to be saddened by the lack of children's films that promote female independence?

[Objection]

Trying to find movies for the kids I occasionally look after.
I'm really struggling to find PG movies that don't feature a female being stereotyped as either weak, overtly girly (not that there is anything wrong with girlyness) or highly dependent on men (being rescued etc).

In fact, I basically have Mulan and possibly Tangled as an option.

AIBU? Or are there a whole slew of children's films with strong female protaganists that I don't know about?

Oh yy to the The Last Airbender. Full of strong female rolemodels. They come across a village of Kyoshi warriors who are all specifically female and make a point of rejecting gender stereotype.

Legend of Korra is brilliant but a bit more grown-up than Airbender, but she basically runs shit. Oh and she's muscly! You never see that.

am I the only person who thinks a lot of these films are a bit old for 2 and 3-year-olds? (Actually, I know I'm always the only one thinking that HP and LOTR aren't for 6-year-olds so probably it is just me!)

MrsOakenshield - I don't think any of the suggestions other than potentially-frightening HP are inappropriate for that age.

My favourite film from 1.5-4 years old was The Neverending Story. I watched it every single day, and the video tape wore out and had to be replaced at least once .

*Makes mental note to suggest we watch it at Christmas this year, whille DH covertly films my parents' reaction...>

/\ Self-narration fail...

Monster v's Aliens is fab
Monster in Paris also fab

My 2 year old knows all the words!

I think the BFG is far too scary for toddlers - sorry.

There's absolutely loads.

Not for your age OP but for girls who are a little older, Whale Rider.

I would have avoided hour long movies at that age. Opted more for short shows like Night Garden or the Wot Wots.

oh thanks i needed some film ideas

Swallows and Amazons. Nancy Blackett is the Captain of the Amazons all girls crew and while Susan is a bit Anne/Famous Fiveish, Titty is the main plot leader and does the solving and saving. Although let's not even start on the ins and outs of naming a child Titty....

The Tinkerbells movies are actually pretty good in this regard. Tinkerbell is strong and independent, makes mistakes, forges good female friendships etc, and as far as I know there is a male character who could be a love interest, but he doesn't pop up much. :)

Another vote for Miyazaki: empowered young women are a staple of his films; they're also beautifully animated, interesting and full of airships, magic and mythology!

Some Ghibli films will be too grown-up for very small children, but my son (2 and 3/4) loves Ponyo and My Neighbour Totoro.

Dd 2 years, enjoys the spiderwom series from the 70s. Check netflix

I have a slight wobble over the way the mother is treated in Mary Poppins. She pursues votes for women at the cost of noticing her family. Gggrrrrr!

Cinderella part 2 (don't know what it's called). Cinderella puts her foot down about dressing up and doing things in a particular way just because she's a princess. Dd loves it.

Tinkerbell and the Great Fairy Rescue: dd loves this too. Tinkerbell is a bold and brave fairy. The little girl in it proves her dad wrong and is clever.

Obviously Tangled and Brave.

Rio: the female bird is not a scaredy cat like the male one and is clever.

Those are off the top of my head.

Matilda.

Really agree with Studio Ghibli.

The Little Princess and The Secret Garden?

Mulan
Hotel Transylvania
Brave
Matilda

I love the secret garden..

fakebook the dad ignores them for his job too. I suspect if both parents hadn't looked a bit neglectful Mary Poppins wouldn't have been offered the job.

It annoys me that she is a suffragette who hides it..But I supsect that probably did happen a lot!

YABU there are lots of fantastic films mentioned here with brilliant female characters.

Balance is all.

Unsure if age suitable or not but how about The Incredibles? Also another vote for Brave.

Another vote here for tinkerbell. Lots of good messages about what to do when you make a mistake, female friendships and saving the day. The male characters are also pretty positive.