I definitely agree with the recommendation of Studio Ghibli - basically anything of theirs that is rated U should be fine. A set list of what I'd say what would be good for a four year old would be:
- Arrietty.
- Kiki's Delivery Service.
- My Neighbour Totoro.
- Ponyo.
- The Cat Returns.
If your niece could handle Howl's Moving Castle, then she could probably handle Laputa: Castle in the Sky.
Ones that I would probably avoid for now would be:
- Grave of the Fireflies (should be obvious xD).
- Princess Mononoke (how was that a PG again?).
- Spirited Away (she could easily find some scenes to be too scary).
- The Wind Rises (I think a movie about an aeroplane enthusiastic during WW2 would fly over her head xD. Pretty mature subject matter too).
Outside of Studio Ghibli, as it was mentioned in this thread so...I'd probably avoid Wolf Children for the time being. It has its unsettling scenes and the more sentimental ones would go over her head. I'm also pretty sure four years old is too early for "the talk"; especially when it involves wolf men. I think Summer Wars would really go over her head as well (especially if she doesn't know the rules of Koi-Koi xD).
Phobos said:
Rosencrantz said:
Definitely got to be careful with Ghibli stuff, there's a few that'd freak a 4 year old out, I recall being scared of some things in Nausicaa when I was young. (Parents rented that Warriors of the Wind video and it wasn't till 15 years later I spotted a Nausicaa figure and made the connection of what I'd seen back then)
It is for this exact reason I plan to watch these things prior to letting her watch them. I do not wish for any unpleasant surprises.
And thanks everyone for all the suggestions.
A responsible adult on the internet? This is so rare, I might have to use my Master Ball.