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Is there a 'girly' animation film I can buy for DD that won't make this feminist mother spew bile?

92 replies

ClairityVerity · 02/10/2013 21:56

I have finally conceded that I should let DD indulge in pink/ sparkle/ fairy-type things from time to time, safe in the knowledge that she WILL grow out of it. Now that she has healthily embraced her older brother's love of kung fu/ cars/ dinos, I no longer worry about her being sucked full-bodied into a vortex of fluffy pink inspidness which will eat the feistiness from her soul and turn her into some vile, sappy creature like this .

So! Grin All our DVDs so far have been bought with DS's tastes in mind (though he does love a bit of Ben & Holly - HA! So much for his Mr Tough Guy image...). Can anyone recommend an animation film I can buy for DD alone, that won't have me reaching for the incinerator?

TIA!

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sonlypuppyfat · 02/10/2013 23:13

Alien. Thats got a good strong female lead.

BelleDameSansMerci · 02/10/2013 23:10

I don't think Tinkerbell is really crap. She's an engineer. She has strong female friendships and learns from her mistakes etc. I was prepared to loathe the Tinkerbell films but they're ok. Certainly no worse than Tangled. And, most of the Barbie films are about girls/women working together to overcome adversity. I still detest them though.

I was determined there would be no sodding princesses or Barbie in this house but we have the lot. I decided it was up to my DD to define her taste, not me. I content myself with harrumphing and pointed comments...

ModeratelyObvious · 02/10/2013 23:08

Kiki fine for 3 year old DS Smile

When Despicable Me 2 comes out, it's pretty good, the female spy is quite cool and the daughters are strong characters. Also ok for 3 year old DS.

Pinebarrens · 02/10/2013 23:00

My neighbour totoro is a firm favourite by DD who is 4. She sadly lives in a world of princesses and butterflies.
We bought it when she was 3 as I couldn't take anymore Tangled and she loved it straight away.
I've just bought Kikis Delivery Service for her Xmas. Must see if I can get the Totoro sound track, I do find myself singing it from time to time

And for the record, Tinkerbell is crap.

Faux · 02/10/2013 22:59

Tinkerbell is like a mechanic in the modern films. She has skills, is resourceful, solves engineering problems type of thing. Barbie is usually her own hero in her modern films, even if theyare cheesy.

OhDearNigel · 02/10/2013 22:56

Tank girl Smile

GColdtimer · 02/10/2013 22:55

There was supposed to be a #runsaway comment at the end of my post Grin

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ClairityVerity · 02/10/2013 22:49

"Barbie always saves the day in the barbie films ." ROFL!

Lynette - no idea whether the film of Tinkerbell is actually crap in cinematic terms, but I meant 'crap' in the sense that anything made with coy, sickly, over-feminised female characters immediately goes on my crap heap. Grin

Okay, I'll give Ghibli a try but will keep a Disney lurking in the background just in case. Grin

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GColdtimer · 02/10/2013 22:46

What about shrek, toy story, incredibles - all have pretty feisty female characters. Epic was pretty good too.

And as dd1 pointed out to me last week, Barbie always saves the day in the barbie films .

Catmint · 02/10/2013 22:35

Another vote for stuff by studio Ghibli.

Our faves ( dd is 6)

Ponyo
Kiki's delivery service

Our all time favourite is Totoro. We have the soundtrack and we recreate scenes from the film, which is hilarious. Also have lots of lovely totoro toys and household goods. I have Totoro decals on my car.

LynetteScavo · 02/10/2013 22:33

Tinkerbell is crap? Shock

DD has never even mentioned Tinkerbell or asked to see a Disney Princess film. After 2 boys I would have quite enjoyed some frilly Disney.

I dunno, just rent a few Disney films and get them over and done with.

MonstersBalls · 02/10/2013 22:32

Definitely Tangled. My tomboy dd loves it and she won't watch any 'princessy' stuff.

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ClairityVerity · 02/10/2013 22:30

Lynette - yes, she bloody does. She's always talking about Tinkerbell and the rest of them - didn't get that crap from ME, that's for sure. Comes of allowing her to mix with other children. Won't make that mistake again.

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nobutreally · 02/10/2013 22:28

Studio Ghibli is absolutely what you want here - as others have said, Ponyo (one male and one female/fish lead! A retelling of the little mermaid story) and My Neighbour Totoro (2 female leads, male 'backup') are a safe 3yo way in - fantastical, childs-eye, and joyous. And with fantastic female characters and a brilliant sense of fun. My ds and dd both adore them, they work perfectly across genders, so your ds absolutely won't feel left out.

noblegiraffe · 02/10/2013 22:27

DS loved Kiki and Totoro at 3, I don't think you need to wait to show them.

LynetteScavo · 02/10/2013 22:25

Does your 3yo genuinely want to indulge in pink/sparkle/fairy type films?

I'm still waiting for my 8yo DD to ask for such things.

Shark Boy and Lava Girl was DDs film of choice aged 3.

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ClairityVerity · 02/10/2013 22:24

Faux - only Mulan. He wasn't interested in Brave when it came out, and half-watched Tangled at a friend's house but wasn't interested. I actually think having a sister whom he adores has now made him more open to watching 'girly'-targeted film and TV, so I'm hoping he'll enjoy the films we buy 'for her' as much as she does.

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ClairityVerity · 02/10/2013 22:22

Okay, well she does fairly well with scary (she's often braver than 7 yo DS with scary scenes, bless her - and him!). So I think it'll be Mulan and Brave as I want her to grow up identifying with strong female characters.

Part of me wants both of them to at least see the other shit so they have a broader education...at some point I might borrow a vomity princessy DVD from the library and then compare and contrast their wet characters with the stronger ones they'll have seen 100 times by then. Though maybe age 3 is a tad young for that sort of feminist essaying, huh? Wink

I'll keep Ghibli at the back of my mind for when she's a couple of years older.

Thanks so much for your advice, folks!

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GlitterKitty · 02/10/2013 22:20

Tangled is great.

PerditaXDream · 02/10/2013 22:20

oops, took too long to post. But Ponyo is for younger children I think, as is Totorro and Arrietty, based on the Borrowers book. If you like the style you can get the other Studio Ghibli films for when she's older.

All the films here are things I have been happy to sit through with my children, unlike (say) Barbie movies which my eldest DD liked when younger.

Faux · 02/10/2013 22:20

Hasn't your son watched any films with female leads?

Merrylegs · 02/10/2013 22:17

I think Spirited Away is too freaky for a three year old. Dd really like Return to Neverland at that age. Sure it's got Peter Pan in it, but Wendy's daughter Jane is a pretty feisty character.

AlfalfaMum · 02/10/2013 22:15

Brave or Epic. Yes, the bears are a bit scary in Brave, but my younger two were 5 and 7 when they first watched it and loved it (and no nightmares).

PerditaXDream · 02/10/2013 22:14

My girls (12 and 9 now) have grown up with Studio Ghibli films and really enjoy them. Aside from the 2 mentioned above, Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle are good but probably for older children, there's loads of others.

For younger children - Ponyo is good.

From Disney, Mulan and Brave have excellent feisty heroines, Lilo and Stitch is good too but quite old, not sure if it's still available. We also enjoyed Tangled (a version of Rapunzel) and the Princess and the Frog. More traditional tales, but not insipid.

chebella · 02/10/2013 22:14

Arietty by Ghibli is perfect for non-vomit-inducing female lead. Also Totoro - epic film. Spirited away quite frightening IMO.