For many children, “Paw Patrol 2: Der Mighty Kinofilm” was expected to be their first major cinema experience. However, instead of joy, this animated film seemed to have left many with their first major cinema trauma.
Children had been eagerly awaiting the return of their beloved Paw Patrol heroes to the big screen, and on September 28th, “Paw Patrol 2: Der Mighty Kinofilm” finally arrived, making quite a noise at the box office over the weekend. However, for many younger children, the excitement for these four-legged heroes quickly turned into something else: fear and panic.
Several parents have reported uncomfortable cinema experiences with their children, who left the theater in tears. One of them is Alexander Keßel, a writer for the website Der Westen, who attended the film with his children and shared his experiences publicly. Right at the beginning of the film, the young ones had to cope with a real shock – a meteorite crashing into the Paw Patrol headquarters.
His three-year-old son whispered, “Daddy, I’m scared,” for the first time. This feeling continued for his five-year-old child until the editor decided to hit the brakes after about 45 minutes of runtime and left the cinema with his children. Outside, they encountered other families whose youngsters couldn’t handle the film’s tension either.
This experience seems to be far from isolated. Voices on Familie.de, including writer Andrea Zschocher, have echoed similar sentiments. She stated, “What’s being presented on the screen surpasses the capacity of most young children. Quick cuts, a tension-filled story, frequent explosions, Skye in danger… that’s a lot for little kids to handle.”
SHOULD “PAW PATROL: DER MIGHTY KINOFILM” HAVE RECEIVED AN FSK 6 RATING?
In fact, “Paw Patrol 2: Der Mighty Kinofilm” had already sparked discussions for this very reason before its release. Rumors circulated on several film and cinema websites that the film was going to receive a rating of 6 years and up from the Voluntary Self-Regulation of the Movie Industry (FSK) due to its content. However, one week before the cinema release, it was publicly announced that the film had received an unrestricted rating.
This initially brought excitement to parents and children since the core target audience for the animated film, just like the original series “Paw Patrol,” falls somewhere between three and six years old. However, parents are now expressing confusion about this decision. Andrea Zschocher writes, “I’m not entirely sure about the filmmakers’ strategy with ‘Paw Patrol 2: Der Mighty Kinofilm.’ The series is aimed at toddlers between three and six years old. After that age, the pups tend to become uncool.”
FSK PUTS THE RESPONSIBILITY ON PARENTS
Following the initial shock reports, RTL reached out to the FSK to inquire about how the decision regarding the film’s rating was reached. According to Peter Kaun from the FSK, the varying stages of development in this age group were crucial in the decision-making process. He explained, “Especially with preschool children, there are significant individual differences in development. Exciting scenes can be perceived very differently. In this age group, a positive resolution that provides relief is essential.”
An unrestricted rating does not automatically imply that the film is suitable for children aged 0 and up. Instead, this assessment is left to the parents, who know their children best. Peter Kaun suggests some guidance, such as watching the film’s trailer first or reading the FSK’s short explanation in advance. This information is always available on the FSK website at the time of the film’s release.
Some parents have already intuitively made their individual assessments regarding “Paw Patrol 2: Der Mighty Kinofilm.” Andrea Zschocher from Familie.de is one of them. She said, “In theory, all three of my children could have watched the film, but as a mother, I have a responsibility and decided: the youngest child, although the biggest fan, is still too inexperienced with media for this cinema experience without the possibility of interruption. We will, of course, watch the film together someday. But then, it will be via streaming, with breaks for fidgeting, questions, and catching one’s breath.”