Fireworks
打ち上げ花火、下から見るか？横から見るか？
Fireworks
打ち上げ花火、下から見るか？横から見るか？
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Watch-outs
What this film brings
Content barometer
Violence
2/5
Moderate
Fear
2/5
A few scenes
Sexuality
1/5
Allusions
Language
0/5
None
Narrative complexity
1/5
Accessible
Adult themes
0/5
None
Expert review
Fireworks is a Japanese animated film with a dreamy summer mood and a gentle romantic thread, but its tone is more wistful and emotionally uncertain than a simple family cartoon. The sensitive material mainly comes from a young girl trying to run away from home, repeated moments where adults catch or chase the children, and a steady undercurrent of sadness connected to divorce, control, and emotional confusion. The film is not graphic and has very little direct violence, yet several scenes involve believable danger, emotional distress, and a time shifting narrative that can feel unsettling for younger viewers. It also asks the audience to follow abstract storytelling rather than clear action and resolution, which may frustrate or worry children who prefer straightforward plots. I would place it above an algorithmic age of 7 because its emotional and narrative complexity matters more than its low explicit content. Parents can help by explaining the family situation, the fantasy rules, and the characters feelings, and by checking in if a child is disturbed by the melancholy atmosphere.
Synopsis
Moshimo, Japan. The annual fireworks festival is about to take place and a group of schoolboys, arguing over whether they are round or flat when viewed from different angles, set out to find it out.
Difficult scenes
Nazuna prepares to run away after her parents divorce and tries to leave home without permission. This situation may affect children who are sensitive to family conflict, because the film clearly shows her distress, her wish to escape adult control, and the discomfort of dealing with a mother who feels harsh or unreachable. Several times, the children try to meet in secret or leave together, then are caught by adults. These scenes create real tension, not graphic violence, but repeated urgency, raised voices, and a strong feeling of being chased, which may unsettle younger viewers who worry about separation or authority figures. At one point, a boy suddenly pushes the two young characters during a moment of panic and jealousy. The moment is stylized and brief, with no graphic injury, but the action is abrupt and can be startling, especially because it happens within an already emotionally tense atmosphere. The story repeatedly revisits the same events through time rewinds and alternate outcomes. This structure can confuse children who need a clear linear plot, and it adds to the unstable, dreamlike feeling that may be more troubling than the actual on screen danger.
Where to watch
No verified platform for the US market yet. We keep this section updated as availability changes.
Availability checked on Apr 01, 2026
About this title
- Format
- Feature film
- Year
- 2017
- Runtime
- 1h 30m
- Countries
- Japan
- Original language
- JA
- Directed by
- Nobuyuki Takeuchi, Akiyuki Shinbo
- Main cast
- Suzu Hirose, Masaki Suda, Mamoru Miyano, Shintaro Asanuma, Toshiyuki Toyonaga, Yuki Kaji, Shin-ichiro Miki, Kana Hanazawa, Takahiro Sakurai, Michiko Neya
- Studios
- SHAFT, Aniplex, jeki, Lawson Entertainment, TOHO, TOY'S FACTORY, LINE, KADOKAWA
Content barometer
Violence
2/5
Moderate
Fear
2/5
A few scenes
Sexuality
1/5
Allusions
Language
0/5
None
Narrative complexity
1/5
Accessible
Adult themes
0/5
None
Expert review
Fireworks is a Japanese animated film with a dreamy summer mood and a gentle romantic thread, but its tone is more wistful and emotionally uncertain than a simple family cartoon. The sensitive material mainly comes from a young girl trying to run away from home, repeated moments where adults catch or chase the children, and a steady undercurrent of sadness connected to divorce, control, and emotional confusion. The film is not graphic and has very little direct violence, yet several scenes involve believable danger, emotional distress, and a time shifting narrative that can feel unsettling for younger viewers. It also asks the audience to follow abstract storytelling rather than clear action and resolution, which may frustrate or worry children who prefer straightforward plots. I would place it above an algorithmic age of 7 because its emotional and narrative complexity matters more than its low explicit content. Parents can help by explaining the family situation, the fantasy rules, and the characters feelings, and by checking in if a child is disturbed by the melancholy atmosphere.
Synopsis
Moshimo, Japan. The annual fireworks festival is about to take place and a group of schoolboys, arguing over whether they are round or flat when viewed from different angles, set out to find it out.
Difficult scenes
Nazuna prepares to run away after her parents divorce and tries to leave home without permission. This situation may affect children who are sensitive to family conflict, because the film clearly shows her distress, her wish to escape adult control, and the discomfort of dealing with a mother who feels harsh or unreachable. Several times, the children try to meet in secret or leave together, then are caught by adults. These scenes create real tension, not graphic violence, but repeated urgency, raised voices, and a strong feeling of being chased, which may unsettle younger viewers who worry about separation or authority figures. At one point, a boy suddenly pushes the two young characters during a moment of panic and jealousy. The moment is stylized and brief, with no graphic injury, but the action is abrupt and can be startling, especially because it happens within an already emotionally tense atmosphere. The story repeatedly revisits the same events through time rewinds and alternate outcomes. This structure can confuse children who need a clear linear plot, and it adds to the unstable, dreamlike feeling that may be more troubling than the actual on screen danger.