A trip from the conquest of the moon to nazism

by Del Valle & Panzita
                               
In 2010 Universal Studios released “Despicable Me”, a film that seems to be a lovely and kind story for kids. Thousands of children enjoyed the adventures of Gru and his minion’s army. However, is it really an innocent story? The despicable main character, Gru, has many trends that can be compared to the evilness of Nazi Germans.

In the film, it’s clear the idea of doing anything you want to achieve your goal, without caring about other people’s feelings. This can be seen when the protagonist of the story adopts three orphans just to steal a weapon planning to abandon them after that. What is more, when he takes the girls to his house, he doesn’t show any respect for their necessities. He even serves them food and water on the floor as if they were animals. Germans had the same attitude towards Jewish people in concentration camps.

War weapons, torture elements and embalmed animals are the decoration of Gru’s house. Even when Margo, the oldest girl, tells him that place is not a proper environment for children, he doesn’t seem to care about her comment; in addition to that, there is a part in the movie where a simulacrum of a murder takes place. This happens when Edith gets into a box full of nails and a red liquid that looks like blood comes out of the box. The reaction of Gru and the girls is dramatically different. While Margo and Agness are horrified, Gru only thinks of the success of his plan which is stealing a shrink ray from Vector, another villain.

The lack of remorse that lays in Gru is almost the same in Nazi Germans. As Gru doesn’t care about what happened to the girl in the box, German soldiers didn’t care about what Jewish people had to go through in concentration camps. It’s really curious the success of “Despicable Me”, a film which is full of moments that portray the worst and criticized trends of Nazism, such as little respect for human life and social values.

The yellow and nice minions act like a real army of criminals. They all wear the same uniform with a letter “G” . In a way, it can be compared with the swastikas that German soldiers used to wear in their uniforms. Minions are depicted as brainless and stupid. They never complain or ask about what they have to do and in a way they are used to test the most stupid inventions of Doctor Nephario, the inventor of the team.

Doctor Nephario is the author of the most weird and stupid weapons ever seen. He lacks of scruples and does whatever he has to do to please his boss, Gru. In a way, Dr Nephario is to Gru what Joseph Mengele   was to Hitler and the Second World War.

Although, in some parts of the film it can be said that love is present, the real lei motif of the film is to be the best villain of all times and to commit the best crime ever. The fact that at the end Gru keeps the three orphans, doesn’t mean he turns into an honest person. What is more, at the end of the movie, we can’t see Gru looking for a real job and living an ordinary life. 

German Nazism was criticised by all societies worldwide. However, parents will buy tickets to “Despicable Me” without thinking about all these issues.

“When the elephant walks”

By Lucía del Valle

“When the elephant walks” is an adorable story written by Keiko Kaszca who using tender images and the same structure to pass from one animal to another, makes the story attractive and easy to follow for children.

The story is about an animal chain-reaction which starts with an elephant scaring a bear. Then, the bear, which is looking for honey, scares a crocodile which swims for saving his life but, by doing this, he frightens another animal who continue with the chain. From the elephant to a mouse, fear passes through all these tender characters, finishing the story with the first one, the elephant, being scare.

Within this book, children become aware that life is like a “wheel” and everything we do, good or bad, could return to us.

I highly recommend this book. “When the elephant walks” is a very kind story with lovely characters that very young children will adore.

Review: Are you my mother?

Colourful and tender, the book “Are you my mother?” is a short but lovely story which faces children to different emotions preparing them for their future life experiences. This book by P. D. Eastman tells the story of a little bird that comes out from an egg while his mother is looking for food. Through the entire story, the author shows the reader that hope and disappointment take part in our every day’s life. Children will love this story with several animals, means of transport and bright colours. Parents will find a different way to teach their children to achieve goals in life, no matter what difficulties they come across.

The story starts when the little bird jumps out from a nest and gets lost. In order to find his mother, he meets different animals and means of transport asking all of them “Are you my mother?” In each encounter, he faces hope and disappointment when he thinks that he has found his mother, but as he never gives up, he finally achieves his goal.

Full of feelings and wonderful drawings, this simple story catches little reader’s attention and emotions. Highly recommended.

del Valle, Lucía and Panzita, Mariela

After several days of intensive heat...

After several days of intensive heat, Lucy and her partners were resting under a big green leaf. When they saw a big black ant crying for help, they run away looking for shelter but Lucy realized that she didn´t mean any harm.

Lucy was the first one to talk to the desperate Black Ant to find out what the problem was. The Black Ant began to stutter trying to explain. The flood had destroyed her nest and she lost her way home. Lucy looked at the sky, and saw that the storm was coming, so she offered the Black Ant to spend the night with them in their nest. Lucy’s friends didn´t agree because in the past black and red ants used to fight for food. “Wars were a long time ago” Lucy said “let´s help her”. “What´s wrong with that?” said little Red Ant.  “It makes room for new people”. They discussed for a few minutes whether they accept Black Ant or not.

Finally, they decided to let her stay for a couple of nights. A few days later, the little Red Ant helped Black Ant to find her way back home. From that moment on , there was peace between  Black and Red Ants.