Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

Let's be real: this is a masterpiece that most kids will find incredibly boring.

The Wind Rises is Miyazaki's most adult film—a slow, contemplative meditation on dreams, mortality, and the moral cost of creation. It's visually stunning, critically acclaimed, and genuinely enriching for viewers who can engage with its themes. But it's also a 2-hour art film about an aeronautical engineer in 1920s-30s Japan, with long stretches of quiet conversation and melancholic romance.

If you have a tween or teen who's into history, engineering, or animation as an art form, this could be a revelation. The ethical questions it raises—about pursuing your passion when it contributes to war—are genuinely sophisticated and worth discussing. But if you're hoping for Totoro or Spirited Away energy, you'll be disappointed.

The Common Sense Media age of 10 feels optimistic. Sure, a 10-year-old can watch it (no inappropriate content), but will they want to? Probably not. This is really for mature 12+ who can appreciate slow cinema, or for watching together as a family with discussion afterward.

Bottom line: Gorgeous, thoughtful, enriching—and realistically, a tough sell for most modern kids.

Age Fit

Best for ages 11-16 who have patience for slow, contemplative storytelling and can handle themes of death and moral ambiguity. Younger kids will likely be bored; older teens might find it slow unless they're already into animation or history.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

72

Miyazaki's final film before retirement showcases a protagonist driven by passion and dreams, with a tender romance and themes of dedication. However, the emotional weight includes tuberculosis, death, and the moral complexity of designing war machines. The pacing is contemplative and slow—beautiful but melancholic rather than uplifting.

Imaginative

88

Visually stunning Studio Ghibli animation with dream sequences where Jiro meets Italian aircraft designer Caproni. The film celebrates engineering creativity and the beauty of flight, inviting viewers into the imaginative process of designing airplanes. Miyazaki's signature hand-drawn animation brings a dreamlike quality to aeronautical innovation.

Safe

68

No graphic violence, nudity, or profanity, but emotionally heavy: depicts tuberculosis and death of a loved one, earthquake destruction, and the moral weight of creating weapons used in war. Common Sense Media rates it 10+. The content isn't shocking but is somber and deals with adult themes of mortality and complicity that could be distressing for younger viewers.

Enriching

85

Biopic of real aeronautical engineer Jiro Horikoshi offers rich historical context about pre-WWII Japan, engineering innovation, and complex ethical questions about creating beauty that causes destruction. Strong critical acclaim (88% RT, 83 Metacritic) reflects its thoughtful exploration of ambition, art, and moral responsibility. However, it requires maturity to fully appreciate.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Studio Ghibli's signature hand-drawn animation at its most breathtaking—dreamlike sequences of flight and engineering imagination
Introduces real historical figure Jiro Horikoshi and pre-WWII Japan in a nuanced, thoughtful way
Tackles genuinely complex ethical questions: Can you create beauty knowing it will be used for destruction?
Perfect for kids interested in engineering, aviation, or animation craft—celebrates the creative process
Strong critical acclaim across the board suggests this is Miyazaki operating at master level

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What to Watch For

Tuberculosis and death of a main character—handled with grace but emotionally heavy
Earthquake scene with destruction (not graphic but intense)
The moral weight: protagonist's planes are used in WWII, and the film doesn't shy away from this complexity
Extremely slow pacing—this is an art film, not an adventure. Many kids will find it boring despite the beautiful animation

Conversation Starters

"Jiro loved designing airplanes, but they were used in war. Do you think he should have stopped, or was it okay to follow his dream?"
"What would you design if you could create anything? Would it matter to you how people used it?"
"The movie shows Jiro meeting his hero in dreams. Who would you want to meet in your dreams to learn from?"
"Why do you think Jiro kept working even when he knew the planes would be used to hurt people?"

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