Tokyo Ghoul – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Tokyo Ghoul

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show2014

38%

WISE Score

7.7

IMDb

Dark anime about a college student who becomes half-ghoul and must navigate a world of cannibalism, violence, and identity crisis—strictly for older teens.

7.7/10

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Tokyo Ghoul

show

TV-MA, 2014

38%

WISE Score

7.7

IMDb

Dark anime about a college student who becomes half-ghoul and must navigate a world of cannibalism, violence, and identity crisis—strictly for older teens.

7.7

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Screenwise Verdict

Tokyo Ghoul has an interesting premise—what if you woke up as the monster you feared?—but the anime adaptation drowns its philosophical potential in buckets of blood and shock value.

The world-building is solid, and there are genuine questions about identity and humanity buried in here, but you have to wade through extreme violence, torture, and body horror to get there. The first season rushes through the manga's story, sacrificing character development for spectacle.

For parents: this is a hard no for anyone under 17. The cannibalism isn't metaphorical—it's graphic and central to every episode. If your older teen is into dark anime and can handle horror movie-level content, they might find the themes interesting, but be clear about what they're getting into.

The IMDB 7.7 rating reflects its popularity among anime fans, but that doesn't make it appropriate for younger viewers. This is adult content in animated form.

Age Fit

This is strictly for mature older teens (17+) and adults who can handle extreme graphic violence and dark psychological themes. The cannibalism, gore, and body horror make it completely inappropriate for children and younger teens, regardless of their anime experience.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

This anime centers on cannibalism, torture, dismemberment, and body horror. The protagonist is forced into a world where he must consume human flesh to survive. While it explores themes of identity and humanity, the relentlessly dark tone, graphic violence, and psychological trauma make it emotionally heavy and far from wholesome. Characters suffer extreme physical and mental anguish throughout.

Imaginative

The premise of a hidden society of ghouls living among humans in modern Tokyo is genuinely creative. The world-building around ghoul biology, their kagune weapons, and the CCG (Commission of Counter Ghoul) investigators creates an interesting dark fantasy universe. The moral ambiguity—ghouls as both monsters and victims—adds philosophical depth that goes beyond typical monster stories.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates this 17+ for good reason. Web searches confirm 'excessive violence and scary imagery including ghouls, blood, gore, body horror, dead bodies, torture, cannibalism, impalement, dismemberment, and decapitation.' IMDb parent guide lists Violence & Gore and Frightening & Intense Scenes as 'Severe.' This is absolutely not something a younger child should stumble upon—it's nightmare fuel with graphic content in nearly every episode.

Enriching

Tokyo Ghoul tackles weighty themes about identity, otherness, discrimination, and what it means to be human. The protagonist's struggle with his dual nature raises questions about morality in impossible situations. However, the anime adaptation is rushed and often prioritizes shock value over character development. The manga explores these themes more thoroughly; the show version leaves viewers with more gore than genuine insight.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Explores complex themes about identity, discrimination, and what makes us human when you're caught between two worlds
Creates an imaginative dark fantasy universe with ghouls hiding in plain sight in modern Tokyo
Raises moral questions about survival, monstrosity, and empathy for the 'other'
Appeals to older teens interested in darker, more mature anime with philosophical undertones

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What to Watch For

Extremely graphic violence in nearly every episode—dismemberment, decapitation, impalement, and copious blood and gore
Central premise revolves around cannibalism and eating human flesh to survive
Torture scenes, body horror, and psychological trauma are recurring elements
The anime adaptation rushes through plot points and leans heavily on shock value rather than character depth
This is absolutely not for kids or young teens—17+ minimum, and even then, only if they're comfortable with horror

Conversation Starters

"Ken's forced to choose between his humanity and survival—what would you do if you had to compromise your values to stay alive?"
"The ghouls are seen as monsters, but many just want to live peacefully—how do we decide who deserves empathy?"
"The show explores discrimination and fear of the 'other'—what parallels do you see in real-world conflicts?"
"How much of our identity is based on our physical nature versus our choices and values?"

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