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Recommendations for children's films

44 replies

louisianablue2000 · 29/05/2013 00:09

After watching The Wizard of Oz with my DDs i'm wondering what else I could find that is actually suitable for my preschool daughters.

I want
a) something that passes the Bechdal test but preferably has almost equal numbers of male and female characters
b) something that is not a romance, I don't like romances for such young children
c) preferably should not have a 'sassy' female character reacting against sexist societal norms. I'd rather that sexism wasn't presented as normal.

So apart from The Wizard of Oz and the Studio Ghibli films (though I'd like to know which are the best for preschoolers since Spirited Away was pretty creepy at times) what is there?

OP posts:
Childrenofthestones · 29/05/2013 05:07

Kiki's Delivery Service.

Our Friend Totoro.

MortifiedAdams · 29/05/2013 05:10

Hmmm was going to suggest Pochahontis but she is quite sassy.

The Incredibles.

TheDoctrineOfSnatch · 29/05/2013 07:13

Yes, Kiki is fine for preschoolers.

Have you looked on amightygirl.com for recommendations?

thylarctosplummetus · 29/05/2013 07:27

My Neighbour Totoro - my kids loved that, and still do.

Bolt is a good film that as animal based, totally sidelines the whole sexism thing.

Despicable me?

UptoapointLordCopper · 29/05/2013 10:17

My Neighbour Totoro - quite possibly one of the greatest films I've seen! Grin (OK granted I haven't seen that many films... Still...)

jojane · 29/05/2013 10:21

Moster inc
Finding memo

comeonbishbosh · 29/05/2013 13:58

Yes to Kiki and Toroto.

Our 3yr old DD also loves the Railway Children, the classic one. (Tho some of the themes will go over her head a little).

GerundTheBehemoth · 29/05/2013 16:36

Monsters vs Aliens has a strong (eventually) female lead and a clear and very satisfying anti-sexism message (though most other characters are male and it only just passes the Bechdel test).

GerundTheBehemoth · 29/05/2013 19:56

Just realised I missed the word 'not' in your point c) sorry!

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louisianablue2000 · 30/05/2013 00:04

That's OK, I'd not heard of Monsters vs Aliens and it looks quite good for the final message. Been looking elsewhere and some of the best films in this category started life as books. Not including the two above, examples of decent films I've found elsewhere include Alice in Wonderland, Mary Poppins, Nanny McPhee, Charlotte's Web, Coraline. But being fussy I'd like my DDs to come across most of those in their paperbound format.

Been looking at A Mighty Girl and now very jealous of all the nice picture book biographies there seem to be in the States, I think I've seen one (about Nelson Mandela) here drowning behind all the Charlie and Lola books in my local Waterstones. Some interesting film options though.

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Italiangreyhound · 30/05/2013 02:02

LOVED Despicable me.

Tangled

Bugs life

Lilo and Stitch

Shrek 3

All the Shrek ones are pretty good (I think) but in 1 and 4 most characters are male and not sure any passes the the Bechdel test except for Shrek 3 - but this is something I am thinking about after seeing them not something I was concious at the time.

GerundTheBehemoth was thinking Monster Vs Aliens but can't remember how it passes the Bechdel test.

www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-lists/best-smart-movie-girls

TheDoctrineOfSnatch · 30/05/2013 06:49

Italian, there's a brief conversation about thumbs betweensusan and Derek's mother. That's about it...

Italiangreyhound · 30/05/2013 16:30

Oh yes, I remember that! Right before her lack of thumb gets her stuck in the church building!

Italiangreyhound · 30/05/2013 16:30

It's a bit scary when I think how much I loved Toy Story 1, 2 and 3 and then I think how few female characters there were!

VestandKnickers · 30/05/2013 16:35

Charlotte's Web. Excellent book and pretty good film.

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louisianablue2000 · 30/05/2013 23:14

The trouble with Bug's Life is that they made a female dominated society (ant colonies only produce males at certain times of the year and their role is only associated with reproduction) into a mainly male society which makes me wonder about Pixar even more than all the male dominated buddy movies they make.

Aren't the stats that 75% of films fail the Bechdal test? Shocking how we don't even notice until you are told about the test.

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Spiritedwolf · 31/05/2013 14:51

Kiki's Delivery Service.

Brave is good but she's having to defy society (but she is fab and declines romance)
Tangled is good but there is a romance
How to Train Your Dragon is good but is based on a boo

You have some tough conditions there that I could only think of a few that worked.

I love the Pixar movies, but they are infuriating for being so male-dominated, because the worlds they created - Monsters, Cars, Rats, Bugs, Finding Nemo, UP etc had no real reason to be male dominated. (Toys you could argue took its lead from toys available, but even then, why are Slinky, Ham and Rex male?). Ratatoulie shows a couple of strong females (chef Colette, and old lady at the start) and Colette being the only female in the kitchen was handled well (though signposted) when she was introduced but then she became the love interest. But why weren't more of the rats female? Why does it have to be a father and brother etc.

I would imagine Pixar's problem is partly the lack of female storytellers (hence Brave beign proposed by a female director) and sexism in the industry, but I also wonder how much of it was just "Ah the male orientated buddy story made Toy Story successful, so lets do that again."

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louisianablue2000 · 31/05/2013 22:52

I think the third condition is harder but isn't it shocking that passing the Bechdal test and not having a romance are hard conditions for films for preschoolers?

i was reading about Pixar and part of them being set up was in reaction to the Disney Princess thing. But considering how many films they have made now, why haven't they made a female buddy movie? Apparently boys don't like female led films but considering my nephews loved Tangled I think that's bullshit.

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SugarMouse1 · 04/06/2013 18:26

Coraline- that's brilliant

Corpse Bride

Alice in Wonderland

KaseyM · 04/06/2013 18:38

DS absolutely loves Brave. At the end of the day they choose from what's available to them and if movies with girl leads were available in the mainstream (not marginalized, romanticised, pinkified, princessified, obviously targeted at girls) then boys would adapt and learn to love them.

PolyesterBride · 04/06/2013 18:59

Ponyo. Brilliant ghibli about a fish who turns into a girl. Nearly all female characters. Perfect for preschoolers.

Mary poppins?

PolyesterBride · 04/06/2013 19:01

Actually looking at your criteria all the tinkerbell films would fit wouldn't they?

NotAnotherPackedLunch · 04/06/2013 19:06

Swallows and Amazons (from 1974?) - Easily passes the Bechdal test .

The Fox and the Child

WhentheRed · 04/06/2013 19:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Louise1956 · 05/06/2013 23:37

films my sons have enjoyed include:

kung Fu Panda
how to Train Your Dragon
Monsters versus Aliens
Ratatouille
despicable Me
wreck It Ralph
the Borrowers
the Incredibles
bolt
james And the Giant Peach

don't think there's much romance in any of those, though there might be a bit in Ratatouille. don't know about equal numbers of m and f though, I don't know many film that have those. despicable Me though has three little girls who are very good characters.

If your children are girls they might enjoy the Barbie movies,whivh do usually have some romance in, but are very good. barbie And The Three Musketeers, my personal favourite, has only a slight hint of romance in it, and A Mermaid's Tale doesn't have any.