[beilabs]

Thankfully my kids are devouring my Studio Ghibli collection. Ny Neighbor Totoro and Ponyo are played multiple times in the day. They've not yet gotten to Spirited Away, waiting until they are a little older. I dread the day they turn on Grave of the Fireflies. I thank the stars they have outgrown baby shark and cocomelon.

[savanaly]

The movie that scarred me as a kid was Princess Mononoke. I remember my parents had a few friends over to watch it when it first released on DVD and they did this after my bedtime as I wasn't considered old enough to see but of course I snuck down to watch (I'm pretty sure they knew I was watching in retrospect).

The scene that I would relive in my nightmares repeatedly for years was the one where the protagonist's cursed arm comes to life in the middle of a pitched battle and everyone sets down their arms to watch as he pushes open a big gate or something. The music in this scene is foreboding, solemn, yet energetic, and the visual combined with the music evoked exactly the emotion I'm sure Miyzaki intended: dread at the vastness of the power of nature about which humans know naught, finally revealed in all its terrible horror. The prince's fate as a cursed person is supposed to feel worse than death and this was maybe my first time fully appreciating that concept in my short life, so it was doubly effective.

[darepublic]

Maybe bad parenting but my preschool aged kids watched mononoke without issue. I played the first Sam Raimi spiderman for them too..

[Freak_NL]

> I thank the stars they have outgrown baby shark and cocomelon.

As the parent of a three year old: what made you break and put those on? (I'm just happy for the existence of Pat and Mat.)

[bombcar]

See there is a baby shark (doot do do do do) that also has a mama shark and a daddy shark. But the Grandma shark is also there. As is the ten hour version.

[beilabs]

Was through friends and family...you've got to see this video...baby shark doo doo do do...and then years of pain.

[flanbiscuit]

Have you shown them Kiki's Delivery Service? That's one of my favorites!

[jvvw]

Just to warn you, mine (older now - 9 and 11) found Spirited Away scary and still refuse to watch it again!

[theschmed]

My strategy is to provide selective spoilers. I think the scary/violent parts of movies are easier on children when they are prepared emotionally that everything will be ok.

So for Spirited Away I warned them in advance, “It’s got scary parts-for example, her parents get turned into pigs! But it all turns out ok in the end. You’ll have to watch to see how.”

And for “Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro” something similar: “Just so you know, there’s one part where he gets shot with a gun and blood comes out. But don’t worry he doesn’t die.”

[cloverich]

I dont know if this is valid, but i intentionally showed it to my kids super young hoping to normalize it so they wouldnt be afraid if it (they love it now).

[smegsicle]

just wait til they get to pom poko

[dzhiurgis]

My nearly 3yo can hardly handle it in a longer drive. There’s always a scene were emotions are too much. Peppa Pig it is for now…