Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- whimsical
- tender
- adventurous
- family movie night
- comfort viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the anthology for its imaginative animation, emotional warmth, and strong Studio Ponoc craftsmanship.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The three original shorts center on modest protagonists including Kanini, Kanino, a father and child, and an invisible man rather than conventional superheroes.
Hiromasa Yonebayashi, Yoshiyuki Momose, and Akihiko Yamashita each write and direct one of the three shorts.
The anthology builds imaginative adventures around a small crab family, a father and child, and an invisible man rather than a grand mythic setting.
Produced by Studio Ponoc and shaped by creators associated with Japanese feature animation, the film presents carefully designed fantasy shorts with a gentle humanist focus.
Films like Modest Heroes, and why
Fantasia
anthology animation combining fantasy, adventure, family themes, and distinct short-film worlds
Memories
Japanese animated anthology with whimsical fantasy, emotional warmth, and imaginative visual storytelling
My Neighbor Totoro
family-oriented anime fantasy built from intimate stories about vulnerable characters and everyday courage
Kiki's Delivery Service
Studio Ghibli-adjacent animated fantasy emphasizing small-scale heroism, wonder, and emotional tenderness
Movie Details
- Directors
- Yoshiyuki Momose, Akihiko Yamashita, Hiromasa Yonebayashi, Takuya Okada
- Release Date
- 2018-08-24
- Runtime
- 54 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (199)
Cast
- Min Tanaka
- Kentaro Sakaguchi
- Joe Odagiri
- Fumino Kimura
- Rio Suzuki
- Machiko Ono
- Souta Shinohara
- Yuko Sasaki
- Masaki Terasoma
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Modest Heroes about?
- Three Japanese animated fables celebrate courage found in the smallest, strangest, and most vulnerable lives.
- What is Modest Heroes like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Modest Heroes as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Modest Heroes violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Modest Heroes.
- What did critics think of Modest Heroes?
- Critics broadly praised the anthology for its imaginative animation, emotional warmth, and strong Studio Ponoc craftsmanship.
- Which films are like Modest Heroes?
- Films with a similar feel include Fantasia, Memories, My Neighbor Totoro, and Kiki's Delivery Service.
- How long is Modest Heroes?
- Modest Heroes runs 54 minutes.
- Where can I watch Modest Heroes?
- In United States, Modest Heroes is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Fandango At Home.
