Princess Arete – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Princess Arete

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2001

58%

WISE Score

A slow-burn anime fairy tale about a captive princess—beautiful themes, glacial pacing, borderline unwatchable for modern kids.

Princess Arete

movie

PG, 2001

58%

WISE Score

A slow-burn anime fairy tale about a captive princess—beautiful themes, glacial pacing, borderline unwatchable for modern kids.

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Screenwise Verdict

Princess Arete has a heart of gold and themes worth exploring—a princess who rejects passivity and fights for her own freedom is a great premise. But let's be real: this movie is a slog.

The pacing is glacial, the animation is bare-bones, and the storytelling is so introspective that even patient viewers may zone out. It's the kind of film that gets lauded in art-house circles and then sits unwatched on your streaming queue forever.

If you have a thoughtful tween or teen who loves slow-burn narratives and can handle minimal action, this might land. But for most families? It's a noble effort that's just too hard to sit through in 2025. There are better feminist fairy tales out there that won't put your kid to sleep.

Age Fit

Best for ages 12–16 who have patience for slow, art-house storytelling and an interest in fairy-tale retellings with feminist themes. Younger kids will be bored; older teens and adults may appreciate its meditative style but won't find it essential viewing.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

A quiet, contemplative film about a young princess who befriends a villager and seeks freedom from captivity. The story models cooperation and courage, with a gentle tone that avoids mean-spiritedness. The pacing is deliberately slow and meditative—which reads as emotionally healthy but may feel glacial to modern audiences.

Imaginative

The premise of a princess imprisoned by a sorcerer who fears she'll rob him of eternal life offers a fairy-tale twist on classic fantasy. The film invites viewers into a magical world with folklore elements, though execution leans heavily on introspection rather than visual spectacle or world-building that sparks active imagination.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it 12+, suggesting some mild thematic tension (imprisonment, a sorcerer antagonist) but no graphic violence, gore, sexuality, or jump-scares. The story's conflict is psychological rather than action-heavy. No red flags for unexpected disturbing content, though the themes of captivity and control may be emotionally heavy for sensitive younger kids.

Enriching

The film explores themes of agency, freedom, and self-determination—a princess who must outwit her captor and claim her own life. These are meaningful, empowering ideas. However, the extremely slow pacing and minimal dialogue make it a challenging watch that may not land with kids who need more engagement to absorb its lessons. It's enriching in concept, less so in execution for a young audience.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Explores agency and self-determination in a way that's rare for princess stories—Arete isn't waiting for rescue, she's plotting her own escape
Quiet, contemplative tone offers a break from frenetic modern animation; could appeal to thoughtful, patient viewers
Themes of standing up to controlling figures and claiming your own life are genuinely empowering
No violence, no scary imagery, no inappropriate content—it's a safe, gentle watch for sensitive kids

⚠

What to Watch For

This movie is SLOW. Like, paint-drying slow. Most kids under 14 will be checking their phones within 20 minutes
The animation style is dated and minimal—don't expect Studio Ghibli-level visual magic
Themes of imprisonment and control may feel heavy or boring depending on your kid's temperament
It's rated 12+ for a reason: younger kids will find it incomprehensible or dull

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think the sorcerer was so afraid of Arete? What does it mean to be afraid of someone else's power?"
"If you were trapped like Arete, what would you do to keep yourself hopeful or entertained?"
"The movie is really quiet and slow—did that make it easier or harder to follow the story?"
"What do you think the film is trying to say about freedom and making your own choices?"

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