The kids of today have enough “darkness” to deal with already... in reality. I don’t think they need it in their fictional entertainment as well. Let’s give them lightness, innocence and joy instead.
My 11 year old granddaughter and I saw Bao before Incredibles 2 (I hated every nanosecond of that, but that's a different review). I loved Bao, though we were startled by the scene that is provoking so many comments. I doubt that my granddaughter will be scarred for life by the scene. And the glimpse into Chinese culture was brilliant. Hoping for more shorts like Bao.
5
I haven't seen it, but it sounds really intriguing. However, her comment that we live in a dark world so children need to be prepared is so sad. Because the fact is there is probably more murder, rape, and other depravities going on each night on Netflix than is happening in real life.
My opinion, for what it's worth is that screenwriters need to find more light and detox the Binge-watching idiots off of blood and guts. ENOUGH ALREADY.
4
How about books like "Banicula", "Watership Down", "The Secret of Nimh", "The Velveteen Rabbit", "The Sword and the Stone", and "Redwall". Those were some of my favorite books when I was a little kid. A little dark, a little dangerous; but overcoming adversity and nothing too graphic. I mean think about Mother Goose Fairy Tails.
6
Could i request that you add a disclaimer at the top of the article to say you'll be spoiling a key moment in a film? Now that moment won't be as surprising when I finally see it.
5
They seem to love spoiling things lately - See Batman #50 story reveal before the comic came out.
1
I went to see Incredibles 2 while 41 weeks pregnant. I bawled through Bao. The short should begin with a trigger warning for especially weepy, sentimental people: your heart will be broken and filled again in 5 minutes.
7
Bao is genius. Can't wait to see her "feature length" film.
7
Oh I can't wait to see the short! Sounds so interesting!
If you are of a certain age then you can remember, before they sanitized everything for kids, how Hansel and Grettel were abandoned by their parents in the forest (abandonment!) and how later on Grettel would push the witch in the oven (taking control) to save her brother from getting eaten! These were riveting tales of introduction into the stark truths about the world and they were educational and exciting! It gave me such food for thought as a kid and it lit up my brain like a Christmas tree.
13
Actually... Pixar can, as they've proven over and over. But there's always room for more and Ms Shi is a very welcome addition! I took Mom eating Bao as an allegorical way of saying "I love you so much, I'd do anything to keep you".
3
Children can recognize the difference between real and make believe more easily and earlier than we give them credit for. Especially when we're right there with them and they see the distance between the fantasy and reality.
It's beneficial for children to experience and come to understand evil in simple terms, especially when evil gets resolved as it usually does in fairy tales. As they get older, they can more easily begin to comprehend complexities in real life evil that often do. not not end in simple solutions.
All part of their learning about life and preparing for adulthood.
8
Perhaps. But my little pre-literate son was enjoying being read "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe" until we got to Aslan's death, and at that point he lost it utterly.
1
I loved Bao as well and was not at all put off when the Mum ate the dumpling. It was amusing and I could relate totally being a Mum who is already anticipating my much loved kids departure. We need more of this humour especially around parenting.
20
I thought "Bao" was a great little short, with just the right amount of darkness. Nothing too traumatic, nothing that would turn one off to the whole film, but a tiny little exploration of feelings and actions just outside the box... Or outside the dumpling wrapper. Something that a child can easily gasp at, then quickly check with reality, then laugh at all in one instant.
17