19 Kids’ Movies With Deeper Meanings That Will Make You Never Watch Them The Same Way Again

These are instances of films with deeper messages than what is being displayed.

Maryjane

• Published in Film & TV
• September 20, 2022

Kids want to be entertained when they watch a movie, just like everyone else does. However, once they reach a certain age, bright colors and crude humor no longer suffice to properly amaze a youngster.

A larger role is beginning to be played by character growth and more interesting plotlines. A superb "kids" movie needs to appeal to more than just kids; it may be appreciated and enjoyed by individuals of all ages.

Disney's Pixar studio is a great example of a studio producing family films that appeal to people of all ages. They produced movies that have a deeper meaning than what is being shown, and a quick thinker will catch the twist.

The BuzzFeed Community have been asked to reveal which kids' films have a deeper meaning, and boy did they come through! There’s Finding Nemo, which teaches kids why they shouldn’t feel held back by their disabilities.

There’s Turning Red, which sends a message to parents so they can trust in their relationship with their child and allow them the freedom to grow. There’s Inside Out, which teaches us that there are times when our feelings can get the best of us, but we still have the capacity to experience joy.

Below are some of the deeper messages we've gathered from their replies and they are all taken from your favorite kids' movies.

1. Kiki's Delivery Service

"This feels like one of the lighter Miyazaki films, but I think anyone who has ever hit a professional wall or experienced writer's block can relate to Kiki and her quest to keep moving forward."

—andip4

2. The Emperor’s New Groove

"It teaches people to treat others with respect and kindness, to not be arrogant, and also that anyone can change their negative qualities to good ones if they try. Oh, and to label your potions/poisons properly!"

—bhs58

3. The Hunchback of Notre Dame

"The Hunchback of Notre Dame looks at the disgusting way society turns on people who are different and tries to exclude them. It also explores the things that people justify in the name of religion, like Frollo murdering Quasi's mum."

—emazinggrace12

4. Finding Nemo

"Where to start? Nemo loses all of his siblings and his mum before he's even born, and then has to cope with a deformed fin. I teach children with special needs, so helping them to understand why they shouldn't feel held back by their disabilities rings very true to me now."

—cafenner17

5. Encanto

"A film that has CLEARLY been made by millennials for millennials. It covers generational trauma, familial and societal pressure, and the idea that one can break free of the expectations put on one.

It's disguised as a family-friendly musical about a magic house – yeah, you watch the ending where it shows the back story of Alma and Pedro and tell me it's family-friendly! That's not to say that kids can't watch and enjoy it, but it's definitely more for older audiences I would say."

—hobbitgirl96

6. The Incredibles

"If you watch this as an adult and think about the themes, you realise it is (in part) a commentary on the No Child Left Behind Act and standardisation in American schools. The Parr family are superheroes, but they're told by the government to hide their true selves in order to fit in with the rest of society.

Ultimately, it's about people expressing their talents and passions rather than conforming to societal norms. Everyone has something that makes them special!"

—tech_enthusiats1

7. Inside Out

"I think it's one of the most perfect movies ever made that deals with the emotions of growing up. Sometimes our feelings can get the best of us, but we still have the capacity to experience joy AND all of our feelings are valid, even the bad or scary ones."

—caitpaily

8. A Bug's Life

"On the surface, the movie is about giving yourself time to grow and transform from a seed into a beautiful tree. It doesn't happen overnight and it's not always pretty, but you'll overcome it and become a beautiful butterfly. I think the deeper meaning, however, is about standing up for yourself and overthrowing systems of oppression."

—justchillman

9. Coraline

"I love Coraline for so many reasons, and one of those is the life lesson at the heart of it. It's sort of 'curiosity killed the cat' mixed with 'the grass isn't always greener on the other side'. It's a good lesson for kids to learn that you can't spend your life chasing something perfect because nothing really is!"

–sam_cleal

10. Turning Red

"Pixar is getting very existential these days! Mei's mother forces her into a 'box' of what she deems appropriate, while disregarding her autonomy and being overly controlling. This extends to the point of physically assaulting her 11-year-old daughter just because she's doing normal kid stuff!

This message for parents is to trust in your relationship with your child and allow them the freedom to grow, that is unless you never want a relationship with them after they move out!"

—justchillman

11. Lilo and Stitch

"This film explored grief and trauma really well, with Lilo feeling angry and confused until she met Stitch who seemed to understand her. Hence they became their own version of a family!"

–elizabeth_cotton

12. Fern Gully

"I remember watching Fern Gully in reception and thinking it was the scariest thing I'd ever watched, but I guess it exposed me to the harsh reality of deforestation."

–adaenechi

13. Mary Poppins

"Isn't Mary Poppins all about how men and women fit into the domestic space and society at large? You have Mr. Banks who can't connect with kids and just thinks about work all the time, and Mrs. Banks who's out fighting for women's suffrage.

It seems to me to be about questioning traditional gender roles, especially given that Mr. Banks has a change of heart at the end."

–sam_cleal

"It also emphasises the importance of basic kindness, as shown by how people treat the 'Bird Woman'."

–amaneaux

14. The Little Prince

"This Antoine de Saint-Exupéry quote sums up the message of this movie for me – 'here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.'"

–scon312

15. An American Tail

"I loved this movie as a little kid – it's about a little mouse trying to find his family and it has great songs! When I rewatched it as an adult, I realised there's a LOT going on.

It's basically about Jewish people and forced immigration. A couple of the mice work in sweatshops too and the cats are like an anti-semitic mob."

—dellarock

16. Up

"I think it teaches people that life isn't about an end goal, it's about the journey and the people you decide to share your life with. Carl was so focused on fulfilling Ellie's dream that he forgot to enjoy the journey.

We should appreciate the people in our lives while we can because one day they won't be there anymore. Live in the moment instead of focusing so much on the future."

—ceci710e

17. Coco

"I feel like this movie really demonstrated the pain of being away from loved ones due to borders and circumstances. It showed love, betrayal, forgiveness, and acceptance, as well as the limitless love of family and traditions. I loved this movie but don't think I can ever watch it again!"

–oreobreadstick

18. The Fox and the Hound

"It's all about being slapped in the face with reality when you grow up, and how god-damn hard and sad life is. It covers everything from losing your innocence, to having to survive the gauntlet that is life. It's one of my all-time favourite Disney movies but it makes me sob every time."

–ravenbard

19. Pocahontas

"I remember watching this when I was younger, but I didn't get it back then. There are evident white-supremacist beliefs that the colonists have, and it's devastating to watch the native tribe have no choice but to fight."

–emmaolivia2854

Despite all these, a film must, at its core, be one that kids will enjoy the most if it is being advertised as a movie for kids. The movies above are very nice to watch given that they have amazing deep meanings to them.

Which of these movies is your favorite and why? Leave a comment below and share this post as well.

Maryjane