DVDs for 2.5 year old

[Flowerface]

Could anyone recommend any viewing for 2.5 year old DD? I used to let her watch telly for half an hour in the evening while I cooked supper/surrepticiously stuffed my face with crisps in the kitchen. But she seems to have lost interest in whatever is on CBeebies at that time. Since then we have been getting by on Thomas DVDs ( - still on the Christmas ones...) or thousands of repetitions of Dumbo. Are there any other Dumbo-like films (i.e. short, animal-based, without perilous violence)? I am keen to avoid anything princessy or (ideally) too heavily merchandised but would like to stock up on good viewing as am about to produce DC2...

ds has always liked

finding nemo
a turtles tale
ivor the engine
fantasia
pinocchio(sp?)

loads more but my miind has gone blank.

Here (ds 2.5) we ended up with the complete fireman Sam box set (yes, that's a lot of Sam. Including a stage show version.), Mr Benn, Pingu, Little Red Tractor, Maters Tales (shorts from Cars which he loves) and lots of things on the sky+. He adore being able to choose. Mike the Knight and Tree Fu Tom also very popular. What we found is that he's happy to watch back to back episodes of things in a way that I am not. This is also helpful as he thinks starting the day at 5.30 is reasonable. We don't. (whispers quietly we've had a run of 6.30...shussssh). Pixar also a big joy and I'm happy to watch those with him. We also watched "up" the other day which he got more of than I anticipated. Oh and took him to cinema for "the pirates in a adventure with scientists" and he was spell bound. Was very pleased as it was Easter Saturday emergency planing as he'd broken his collarbone on the Thursday so we needed sitting still activities!!

DS (2.2) will watch an entire DVD of Peppa Pig (10 episodes!!) given half the chance.

Winnie the Pooh?

I am yet to find a film that is tame enough for DS...even 'mild peril' is too much for him and involves endless discussions for days on end about whether the character is ok.

We started watching Wall-E (sp?) over Easter and he seemed quite taken with that - but didn't watch more than about 30 mins.

DS (2.3) loves the Gruffalo, and there's also a short animation called Lost And Found which is adapted from a book by Oliver Jeffers, it's a lovely story and gentle enough for 'winding down' time in the evening.

I'd really recommend a DVD of the Hungry Caterpillar and other Eric Carle stories. It's reallly chilled and definitely no peril. Might be a bit babyish for some, as though my 2.4 yr old DS loves it, we've not really done much TV and are only just starting to resort to DVDs/occasional Thomas. We'll put on other stuff if we're around to fast forward through any mildly dodgy bits (though he loves the tiger in the Jungle Book and randonly hates the monkey bit!).

dd loves the gruffalo and gruffalo's child, winnie the poo and finding nemo as mentioned above. We also watch ben and holly and peppa pig on youtube.

She has also recently seen Mary Poppins and keeps asking to watch that.

DS's first favourite film was KungFu Panda. And then Finding Nemo.
He also loved Ivor the Engine and Shaun the Sheep.
This was all before he was 2, by the way. He still loves them all now. :)

Maisy Mouse is great for this age.

We have the complete works of Trumpton / Camberwick Green. Lovely lovely lovely, and my kids completely captivated.

DD's favourite at this age was My Neighbour Totoro, since then, Cars, Robin Hood, Princess and the Frog, A Turtle's Tale and Kung Fu Panda.

If you want low peril I would stick to the first two from that list.

Musicals all the way!

Sound of music, Mary poppins (& mamma mia- ahem!) etc
My ds 2.2 loves the singing & dancing!

Also just got hold of Beatrix potter ballet (Ashton), which I remember the little kid I used to babysit being mesmerised by... & yes, ds is too!

And finally, the older disneys like cinderella (singing mice, what's not to love!), & lady & the tramp (fast forwards over rat bit)... Fantasia.

Newer ones more hit & miss, but tangled he likes, lion king not for some reason (odd as he loves lions... Maybe too dialogue driven?

Ds wasn't really taken with pooh, too staid maybe?, nor with shrek, too scary/fighty maybe... & nemo as colours all v samey

Curious George is lovely

Thanks everyone! Some great suggestions, lots of which I hadn't heard of. Also very excited to have an excuse to watch Mary Poppins, which I LOVE!

Humpf (my daughter loved this ... and i loved the tune at the start) - really gentle and sweet

Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom

I can second the Lost and Found which is beautifully done

The BBC's The Gruffalo ......

other favourites already mentioned

Percy the Park Keeper!

Animal based, no violence whatsoever . . . and absolutely delightful :)

DD (2.2) loves Shrek, Toy Story and Monsters Inc, also Tangled and Wall-E. I'm more relaxed now about how much she watches: she's like a hurricane most of the time and now really seems to need a DVD as a bit of down-time to switch off.

Mostly the same as those already mentioned - Finding Nemo, The Gruffalo, Lost and Found and the most recent Winnie the Pooh film.

DS is also a massive fan of Octonauts and there are a couple of dvds out now. He also likes a few Disney Junior programmes - Jungle Junction, Jake & the Neverland Pirates and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. I was a bit resistant to Disney Junior initially, but there's no adverts unlike some other channels.

In the more heavily merchandised department Toy Story and Cars are very popular.

Has anyone mentioned Peppa Pig? I loathe it but all the toddlers I know seem to be fans!