Animated films are ‘no longer suitable for children’: One in three cartoons released in UK cinemas this year are rated 12A or above with grief and gore on screen

One in three animated films released in UK cinemas so far this year has been rated 12A or above, reflecting a shift towards films aimed at teenagers and adults. The trend matters because animation is increasingly being made and watched across a broader range of genres and age groups.

BBFC figures show only about one in five animations released this year received a U rating, compared with roughly two thirds around 2000. The board classified 95 animated films last year, up from 15 in 2000, and nearly 40 per cent were anime; in 2025, a record 22 animations received a 15 certificate. The forthcoming stop-motion film *Wildwood* has a 12A rating, with warnings including violence, suicide-related material and a decaying body.