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[MrMephistoX]

So I raised my 9 year old right and started her on Ghibli Blu-ray’s when she was like 4. She just rewatched TOTORO after a while and her hot take: the dad is a neglectful terrible father for losing track of his kids multiple times throughout the film. Makes me wonder if the rumored sub text that Mei really fucking died is true?

 

[Burning Blade]

I grew up on Totoro and my 9 year old loves it too. It does have some deep themes, so maybe your kiddo is just advanced?

 

[NecrosaroIII]

Back in the day parents didn't hover over their kids all the time. My parents never really knew where I was at.

 

[Mistake]

Well, it’s clear that the whole village plays their part in raising the children, but she does have a point. I think the poor dad can’t catch a break

 

[Werewolf Jones]

So I raised my 9 year old right and started her on Ghibli Blu-ray’s when she was like 4. She just rewatched TOTORO after a while and her hot take: the dad is a neglectful terrible father for losing track of his kids multiple times throughout the film. Makes me wonder if the rumored sub text that Mei really fucking died is true?

I don't think so considering it was shown as a double bill alongside Grave of the Fireflies. Two movies with kids dying? Whew.

 

[haxan7]

I’ve never even made it all the way through a Ghibli movie

 

[Cyberpunkd]

Back in the day parents didn't hover over their kids all the time. My parents never really knew where I was at.

There was a good article saying how in 1950s the kids were venturing easily inside the 10km radius from their homes, later it started getting smaller and smaller, and nowadays most kids do not leave their yard unaccompanied.

 

[NecrosaroIII]

There was a good article saying how in 1950s the kids were venturing easily inside the 10km radius from their homes, later it started getting smaller and smaller, and nowadays most kids do not leave their yard unaccompanied.

That's totally not going to have a negative effect on kids

 

[Ballthyrm]

So I raised my 9 year old right and started her on Ghibli Blu-ray’s when she was like 4. She just rewatched TOTORO after a while and her hot take: the dad is a neglectful terrible father for losing track of his kids multiple times throughout the film. Makes me wonder if the rumored sub text that Mei really fucking died is true?

It really depends where you were brought up. I grew up in the country side and my parents let me bike to my friends house a couple of kilometers from home.

Totoro takes place in such a setting, that doesn't shock me at all.

 

[BadBurger]

I read the situation thusly: the father was a bit scatterbrained to begin with and was focused on work and distracted by the thoughts of his sick wife, he was probably accustomed to the mother taking care of the kids day-to-day, and parents really didn't track their kids too closely back in the 50's (they didn't until the 2000's when cell phones became common, really).

I never bought into the idea Mei died. The story and epilogue simply don't follow.

 

[Star-Lord]

Back in the day parents didn't hover over their kids all the time. My parents never really knew where I was at.

Yep. Got home from school, did my homework, then I was gone. My folks never cared where I was, who I was with, or what I was doing, as long as I didn’t bring trouble home with me. Simpler times.

 

[Tschumi]

Mei really fucking died is true?

No, it is not, must not be true lol. I think they were just trying to scare kids about taking adventuring too far...

Why the hell would a bunch of adult dudes at studio Ghibli,lead by a guy who thought a self-animated 3D zombie was a crime against humanity, say "hey lol let's fuck with everyone and kill off the little kid!"? No chance.

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When i was a kid i spent most of my summer holidays wandering around various cities. I render when i was the older daughter's age i was riding a second hand bike around a few neighbourhoods in Canberra, Australia, from Dawn til dusk. And climbing hundreds of trees...

That's what kids were meant to do in the 80s and 90s, 00s...... And like the whole time before then... Ever seen Stand By Me?

Contemporary parents, well i don't know where OP lives maybe it's a pretty scary place, but yeah once your kids are old enough to want to explore you would give them some slack... As i write this i want to walk it back a bit so I'll just say let your kids explore if you're in a place worth exploring/without much risk of crime.

 

[NahaNago]

As long as my parents knew where I was generally going as a child, then I was free to wonder around on my bike but at the time I was also living on a military base in Okinawa which is like one of the most safest places to live in. Even when I got older and moved off base in Okinawa my parents were extremely chill since it was safe so i'd just ride my bike all over the place during the summer.

 

[lifa-cobex]

There was a good article saying how in 1950s the kids were venturing easily inside the 10km radius from their homes, later it started getting smaller and smaller, and nowadays most kids do not leave their yard unaccompanied.

That's terrible.
The adventures I had as a kid could only be experienced at that age. What's the point of owning a push bike as a kid if you don't go out with your friends and explore.