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

Animated films are no longer as child-friendly as they once were, with one in three animated films released in UK cinemas so far this year being given an age rating of 12A or above. 

The surge in popularity for Japanese anime is believed to be driving the trend, as older audiences are being drawn to the cinema. 

Research from the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) revealed that only a fifth of films were rated 'U' this year. 

The figure is a stark rise from one in seven in 2001, with a record 22 animations being handed a 15 certificate in 2025. 

Meanwhile, the proportion of U-rated animations is at an all-time low of roughly one in five releases - down from about two thirds at the turn of the millennium. 

The figures were revealed before the release of new animated film Wildwood this weekend, a 'dark fantasy' stop-motion film made by the same creators behind Coraline. 

Wildwood has been given a 12A rating, with content notes warning of violence and injury, mature themes including a decaying child's body and suicide-related material, partial nudity and bad language. 

Film magazine Empire described the film, which features actors Carey Mulligan, Richard E Grant and Rob Delaney, as a 'dark piece of work'. 

Animated films are on the rise across the board, with 95 animations being classified by the BBFC last year, up from 15 in 2000. 

Nearly 40 per cent of animated features classified by the BBFC last year were also anime titles, marking their increase in the UK film market. 

Industry experts believe Japanese anime is helping to drive the shift towards mature animated films, as hugely popular Japanese anime creators like Studio Ghibli are attracting older audiences in the UK. 

Kate O'Connor, the strategic lead for industry body Animation UK, believed the shift to be positive, saying it showed audiences were embracing animation across genres, from comedy and fantasy to sophisticated adult drama. 

She told the Times: 'Animation has lost its stigma as only being for youngsters. We're seeing a much wider recognition that animation can tell any story, for any audience. It can be funny, challenging, political, emotional or unsettling. 

'Animation hasn't suddenly grown up. Our perception of it has finally caught up.' 

Insiders also noted that streaming services including Netflix and Amazon Prime were improving access to popular foreign film titles, as well as the market diversifying. 

David Austin, chief executive at the BBFC, said many animated titles were now unsuitable for young children. 

He said: 'Research shows we are now seeing a far wider range of animated films than ever before, with many of them made for teenage and adult audiences.'