Wolf Children is legitimately one of the most beautiful animated films you've never heard of—unless you're deep into anime, in which case you already know it's a masterpiece.

This isn't a fun family movie night pick if you're looking for laughs and adventure. It's a deeply emotional, contemplative story about a young mother raising two werewolf children alone after their father dies. The animation is stunning, the storytelling is mature and thoughtful, and the themes—grief, identity, belonging, letting go—are genuinely profound.

But here's the thing: it's also kind of a bummer. Not in a bad way, but in a 'this is going to make you feel things' way. The father's death, the mother's isolation, the kids' struggle to fit in—it's all handled with grace and without melodrama, but it's heavy. This is a film that rewards emotional maturity and patience.

If your kid is ready for something more than typical animated fare and can handle sadness as part of the story, this is incredibly enriching. If they're still in the 'movies should be fun' phase, save it for later.