Do you think modern kids movies aren’t traumatizing enough?

Question

Everyone who lived through the children’s movies of the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s knows that there are these devastating moments that made you feel horrible for the characters. It’s been suggested that modern children’s movies don’t carry this same standard for their entertainment and, as a result, the kids don’t learn to empathize as well as the generation before them based exclusively on their media consumption. What do you think of this?

Rosexøxø · Accepted Answer

I think it needs less dark and more heroics. Those movies always inspired me. And these utopian movies also add the ability for them to dream and visually capture a paradise- a better world.

Anything with balance is good. They don’t need a ton of horror movies hitting the decks and shelves. in my opinion.

Movies like toy soldiers or whatever made no sense to me and makes me not want to be alone, movies like home alone 2 Central Park scene, makes me not want to go out at night, movies like aliens in the attic make me want to be paranoid about trusting anyone.

Kids are IMPRESSIONABLE. They need to be empowered and given constructive story lines from their young ages. When they get older then they can watch movies more telling of how the world is.

No need to rush it. Grown adults today still can’t handle the world and they are the ones who pay for therapy and seeing a psychiatrist. A therapist. You have veterans who commit suicide cause they don’t feel empowered and can’t cope.

Mildly sad movies with some end resolution are good to sprinkle in so kids CAN LEARN how to problem solve and learn some empathy in those moments (what a sad moment) or (I feel for Lewis - from meet the Robinsons or Poe from kung fu panda).

But whomever they feel bad for and empathize with, they can always learn to see how they overcome their own shortcomings and differences, which is essential because kids need to remember when they go their own sad moments they can choose a mindset to overcome than think “this doesn’t end well for me, just like it didn’t end well for them in that one movie.”

Empathy, empowerment, healing, resolution, problem solving, adventure, and imagination.

Not necessarily horror or despairing movies or ones that have no purpose/ point, or just seems like the child version of Alfred Hitchcock movies where the world is some bear trap waiting for their little feet. 🤷‍♀️

A lot of movies and shows do a good job already of incorporating some sad moments, but they don’t need to raise the extremity level.

There has to be messages to sad moment filled movies, and those messages have to empower, encourage unity, and resiliency. Not tear their hopes or traumatize them. We don’t want kids living with a sense of defeat or paranoia.

We want them to see there are bad moments that can be overcome and sometimes sticking together and looking out for one another is a GOOD thing.

I certainly hope they don’t increase the severity level. Just showing moments worst than dumbo or Bambi- mothers dying, children being abducted. I don’t see what the message is for those kids. Especially if it drifts into unrealistic imagery with special effects. They wouldn’t be able to cope with reality.

I think the minds of kids should be handled with care, not with impulse or overwhelming emotions and thoughts flooded into them.

If the whole movie industry for kids was a bunch of old yeller…. I would have NO literal idea what those kids would be. They could grow up numb trying to avoid those feelings and such.

If they’re an age where they haven’t learned healthy coping mechanisms then they shouldn’t be bombarded with an influx of horrific or gore filled films. Certain messages can still be conveyed without the use of over the top and far from reality dramatic effects.

That’s just my opinion though. If it happens parents including myself would have to be more in tune with regulating what their children see. Ideally these movies would have warnings and ratings to help give sense with the level of graphic content would be included in the film. 🎞️ 👍

just_a_potato · Accepted Answer

They were definitely way more traumatizing back then. But thing is, I don't think the cartoons today  have  to be that bad. And I don't think they're absent either, it's just less blatant. The world itself will kick the kids' asses anyway, the only benefit I see with older movies is that it exposes their punchable minds to it earlier. If they aren't already living a less cartoony version of the dark and gloomy topics themselves anyway. 🤔

SpankingSermons · Accepted Answer

What if dark movies desensitize you, and you become less empathetic?

snowboarder720 · Accepted Answer

I find this helpful for everyone to understand how to manage their feelings. While the older generation tends to desensitize their feelings and “tough it out” and in consequence feel traumatized when actual trauma hits them. When their kids experience trauma they can’t provide the support their kids need to manage themselves through trauma. I find shows like this especially helpful knowing what to do when they experience loss, bullying, and family dynamics. School doesn’t teach you everything, friends don’t talk to each other much about how trauma works, families are sometimes the reason for the trauma. So movies are almost the only source for someone to experience trauma and learn how to manage your feelings and how to respond from it.

JustinTheGreat · Answer

This made me chuckle lol I feel like there’s still a lot of death in modern kids movies, no?  I feel like at least one person dies in every Disney movie I see

MisterWack · Answer

I don’t believe it is trauma vs no trauma.
“Kid’s movies” should strive to be “movies”, both of substance, mind, emotion, and meaning conveying the things & ideas of the artist.

Kids can totally grasp onto more complex topics and can handle more than what the parents think. Movie industries are safe with their approach and only sell what works…. It is time for the industry to take chances and risks, allow writers to express their vision also new actors to prove themselves over celebrity cameos.

That is just my thoughts.

Ladsin2 · Answer

I took A, but C is more likely. Doesn’t have to be dark per se, but there has to be life lessons. A good example is the original Mulan. Milan was small and inept. Because of this she struggled and fought and had to become better to overcome her shortcomings. She ends up never being the strongest fighter, but she uses her wit and courage to overcome all the obstacles in her way. This is an incredible message for young boys and girls. The new Mulan is blessed with incredible Chi and is a superhero. She’s fine the way she is and doesn’t have to do anything to become better. This is a horrible message for young boys and girls.

HawkPerception · Answer

I mean Elon Musk did vow to destroy the woke mind virus for a reason. I'm personally not a fan of the entitlement and participation trophies kids have nowadays. Kids feel they can get away with everything and not get smacked just because they pull out their phones and start recording.

Purpleronnie · Answer

It’s quite difficult to relate as I no longer watch kids movies as a kid but since I was a kid. Sounds logical though that as times have changed , parenting has changed that movies would also.

Kids learn and are taught empathy in other ways though , and additionally , media and its channels have changed massively since those years.

It’s a fair point though and I’d likely agree 👍

Justneedtokno · Answer

Actually no I think age wise that’s why they put you know PG you know parental guidance and you know after seven years old because some things can be processed at a certain age and some things can’t. But children start learning that people aren’t always going to be around and that starts with grandparents or parents at a certain age and I don’t think you can always shield children from the way of the world. Only for so long.

DryGermanGuy · Answer

Interesting topic. A teacher in high school told me about children in 1965 coming into school crying, because „Winnetou had been killed“ (in the movie Winnetou III).
Apparently it was a national disaster, which the film makers were unable or unwilling to anticipate. 🤷‍♂️

MrGSpotHer · Answer

I was the regarded as the demon child id often laugh at these moments but it's more because it's not believable to me and how outher people reacted was amusing. But when your younger it's sad I guessing it's because your older you don't find them that sad no more or are just not aware of them anymore

abc3643 · Answer

Kids don't need the movies to be traumatized. They have the news and the Internet which is doing a much more effective job.

DishLady · Answer

WHY should children's programming be traumatizing? Programming for children is supposed to be viewed in a safe space where the kid feels comfortable.

Skinhead-1979 · Answer

I'd say not only children... Just look at how overly sensitive many adults are nowadays

MemeSupreme · Answer

ehh kids now days are kinda fucked and exposed to the internet really young like im talking daycare like i saw adult shit really young but not everyone responds to it the same

dustybiker2 · Answer

Watching a tragic loss of mother in bambi did not prepare me for my own. I could have lived just fine without those scenes. My own practically ended me.

Razp_Sorbet · Answer

Yeah no I don't think traumatizing children is the way to get any lessons through. I still don't know what the lesson for Coraline was... That movie still haunts me.

katiesmuff · Answer

I also think the cartoons of the 50", 60"s and 70's were so much better than the stuff of today and I don't see where they affected us at all.

Telekinetic-Potato · Answer

I guess you’re right. Only I haven’t seen a kids movie since Toy Story and that was some dark shit.

laly520 · Answer

kid's movies shouldn't be traumatizing they could learn without having to be exposed to any kind of trauma

Ad_Quid_Orator · Answer

I remember this shaked me up as a kid more than any movie :S

Sasahara · Answer

Voted other, I agree with option A, but I don’t need kids movies to go full Watership down or Plague dogs.

OddBeMe · Answer

Funny because their video games are down right violent. But yeah, narratively sucks ass.  I still can’t watch Bambi to this day.

bananathunder · Answer

I think about that every time I watch one... no horses dying in quicksand or anything like that lol

clampfan101 · Answer

They don’t need to be darker, but they do need to treat children like they have more than two brain cells…

jackieistired · Answer

The world is traumatizing enough, their tv shows is all they have to have a sense of peace

Nifrayu · Answer

Nah. There are plenty of kids movies with dark moments. They don't all have be like that.

Kingofkings1992 · Answer

@cupcakethedestroyer you want kids to be traumatized?

Nikki1989 · Answer

And video games are even worse.

KittygosMeoWW · Answer

Agree lol

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