well, Studio Ghibli is still making films at a regular pace, as is alot of Japanese contemporaries. Hell, even Takashi Miike did a children’s movie, Zebraman and The Great Yokai War which although fairly mediocre, are similar in tone to what your getting at.
I’m really not sure Del Toro ever made a movie targeted at children though, his most “tame” film was probably Hell Boy and that was definitely aimed a predominately male teen demographic.
For the sake of the thread though I find that Jean Pierre Jeunet (Amelie) and Bryan Fuller (Pushing Daisies) fall into this category, so there are definitely films and media such as this still today. My only problem with these types of films is that they are often extremely polarized in their depictions, good/bad and right/wrong are nearly set in stone, which while problematic, makes a whole deal of sense, since you don’t want to young-un’s questioning everything…
I am not familiar with the two films you name, Paya. Are they American?
I assume you know Albert Lamorisse’s two fine films – The Red Balloon and Crin Blanc (White Mane.) I consider them the top two in the area you describe, if I understand you correctly.
I am concerned that any film made by an adult “about” children would be untrustworthy, even fraudulent – children as seen by adults.
I have in mind a project in the UK, some years ago, wherein kids were given camcorders and told to film their home and family. The results were often pretty shocking, especially for the parents!
Take care.
@PAYA – Yey! Girl, I can relate. This thread made me smile.
I grew up watching Miyazaki movies and made-for-TV serials back in the late ‘70s (Future Boy Conan, Castle of Cagliostro, Nausicaa etc…) and continue to follow his work to this day. There’s always something magical about his films, pure fantasy but quite unconventional when compared to mainstream hollywood films made for children, not to mention his frequent reference to ecology, animals and nature in his films. I have fond memories of seeing Tonari No Totoro with my godchild in a packed theatre, and I noticed that even the adults/ parents in the crowd were enthralled. I think it’s a good thing his Studio Ghibli continues to produce 2D animation features in the age of CG. I used to work as a cel animator in the late 80’s, that’s why hand-drawn films, a dying craft, like Miyazaki’s are always special to me.
Also, thanks for mentioning Die Unendliche Geschichte – haven’t seen it since it came out in ‘85(?). I didn’t realize Wolfgang Petersen made it just right after Das Boot. I’d definitely revisit it again.
So-called “children’s films” – which is to say, films by adults about children – should not, in my view, be taken seriously. Most of them remind me of the “negro” films of the 1930s, 40s and 50s – a bit before your time. These were cheapies, shown in gritty theatres in black neighbors of big cities to black audiences. \Most of them were written and directed by whites, though the players were all black. To that extent, they were lies. They portrayed “negros” as whites imagined blacks to be or, worse, as whites wanted them to be – that is, as much like whites as possible. I feel that the same is true of children’s films. I don’t believe there is such a thing as a children’s film. To be seen, as it should, through the eyes of children, a true children’s film would have to be written, directed, edited, shot and acted largely by children, I believe. We will see that one day, as we have seen films in the last 3-4 decades written and directed by “negros.” Meanwhile, we must endure films “about” children as seen through the eyes of adults. Case in point – Lamorisse’s beautiful Red Balloon. What does little Pacal (Albert’s son) think, subjectively, about all this foolishness, about adults jerking him around Paris with a balloon? I don’t know, but I would like to know. Suppose the writer, director, editor and camerman had all been, say twelve-year olds.Take Care, Lovely Paya! G.A.
to Gordon
speaking on Paya’s behalf, I can tell you that she has seen both The Red Balloon and Crin Blanc. In fact, The Red Balloon is her favorite film. The movies she named were either German (The Neverending Story), Japanese (My Neighbor, Totoro) or American (The Dark Crystal). And I think you did get her point, unlike Crap Monster who I don’t think quite did.
I don’t think Paya’s talking about movies made for children but movies made with the spirit on innocence intact. You can either this way and that about the loss of innocence in adults or whether or not a feeling of youth can ever really be maintained, but both Paya and I think that these films (that she mentioned as well as countless others) keep the valve on the imagination wide opened. Directors like Frank Oz and del Toro know how to keep the spirit alive.
@HONEY- “…movies made with the spirit on innocence intact.”
“…these films keep the valve on the imagination wide opened.”
You hit the point.
hmm… to directly quote Paya in her opening post, she did indeed say “made for children”…
I still find the works I mention fall into this category either way. The idea of a loss of innocence as well can only be attributed to one film she mentioned as well, which would be Pans Labyrinth.
I get what your saying but, if I didn’t get it, its because it was phrased inaccurately….
Children & adults aren’t always residing in opposing worlds, Gordon. Everyone was once a child, so there is the potential to hold onto that child-like mindset when we age, but oftentimes, people ignore it because they want to be “mature” & “sophisticated” & blah blah blah. Honestly, that’s just irrational. Childhood is what shapes you for the most part; it’s what builds your core character strengths & long-buried limitations. Adults try to act like they’re beyond being children, but they aren’t, & it’s very childish of them to reject their primary years.
One example: Tideland by Terry Gilliam is a film about children & not necessarily for children, but I think that it is so exquisitely crafted that it illustrates the inner-workings of a child’s mind perfectly.
Honey and Paya:
I’m sure you guys are better-qualified than I to discuss this interesting topic. On the other hand, I’ve got two kids.
I mean to say that I think adults “project” their perceptions of children ON TO children.
I think “adult perception” has little to do with “child reality.”
For example, adults universally perceive of children as “cute.”
Young kids don’t even know what “cute” is.With the exception of the occasional, little girl, what child wants to be “cute” or thinks of himself or herself as cute? “Cute” is an adult notion, don’t you think?
Honey and Paya:
I’m sure you guys are better-qualified than I to discuss this interesting topic. On the other hand, I’ve got two kids.
I mean to say that I think adults “project” their perceptions of children ON TO children.
I think “adult perception” has little to do with “child reality.”
For example, adults universally perceive of children as “cute.”
Young kids don’t even know what “cute” is. With the exception of the occasional, little girl, what child wants to be “cute” or thinks of himself or herself as cute? “Cute” is an adult notion, not a kid’s. Or so I think.
Adults create children in their own image, the way white screen-writers created blacks in the old “negro” films that I mentrioned earlier.
Sorry, I have accidentally posted two of these here.
You might check out a 1948 film directed by Joseph Losey entitled The Boy With Green Hair. Very well-received at the time – I didn’t care for it – but I think it falls within this area of interest.
I am sure you have read the novel or seen the film(s) Lord of the Flies, by the Nobel Prize-winning British author William Golding. Easily the finest novel or film ever made about childhood – deeply tragic and depressing, as well. There really is nothing to equal this in terms of depth and insight. I say “films” (plural) because there, were, indeed, two – 1963 and 1990 – by two directors. Both films fell far short of the novel. Read it!
was Lord of the Flis “really” about children though? My understanding was that the group of children were essentially a microcosm of society at large, thus no different from adults.
Crapo – Chronologically, they were children, from kiddies through mid-teens, mostly in the 10-13 arena. I refer to the novel. I did not see the two films.
I was trying to point out was that the novel was not concerned about making a realisic portrayal of children rather used them as a representation for society at large to make a statement on human nature.
Yes, that’s one, popular interpretation, but I don’t believe the author ever said as much.
Yes, a valid topic. Here’s a shortlist of title suggestions:
1) Radio Flyer
2) My Life as a Dog
3) Red Balloon
4) White Mane
5) The Lion King
Yes, a valid topic. Here’s a shortlist of title suggestions:
1) Radio Flyer
2) My Life as a Dog
3) Red Balloon
4) White Mane
5) The Lion King
Paya
I have always loved films made for children you can blame this on my naivety or on my attachment to films I watched when I was young but no matter the reason movies like Die Unendliche Geschichte, The Dark Crystal and Tonari no Totoro. They awaken a spirit within and rewaken my hope. These movies make me see the positive in the world and the magic that is still here. With all the negativity in the world, I think there is a greater need for these kinds of films. And I think directors like Guillermo del Toro and Miyazaki realize this. They have refound the magic in the world of models and of animation. They still use their imagination. I think a lot of good can come out of watching these films.
Fellow appreciation? Thoughts?