Babe

YMA recommendation

Approved as non-violent media, with caution. Predatory animal behaviour; Distressing scenes

Most suitable age range:

5-7

Availability

Format	DVD and VHS
Many items on the list of non-violent media may be available for either purchase or hire. Click here for some ideas of where to look for them.

About the movie

Year of production	1995
Classification advice
Rating	G
Consumer advice lines	None
Duration	92 minutes

Other information
Country of origin	Australia
Production Company	Universal City Studios

Synopsis

Based on the book by Dick King-Smith, Babe tells the story of a piglet who is separated from his mother at a very young age and taken home to Hogget's farm where he is raised by a sheep-dog named Fly. Babe grows up thinking that he is also a sheep-dog and goes on to prove that pigs can do amazing things.

Points to consider

Words of caution

Although this is a delightful story, it does show the realistic side of farm life which younger children might find distressing. There is some predatory behaviour in this film including

Two dogs get into a fight and the farmer gets bitten when he tries to separate them
Wild dogs attack and kill a sheep

Children may also be distressed by

the idea of young animals being separated from their parents
animals being killed for food
a scene where the farmer is about to shoot Babe but he gets a last minute reprieve

Positive aspects

believing in yourself
finding your place in the world

Questions to ask

Why do you think the farmer thought Babe was a special pig?