Raising My Neighbor Totoro age rating: what parents of kids 4–7 should know
My Neighbor Totoro age rating: the film is rated G in the US, according to the MPA, which means general audiences, all ages admitted. It's rated U in the UK for very mild threat and upsetting scenes, and 0 in Germany. The UK's BBFC notes the girls worry about their mother's illness, a situation with a reassuring outcome. Common Sense Media, an independent nonprofit, lists it for ages 5 and up.
My Neighbor Totoro at a glance
- –Official rating above age 7
MPA: G; BBFC: U; FSK: 0 - –Violence in rating descriptors
None in MPA or BBFC descriptors - –Scary content in rating descriptors
BBFC: very mild threat only - –Bad language in rating descriptors
BBFC: very mild bad language only - –Sexual content, drugs, or alcohol in rating descriptors
BBFC: fleeting natural nudity (non-sexual) - –Rated 12 or higher in the UK or Germany
BBFC: U; FSK: 0
Each flag is a yes-or-no fact from the sources on this page. The number is a count of flags, not a safety score. How we count. Rating reasons marked mild, very mild, or brief don't count.
| Type | Studio Ghibli fantasy (1988) by Hayao Miyazaki about two sisters and a forest spirit source |
|---|---|
| US (MPA) | G (general audiences; all ages admitted), rated 1993 source |
| UK (BBFC) | U (universal; all ages) — very mild threat, upsetting scenes source |
| Germany (FSK) | 0 (no age restriction), per Cinestar source |
| Common Sense Media | 5+ — friendship fantasy; a sick mother, a lost child |
Checked October 2026. Ratings and settings change; check the official source before you decide. What do these ratings mean?
Facts for parents, not medical or legal advice. If you're worried about your child, talk to your pediatrician.
What My Neighbor Totoro is about
My Neighbor Totoro is a 1988 Japanese animated film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki at Studio Ghibli. Two sisters, Satsuki and Mei, move with their father to the countryside in postwar Japan while their mother is in the hospital. Near their new house they meet friendly wood spirits, including the large, furry Totoro. It first came out in Japan on April 16, 1988.
My Neighbor Totoro age rating: what's in it
Short answer: G in the US, U in the UK, 0 in Germany.
- US (MPA): G.
- UK (BBFC): U, very mild threat, upsetting scenes.
- Germany (FSK): 0.
The BBFC describes large creatures that growl and loom toward the girls before turning out to be friendly, and brief threat when a young child goes missing, quickly resolved. Common Sense Media adds that the mother's illness and the possibility of her dying come up, that a lake is dredged while the girl is missing, and that soot sprites creep the girls out at first.
Is My Neighbor Totoro scary?
Short answer: The BBFC lists only very mild threat. Common Sense Media says Totoro roars and shows his teeth, which might intimidate younger viewers at first, but is quickly revealed to be a gentle friend.
The habit kids may copy: wandering off alone
Mei, the younger sister, sets off on her own to find their mother at the hospital and gets lost.
Try tonight: check the shadow
Turn off the lights and look at one shadow in the room together. Ask: "What does it look like? What is it really?" Then turn the light on and check. In our program, this is the lesson "True or Made Up": checking a fear against the facts.
Why you can trust this page: the main facts link to their sources, a separate reviewer checks each page before it goes live, and the date shows when we last checked. How we review · Report an error
FAQ
What is My Neighbor Totoro rated?
G in the US. It's U in the UK and 0 in Germany.
What age is My Neighbor Totoro for?
There's no age limit in the US, the UK or Germany. Common Sense Media lists it for 5+.
Is Totoro scary?
The BBFC lists very mild threat, such as creatures that growl before turning out to be friendly.
Why is My Neighbor Totoro sad?
The girls' mother is in the hospital, and the younger sister gets lost; the BBFC says the situation has a reassuring outcome.
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