...to buy Spirited Away for my daughter's 6th birthday?

[PrettyPenguin]

I'm not sure if I am BU or not. I know it's a PG but as I've not seen it, I don't know if it's a PG because of language, scary parts or maybe violence?

My kids (7, almost 6 and 3.5) all love Studio Ghibli films. We already have Ponyo (their fave), Arriety, Kiki's Delivery Service and My Neighbour Totoro (another big hit). These ones are all rated U though, so I'm not sure about Spritied Away. I've heard rave reviews for it but they are probably for adults.

Anyone able to help me out?

What about Kiki's Delivery Service?

Love Ghibli. There's a museum in Tokyo where you can sit on the Cat Bus. Can't wait to take the DSs in a couple of years.

londonrach - only yesterday :)
We love that one.

My daughters love Kiki too!!

My kids watched Spirited away at primary school and loved it, can't remember exactly how old. It is a bit scary in places and some kids might find the parents turning in to kids upsetting. It's probably no more scary than many other fairy stories though and you could always turn it off an watch it later if she does find it upsetting. I found when my kids were young telling them everything ended happily helped as then they could watch scary stuff without apprehension knowing everything was OK in the end. Young kids sometimes like "spoilers".

pigs not kids

My 3 year old and I watched it the other day. He sat on my lap for a few bits, but he enjoyed it and he's the more sensitive of my two. DD (almost 6) hasn't seen it for a while, but she had a phase of loving it. It is a bit weird and dreamlike and there is a sense of real jeopardy, plus because it's anime there is quite a bit of bloodshed near the end (Haku the dragon gets cut up a bit and bleeds everywhere, but Chihiro, the main character, takes it in her stride and helps him).

If your DD enjoys slightly weird films and you're having Disney fatigue, I'd recommend two more of my DDs favourite films: Coraline and Box Trolls. She saw the latter in the cinema and found it brilliant. It's quite Roald Dahl like. Coraline is similar to Spirited Away in that it's dreamlike and the child has to rescue the parents, but it's based on a Neil Gaiman book and a different animation style.

Great film! My two (8 and 6) love it....
...but, they are Teflon and nothing ever bothers them. If your DD is a dweller, or a bit sensitive, maybe give it a miss for a few years.

DP, OTOH, watched 5 mins of Spirited Away and nearly wet his knickers in horror....
"Nyerrrrrr....aye feel all weird...nyeeeerrr..."

I found spirited away a bit 'weird'.
Kiki's delivery service is my favourite studio ghibli film- only one slightly scary bit (some crows i think) in the whole film.

The Cat Returns is very suitable. Also, Kiki's Delivery Service is very engaging :-)

Spirited away is one of my favourite films.

It's basically a vague Japanese interpretation of Alice in Wonderland.

I must have seen that film at least 12 times, and I can't think of anything in it unsuitable for a six year old.

It's not like Princess Mononoke with all the arms and limbs getting torn off by arrows.

The scariest thing is what? No face going on a rampage? Hardly the stuff of nightmares.

Rabid - I've seen Coraline and found it MUCH scarier than Spirited Away!! It was very creepy!! Then again, it was Neil Gaiman, so no surprises there!

Also, DEFINITELY NOT one for the children, and not a studio Ghibli, but for the adults I'd really strongly recommend Tokyo Godfathers. It's hilarious and a really good story.

Thanks for all the suggestions, as I said in my OP, we already have Ponyo, Kiki, Ariety and Totoro. I think I might leave Spirited Away until next year!
I'm sure she'll love The Cat Returns :)

Princess thank you. Want to see it again so looking to order it x

I love Tokoyo Godfathers! My ds and me also like Telokonkritt ( also not ghibli, and older).

For a newbie to Ghibli, I would always say Arietty and Spirited Away. We always take the DVD camping for our laptop and always end up playing them again a.d again to increasing crowds of kids.

Arriety is a U.

I think its probably more suitable for a 6 year old than a lot of their other films.

I remember watching The Borrowers on Tv as a child and loving that too. You can't go wrong with it.

I appreciate you've already bought something now, but that should be on you list for next time!

Yes, as I've said a couple of times, we already have Arriety (and Ponyo, Kiki's Delivery Service and My Neighbour Totoro)

My eldest DD (7) read The Borrowers over the Easter holidays and really loved it.

i think its a bit old. Try the cat returns?

not old as in inappropriate. Just a bit complicated for a 6year old

Eldest cries at pretty much every film she's ever seen (even Wall-E!).

I cried at Wall-E.

My 8 year old DS, who has no issue with Indiana Jones or Jurassic Park, will not watch Spirited Away. He found the parents turning into pigs utterly terrifying. Shame because it is one of my most favourite films ever. He and his 5 year old sister love The Cat Returns. Kiki's Delivery Service is good too.

definitely have them read Howl's moving castle before watching it.

the book is much better.
the film is good though

Spirited away is great but I found it a bit scary. You've definitely made the right decision leaving it for a year.

My eldest LOVES Indiana Jones (as did I at that age). They've not seen Jurassic Park yet as I think they might find it too scary.

I think it's fine for a 6 year old although some are more sensitive than others so I suppose it depends whether she is generally ok with most stuff. DS 2 watched it for the first time with us last summer (he was 3 at the time) and although he was a little scared he was also enthralled and wanted to keep watching. No nightmares afterwards!

my daughter watched it at this age but loved it at about 11.