Naruto: parents' guide
Best for ages 11 and up. Rated TV-PG.
An energetic ninja coming-of-age story that works for tweens who like action and can handle some dark backstory. Naruto is an orphan shunned by his village who fights to earn respect, and the series has frequent ninja battles with some blood, several on-screen deaths, and flashbacks to a clan massacre. Suicide comes up more than parents may expect: a boy's uncle tries to kill him with a suicide bombing, and heroes step in to stop side characters who try to end their lives. Gags include Naruto turning into a naked woman hidden by smoke. Age 11 fits most kids; the grief and creepy villains can weigh on sensitive viewers.
What's in it
Violence
ModerateNear-constant fights with kunai, swords and ninja techniques, with some bleeding and puddles of blood. A teenage foe and his master die after a bridge battle, a village leader is killed during an invasion, and a clan massacre appears in flashback.
Language
MildMostly insults such as "idiot," "freak" and fat jokes aimed at one boy, plus occasional "damn," "bastard" and "ass," and a reported "bitch," depending on the version.
Sex and nudity
ModerateNaruto's signature gag turns him into a naked woman with smoke and clouds hiding everything. A mentor peeps at women in hot springs and visits hostess bars, a teacher reads racy novels in public, and there are breast jokes and accidental grabs.
Drinking, drugs and smoking
ModerateAdults drink sake and are shown drunk for laughs, and a young ninja accidentally gets drunk and fights better for it. One teacher smokes constantly and a giant toad puffs a pipe.
Scary or intense scenes
ModerateCreepy villains, giant snakes and reanimated corpses. A torture illusion forces a boy to relive his family's murder. In flashback, a small boy's uncle tries to kill him with a suicide blast, and the boy then carves a symbol into his own forehead.
Sensitive topics
- Suicide
- Self-harm
- Death of a parent
- Death of a child
- Bullying
- Child abuse
Worth talking about
Naruto and Gaara both grew up shunned for something they didn't choose, yet they turned out very differently. What made the difference for Naruto?
Similar picks around 11+
Checked October 13th, 2026 against Common Sense Media, ageratingjuju.com, justwatch.com, Wikipedia. The age is our judgment, not an official rating, and every family draws its lines differently: read the notes, not just the number. Spotted something we missed? Tell us. How we rate.