Certificate Research U:

The ‘U’ symbol stands for ‘Universal’. A ‘U’ film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over. However, it is impossible to predict what might upset a particular child, especially at this lower end of the category range.


DVD works aimed at very young viewers, such as 'Chuggington', 'Teletubbies' or 'In The Night Garden', are classified ‘U’ but carry Consumer Advice which states ‘Particularly Suitable for pre-school children’. They should raise no significant issues in terms of discrimination, drugs, horror, imitable behaviour, language, nudity, sex, theme or violence.


At the ‘U’ category, we only allow very mild bad language (eg ‘damn’ and ‘hell’). Occasionally, bad language such as ‘bloody’ or ‘bugger’ may be included, where justified by the context.
Characters may be seen kissing or cuddling and there may be references to sexual behaviour (ie to ‘making love’). However, there will be no overt focus on sexual behaviour, language or innuendo.


A ‘U’ film may include brief fight scenes or moments where characters are placed in danger. However, moments of emotional stress or threat will be quickly resolved and the outcome will be reassuring.


There may be brief scary scenes and moments where the characters are placed in danger. As with violence, however, these scenes will be balanced by reassuring elements, such as comic interludes or music.


‘Baddie’ characters may carry or use weapons, but there will be no emphasis on these.  Child or ‘hero’ characters are unlikely to use any kind of weapon. Potentially dangerous or imitable behaviour, particularly those which come across as safe or fun, will not be present.


A ‘U’ film can explore most themes, as long as the treatment is appropriate to a young audience.

A children’s work at ‘U’ will generally contain positive messages about loyalty, honesty and friendship, particularly amongst children. The film or DVD will have a happy ending for the child and the overall tone should be one of reassurance.

‘U’ films are unlikely to contain discriminatory language or behaviour unless it is clearly disapproved of.
At ‘U' there will not normally be references to illegal drugs or drugs misuse unless there is a very clear anti-drugs or educational message which will be understood by a younger audience.

Drugs references which are unlikely to register with young children and are brief or passing may occasionally be passed at ‘U’ – for example a verbal reference to ‘the Opium wars’ in an historical documentary.

I don't think that our film will be suitable to put under this certificate as it will contain sexual scenes and bad language.