culture
March 5, 2026
Why are today’s children’s books and films often so much better than adult ones?
It’s not simply that kids’ culture has improved since I was young. Across stage, screen and cinema, grownup offerings pale in comparison to those aimed at my son
TL;DR
- Children's literature, such as the Harry Potter series, is praised for its characterization, world-building, and ethical complexity, surpassing many books read by the author in childhood.
- Contemporary children's culture, including animated shows like "All Hail King Julien: Exiled" and films like "The Mitchells vs the Machines," is argued to be more sophisticated and relevant than much adult content.
- Children's movies are noted for their engagement with global crises like ecological collapse and technology's impact, addressing these issues with clarity, playfulness, and radical solutions.
- Mainstream Hollywood family movies are seen as more ambitious and thematically rich than many arthouse films aimed at adults.
- Innovative stage work for under-12s is receiving praise, suggesting a broader trend of high-quality creative output in children's entertainment.
- While children's media tackles serious issues and offers solutions, adult-oriented media is sometimes criticized for vagueness or a lack of directness in addressing similar themes.
Continue reading the original article