Want to find the best international, classic or unusual movies for kids? We've carefully assembled a list of films on DVD that have played the New York Int'l Children's Film Festival, as well as some of our own favorites! Even better: Every DVD you buy through this site helps make us rich. Not Bill Gates rich. Just “not-in-spiraling-amounts-of-debt” rich. Ka-ching!
Tales of the Night
Age Recommendation: 8+ Director: Michel Ocelot
From the imagination of internationally renowned animator Michel Ocelot (Kirikou and the Sorceress, Azur & Asmar) comes a magical and visually stunning new film, delighting kids, families and animation fans of all ages. Silhouetted characters are set off against exquisitely detailed...
From the imagination of internationally renowned animator Michel Ocelot (Kirikou and the Sorceress, Azur & Asmar) comes a magical and visually stunning new film, delighting kids, families and animation fans of all ages. Silhouetted characters are set off against exquisitely detailed Day-Glo backgrounds bursting with color and kaleidoscopic patterns, as the film weaves together six exotic fables each unfolding in a unique locale, from Tibet, to medieval Europe, and even the Land of the Dead. In Ocelot's celebrated storytelling, history blends with fairytale as viewers are whisked off to visit enchanted lands full of dragons, shape-shifting werewolves, captive princesses, and enormous talking bees - and each fable ends with its own ironic twist.
"Michel Ocelot's ravishing animation and magical storytelling are a delight from start to finish!" - Empire
Studio Ghibli's The Cat Returns was the top-grossing film of 2002 at the Japanese box office. In this unofficial sequel to 1992's Whisper of the Heart, a quiet suburban schoolgirl, Haru, is pitched into a fantastical but dangerous world (of cats!) and must find her inner strength to make her way back home...
Studio Ghibli's The Cat Returns was the top-grossing film of 2002 at the Japanese box office. In this unofficial sequel to 1992's Whisper of the Heart, a quiet suburban schoolgirl, Haru, is pitched into a fantastical but dangerous world (of cats!) and must find her inner strength to make her way back home. Walking with her friend after a dreary day at school, Haru eyes a cat with a small gift box in his mouth attempting to cross the busy street. The cat fumbles with the package in the middle of the street, and Haru rescues him from oncoming traffic. To her amazement, the cat then gets up on its hind legs, brushes itself off, and thanks her politely. Strange behavior indeed, but this is nothing compared to what happens later that evening when the King of Cats shows up with a feline motorcade. In a show of gratitude for saving his son's life, the cat king showers Haru with gifts, and decrees that she shall marry the cat prince and come live in the secret Kingdom of Cats.
Hayao Miyazaki's Ocar-winning masterpiece, Spirited Away tells the story of Chihiro, a young girl forced to find her way through a world of spirits when her parents are mysteriously transformed by a witch. Featuring memorable character design and art direction, this film is essential viewing.
Hayao Miyazaki's Ocar-winning masterpiece, Spirited Away tells the story of Chihiro, a young girl forced to find her way through a world of spirits when her parents are mysteriously transformed by a witch. Featuring memorable character design and art direction, this film is essential viewing.
What Others Say...
"The most wondrous and mysterious of animated films" - David Ansen, Newsweek
"Miyazaki is the Pied Piper -- see Spirited Away and you'll follow him anywhere" - Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
"Spirited Away is a trip, in the literal, metaphorical and indeed lysergic senses of that word" - Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com
"Miyazaki floods the screen with beautiful scenes and enough fascinating creatures to put Pokemon to shame" - Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News
Hayao Miyazaki's new film continues the director's tradition of combining simple folk tale story setups with ambitiously beautiful imagery. Sophie, a quiet girl working in a hat shop, finds her life thrown into turmoil when she is literally swept off her feet by a handsome but mysterious wizard named Howl. The vain and vengeful Witch of the Waste, jealous of their friendship, puts a spell on Sophie. In a life-changing adventure, Sophie climbs aboard Howl's magnificent flying castle and enters a magical world on a quest to break the spell.
Hayao Miyazaki's new film continues the director's tradition of combining simple folk tale story setups with ambitiously beautiful imagery. Sophie, a quiet girl working in a hat shop, finds her life thrown into turmoil when she is literally swept off her feet by a handsome but mysterious wizard named Howl. The vain and vengeful Witch of the Waste, jealous of their friendship, puts a spell on Sophie. In a life-changing adventure, Sophie climbs aboard Howl's magnificent flying castle and enters a magical world on a quest to break the spell.
What Others Say...
"Miyazaki seems to be one of those artists (and there aren't many) who just can't fail to make magic. Howl's Moving Castle has the logic of a dream: behind every door lie multiple realities, one more astonishing than the next." - David Ansen, Newsweek
"There is giggling, belly-laughing, and gasping to be done watching Howl's Moving Castle. Miyazaki teaches his viewers more valuable lessons: that cultivating a kind of meditative dreaminess is important, that logic is fallible and often benefits from surrendering to instinct, that hushed visual beauty is a treasure unto itself..." - Ken Tucker, New York Magazine
A young girl with a mysterious crystal pendant falls out of the sky and into the arms--and life--of young Pazu. Together they search for a floating island in the sky, site of a long-dead civilization promising enormous wealth and power to...
A young girl with a mysterious crystal pendant falls out of the sky and into the arms--and life--of young Pazu. Together they search for a floating island in the sky, the site of a long-dead civilization promising enormous wealth and power to those who can unlock its secrets.
Hayao Miyazaki, "the Kurosawa of animation," is behind this story about a young princess in a devastated future world where warring human outposts contend with giant insects and atmospheric poisons. Beautifully rendered with awe-inspiring animations and transcendent filmic moments, Nausicaa...
Hayao Miyazaki, "the Kurosawa of animation," is behind this story about a young princess in a devastated future world where warring human outposts contend with giant insects and atmospheric poisons. Beautifully rendered with awe-inspiring animations and transcendent filmic moments, Nausicaa also carries an important environmental subtext.
Set in a mid-war Italy swept by fascism, this film from Hayao Miyazaki follows the life of Marco, a world-weary flying ace turned bounty hunter. Somewhere along the way a curse has transformed Marco's head into that of a pig, reflecting his loss of faith in humanity. Marco meets...
Set in a mid-war Italy swept by fascism, this film from Hayao Miyazaki follows the life of Marco, a world-weary flying ace turned bounty hunter. Somewhere along the way a curse has transformed Marco's head into that of a pig, reflecting his loss of faith in humanity. Marco meets his polar opposite in the innocent and energetic 17-year-old Fio, an aspiring airplane designer, and the two are thrown into an airborne adventure, pursued by air pirates, the Italian army, and an egotistical American flying ace.
Age Recommendation: 11+ Director: Richard "Golly" Goleszowski
Richard "Golly" Goleszowski's Rex the Runt is the most delirious animated comedy series ever created. With his doggy chums Wendy, Bad Bob and Vince (who suffers from Random Pavarotti Disease), the wobbly, bobbly, dribbly, squiggly Rex deadpans his way through adventures veering between the surreal and the banal.
Richard "Golly" Goleszowski's Rex the Runt is the most delirious animated comedy series ever created. With his doggy chums Wendy, Bad Bob and Vince (who suffers from Random Pavarotti Disease), the wobbly, bobbly, dribbly, squiggly Rex deadpans his way through adventures veering between the surreal and the banal. Each episode is a tightly scripted, claymation hallucination--an endless flood of ideas confined within structured madness. Cities are kept as pets, dogs fall in love with vacuum cleaners and have puppies, and our beloved canine hero is transformed into a wet pile of talking noodles. Don't blink!
(Note: Some episodes contain mild profanity and drunkeness.)
Director Danny Boyle wields a wildly inventive visual style, spinning an atmosphere of playful magical realism punctuated by moments of pure cinematic exuberance. It is the tale of two Liverpudian lads who have just moved into a new house with their dad to begin a new life without their departed mother. Damien is a dreamer, representing all that is naive and unspoiled in the world. So when a duffle bag full of cash literally falls from the sky to Damien's feet, he thinks it's a gift from God and begins searching for poor people to give the money to...
Director Danny Boyle wields a wildly inventive visual style, spinning an atmosphere of playful magical realism punctuated by moments of pure cinematic exuberance. It is the tale of two Liverpudian lads who have just moved into a new house with their dad to begin a new life without their departed mother. Damien is a dreamer, representing all that is naive and unspoiled in the world. So when a duffle bag full of cash literally falls from the sky to Damien's feet, he thinks it's a gift from God and begins searching for poor people to give the money to. Older brother Anthony is more business minded and tries to educate his brother on the practical uses of money. But there's a catch: the boys only have one week to spend the cash before Britain converts to the euro and their money is rendered worthless. Millions is a smart, funny, sensitive and immensely enjoyable film about the difficulty of performing an act of generosity in a cynical world.
What Others Say...
"A family film of limitless imagination and surprising joy" - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
"Leaves you feeling rich -- and richly satisfied" - Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
"Visually arresting, seriously whimsical, and suffused with a dreamy yet sad awareness of where life falls short and imagination has to pick up the slack" - Ty Burr, Boston Globe
"Witty, sweet and charming but never sappy" - Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Age Recommendation: 8+ Director: Luigi Falorni and Byambasuren Davaa
Set in the Gobi Desert, this film about a family of nomadic herders blends documentary and fiction into a uniquely affecting experience. After a difficult delivery, the mother camel refuses to look after her new colt. The Mongolian shepherds become concerned for the colt's health, and send two of their sons on a journey to the next village, looking for a musician who can help perform an ancient musical ceremony...
Set in the Gobi Desert, this film about a family of nomadic herders blends documentary and fiction into a uniquely affecting experience. After a difficult delivery, the mother camel refuses to look after her new colt. The Mongolian shepherds become concerned for the colt's health, and send two of their sons on a journey to the next village, looking for a musician who can help perform an ancient musical ceremony that will unite the mother camel with her young. Finding beauty in the everyday rhythms of life in an area few of us have seen, the directors linger on the herding and family life as a peaceful counterpoint to our own often harried existence.
What Others Say...
"A film of simple rigor and heartfelt emotion" - Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News
"Joyous!" - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
"A simple tale of animal estrangement and reconciliation that in its own quiet way manages to be soothing, hypnotic, even magical" - Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
In this Academy Award-nominated musical comedy, The Beatles--who had recently been made an American sensation with their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show--offer a satirical look at a day in the life of the band...
In this Academy Award-nominated musical comedy, The Beatles--who had recently been made an American sensation with their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show--offer a satirical look at a day in the life of the band, avoiding screaming throngs of girls and singing a series of memorable tunes, including "Can't Buy Me Love," "She Loves You," "And I Love Her," not to mention the ubiquitous title track. The source of countless parodies, you'll find that The Beatles' music and high-energy antics transcend generations.
What Others Say...
"Still feels brand spanking new, and way cool!" - Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
"No movie of the 1960s catches that era's irreverent joy and exuberance as much as director Richard Lester's Beatlemania saga" - Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
"A comedy classic that cross- pollinated Jean-Luc Godard with the four Marx brothers" - John Anderson, Newsday
"Pure, infectious joy!" - Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
This sequel to A Hard Day's Night reunites director Richard Lester with the Fab Four, but adds color and a wackier kind of surreal slapstick comedy. In this spoof of The Beatles' universal popularity, an Eastern religious cult declares the ring on Ringo's finger is a powerful artifact...
This sequel to A Hard Day's Night reunites director Richard Lester with the Fab Four, but adds color and a wackier kind of surreal slapstick comedy. In this spoof of The Beatles' universal popularity, an Eastern religious cult declares the ring on Ringo's finger is a powerful artifact, and they won't stop until they have it. The worldwide travels are joined by a great Beatles soundtrack, including "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away," "Ticket To Ride," and "Help!", which help keep the film afloat if the slapstick humor ever misses the mark.
The concept of "so bad it's good" seems to have been invented for the films of Ed Wood, a director, writer, producer and occasional star who fully embraced his B-movie budgets and utter lack of technical skill. In Plan 9, his magnum opus about aliens who try to conquer earth with zombies, a hit list of cinematic ineptitudes doesn't sink the film so much as make it pure sci-fi comedy gold...
The concept of "so bad it's good" seems to have been invented for the films of Ed Wood, a director, writer, producer and occasional star who fully embraced his B-movie budgets and utter lack of technical skill. In Plan 9, his magnum opus about aliens who try to conquer earth with zombies, a hit list of cinematic ineptitudes (like paper plates trying to pass as flying saucers, and a man with a cape over his mouth trying to substitute for the film's star, who had recently died) doesn't sink the film so much as make it pure sci-fi comedy gold. The whole thing comes off as delightfully stupid, and kids are sure to enjoy seeing Hollywood gone this bad, but the movie really succeeds because it looks like a lot of fun. Like the early home movies of budding filmmakers, Plan 9 may be a technical disaster, but there's a heart and energy to the film that makes it hard to begrudge Ed Wood his career masterpiece.
Age Recommendation: 8+ Director: Ernest B. Schoedsack
Like the giant ape for which it's named, King Kong is a movie that is larger than life. It's been remade multiple times (including a CGI-infused, mega-costly version from Peter Jackson in 2005) but never topped. The movie effectively follows a "more is more" strategy...
Like the giant ape for which it's named, King Kong is a movie that is larger than life. It's been remade multiple times (including a CGI-infused, mega-costly version from Peter Jackson in 2005) but never topped. The movie effectively follows a "more is more" strategy, packing a foggy island full of hostile tribesmen, dinosaurs and the stop-motion Kong into a brief running time, ensuring a brisk pace and plenty of action. If you're looking to introduce older kids to classic movies, this is a fantastic place to start, especially since the new DVD release adds a restored picture and several interesting documentaries on how the film was made.
Fifty years before Disney got to it, poet/director Jean Cocteau created this masterpiece, a film that fully embraced its fairy tale roots with delightfully surreal imagery and a heartbreaking romance between the finely-coiffed Beast and the Beauty...
Fifty years before Disney got to it, poet/director Jean Cocteau created this masterpiece, a film that fully embraced its fairy tale roots with delightfully surreal imagery and a heartbreaking romance between the finely-coiffed Beast and the Beauty who becomes his reluctant prisoner to save her father's life. What the film lacks in musical numbers it makes up for with unbridled imagination and an awesome belief in the magic of fairy tales, creating a true classic that has retained its power over time.
Age Recommendation: 8+ Director: Francois Truffaut
Perhaps the most famous film ever made about childhood, French New Wave pioneer Francois Truffaut's stirring debut feels as fresh as the day it premiered...
Perhaps the most famous film ever made about childhood, French New Wave pioneer Francois Truffaut's stirring debut feels as fresh as the day it premiered. Ignored by two warring parents and criticized at his harsh reform school, Antoine begins to rebel against authority, seeking freedom from the people who regulate his life. This portrait of adolescent angst (itself a semi-autobiographical account of Truffaut's younger years) is warm with sympathy to the everyday concerns of kids, and punctuated with plenty of humor.
The DVD, produced by the inimitable Criterion Collection, features a gloriously restored transfer, two audio commentaries and a series of interviews with Truffaut looking back on the film's unexpected global success. The film was long available only in a more expensive box set, but now can be enjoyed by itself for a lower price.
What Others Say...
"Seems forever young" - Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune
"Still one of the cinema's most perceptive forays into childhood" - Derek Adams, Time Out
"Distinguished by its intensity of feeling and freewheeling use of the wide-screen frame, the film ranks among Truffaut's best" - Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
"A remarkable confluence of talents are at work here" - Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice
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