Disney is awesome isn’t it? Just fabulous. I grew up on all the films; Lion King (sob like a baby), Aladdin (love the Genie) and Little Mermaid (I was Aerial as I had red hair!). We have been to Walt Disney World Florida twice and I can’t wait to take the gremlin when she is older.
So it is no surprise the gremlin is already a big Disney fan (and Pixar of course). Most people I see talk about their littlies loving CBeebies. I could count on both my hands the amount of time CBeebies has been on. We just don’t watch it. It’s usually something from Netflix and that is often a Disney film.
Disney did pose a bit of a dilemma for us and the gremlin though. We pondered; are some of the older films too scary? I didn’t bat an eyelid as a child but the gremlin? I haven’t see Frozen all the way through but I’m not aware of it putting the fear of God in children. Similarly to a lot of the Pixar films; they are pretty tame (correct me if I’m wrong). As with most things nowadays, the chance of something being “too frightening”, upsetting a very young audience and a possible post-viewing social media war is just waaaay too much to risk!
Too scary?So we did umm and ah for a bit. What films you may ask? Aladdin. The end bit when Jafar becomes a snake; pretty intense. Beauty and the Beast; the Beast is a nut! The Little Mermaid; Ursula rising from the dark waters, cackling like a loon is slightly unnerving. Would it bother the gremlin? The short answer is no. She wasn’t fussed at all. My Mum sat with her and explained The Little Mermaid but reported back she was fine and she barely even asked anything about The Beast having one of his strops. Are these little ones a bit more hard core than we think? Do we mollycoddle them a little too much?
The older OLD Disney films are a completely different kettle of fish. I have yet to subject the gremlin to one of my firm faves; Dumbo. You all know the Pink Elephants scene? As a child I was both fascinated and freaked out by that whole charade. The visions of a drunken elephant and mouse? Just plain weird and trippy.
However, not that long ago I actually suggested watching Pinocchio. For me it had been years and I couldn’t remember a lot of it. We were both entranced at the beginning watching all the amazing toys the old carpenter had made. A couple of the clocks created I thought were a bit risque for this day and age. A gun being fired at a bird and a Mother slapping her child on the bum. Well I was slapped on the bum but lets say times have changed! The gremlin didn’t say anything and I kept quiet. I had however, forgotten the child catcher and the horrible moment tonnes of terrified boys turn into donkeys, calling desperately for their mothers. I also forgot the boys smoking and drinking. Having to explain to a 2 year old that Pinocchio was sick and green because smoking was filthy was a fun one! This film was made in 1940 however and it’s hard to step back! Times have changed completely and of course behaviours and what is acceptable has changed. I finished the film feeling a tad uncomfy but the gremlin was never bothered and has since watched it again with someone sat with her to explain.
I wonder if I worry too me or my worries are justified. After all the gremlin is only 2 but her love for these films is so great! I think as long as she is sat with us and if she shows any signs of fear we switch off, all is fine. It gives me a good excuse to re-live all my childhood memories again!
