Children's films with good female leads

[AlmaMartyr]

Sorry if this has already been done. I was wondering if anyone can recommend any films with good female lead roles. My DD is 2, coming up on 3 and DS is 1. We have quite a few Miyazaki films which seem pretty good (Kiki's Delivery Service, Ponyo, Spirited Away) and Mulan. The Princess and the Frog isn't bad. What else can people think of? I'm sure there are more with good roles in them but can't remember them all.

It's also worth remembering that despite all the awful witches in The Witches, one of the main characters is a woman - the grandmother - who is a fantastic character and role model (well, apart from the cigars perhaps) and definitely not portrayed in a negative light.

Can't think of much for a 2/3 year old - maybe Bolt? male dog, female owner - but for older children, the three Spy Kids films are good for strong female characters. Also Harriet the Spy. DD also loves Matilda.

Oh wow, some great suggestions here! I'm not really a fan of Roald Dahl either, although mostly just because I never liked the stories when I was growing up. Bolt is quite good, we have that and she loves Labyrinth already (). We have Whale Rider but I had completely forgotten about it. I've seen Nim's Island and liked it but haven't shown it to DD yet. Monsters vs Aliens was good too, will have to dig that out. She loves all the Shrek films, I'd forgotten about those. Good to know there's a few around that I've got somewhere.

I prefer to avoid TV for her because only get CBeebies out of the children's channels and I've got really fed up with it. With films, they're less likely to be on all day as well, so we can occasionally just watch one in the afternoon. We have loads of great books for her which is good.

I want DS to grow up seeing films with female leads as well, after seeing a link on here the other day to someone from CBeebies saying that research has shown that boys only like to watch things with male leads.

Coraline - both DD and DS were transfixed

I also allow my 6 and 4 year olds to watch Dr. Who. I appreciate the main character is male, but there are also plenty of strong female characters as well as older characters.

It also opens up sci-fi to girls (who are ususally pretty much ignored in this genre)

I long for a female Dr Who...

Hermione is quite good in the 7th Harry Potter film, she is becoming more central I think, the one who actually knows what to do. But that's a bit old for pre-schoolers.

I know others have said it, but I absolutely adore My Neighbour Totoro. It's one of my favourite films.
I was thinking about it recently, and all of the studio ghibli films I've seen have female leads.

I find that Matilda is an excellent movie, I haven't read the book yet.

I really don't see the Witches as women-hating at all.

I totally agree with Fennel that the less tv/films are watched the less you adhere to stereotypes (I'd also argue that that is also true for boys)

How to Train Your Dragon? disclaimer- I haven't seen it, but I understand the main protagonist is a girl.

The Borrowers
Muppets? Miss Piggy is fantastic...

Jungle Book? My dd saw it at 4, and assumed Mowgli was a girl

bookmarking. good thread.

Peppa Pig is good for little ones.

I also think Miss Rabbit is a good role model, she runs the firestation, sells christmas trees, drives the school bus....in fact she does pretty much every job

How about Lemony Snickett's Series of Unfortunate Events?

I love the girl in that, LiveLong, the way she ties her hair up when she's inventing :o

All these good suggestions aren't right for a 2-3 year old though. It's all mush for that age group.

Yes, again I agree with Fennel . Mine wouldn't have watched Matilda or Labyrinth at 2/3

Off the top of my head:
Anastasia
Annie
Casper (Kat)
Peter Pan (Wendy) - Not the Disney version, the live action one
The Last Airbender (Katara) - Series > Film
Quest for Camelot (Kayley)

I'm sure there's more, but I'd have to go reference my DVD collection at home!

does anyone remember a program called marmalade atkins from the 70s/80s?

That was pretty cool IIRC. Do they still have stuff like that on childrens telly?

I have a nearly 4yo and a nearly 2yo and stuff like Labyrinth would be way beyond them. We're definitely at the Peppa Pig stage round here

I think DH tried them with finding nemo a month or two ago but they lost interest after a bit.

My dd really liked Labyrinth when she was little. We watched it 70 million times. That and Cats...

Marmalade Atkins was my hero!

Charlotte Coleman who played her died ever so young of an asthma attack though. She was only 33

I think Roald Dahl matilda is good, theres the kind woman , the superficial woman and the trunchbull, and the man isnt heroic (devito) hes a slimy scummy individual.

Jumanjii? I remember dunst being quite more clever than the brother.

Harry Potter ? hermoine

Good God, who recommended Pan's Labyrinth? Even for older children its really scary and sad. But brilliant. Maybe I'm a wuss.
Labyrinth on the other hand - I'll admit to a pre-teen crush on David Bowie in that one.

Inkheart- just watched it with DD (6). Filled with books and strong female characters. Cornelia Funke writes the most fantastic books- the princess knight and pirate girl (picture books) and others like Igraine the brave.

The Spiderwick chronicles- the girl is a fencer and fights off the trolls when they attack.
At the moment DD is heavily into Dr Who as well. She adores Coraline which I think has already been mentioned.
When DD was younger we watched a lot of Hilltop Hospital (surgeon Sally, although Nurse Kitty is a sap), maisie mouse and Meg and Mog.

Coraline is brilliant - but way too scarey for little ones. maybe ok from 7-8 onwards, depending on how robust