This beloved family classic is certaitly good. But beware for preschoolers! Some scenes might scare them!
Dumbo
-
Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
-
Common Sense says
1941 classic still makes us cry!
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 6 and Up
What to watch out for
-
Violence & scariness:
-
Sexy stuff:
-
Language:
-
Consumerism:
-
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Dumbo was written by Nell Minow
Parents need to know that while respecting individual differences is a theme of the movie, the crows who sing "When I See an Elephant Fly" would be considered racist by today's standards. One of them is named "Jim Crow" and they speak with "Amos & Andy"-style accents, but clearly they are not intended to be insulting.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about empathy by asking kids how they would feel if everyone laughed at them the way the animals laugh at Dumbo, and how important it is to Dumbo to have a friend like Timothy. Why does Timothy tell Dumbo he needs the feather to fly? How does he learn that he does not need it? Why do the other elephants laugh at Dumbo's ears? How does that make him feel?
Have you seen it? Review It!
More on Dumbo
What’s the Story?
Disney's classic animated tale of DUMBO begins when the stork delivers babies to the circus animals, including Mrs. Jumbo's baby, an elephant with enormous ears. The other elephants laugh at him and call him Dumbo, but Mrs. Jumbo loves him very much. When Dumbo is mistreated, she is furious and raises such a fuss that she is locked up. Dumbo is made part of the clown act, which embarrasses him very much. He is a big hit and, celebrating his good fortune, accidentally drinks champagne and becomes tipsy. The next morning, he wakes up in a tree, with no idea how he got there. It turns out that he flew! He becomes the star of the circus, with his proud mother beside him.
Is It Any Good?
This is a classic family film, with the gorgeous handcrafted animation that's a hallmark of early Disney films. Composers Oliver Wallace and Frank Churchill won Oscars for the film's musical score. The themes in this movie include friendship, tolerance of differences, and the importance of believing in yourself. Some of the characters (particularly the crows) are quite dated by today's standards, but kids will sill appreciate the story of the little elephant who learns to believe in himself.
Movie Details
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures, Director: Ben Sharpsteen
Run time: 63 minutes
DVD release: 10/1/1999
MPAA Rating: G for some tense scenes
Run time: 63 minutes
DVD release: 10/1/1999
MPAA Rating: G for some tense scenes
Our Members Say
See 11 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
-
I rate this title iffy for age 4 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
good movie but....
-
Kids ages: 3
I rate this title iffy for age 4 and give itMay not be appropriate for today's audiences.
My son and I really identified with the strong emotional bond between Ms. Jumbo and Dumbo. This movie may be fine for older children who can engage in frank conversations about stereotypes and alcohol use after watching this film...but it's not for the preschool crowd.
-
Kids ages: 11
I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
life is
frankly, cheny is scarier.
-
I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
Touching
Dumbo was created to get money back to Disney Studios after the box-office bombs Pinocchio and Fantasia.
-
I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
Touching
Dumbo was created to get money back to Disney Studios after the box-office bombs Pinocchio and Fantasia.
Give Recommendations, Get Them, Too!
Become a member and get recommendations from other parents based on your child's age.Tell us your child's age:
Already a member? Log inOur Members Rate It
Have you seen it?
For Your Family
Get age-based recommendations for your kids:
Customize based on your child's age
MamaFitz recommends:
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
for kids age 3
See more from MamaFitz
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
for kids age 3
See more from MamaFitz
