A wee thank you

[bunchamunchycrunchycarrots]

To whoever has recommended a few Studio Ghibli films on threads where people have posted asking for films with more female characters/leads. My DD (8) is loving these films - we've managed to record 9 from film 4 when they've run Studio Ghibli seasons recently. I've had most taped a while but not been able to get DD to watch them (her dad has been pushing the macho Hollywood hero type of stuff) but she got hooked after watching Ponyo and now can't get enough of them.

So thank you! I hadn't really heard of Studio Ghibli before reading about them on here, and it's great to have lovely films, with lots of female characters, that also capture imagination.

[SummerHoliDidi]

Are there any particularly good ones? We've seen Ponyo many, many times and would love to see some more, but our library doesn't have them in, so I'll need to buy them and can't afford them all.

[bunchamunchycrunchycarrots]

My neighbour totoro is a big hit with DD, as is Kiki's Delivery Service, The Cat Returns and Spirited Away (although that one cut off before it finished so we don't know how it ended!). I don't think she was as keen with Tales from Earthsea (and I found that one a bit too weird myself) or Castle of Cagliostro, but still watched them through til the end. She got a bit bored with Whisper of the Heart, but wants to try and watch it now we taped it again, because she liked The Cat Returns so much. Loads we haven't see yet, I just need to keep an eye out for the next Studio Ghibli season on film 4

[SummerHoliDidi]

We might buy Kiki's Delivery Service seeing as dd1 sometimes gets called Kiki by her friends. The rest we'll be joining you in waiting for a Studio Ghibli season on film 4.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

DD loves Totoro. I will try the other ones as well. Is Spirited Away too scary?

[UptoapointLordCopper]

Spirited Away spooked me. The kids haven't seen it yet. But Totoro is the best film ever made.

[YoniMatopoeia]

I haven't seen any of these. Off to google.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

And the Cat Bus is the greatest mode of transport ever.

[SinisterSal]

Are they too much for a 4 year old? I'd love to show DD something like that

[MoaningMingeWhingesAgain]

Most of them suitable for a 4yo IME. I love Kiki's Delivery Service and Totoro, bought after recommendations from MN ages ago.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

Definitely Ponyo and Totoro are fine for a 4 yo. I mean, you know your 4 yo but mine is 2.5 and watches both of them fine.

[SinisterSal]

Great! i will give them a go.

So thanks to you OP for spreading the word on

[TeWiSavesTheDay]

Totoro and Kiki are absolutely great for younger kids - spirited away and some of the others depends on child's imagination (ie whether they'll focus on scary looking thing and have nightmares, or can follow the story to the end and understand that everything is okay)

[UptoapointLordCopper]

"...whether they'll focus on scary looking thing and have nightmares"

That's me alright. Having said that I'll happily watch Spirited Away again. And again. I'll put up with the nightmares.

And since when did we have ?? I didn't notice!

[ElephantsAndMiasmas]

Ooh, no mention of Howl's Moving Castle? I love that film and think it would be fine for an 8 year old. If you want book recommendations then Diana Wynne Jones (who wrote the book Howl was based on) is absolutely excellent as well.

Have your DDs seen Labyrinth? The heroine is excellent and I thought David Bowie in tights the film was great as a 7 year old when I first saw it.

[UptoapointLordCopper]

I was disappointed with Howl's Moving Castle. The book is so much better!

[TeWiSavesTheDay]

I agree the book of Howl is better - maybe I was just disappointed because I loved the book so much growing up. The film is good in it's own right as well though.

[bunchamunchycrunchycarrots]

Howl's Moving Castle is one I'm hoping will come up soon on film 4 or wherever as its been recommended before but I've either missed it when shown or its not been on. Ill keep an eye out for the book as DD is getting more into reading longer stories too.

DD isn't freaked out by any films so far, although I found Tales from Earthsea just a bit weird tbh. I wouldn't recommend that to v young DC as there are bits at the end in particular that i think would cause nightmares. And Spirited Away - i think the story itself might be a worry for some younger DC (especially if the thought of your parents disappearing etc. freaks you out ) DD's not had nightmares watching any yet but I can see how some might happen in much younger DC. I think if she was 4 or 5, I think she might cos she was a bit more impressionable at that age but she's not phased too much by them now and that's more because her dad is pushing older, much more scary stuff at her which pisses me off.

[bunchamunchycrunchycarrots]

I have to agree that the cat bus would my preferred mode of transport too.

[Imsosorryalan]

Both my dds (5&2) love all the above films. I'm a big fan! Laputa, castle in the sky is another brilliant one. Stay away. From princess mononoke unless your dd is 8+

My 2 year old knows the ponyo song practically by heart! Arietty is another good one, from the borrowers.

[bunchamunchycrunchycarrots]

Arrietty, that was another one DD really liked too. That's one I'd say was ok for quite young DC as well.

[SusuwatariToes]

I agree, Studio Ghibli films are great. May I recommend these slippers from Totoro (the inspiration for my nickname).

[Deathwatchbeetle]

My Neighbour Totoro is also great for people over the age of 4 (like 53 for example!!!!). I love the bit where Totoro is at the bus stop and the cat bus comes along. Yay!