Is your family excited about the new Dumbo movie arriving in theaters this Friday? My girls have been counting down the days, since seeing the trailer for the movie when we were at the movies last month. Both turned to me in the theaters at the same time, as the trailer ended, and said "We have to see Dumbo!"...and, I couldn't agree more. While it did look sad -- I seem to cry at the drop of a hat with all heartwarming movies, including Disney ones, it also looked magical and a great family-friendly movie for fans of Dumbo, both young and old.
This week as part of our homeschooling, the girls and I watched the classic Disney Dumbo movie I grew up watching, as well as read a couple Dumbo children's books we own. Then, I had the girls answer the following questions in their journals -- What would you be or do if you joined the circus? Would you fly through the air like a trapeze artist? Make families laugh as a clown? Would you care for animals like Dumbo? Or would you be the ringmaster? What kind of circus performer would you be and why?
My girls had so much fun answering these questions, and really had some great answers. I, too, spent time thinking about what I would do if I joined the circus...come on, we all dreamt about running off and joining the circus when we were kids, right?! Well, I really didn't want to run off and join the circus as a kid, but after watching Disney's Dumbo movie, I wished that I had a flying elephant like Dumbo. He was so cute, and really melted your heart. I have a soft spot in my heart for Dumbo, as he was the first gift I was given when I was born -- thanks to my Dad who found a musical Dumbo at the hospital's gift shop. I still have the Dumbo plush to this day, and shared with my girls when they were babies, in their nursery. Now, it is on my shelf, with all my other Disney collectibles I have been given or collected over the years.
So, how did my girls respond to the circus question above? My oldest daughter, who wants to be a veterinarian when she gets older, said she wanted to care for Dumbo and the other animals in the circus. She loves animals, and doesn't like seeing them sick, so would be there to help nurse them back to health when they weren't feeling well, as well as provide them with extra cuddles and love after a long day entertaining the circus crowds. She wrote about the types of snacks she would give the animals, and the exercises she would have them do to help stay healthy, as well as make it mandatory to have rest days for the animals, so they aren't performing all the time.
My youngest daughter, on the other hand, said she would be a face painter as well as circus clown. She loves putting on makeup and using face painting kits to add flowers and other playful designs to our faces and arms. And, when she wasn't making up the kids' faces who were attending the show, she would be doing her own face paint to look like a silly clown, before going out into the middle of the ring with oversized shoes that squeak with each step, and a tie that goes all the way to the floor. My daughter wrote a few jokes that she would be share with the audience, and while the punchline really didn't make sense, her belly laugh made you want to laugh along anyways. :-)
I loved listening to the girls read me what they wrote, and talk more about what they thought life in the circus would be like. While it sounds like a lot of fun, the girls both agreed that they would miss their friends and family, and their beds. They loved the idea of being around all the acrobats and other stars of the circus, as well as the animals, and traveling from place to place also sounded like fun. But, nothing is better than being with family...and I couldn't agree with them more. :-)
When the girls were done asking me what they would do if they were in the circus, they asked me what I would do. I told them it was a hard question to answer, as all the roles seemed interesting and would be a lot of fun. But, being an animal lover like my oldest, I said I would either have to be an animal trainer or caretaker, so that I could be around the circus animals and make sure they were safe and healthy. I also told them that it would be a lot if I was caring for Dumbo personally, and got to fly on his back high up in the sky.
We spent the afternoon talking about the circus and doing other school work relating to the circus and Dumbo movies, and come Friday, we will be heading to the movies to see the new Dumbo movie for ourselves as part of our Funday Friday.
Here is more about the upcoming Disney Dumbo life-action adventure, directed by Tim Burton. This beloved classic story celebrates differences and family, and reminds us all to dream.
"From Disney and visionary director Tim Burton, “Dumbo” expands on the beloved classic story where differences are celebrated, family is cherished and dreams take flight. Circus owner Max Medici (Danny DeVito) enlists former star Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell) and his children Milly (Nico Parker) and Joe (Finley Hobbins) to care for a newborn elephant whose oversized ears make him a laughingstock in an already struggling circus. But when they discover that Dumbo can fly, the circus makes an incredible comeback, attracting persuasive entrepreneur V.A. Vandevere (Michael Keaton), who recruits the peculiar pachyderm for his newest, larger-than-life entertainment venture, Dreamland. Dumbo soars to new heights alongside a charming and spectacular aerial artist, Colette Marchant (Eva Green), until Holt learns that beneath its shiny veneer, Dreamland is full of dark secrets. “Dumbo” soars into theaters on March 29."
And, here is the official movie trailer, which we saw in the theater last month, and made us start counting down to the movie's release this Friday....
Now that I have shared what my girls and I would do if we were apart of the circus, what would you do? Share your responses in the comments section below. And, then ready to enjoy the classic Disney Dumbo movie, like you have never seen it before, when it arrives in theaters this Friday.
I always loved Dumbo since I was a child. I would love to see this, it seems terrific.
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