We watch way too much Power Rangers, and lots of other things that are supposedly violent and socially reprehensible, but Lilo and Stitch is one of the few shows that occasionally makes my old soul of a 7 year old cry.

I wondered too about the racial sterotypes, but sort of wonder if it’s better to have a broader range of portrails of ethinic minorities. It’s like how 20 years ago, all gay people in the movies or on TV were swishy queens or serial killers. Now, post Will and Grace, and Ellen, it’s acceptable to show the range of gay characters. I remember a producer on Will and Grace saying, “Because we have Will, we get to have Jack.” explaining that if we show groups in their diversity, we don’t have to avoid the sterotypes quite as fiercely, because there’s something there to balance it out. And let’s face it, most of us know a Jack… : ) and a Will.

Finally, there’s a reason the World Wildlife Fund focuses on “mega-fauna.” People all over the world, including adults are more worried about what happens to large, cute animals than about what happens to species of insects or plants. There’s not a huge groundswell to save the spotted leaf eater, or whatever, but people care a lot more about saving gibbons, or snow leopards. I’d rather my kids see a somewhat clunky message about saving penguins than a clunky message that the prince will always come and rescue you.

Ratatouille, on the other hand, was a big, big winner all around.

Also, though not Disney, Studio Ghibli is my absolute fave for animation, and the American dubbing and distribution of their movies was Disney. Hayao Miyazaki has wonderful, strong girl characters, an environmentalist message, and the hand-painted scenes are gorgeosity itself. I can’t imagine being a parent of young girls and not loving these films enough to want to marry them. My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, and Howl’s Castle are films I can watch over ‘n over ‘n over ‘n over…

Rev. Gidget

And the environmental message seemed tacked on and clunky. I miss the days of Fern Gully–now that is a Robin Williams movie I can get behind!

I watched it with a former roommate who has aspirations of joining the Animal Liberation Front and my pithy comments about half hearted warm and fuzzy anthropomorphic penguins with racist overtones trying to teach pre-conscience toddlers about overfishing of migratory waters and global warming were not appreciated.

Growing up in a fundamentalist church, as a girl with a call to ministry, I really identified with the way the adult leaders reacted. The dad particularly could have been a bit braver in the face of the condemnation of the community, I agree, the parents cowardace was disappointing but probably pretty realistic.

I agree the robin williams part was a little over the stereotypical line for me, and I agree with Sarah Dylan Brewer that the cute animal stewardship thing wears on my nerves. (You gotta remember, though, that most kids think all animals are great cute. We have an ant farm that’s turned into an ant retirement home since they’ve lived for over two years, and our almost seven year old is dying for a rodent or a lizard. The adults make the animals cute for the entertainment of other adults, I think.)

I’m sorry if my post seemed patronizing; that wasn’t my intent. I’m no expert on race, but I have found that that we (as a society) tend to shy away from talking about race. My point isn’t that we need a panel to decide what is racist and what isn’t, but rather talk about it to build a better understanding.

Does that apply to you? Probably not, and it was a foolish mistake for me to think that it might. For that I am sorry.

- John

Dunno.

What I can say is that I don’t get why every kids movie needs fart jokes. My parents were pretty Victorian about such things and watching movies with that sort of humor was very awkward for me even as a little kid.

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