats spirted away like?

My six year old loves Spirited Away. Three year old prefers Totoro.