Films or TV shows with strong female characters - recommendations for 5 and 6 year olds

[isthistoonosy]

We watched The pirates, today, a U rated film. It was almost all meale characters, with the few women shown as sexy (exagerated boobs and hips) and even a reference to looking down womens tops. I can't believe that passes as OK kids TV.

Any recomnedations for kids films which are a tad more feminisit :-)

My kids are 5 and 6 but younger films are prob better as thier English is a bit lacking esp when it comes to understanding films.

Recent Disney films are really good, especially Brave, Tangled and Inside Out. Not sure about series

Moana?

Coralline? Might be a bit on the scary side although my daughter loved it at that age.

Brave, tangled, moana, beauty and beast live action are good Disney films. Strong females, not simply pretty princesses swooning.

Also look at studio ghibli films as they have very strong female characters. Kikis delivery service, my neighbour totoro and Arietty are favourites of Dd who is 5. Theres also a series on amazon prime called Ronja the robbers daughter by the same studio which has kept her silent for days during the lockdown.

There are loads of fab books for girls as well. Dd currently reading the princess in black series.

For ideas check out the 'A mighty girl' website. Its american but a good start.

Matilda
The BFG

We also love the pirates film. I agree about the females though and have explained it to my DD. Theres some good female pirates books-eg. swashbuckle lil, night pirates.

Catie’s Amazing Machines on CBeebies, and Do You Know? with Maddie.

There’s only so many Strong Female Characters (TM) they need - just women doing normal things and men not being dicks about it is equally important. And if you have sons, make sure they watch/read things where men are incidental. Mallory Towers would be good, but they’re a bit young for that. Also SheRa on CBBC.

Netflix has most of the Studio Ghibli films now and loads of them have female lead characters. Absolutely none of them have any of that sexist or hypersexual crap. They're wonderful.

My Neighbour Totoro has got to be my favourite Studio Ghibli film - it's just wonderful and made with younger children in mind. The main characters are two sisters.

Kiki's Delivery Service is also great (about a young witch).

Arietty is basically the Borrowers, and it's a lovely version of the story.

I'd start with them with younger kids and if they like them, there's loads more to discover.

Cross post, and mogtheexcellent funny we picked exactly the same 3!

Haven't seen Ronja the Robbers Daughter yes, that'll have to be our next one.

Maid Marian and her Merry Men was a brilliant series from the late 80s and early 90s. It was a version of Robin Hood where Marian was the brains of the gang. It's on Amazon Prime but unfortunately it's not one of the free ones.

CITV's Worst Witch series.

Thanks, some things to look at tommorow. 6 yr old is a boy, 5 yr old a girl, my daughters English is quite poor (understand me but can't really speak), and she is very much still into toddler tv pepper pig, dora etc.

The "mighty girl" website (US) specialises in book and media recommendations for this purpose. Strong female role models, feminist history etc.

We like Miraculous Ladybug

isthistoonosy My Neighbour Totoro is suitable for very young kids, I first showed it to mine when they were 3 or 4 I think. My 7 year old would probably still like it now if we hadn't seen it a zillion times now! May have overplayed it a bit!

We loved Disney's Mulan.

Another vote for Mulan.
Annie, especially the original one for younger kids

Wreck-It Ralph (both films) - child female heroine is kick-ass and lots of other powerful female characters/leaders too

The remake of Herbie with lyndsey Lohan is pretty good too.

Quite a few of the Barbie films. Often have Barbie (and her friends) in a variety of jobs, saving the day. Others are terrible (such as Princess Charm School).

My eldest adores the worst witch - but he's 9.

I'm trying to think what the 6 year old watches - I've seen him watching the power puff girls, teen titans (that one I quite enjoy overhearing), peg + cat - all of which have girls and women as main characters, doing main character stuff

My little pony friendship is magic is great for this age. Almost every character is female including the rulers. There are lots of different characters with differing preferred activities i.e. yes there are ponies who love fashion and can be girly but also female ponies who are brave, active, academic, strong, sporty, scientific. And some good adventurous stories your DS might enjoy too.