The Boy and the Heron

Made by Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, the film centers on a Japanese boy and his family in the 1940s. Cultural, societal, and historical elements are woven into the story, including food, clothing, and family relationships. Female characters are depicted as strong, capable, and brave. Elderly characters are spirited and full of personality -- and Miyazaki himself is now in his 80s, showing that age doesn't dampen talent. Mahito grapples with his father's remarriage to his dead wife's younger sister, who's pregnant with Mahito's soon-to-be younger sibling; by the end of the film, they've become a loving, blended family.

A boy self-harms, and blood gushes. Widespread fire kills a parent (death not shown). Fire is a recurring symbol, and, at times, women are seen inside the flame. Characters are frequently in peril. Creepy images, such as frogs climbing all over a person, or a human-bird that has teeth. Adorable creatures are made giant and carniverous, carrying knives and weapons with the intent to kill and eat humans (although this is often comical, at least for adults). Schoolyard fight. Someone melts. An injured creature begs to be put out of its misery. In a flashback, unknown characters seen from a distance fall off a building to their death. Electric shocks seem to cause unpleasant sensation, but nothing too painful. A coming-of-age scene involves the disembowelment of a giant fish, its guts spilling over.

A couple of uses of words such as "damn," "shut up," and "turd."

Adults smoke cigarettes. An 11-year-old uses the cigarettes to buy assistance among the smokers in his family but doesn't smoke them himself.