Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on May 2012

This week, we forgo our usual list of European art house films and horror flicks to bring you our favorite picks from the video store that are for kids, but have an edge and won’t bore parents to tears. Thunderpants (2002; pictured) tells the story of an 11-year-old English boy whose life is ruined by uncontrollable flatulence. That is, until his genius best friend (Rupert Grint) invents the title garment that allows him to harness his special power and realize his dream of becoming an astronaut… In a slightly darker tale than Harry Potter and company, the orphans of Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004) use their knowledge, wit and inventiveness to defend themselves against the evil machinations of Count Olaf (Jim Carrey). Unfortunately, only the first film in the planned series was ever produced, but it is a gem… The misadventures of a camp villain competing to maintain his title as the world’s greatest criminal doesn’t sound like the most appropriate fare for kids. But in computer-animated Despicable Me (2010), the hardened criminal Gru (Steve Carell) has a reluctant change of heart when he meets three adorable orphans. Japanese title: Kaitou Gru no Tsukidorobou.