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10 Best Animated Movies To Get Kids Ready For Back-To-School

red apple fruit on four pyle books10 Best Animated Movies To Get Kids Ready For Back-To-School

School is in session, and while it’s an exciting time, it can also be daunting for young children. “Back to School” movie night is a great way to prepare little ones for the transition. These animated films take place in the classroom and will help everyone have a successful first day of school. 

INSIDE OUT

Quality: ****

Content: +2 (Moderately questionable elements.)

Disney Pixar’s INSIDE OUT follows an eleven-year-old girl named Riley whose happy life turns upside down when her family moves to San Francisco, California. Her emotions–Joy, Fear, Sadness, Anger and Disgust–take over. Viewers have a front-row seat into the headquarters of her mind. Kids will relate to watching Riley emotionally prepare for her first day at a new school. It has a strong moral worldview, but some themes may confuse younger children. INSIDE OUT is a poignant story for kids ages 6 and up. 

FINDING NEMO

Quality: ****

Content: +4 Biblical, usually Christian, worldview, with no questionable elements whatsoever.

FINDING NEMO is a delightful animated film about a clownfish named Marlin who sets off on an adventure to find his son after humans snatch him from the Great Barrier Reef. He meets several friends throughout his rescue mission. The film has a strong moral worldview with light violence and moderate language. Some scenes may be scary for small children. FINDING NEMO features Nemo and other sea creatures attending their first day of class. It’s a movie the whole family can enjoy. 

MONSTERS UNIVERSITY

Quality: ****

Content: +2 Moderately questionable elements – discernment required for young children.

MONSTERS UNIVERSITY is the prequel to Pixar and Disney’s MONSTERS, INC. The story centers around everyone’s favorite monsters, Sulley and Mike’s college experience at Monsters University. They start as rivals, competing to be the best scarer on campus. After accidentally tipping over the Dean’s best accomplishment during an argument, they must team up or face expulsion. MONSTERS UNIVERSITY has a wholesome moral worldview that teaches perseverance. It’s a fun film about school and friendship for kids ages 5 and up. Some scenes may be scary, so use caution with young children. 

TOY STORY 3

Quality: ****

Content: +3 Some minor questionable elements (media-wisdom is suggested to discuss).

In TOY STORY 3, Andy is moving away for college, and his mom mistakingly donates all his toys (except Woody) to Sunnyside Daycare. Woody embarks on an adventure to rescue the toys from rowdy kids at the daycare. It’s a touching story about growing up, loyalty and redemption. The film features a strong Christian worldview with only mild cartoon violence. Kids will explore topics like childhood, leaving for school and more. TOY STORY 3 is well-suited for the 6+ crowd.

THE INCREDIBLES

Quality: ****

Content: +2 Moderately questionable elements – discernment required for young children.

THE INCREDIBLES is an exciting animated film about a family of heroes in hiding who step into action to fight an evil robot. The film has a very strong Christian worldview and celebrates the traditional family. Parents should know there is cartoon violence that could be scary for young viewers. THE INCREDIBLES has many moments centered around the social and behavioral expectations for kids attending school. It would be a perfect option for a back-to-school movie night and is appropriate for kids ages 7 and older. 

THE PEANUTS MOVIE

Quality: ****

Content: +3 Some minor questionable elements (media-wisdom is suggested to discuss).

THE PEANUTS MOVIE is a charming animated film based on the iconic comic strip by Charles Schultz. The beloved character Charlie Brown sets his sights on a pretty new redhead at school and works hard to make a great first impression. This gentle movie has a very strong redemptive worldview with only minor slapstick violence. Morals include compassion, honesty and bravery. Most importantly, many of the scenes take place in a kind classroom. THE PEANUTS MOVIE is a family-friendly flick for children 4+. 

MEET THE ROBINSONS

Quality: ***

Content: +4 Biblical, usually Christian, worldview, with no questionable elements whatsoever.

MEET THE ROBINSONS is about an orphaned boy genius named Lewis, who builds a machine to explore his memories so he can remember his mother to track her down. Wilbur Robinson shows up from the future to tell Lewis that the villainous Bowler Hat Guy has come from the future to steal his machine.  Many scenes take place at the fictional Joyce Williams Elementary School. It contains a very strong moral worldview with moral and redemptive elements. MEET THE ROBINSONS is an enjoyable movie for the 7+ crowd. 

TEACHER’S PET

Quality: ***

Content: +1 Moderately questionable elements – discernment required for young children. 

TEACHER’S PET tells the story of Spot Helperman, a dog with a dream. He follows his master, Leonard, to school as Scott, the smartest kid in Mrs. Helperman’s (Leonard’s mom’s) fourth-grade class. Spot only has one wish – to become a real boy. Spot soon discovers the mad scientist Dr. Ivan Krank, who claims he can turn animals into human beings, but the experiment doesn’t turn out as Spot expected. TEACHER’S PET is a fun-filled musical comedy with light violence and some potty humor, earning the film a PG rating. 

CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS: THE FIRST EPIC MOVIE 

Quality: ****

Content:  +1 Moderately questionable elements – discernment required for young children.

CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS: THE FIRST EPIC MOVIE is about two pranksters named George and Harold who hypnotize their principal, Mr. Krupp, into believing he’s a superhero named Captain Underpants. When the fake Captain Underpants runs into a real villain, it’s up to George and Harold to help him save the day. The film contains light off-color humor and cartoon slapstick violence but nothing too salacious. CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS: THE FIRST EPIC MOVIE is a fun romp for children ages 6 and up.

BIG HERO 6

Quality: ****

Content: +1 Moderately questionable elements – discernment required for young children.

BIG HERO 6 is a dynamic animated feature about a boy named Hiro who befriends an inflatable robot named Baymax, designed by his late brother. They join a force of high-tech heroes to save their hometown from an evil villain. It has a very strong moral worldview that is pro-family. Parents should know there are heavy themes of loss and light violence. The main character joins the university’s robotics program film, shining a light on building on one’s strengths through education. BIG HERO 6 is appropriate for kids 7 and up. 

 

INSIDE OUT

Quality:
****
Content:
+2 Moderately questionable elements.
INSIDE OUT is an animated comedy about a young girl who has a wonderful life, until her family moves to San Francisco and her emotions get out of control. INSIDE OUT is a well-made, delightful movie with a great plot line, excellent animation and a strong moral worldview.

FINDING NEMO

Quality:
****
Content:
+4 Biblical, usually Christian, worldview, with no questionable elements whatsoever.
FINDING NEMO is a wonderful animated adventure about a small clownfish who goes in search of his son, who's been put into a fish tank by human beings. Every second of FINDING NEMO is beautifully animated, spectacularly directed and written with great heart and strong moral values.

MONSTERS UNIVERSITY

Quality:
****
Content:
+2 Moderately questionable elements.
In MONSTERS UNIVERSITY, Mike and Sulley return to the big screen, this time to attend college together. MONSTERS UNIVERSITY has a lot of heart and soul, with a strong moral worldview and many laughs, but some monsters may be scary for very young children.

TOY STORY 3

Quality:
****
Content:
+3 Some minor questionable elements. (Media-wisdom is suggested to discuss.)
In TOY STORY 3, the toys we’ve come to love are held captive in a daycare center full of rambunctious young children who literally start tearing them apart. TOY STORY 3 is another impressive, delightful, hilarious, heartwarming, and redemptive animated classic from Pixar and Disney.

THE INCREDIBLES

Quality:
****
Content:
+2 Moderately questionable elements.
THE INCREDIBLES is another incredible animated movie from Pixar and Disney, about two retired superhero parents who must battle a villain targeting their family. Beautifully animated, THE INCREDIBLES is full of exciting energy, fantastic fun, and humorous hilarity, with a very strong redemptive, Christian worldview full of many positive moral messages.

THE PEANUTS MOVIE

Quality:
****
Content:
+3 Some minor questionable elements. (Media-wisdom is suggested to discuss.)
THE PEANUTS MOVIE is a wonderful animated movie based on the beloved comic strip created by Charles Schulz, wherein Charlie Brown falls for the new girl in town and tries to make a good first impression, despite his poor reputation. THE PEANUTS MOVIE is a lovable, funny, entertaining animated movie for all ages that teaches positive lessons of compassion, honesty, and selflessness, with only some slapstick and minor perilous scenes that might scary sensitive, very young children.

MEET THE ROBINSONS

Quality:
***
Content:
+4 Biblical, usually Christian, worldview, with no questionable elements whatsoever.
MEET THE ROBINSONS is an animated movie about a boy genius, Lewis, who escapes from a villain into the future, where he has to rebuild a time travel ship before a mysterious, eccentric family from the future disappears. MEET THE ROBINSONS tugs at the heartstrings and tickles the funnybone. It also has a very strong moral worldview.

TEACHER’S PET

Quality:
***
Content:
+1 Moderately questionable elements. (Discernment required for young children.)
TEACHER’S PET, an animated movie from Disney, is wacky, goofy fun. In the story, a dog named Spot travels 2,000 miles to see a mad scientist who says he can turn animals into human beings.

CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS: THE FIRST EPIC MOVIE

Quality:
****
Content:
+1 Moderately questionable elements. (Discernment required for young children.)
CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS: THE FIRST EPIC MOVIE is a hilarious animated romp about two boys who hypnotize their strict principal into thinking he’s Captain Underpants, the silly, enthusiastic, dim-witted superhero from the homemade comic books they created. CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS is a funny family movie with positive themes extolling the redemptive powers of friendship, creativity and love, but there is some mild scatological humor. For instance, the comic villain’s name is Professor Poopypants.

BIG HERO 6

Quality:
****
Content:
+1 Moderately questionable elements. (Discernment required for young children.)
BIG HERO 6 is an excellent Disney animated movie about a 14-year-old boy who turns a huggable healthcare robot into a fighting machine and enlists the help of four friends to catch a villain in the city of San Fransokyo. BIG HERO 6 is delightful and charming with positive messages of helping others, courage and selflessness. A light caution is advised for younger children because of some heavier elements, including lots of action.

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