One afternoon, we were watching Pixar’s animated film “Up” and when it got to the part when the widower Carl was about to be brought to a home for old people, I asked my younger daughter, Alex, if they would send their father away if I died. Alex smirked in a dismissive fashion prompting Speedy to ask, “Why? Won’t you take care of me? Won’t you cook for me?”
Giving her father a sideways glace, Alex replied, “McDo.”
“Everyday?” her father asked.
“Okay, sometimes, Yellow Cab Pizza.”
“That’s all fat! And cholesterol!”
“Okay, sometimes, Pon Lo Tai (the nearest Chinese take-out/delivery).”
Well, she didn’t say she’d send him to a home for old people, did she, and I guess that’s what really counts.
Yes, we watch animated films. At home and in the movie house. As a family. My husband and I enjoy animated films as much as our girls do. In our forties? I’m joking, right? Wrong. Some of these films may look like they are meant only for children but, if you look past the animation, you’ll realize the layers of meaning. For instance?
Okay, for instance, Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, the story of a town suffering from economic depression and Flint Lockwood’s Diatonic Super Mutating Dynamic Food Replicator (or the FLDSMDFR), a giant microwave machine that makes food out of water molecules. Flint, formerly shunned as a useless geek and nerd, becomes famous after inventing the machine that could make food rain everyday. To the delight of the townspeople, he could make cheeseburgers, spaghetti, steaks, ice cream and just about any kind of food rain with the push of a button. The town is now famous, draws tourists, and the people want more and more, including the mayor who turns obese from consuming the food that rained everyday.
When the machine startsto overload, disaster strikes. The normal food sizes turn gigantic causing damage and havoc. From a shunned nerd to a hero, Flint is now a public enemy blamed for all the misfortunes. When he tries to turn off the machine, the greedy mayor tries to kill him before running off to leave the townspeople to die. Flint eventually manages to put things right with a help of a few friends.
Yes, it’s a children’s film. But what spot-on commentary on human nature too! The public rejects anyone who is different, embraces him when he is useful to them then blames him and only him for misfortunes that they are partly to blame for too. And what a shrewd observation on the character of many of today’s politicians! A politician will use anyone who can make him famous. He will claim credit for achievements not his own. And he will ignore signs of danger just to glorify his name and his image.
Then, there’s How to Train Your Dragon, a story about the never ending fight for food and how men go to war so blindly, not knowing the real reason nor who the real enemy is. Yes, I am referring to the DreamWorks’ animation. There is no other film with the same title. And, no, I didn’t get the storyline wrong. How to Train Your Dragon is an allegory but you have to keep you mind open to understand the hidden meaning.
Hiccup is the weakly son of Stoick the Vast, a Viking chief. His island is forever under attack by dragons who steal the sheep for food. Ergo, there is a never ending war between the Vikings and the dragons, and with each battle the slaughter is terrible.
One day, Hiccup accidentally hits a dragon called the Night Fury with a home made bolas cannon. No one believes him. He goes into the woods, toward the direction where he saw the dragon fall, to get his proof. But instead of killing the dragon (whom he names Toothless), he takes pity and sets it free. The dragon, however, is unable to fly off as part of its tail is missing.
So commences a friendship between boy and dragon, and the taming of the dragon – a little closer everyday – is simply reminiscent of the scenes between The Little Prince and the Fox in Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s celebrated children’s story. Hiccup fashions a contraption to replace the missing part of the tail and trains Toothless to fly with it.
When, as part of his dragon training (all the Viking youth go through it), Hiccup is required to kill a dragon, he does not do so but instead subdues it with gestures and words, tricks he learned from dealing with Toothless – when fear and anger are set aside, understanding and communication become possible.
To make a long story short, while flying with Toothless on day, Hiccup discovers why dragons steal their sheep – to feed a gigantic dragon that lives deep inside a cave that would eat them unless they fed him. Through all the years that the Vikings have been killing dragons to protect their food, they never bothered to find out where the dragons flew with their sheep (thinking is not a testosterone-driven activity). And Hiccup would never have found out about it had it not been for Toothless. When Hiccup accidentally tells his father about the dragon nest, Toothless is bound at Stoick’s order so he could lead them to the secret cave. How to Train Your Dragon is still showing so I won’t tell you how it ends. Suffice to say that it’s a happy ending.
So, the next time you watch an animated film with your kids, before you start laughing too hard at the on-screen antics, think hard – the joke might be on you for not understanding the film’s real meaning.
I’ll never grow tired of watching animated films. Besides the fun factor, they have a unique way of telling a story and bringing morals to the audience.
Yes, some of these animated films are good. I saw “UP” 2 or 3 weeks ago at home (the DVD was lent to us by an older guy, a movie buff, and loves this kind of movies because his facial expressions tells it when he tries to tell us about the movie. I noticed the DVD case wasn’t even open when he handed it to me. He said, “Go for it!” Meaning, I can open the plastic wrapper, etc! Then he added, “My wife bought it for me but I already saw the movie!”). Well, one week passed before I decided to watch the movie with a friend. I usually lay myself on a couch facing the TV screen. The movie started to lose my interest during the first 30 mins or so (I went to sleep!) “because there was something about those dogs’ interacting/talking to each other that didn’t make sense” as I was telling my friend (also a movie buff)when I woke up. My friend though stayed up & watched the whole movie. Anyhow,I could name 3 animated films that I really liked and wouldn’t mind watching again: The Lion King, Happy Feet, and Finding Nemo! Thank you!! :0)
There must be something in our generation (and by that, I mean those in their late thirties to their forties) that makes us love these animated movies. I’ve observed that those in my parents’ generation hardly watch any, except when coaxed by grandchildren.
The quality of most foreign animated films are exceptional, sometimes even better than regular movies. Between Clash of the Titans and How to Train Your Dragon, I’d throw in my lot with the latter anytime. COTT was overrated and my husband and I were so bored we dozed off in some parts. It made us feel sorry we wasted an hour in the line just to get cinema tickets.
Jhay, they’re double-edged swords. They can relay positive values but they can also send subliminal messages.
Panay Islander, The Lion King was a DAILY HABIT with us for a year or so when the girls were about 2 and 3, respectively. Everytime Mufasa died, Sam would cry. I love that film. To this day. The combination of the imagery and the song (Circle of Life) in the opening scene is so, so powerful.
And, oh, I never got to finish “Up” either. Fell asleep around the part when they were nearing the falls.
Kittymama, thanks for the feedback on Clash of the Titans. I swore I’d never spend money and time watching it.
My favorite children’s movie is from 1982. It isn’t animated. In fact, the symbolisms and the profound message of the film may not be grasped easily by children.
Most memorable line: “Hold her to you, for she is part of you, as we all are part of each other.”
The Dark Crystal
I love animated films. The best part of it is I don’t have to think about the messages. My 10 year old son feeds the lessons and anylyses to me and my wife. Including comparisons to other works. Goes for non-animated films, as well… like Sydney White.
Animated films right now are upping the bar in story telling. Its difference with live-action movies is that every gesture and scene have been envisioned with so much attention to detail and plot. What I love even more than watching them, is watching how they were made-the concepts and behind the scenes.
Jeng, I loved The Dark Crystal. Can’t find a DVD copy though.
Neolex, ah, but the really good ones do make you think.
curious_Girl, re “how they were made”: Notice how the physical appearance of the characters resemble the actors that lend their voices to them? Like Mulan looks like Ming-Na, Esmeralda looks like Demi Moore, etc. Now, Astrid in How to Train Your Dragon looks like Kate Hudson — we were so surprised to read in the credits that her voice belong to America Ferrera!
Shrek is hilarious and also Timon and Pumba of the Lion King. However, it seems that there is always a dark message for every animation, not only Disney or Pixar films. Parents are always killed or the main character are without parents (like what happened to Snow White parents?). Maybe to prepare the children that someday you don’t need your parents? I don’t know.
Time seems flying past these days. It is like just yesterday when I hesitantly took the role of Scar opposite my son who played Simba. But I like Scar’s lines:
1. I am surrounded by idiots.
2. Just remember our little secrets.
3. Life is not fair, is it? I…well, I’ll never be King but you’ll never see the light of another day.
4. Oh, where I have seen this before.
Bambi and Peter Pan were my old favorites. There were lots of animated films over the years. The Flintstones, Scooby Doos, Bugs Bunny, The Wizard of Oz, The Transformers, Pinochio, Akira, Garfield, Aladdin, The Land Before Time, Pocahontas, Hercules, Antz, Mulan, The Iron Giant, Toy Story, The Emperor’s New Grove, Pokemon, Sinbad, Titan AE, Atlantis, Ice Age, Finding Nemo (fish are friends not food), Bionicle, SpongeBob, YugiOh, Final Fantasy, Flushed Away, etc…
One of my favorite is the dancing scene in the Beauty and the Beast…
how I love the song….it is sweet.
After watching Pocahontas many years ago,we took our children to
McDonalds.There was a commotion on our table as we were ordering food.
Three young blonde girls were talking to my teen-age daughter….they
thought she was Pocahontas.That was funny and amusing.
When our parents celebrated their 50th,their grandchildren surprised
them with a song entitled If We Hold On Together…from The Land Before
Time.Beautiful song.
We owe it all to Disney.
Here are some of my “comfort movies”: Pinocchio, Land before time, Monsters Inc., Corpse Bride, and the Studio Ghibli DVD box set
I saw Coraline and Mary and Max and I think they are too dark for kids. Coraline’s button eyes freaked me out.