Luca and Lucky

I’ve been watching some new animated films with my daughter lately, both streamed at home and in the theater. Animated films have been a part of my life more than the average gal – not only a part of my childhood, but spread out over the years of my own kids’ childhoods, spanning nearly 20 years now. That’s a lot of kids’ movies!

Two recent movies she and I watched are Disney’s ”Luca” and Dreamworks’ “Spirit Untamed.” These were both very good. She loved them and can’t get enough of the soundtracks playing on repeat in the car, so the stories and messages are continuing long after “The End.”

Messaging in children’s movies has changed so much over the years! Movies from my childhood were based on stories of princesses, damsels in distress, and a prince being the savior. It gave us the message as little girls that if you weren’t a princess and/or if you weren’t saved by a prince, you were doomed. Maybe that’s a harsh analysis, but look at Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Cinderella, Rapunzel, etc.

I definitely noticed when themes changed to the princesses taking charge of their destinies and getting tough. Look at Mulan, disguising herself as a boy in order to fight and be the hero. Moana saving everyone basically all by herself. Elsa and Anna in Frozen, fixing what nobody else could. While I do like the shift into showing girls that they can be courageous and strong, there is still the strong tie to being a princess in order to do so.

These latest movies are illustrating a new shift that I like a lot. Not only are we not dealing with royalty of any kind, but the characters are not just girls. And the families are blended in so many ways, mirroring reality more closely, making the messages more tangible and possible for the kids watching and absorbing.

Luca

Luca is a sea monster that comes from an underwater peasant family. He meets his best friend, a seamonster/boy who lives alone. Together they team up with a human girl who lives with her one-armed single dad and accomplish the unthinkable. (I’m trying to not spoil the story by sharing a lot of details.) The message I love is that anyone can accomplish their dreams, and that it is best done with the help of others. It is about finding courage and it has nothing to do with royalty, privilege, or appearing to be a hero.

Lucky

Lucky is a mixed-race girl, spending the summer with her widower dad in a Wild West town, meets two new friends, and they save a pack of wild horses from capture. She doesn’t know anything about horses when she arrives but learns from her new friends, ultimately finding her courage to lead and rescue the animals. Again, this is about finding courage and also has nothing to do with royalty, privilege, or appearing to be a hero.

Both films have messages that are realistic and applicable to all kids.

In “Luca,” Alberto, his friend, teaches him the power of “Silenzio, Bruno!” Bruno is the voice in your head telling you that you can’t do something. Doubt. He’s teaches Luca to shout, as loudly as possible “Silenzio, Bruno!” whenever that voice appears – so loudly that he drowns out the voice of doubt. He teaches him to believe in himself.

Since watching that film, I have heard my daughter say that a few times and I’ve offered it to her when I thought she could use it.

In “Spirit Untamed,” Lucky has to muster up courage while riding. Her mantra, and song, is “Be Fearless, Fortuna!” She calls upon this several times during the film.

Again, this song has come up with my daughter, both on her own and as an offering from me.

Here’s an example:

Yesterday she and I went for an impromptu hike (because I can now!) and she tripped and fell a few times, each time frustrating her more than the last. She busted open a recent scab causing fresh blood to roll along with fat late afternoon tears. I offered her my hand for the rest of the hike, reminding her that she can do hard things and to “be fearless.” Her voicings of “I can’t make it” were met with “Silenzio, Bruno!” And so she picked her feet and head up a little higher and we made it back to the car, paying attention to finding wildflowers in every color of the rainbow along the way. She felt empowered by those messages and proud of her accomplishments at the end.

I’m happy for these new messages. Children are so impressionable so having films that empower (I can be brave, too!) rather than discourage (oh, well, I’m not a princess so why try.) is important and appreciated.

Thank you, Luca and Lucky, for delivering these messages! We will be remembering them and shouting to Bruno for years to come. Not just her, but me, too!

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