The Wind Rises
風立ちぬ
The Wind Rises
風立ちぬ
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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
3/5
Complex
Adult themes
2/5
Present
Expert review
The Wind Rises is a poetic historical animated film about a young engineer's passion for aviation, with a reflective, romantic, and melancholy mood rather than a typical adventure tone. The sensitive material comes mainly from a major earthquake, several aircraft accidents, a wartime backdrop, and a serious illness that brings sustained sadness and some moderate physical distress. The imagery is not graphic, yet the emotional weight is steady, with mature themes involving loss, vocation, fragile health, and the human cost of military technology. This means the film is not shocking in a conventional sense, but it does require emotional maturity and patience with a slow, dialogue driven story. Parents may want to watch with younger viewers to explain the historical setting, reassure them after disaster scenes, and talk through the illness and the feelings of separation and grief suggested by the narrative.
Synopsis
A lifelong love of flight inspires Japanese aviation engineer Jiro Horikoshi, whose storied career includes the creation of the A-6M World War II fighter plane.
Difficult scenes
The film includes an extended sequence around the Great Kanto earthquake, with a train violently shaken, collapsing buildings, spreading fires, and a strong sense of chaos. It is not gory, but it can unsettle sensitive children because of the realistic sound design, public panic, and the feeling of an uncontrollable disaster. Several aircraft test scenes end in crashes or midair failure. These moments are brief and not bloody, yet they show real danger, breaking machines, and the heavy disappointment that follows for the characters. The central romance is tied to tuberculosis, which gradually weakens an important character. Viewers see coughing, a pulmonary bleeding episode, and increasing exhaustion, which may be sad or worrying for children who are strongly affected by illness stories. The story also touches on political surveillance, rising militarism, and the idea that the planes being designed will be used for war. Nothing is graphic, but this historical background may feel complex for younger viewers and can raise serious questions about adult responsibility.
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
- 2013
- Runtime
- 2h 6m
- Countries
- Japan
- Original language
- JA
- Directed by
- Hayao Miyazaki
- Main cast
- Hideaki Anno, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Miori Takimoto, Masahiko Nishimura, Stephen Alpert, Mansai Nomura, Jun Kunimura, Mirai Shida, Shinobu Otake, Morio Kazama
- Studios
- Studio Ghibli, Nippon Television Network Corporation, dentsu, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, The Walt Disney Company (Japan), d-rights, TOHO
Content barometer
Violence
2/5
Moderate
Fear
2/5
A few scenes
Sexuality
1/5
Allusions
Language
0/5
None
Narrative complexity
3/5
Complex
Adult themes
2/5
Present
Expert review
The Wind Rises is a poetic historical animated film about a young engineer's passion for aviation, with a reflective, romantic, and melancholy mood rather than a typical adventure tone. The sensitive material comes mainly from a major earthquake, several aircraft accidents, a wartime backdrop, and a serious illness that brings sustained sadness and some moderate physical distress. The imagery is not graphic, yet the emotional weight is steady, with mature themes involving loss, vocation, fragile health, and the human cost of military technology. This means the film is not shocking in a conventional sense, but it does require emotional maturity and patience with a slow, dialogue driven story. Parents may want to watch with younger viewers to explain the historical setting, reassure them after disaster scenes, and talk through the illness and the feelings of separation and grief suggested by the narrative.
Synopsis
A lifelong love of flight inspires Japanese aviation engineer Jiro Horikoshi, whose storied career includes the creation of the A-6M World War II fighter plane.
Difficult scenes
The film includes an extended sequence around the Great Kanto earthquake, with a train violently shaken, collapsing buildings, spreading fires, and a strong sense of chaos. It is not gory, but it can unsettle sensitive children because of the realistic sound design, public panic, and the feeling of an uncontrollable disaster. Several aircraft test scenes end in crashes or midair failure. These moments are brief and not bloody, yet they show real danger, breaking machines, and the heavy disappointment that follows for the characters. The central romance is tied to tuberculosis, which gradually weakens an important character. Viewers see coughing, a pulmonary bleeding episode, and increasing exhaustion, which may be sad or worrying for children who are strongly affected by illness stories. The story also touches on political surveillance, rising militarism, and the idea that the planes being designed will be used for war. Nothing is graphic, but this historical background may feel complex for younger viewers and can raise serious questions about adult responsibility.