Recommendations for children's films

[louisianablue2000]

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?

I was going to say Wreck it Ralph but Louise got there before me.

I've been looking for similar films for dd2 recently but am having a load of problems finding anything with decent female leads that aren't pink and princessy. We've watched Brave a few times and seen Tangled, but most films aimed at this agegroup are very male dominated or very pink and fluffy.

Kung Fu Panda and Ratatouille both fail the Bechdel test.

We watched Despicable Me at the weekend which the girls loved so that was a hit, we might have to actually go to the cinema for the sequal. Coraline is the next DVD (they've been warned it's a bit scary) and I really want to see Lilo and Stitch having read the wiki plot summary!

I've heard the Barbie films are female strong films but I'm not sure I can bring myself to spend money on so much pink. DD1 is currently more interested in football than Barbies, long may it continue.

Been looking elsewhere as well and the following have been recommended: Annie, Chicken Run, The Wild Thornberrys (anyone seen that, is it any good?), Hoodwinked, National Velvet (think that's probably a bit older though), Whale Rider (also older), and Akeelah and the Bee. Plus more book adaptions: Heidi, Pippi Longstocking, Pollyanna, Little Women.

Tangled is pretty good, I think.

I was just about to say Lilo and Stitch - I just remembered about it, it's about sisters :) I love it. Slight romance with the older sister, but fairly normal rather than fairytale romance.

I have seen the Wild Thornberries, but quite a while ago, i identified with the geeky, animal loving main character. i'm afraid i can't remember it well enough to think about it from a feminist pov.

Nim's island (book based) is another one like whale rider that might be good for a bit older.

The Muppets. Miss Piggy takes no shit from anyone.

Swallows and amazons?

Poccahontas?

Arrietty
Chicken Run

The bechdel test is stupid. kung Fu Panda is a jolly good film, and there are two female characters among the superheroes, what's wrong with that? And Ratatouille is a charming film, funny and clever. using the bechdel test to determine what to watch you're going to miss out on some good films. So are your daughters.

I we enjoyed Mulan a lot, although I know that she is sassy. Howl's moving castle is also good and has- shock- old women in it too (but it might be a bit creepy in places). Love Totoro, such a gorgeous film!

Bridge to Terabithia for older children (but buy tissues, it gets me every time)

Some suggestions here:

diaspora.gen.nz/~maire/blog/index.php?/archives/69-Movies-for-children.html

Really interesting link there noble... although now I feel a bit embarrassed for recommending Mulan!

Hoodwinked and Hoodwinked 2. No romance, strong female lead?

cats and dogs
matilda
Homeward Bound
Despicable Me
Aristocats

Louise1956, this is the feminist and women's rights section. I can list 100s of enjoyable films that fail the criteria in my OP, a large number of which DD1 appears to watch at school. If I ask for a list of few films that, shock horror, represent girls having adventures and female friends to counterbalance the male dominated popular culture they see elsewhere then I don't really think I'm depriving them.

Review of the Disney films here:

disney-blog.com/2011/05/the-bechdel-test-and-disney-films/

Has anyone suggested Wall-e?

Dd loves it, the main characters barely talk so the Bechnal test is hard to apply...

This is the website you want:

A Mighty Girl

My two are loving Swallows and Amazons (aged 4 & 6). I also have Fly Away Home up my sleeve for a rainy day along with Railway Children.