‘Violent’ Pixar film’s PG rating criticised Parents hit out at ‘scary’ clip before Disney movie
THE PG rating for a Disney Pixar film currently in cinemas has caused a storm – with some Irish parents critical of the classification.
The controversy relates to The Good Dinosaur but the film itself is not at issue – it is an animated short that plays before it which some parents say is too scary and violent for children.
Despite the furore, the Irish Film Classification Office is standing by its parental guidance rating.
Pixar’s short film, titled Sanjay’s Super Team, features a small Indian-American boy being frightened by monsters after his father lights a candle during prayers.
Some parents have described the short as ‘scary’ and ‘controversial’ and questioned whether it should be shown alongside a PG film.
The Irish Daily Mail spoke to two parents, a father and a mother, who both said they were alarmed by the level of violence in the clip.
The short animation plays before The Good Dinosaur and cinemas do not have the option not to show it. The IFCO rated the short clip and the film PG as there are ‘some scary scenes and mild violence’.
Acting director of film classification, Ger Connolly, said: ‘I’m quite comfortable with the classification of PG. There are some mildly scary scenes in [the clip] but I would contend that there are some scarier scenes in The Good Dinosaur.
‘People have different expectations but the PG cert does recommend that parents attend with their children.’
Mr Connolly said it was unfair to compare this film to other chil- dren’s films, such as Toy Story or Minions, as they are rated G, suitable for general release.
He said: ‘This is rated PG which is the first sign that there’s something in it that we didn’t deem suitable for a general audience for all ages. In this case, it was that mild threat and violence although it was in a fantasy context.’
Mr Connolly confirmed IFCO has not received any complaints about the clip or film – which has taken in more than €1million at the Irish box office since its release on November 27.
Laura Haugh, mum-in-residence at MummyPages.ie, said the clip of Sanjay’s Super Team ‘sparked some controversy’ among parents on the MummyPages.ie forum.
She said: ‘This is a good example of how parents really need to heed the parental guidance warning... Parents need to exercise their own judgment when it comes to their own children. This is particularly important if your child is sensitive, if they have an anxious tendency or suffer from nightmares.’