What films should my children watch?

Lilo and Stitch, The Rescuers, Wreck It Ralph, Frozen, Brave, Tangled, (last 3 are 'best' of the Disney Princess films but generally I'd say the non-princess films are better) Despicable Me, The Secret of NIHM (although if you loved the book you might get annoyed at the film), Hoodwinked, The Last Unicorn (very old and retro this one), The Wild Thornberries, Kiki's Delivery Service. Avoid most Pixar if you want female role models, generally they don't have many women in them.

Mulan?

If you liked the Studio Ghibli stuff then I recommend Spirited Away - but you might need to wait until he is older because there are some parts which might be scary to a 3/4 year old.

Kiki's Delivery Service.

Girl leaves home, gets job, takes care of self. Studio Ghibili.

See amightygirl.com for recommendations.

my son loves the cat returns

Dd2 is 4 and she loved Wreck-it ralph when we saw that, there's a really great little girl in there.

We do watch most things though and just talk about the sexism in the films. Dd2 pointed out the rampant sexism in Cinderella herself the other day, which is a good thing I think. So she does see sexist messages BUT she's learning to laugh at what silly things people used to think. She is currently obsessed with Disney princesses, especially Elsa and Anna from Frozen, but she knows that they are pretend people who think silly things.

I grew up on a diet of Disney, and Care bears, and My Little Pony, etc and I've turned out alright. Dd1 had phases of princesses and Barbie and all things pink and sparkly. She grew out of them, she's one of the most feminist teenagers I know, she's absolutely certain that she will have a good career and she's planning on her partner staying home with the dcs when she has them (I think there may be some compromise and some childcare used). So I don't think it's that bad to watch some films with sexist messages, as long as we discuss the sexism in them.

Mine watch all the usual stuff, you can't avoid it. They got a load of original Disney films at my parents the other day - Sleeping Beauty etc.

I try and make sure that there are at least some with more reasonable messages in the mix. I am a bit more careful with books, especially as we get a lot given to us from charity shops which are old and have random sexism racism etc aplenty.

I think it's important to point out stuff as we can't protect them from the messages. It may be silly but if there is a girl or boy doing things which are the opposite to stereotype I mention it. The sexes acting in accordance with stereotype is obviously covered

Apart from studio ghibli I got no suggestions, we don't do films much.

My son is 5 and he basically just loves cartoons, and is quite keen on Come Dine With Me

I don't restrict anything as long as it's age-appropriate, but if I see something I don't like I do tend to have a discussion with DP and often DC will get involved, and I explain in a casual way why its wrong and I hope in my own way I'm educating him whilst not making too big of a deal at such a young age

Ponyo, also studio ghibli- strong female lead, strong mum (dad is away working), ponyo's mum is a goddess...