Having lived through raising ten kids over the past three decades, I’ve become an expert on Children’s films as a result and there are some hidden gems out there that don’t get seen because they aren’t all on Disney Plus or Cartoon Network. This is a fun list because summer needs people who gather and enjoy and discover there’s more out there than the algorithims recommend.
First some oldies that people don’t know or haven’t watched.
Raskin Bass’ The Hobbit. –Gollum scared me –as well he should, but I loved the discussion between Smaug and Bilbo. It’s from the studio that eventually became Studio Ghibli, and you can see it in some of the background sketches.
And “The Last Unicorn,” which is also a fun summer read if you have an adolescent or tween that needs an escape they didn’t know they needed.
Yes, I’m an English Teacher, so some of these stories will come with a book attached.
Now for some others you may have heard of, but not experienced.
Gail Carson Levine churned out some awesome alternative fairy tales in the ninties and 2000’s, and my girls devoured all of them.
She wrote several of the Tinker Bell Stories when Disney did a ton of shorts of the fairies, but before she did that, she wrote Ella Enchanted. The book is better, but this is still a worthy summer adaptation and fun watch.
Not a lot of people saw the Peanut’s Movie, but it’s true in its heart to the original source, and handing your kids a ton of Peanuts comic strips to dive into is like giving them a popsicle. They think they won’t like it because it isn’t as flashy or splashy or clever as Calvin and Hobbes (which I also love), but it’s a summer dip into a world they’ll find oddly old fashioned and familiar. Hand them the Peanuts and the popsicle, and later, the popcorn and the movie.
I love artististic work, so I love this next one not just for the story, but for the obvious love the artists who crafted it had for their story and their audience. Kubo and the Two Strings should hit perfectly for anyone who likes more of an action film. It’s all done with stop action but you don’t feel it after a time. I also love the odd world created. No book that I know of, but here’s where you decide to teach your kids a bit of origami.
Want live action with your popcorn tonight? One of the best films out there that surprises everyone….Godzilla Minus One. I promise, it’s a worthy watch and even your teens will enjoy it. The film came out in 2023, and even my ten year old daughter who went reluctantly to the movies, found it compelling. My youngest son watched it so much when it came out the next summer, it was banned for a time in our house.
Summer family films should surprise and amuse. These next two films do just that –and I admit, I went into watching both of these films an absolute skeptic. You could not have told me I would laugh hysterically at a Peruvian Bear who likes marmalade but these two films are just fun. I know there are Paddington books, because that’s how this started.
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I’ve given you eight films but I have two more to round out the experience. This next one, well, it will probably cause your kids to ask you to play a game with them –and I have fond memories of playing D&D with mine. Family movie night should lead to books and conversations and yes, games. Kevin the Strong and Kashta the Ninja Warrior still hold sway over my heart.
My final one is because I love this film and think it gets forgotten and because most of this list is fantasy based, so I figured with watching a film a week, a little grounding is good as we get to the end of summer.
You start doing this and you think “What about this one, or that one?” and so I’m adding just one more that is Disney, but never gets seen on television for some reason. It’s sweet, it’s fun, and it’s about baseball but more about family, “Angels in the Outfield.”
It was fun making up a list which I will now attempt to inflict on my children (muhahahahaha).
So get out the junior mints, M&M’s and popcorn and make them have tickets and make sure you play the General Cinema Dee-de-de-de-deets on your phone before you hit play on your streaming or cable or Netflix.
Remember, the difference between watching a movie and family night, is presentation.
Happy Summer.
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