TOP 20 KIDS MOVIES WITHOUT VILLAINS

Villains. Cunning, cruel, and sinister, from Darth Vader to Scar many of the most iconic movie characters are villains. But there are those smallest of boys and girls that just aren't ready for those scary characters yet. In which case navigating a trip to the cinema is fraught with danger with the ever present question: is this going to be appropriate? The dream is to find that film that is capable of holding the attention of infants and adults alike. A film that isn’t too scary or violent, but not to childish either and if we could get a sprinkling of positive morals too we’re onto a winner, but such nuggets would appear quite rare. Therefore in the name of charity we here at the Mirror Box have done some digging around to find the best 20 children’s films that don’t need to have a villainous character to be brilliant, or need to have excessive violence to be gripping, but can be filled with wholesome values and be engaging for the whole family.

20. A Goofy Movie

If you are one of the presumably many people who have not seen A Goofy Movie, don’t run away just yet we promise you A Goofy Movie is a hundred times better than whatever your first impression may have been.

Goofy decides to take his son, (yes he has a son! His name is Max Goof – which presumably means Goofy’s full name is Goofy Goof?) on a road trip for their summer holidays, a trip he remembers fondly from his own childhood. Goofy hopes it will rekindle what has become a slightly frayed relationship with his son while the reluctant Max wants to go a see the Prince-esque rock-star Powerline in concert to impress his girlfriend.

There is more than a whiff of “straight-to-video” about the whole adventure which is unsurprising as it has its roots in a Disney channel cartoon. Then there’s the addition of the Goofy’s son angle, which reads as a cheap trick to breathe new life into a tired raft but actually works and provides plenty material of that familiar notion of kids being embarrassed by their parents. A Goofy Movie is with the all the best will a flawed film, but we can hand on heart guarantee there is more than just a little fun to be had here.

19. Brother Bear

Coming at the tail end of Disney’s renaissance period that started in the early 90’s Brother bear is often over-looked as Disney began to dip once again. Toy story had shown the future was in computer animation and seemingly overnight traditional hand drawn animation just seemed unfashionable. On the plus side there are a whole host of forgotten gems awaiting rediscovery.

This particular gem is set in a post-ice age North America, where tribesman Kenai kills a bear to avenge his brother, however mystical spirits respond by transforming Kenai into a bear. On his journey to return to his human form he meets Koda an orphaned bear cub and there begins an uneasy friendship between man and bear.

Brother Bear perhaps is not Disney at its best however there is much to cherish and we’re not just talking about it being the second collaboration between Disney and Phil Collins. Like the best children’s films that explore the powers of nature, it uses anthropomorphised characters to engage the audience children yet respects the power and unrelenting force nature holds.

18. Bean

Where many television series have failed to fill the extended canvas offered when making the leap from the small screen to the multiplex Bean succeeds. Not only does Bean sustain the sketch like nature of its earnest televisual beginning with a number of memorable set pieces but each helps move the larger story along, and all is achieved on a grander scale that is worthy of a place on the big screen.

While certainly no be a masterpiece by any measure, it is filled with laughter, a wonderful physical performance from Rowan Atkinson, as well as moments of terrible cringe-induced wincing providing the whole family with an abundance of life's simple joys.

17. Shaun the Sheep the Movie

Wallace and Gromit’s movie the Curse of the Ware-Rabbit fails to qualify on account of the villainous Victor Quartermaine fortunately the legendary Aardman Animation group is represented instead by their spin-off character’s debut.

Aimed at a younger audience Shaun the Sheep the movie expands on the CBBC series and is in essence a silent movie in so far as their isn’t any dialogue, but each model is injected with so much warmth and personality the film positively glows with life. But far from being an 80 minute television episode the creators are ever inventive in the how the get the most from a wholly visual film, from subtle sight gags in the scenery, to slapstick moments to the big action set pieces.

16. A Town Called Panic

Perhaps more known as that clumsily animated advert for Cravendale milk A Town Called Panic is a French stop motion animation with a frankly incomprehensible plot, but in an attempt set the scene I shall try to summarize the first 20 minutes; Cowboy and Indian realise that it is the birthday of their other housemate Horse, so they decide to buy some bricks to build a BBQ, only instead of ordering 50 bricks they order 50 million bricks by mistake. Meanwhile horse is taking piano lessons so as to spend as much time as possible with the beautiful mare music teacher. The brick once delivered are stacked on the roof where they crush their house so they decide to rebuild the house with the new bricks but at night the walls are stolen by a sea alien who take the bricks through the centre of the earth to….I think you get the picture. Animated using rigid toys, the lack of articulation points provide a unique look and a brand of quirky humour and in retrospect appears a precursor to the style of the Lego movie. Perhaps it doesn’t have the “DVD rotation” value as some others in the list, but we at the Mirror Box never miss a chance to talk about this highly underrated film.

15. Big Fish

Possibly the most grown up film on our list and it could really be argued that Big Fish is really no children’s film at all, but it earns a place for its enchanting qualities and sense of wonder sprinkled throughout. It is the life story of storyteller Edward Bloom as told in his own words, words that twist and warp reality in a manner so fantastical you fully accept and embrace that there is far more to a good story than just the facts.

Big Fish presents some of Tim Burton’s most complete work, balancing story, characters and self-discipline in his production design. The result is a film that sings of Burton inflected wonder as opposed to screaming gothic whimsy into your retinas like much of his later work.

14. Lassie

Oddly absent from the list is the live action animal film, which has seemed to have gone out of fashion of late. But there was a time they were the height of family entertainment, Black Beauty being one of the more famous, while Benji is more of a personal favourite of ours. But taking pride of place at the head of the pack has to be that lovable collie Lassie.

While any of the 11 Lassie feature films provide plenty of collie for your cash particular attention should be given to the 1943 original Lassie Come Home Now, and the hugely overlooked 2005 reboot Lassie.

13. Cars

Cars is a wonderful story of the famous and slightly self-obsessed race car Lightning McQueen, (voiced by Owen Wilson) who gets lost between race tracks and subsequently stuck in the small town of Radiator Springs, and must learn the value of friendship, and community spirit.

Cars also has a strange place of being that Pixar film which many people appear to look down upon, but if there is one thing John Lasseter- the Chief Creative officer of Disney and Pixar - knows is what stories and characters resonates with children. And the success of the film really speaks for itself, spawning one direct sequel and two more spinoff movies that take place within the same world. It was the film that showed Pixar didn’t take themselves too seriously and were out for critical acclaim, they made films for children first and foremost. The increased sense of play spilled over into their merchandising and toys, which gave kids the chance to create their own stories.

As far as we are concerned Cars is a classic kids films as much as the rest of the Pixar filmography.

12. Bridge to Terabithia

What better feeling is there as a child than running into a woodland, or park and imagining a whole world for just you to play in, it’s perhaps surprising that this isn’t used as the premise of more children’s films. That is however the premise for at least the first two thirds of Bridge to Terabithia. And without meaning to introduce spoilers parents should be aware that there is a point in the film where a tragedy happens and happens very suddenly and is genuinely very upsetting.

The film then becomes about overcoming loss and trying to preserve the innocence of youth even in the wake of great personal tragedy. It is a remarkably ambitious film that revels in childish imagination yet doesn’t talk down to its audience.

11. The Parent Trap (Either)

The Parent Trap spawned a number of sequels and then a faithful reboot that does an honourable job of remaking the original story or a modern audience while preserving the movies spirit, as such we would greatly recommend either David Swift 1961 version or 1998 version starring Lindsay Lohan as the two twins.

The wild premise is that two identical twins meet at a summer camp unaware they are sisters, and despite an initial rivalry, (as they implausibly fail to identify themselves as twins immediately) they later learn the truth and go about a plan to reunite their estranged parents.

There is a mean gold digger to be overcome who exists in the blurry gap of villainy or just unlikable, but we’ve allowed the Parent Trap a pass on account of while immoral she isn’t a criminal or your archetypal villain.

Another minor yet worthwhile point is when watching the young actresses in the role of the endearingly mischievous you realise how rare and underused that character trope is for girls and should be celebrated more.

10. The Secret Garden

Perhaps better known for the classic Frances Hodgson Burnett novel, some time should be given to this faithful and thoroughly enjoyable adaptation. A rare example of a director and screenwriter sharing and deep love and understanding of the source material, which shines through the luscious cinematography and immaculate cast who each are of all ages and on top form.

The film boldly explores themes of isolation, growth and rejuvenation, the need for balance between nurture and control. The Secret Garden demonstrates how film can gracefully play with profound ideas in a manner typically reserved for literature.

9. Singin in the Rain

Not strictly a children’s film but Singin’ in the Rain is a true family classic that every child should watch. It’s very difficult to overstate Singin' in the Rain’s brilliance, its story documents a historic shift in cinema from the silent era to talkies, and boy how does the movie talk. The vibrancy of the film shines through each of its three central leads, (Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor), the musical numbers and the physicality of the dance choreography. Made when cinema was in many ways still in its infancy the camera work is comfortingly simplistic with sustained images allowing us to watch the glorious talent perform in a way that is almost unheard of today.

And if watching Singin' in the Rain as a family leads off to a weekly tradition of your family watching the films of Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Rita Hayworth and Ginger Rogers we here at the Mirror Box promise all of your live shall be all the more richer for it.

8. The Fox & the Hound

Now while some villains may scar the children, adults need to be prepared for the emotional damage that the Fox and the Hound serves up. The classic tale of The Fox and the Hound, (or Tod and Copper respectively) have been friends since pups, but will their friendship endure their natural instinct and the social pressures around one another? Whether you’d choose to see it as an analogy for troubled race relations or a great lesson of the evolution of friendships the fox and the hound is a profoundly moving film.

There was however some debate whether the Fox and the Hound was without Villain, what with the farmer being so mean and all and there is a bear, but as you can see we ignored those people...because they were wrong.

7. Winnie the Pooh (2011)

While never a huge fan of Winnie the Pooh as a child sometimes all it take is a fresh take to give you a way into a character with such a prolific history. And that was the case with 2011 film that just melted our hearts to the sweetest of honeys and we were instantly in love with it.

Like many of the films of this list Pooh’s adventure shows that sometimes the simplest of stories are the most entertaining to watch. In this instance Pooh is hungry and wants to find some honey for his tummy, meanwhile Eeyore is having a terrible day too on account of losing his tail, so Pooh has to learn to put his friend’s needs before himself.

At a lean 60 minutes long I can accept the reluctance of some parents who couldn’t justify taking the whole family to the cinema but I strongly recommend now picking it up on DVD or BluRay, the characters are lovely to be around, the jokes are funny, the songs are catchy and it top it off the hand drawn animation look beautiful as well.

6. Inside Out

The latest from the minds of Pixar and it is the mind is where this tale just so happens to be set. More specifically the in mind of Riley, an 11-year-old girl who is in the process adjusting to a long distance relocation. But as I mentioned Riley is more the setting than a character as we follow the happenings of the 5 emotions that live inside of Riley, Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust who control all the dials that make Riley work. In Riley's earlier life each contribute into the smooth running of Riley, each that is except sadness which doesn’t quite know how to fit in. The big move results in a literal emotional struggle between Joy and Sadness who need to find a way to accept one another for Riley to grow up a rounded person.

Now with all of that existentialism taken care of it is also important to stress that with those abstract concepts knocking around there is also a lot of laughter, and despite the premise being more in line with a small drama, the landscapes inside Riley’s mind provide a fertile land for excitement and adventure.

5. Kiki's Delivery Service

One of only two Hayao Miyazaki’s films in our list - were it a longer list we could certainly recommend a good many more- Kiki’s delivery service is a coming of age tale of a 13-year-old witch setting off alone on a yearlong apprenticeship to find a town in which she may become the town’s official resident witch. If she is going to fit in, as well as keep her independence and magical powers she is going to need to believe in herself. Kiki also provides a central character who is a healthy alternative to the Disney Princess stereotype as the sole role models for young girls in movies.

4. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

A list of the greatest children’s story would not be complete without some Roald Dahl and seldom has his work be adapted so wonderfully as in the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.

Gene Wilder brings warmth and humility to the eccentric and enigmatic chocolatier Willy Wonka who is looking for an heir to his diabetic inducing kingdom. While the film is without villain, it is not shy of showing cruel consequences to children who exhibit bad behaviour, made all the more satisfying when accompanied by Oompa Loompas singing exactly what they did wrong. What is there not to love!

3. Finding Nemo

Our third and highest ranking film from Pixar come from the happy little clown fish from the reef. On his first day of school, Nemo is taken by a diver to be taken to his fish tank in his dental practice in Sydney. We follow Nemo’s father Marlin as he scours the entire ocean to find his son and learn a few things for himself.

Nemo has all the sense of awe that you would hope to get from exploring the deep expanses of the sea, meeting a whole host of critters of all shapes, sizes and colour.

There are some sinister characters and a few moments are perhaps likely to scare the youngest but as Nigel the Brown Pelican says “fish has got to swim, birds gotta eat.” There certainly isn’t any characters who are inherently evil, in fact one of the most memorable moments is a scene in which a group of sharks form an AA-stlye group to get over their love for eating fish, as their slogan states, “fish are friends not food.”

In addition to the colourful inhabitants of fish there is also the added layer for parents as Marlin has to accept his son is growing up and must learn to let go and to stop smothering him. Nemo is a treat for young and old from start to finish.

2. Mary Poppins

Not just one of the greatest children’s film of all time but quite possibly one of the great films of all time . -That was a full stop. It’s the film about the nanny who comes to help look after the children but ends up saving...well we don’t want to spoil the ending in case you are unaware. Incidentally to further avoid spoilers we’d also recommend staying away from a certain film that stars Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson.

With their parents often too busy and rather distance the eponymous nanny and Bert played by Dick Van Dyke, take the kids on an adventure through the streets of London over the rooftops and across worlds of imagination. Julie Andrews is perfectly cast as the no-nonsense nanny with a captivating voice that perfectly embodies the rousing heart in each of the songs penned by the legendary Sherman brothers.

1. My Neighbor Totoro

The first of Hayao Miyazaki's films under a newly formed Studio Ghibli, tells the tale of two girls moving to the countryside with their dad to be nearer to their mum in the hospital, (don't worry she's isn't in mild peril). The story revolves around the children's curiosity and imagination as they conduct woodland adventures around their new house that leads them to meeting all manner of ghosts and spirits. Unlike ghosts in many western films, Japanese ghosts aren't always scary demonic characters but take all kinds of cute and cuddly forms. They are often ways of embodying the positive spirit of life or personifies nature as beautiful force of wonder. Enchanting doesn't even begin to describe this brilliant film.