Have you ever re-watched one of your favorite childhood films with an adult perspective? Besides the occasional adult innuendo, we often catch a hidden meaning or theme that completely went over our heads as a kid. Compassion for animals is a reoccurring theme in many of our beloved children’s classics. Next time you’re in the mood to “Netflix and chill,” instead of watching a morbid documentary on animal injustices, here are seven light-hearted kid’s films that subtly promote the vegan and compassionate lifestyle. 

1. “101 Dalmatians”
The vegan lifestyle isn’t just about what you eat; it’s also about what you wear. This 1961 “oldie but goodie” Disney film communicates a strong anti-fur message through its evil depiction of the fur-loving antagonist, Cruella de Vil. The lyrics describe her as, “This vampire bat, this inhuman beast,” which suggest that killing animals for the sake of fashion is truly abhorrent. Of course, Cruella takes it to the extreme, but if you wouldn’t wear a puppy, you shouldn’t wear any other animal, be it a fox, rabbit, or cow.

2. “The Little Mermaid”
This 1989 Disney classic is the first of many animated features to personify our seafood. Both Sebastian the lobster and Flounder the…well, flounder, are portrayed as the heroine’s friends – not her meal. The audience roots for Sebastian as he evades Chef Louie‘s assaults to chop and boil him. The point is driven further within the lyrics of “Under the Sea.” Sebastian sings, “The fish on the land ain’t happy. They sad cause they in the bowl. But fish in the bowl is lucky. They in for a worser fate. One day when the boss get hungry, guess who’s gon‘ be on the plate?” Sure, he may be a fictionalized character, but Sebastian’s message is loud and clear: fish have feelings and are not for human consumption. 

3. “Babe”
There’s nothing like watching an adorable bond between a piglet and a Border Collie to make you reconsider your morning bacon. First produced in 1995 by Universal Productions, the story draws empathy for Babe, the piglet, as he searches to find his place on the farm. Apart from the “cute” factor, the viewer becomes attached to Babe as he searches for a sense of purpose. The idea hints that animals, like us, have complex feelings. We don’t want to just live, we want to belong to a family and find meaning in our lives.

4. “Chicken Run”
In 2000, Dreamworks made a fairly bold commentary on both the slaughter and egg-producing industries through this claymation film. Set on a British farm, the plot is centered around four hens and a rooster as they try to escape their deadly fate. If the hens don’t lay enough eggs within a week, they are sent to the potpie factory, run by the evil, greed-driven farmers, Mr. and Mrs. Tweedy. Dreamworks allows the story to get fairly dark; the climax takes place within the slaughter house where the main characters, Rocky and Ginger, nearly lose their heads. In the end, the chickens prevail; they destroy the potpie factory, escape the concentration-camp confines of the farm, and find a safe island to raise their new family. 

5. “Finding Nemo”
“Fish are friends, not food.” The iconic quote from this instant 2003 Disney/Pixar classic says it all. Of course, the audience feels an immediate connection to the main characters – Marlin, Dori, and Nemo – but by the end of the film, the viewer feels sympathy for all fish. During the final conflict scene, Nemo is trapped in a commercial fishing net with hundreds of other fish, struggling to break free. The audience is on the edge of their seat, not only because we want Nemo to reunite with his dad, but because we feel for the nameless fish as well.

6. “The Good Dinosaur”
True, we don’t eat dinosaurs, but this 2015 Oscar nominee by Disney/Pixar invokes compassion for animals nonetheless. Arlo, the main character, cannot bring himself to kill another living being, even when prompted by his father and his unlikely human companion, Spot. In addition to Arlo leading by example, the film also utilizes shock value to invoke sympathy for animals. There is a rather disturbing scene where a group of manipulative pterodactyls pretend to save a furry, defenseless “critter,” only to ruthlessly kill and swallow it seconds later. In comparison to the unfeeling acts of the supporting characters, Arlo’s unwavering sense of compassion and empathy earn him the title “the good dinosaur.”

7. “WALL-E”
Pixar’s Oscar-winning 2008 animated feature gives the audience a somewhat comedic yet equally concerning glimpse into what the future could be like if humans continue down their current path of consumption. In the future, the Earth is a complete wasteland, piled with trash and completely uninhabitable. The humans have evacuated to a space shuttle, where they zoom around in electric chairs due to their flubber-like bodies, unable to perform much physical activity. The current trends of animal agriculture, a leading cause of pollution, and the high consumption of animal products through the standard fast food diet, could make this animated film a reality. WALL-E encourages its viewers to rethink their lifestyle and make healthier, more sustainable choices for themselves and the future of our planet.

Find Tanya on Instagram and The Vegan Potluck Podcast. 

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Use your Netflix addiction to actually learn something new by watching these streaming documentaries available right now.

Let’s face it, we are all addicted to Netflix (or the streaming service of our choice). But all that time spent streaming in front of screen doesn’t have to be such a waste. While you may still want to catch up on the latest Bravo melodrama, add a documentary or two to your queue so you have something else to talk about at the next office party besides the “Real Housewives of Whatever.”

Whether your tastes run more to true crime, pop culture stories, politics, or getting woke, these streaming documentaries will keep you from having nothing to talk with the cool kids at the party.

10 Streaming Documentaries on Netflix to Watch Now

1. “Sour Grapes” (2016)

A lighthearted true crime documentary that chronicles a fine-wine scammer who bilked wine collectors out of millions. Even one of the Koch brothers makes an appearance–and he even got scammed.

2. “Nobody Speak: Trials of the Free Press” (2017)

President Trump isn’t the only one attacking the Fourth Estate. In this documentary that outlines the battle between wrestler Hulk Hogan and Gawker media, the future of a free and open press is called into question.

3. “Cosmos: a Spacetime Odyssey” (2014)

While this documentary series with Neil DeGrasse Tyson came out a few years ago, it’s worth a rewatch or if you haven’t yet seen it. Bonus points if you have watched the original “Cosmos” series with Carl Sagan.

4. “The Keepers” (2017)

A riveting a disturbing docu-series that examines a decades old murder of a nun and the suspected link to a priest accused of abuse. Riveting and disturbing.

5. “GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling” (2012)

If you’ve already seen the original Netflix series “Glow,” this documentary is a must-see. It chronicles the real life story of The Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling phenomenon from the 1980s.

6. “Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things” (2016)

Anyone interested in the concept of less is more needs to watch this compelling documentary. It features Americans who reject the notion that things bring happiness.

7. “13th” (2016)

Named after the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, this documentary chronicles the “intersection of race, justice and mass incarceration in the United States.”

8. “Small is Beautiful: A Tiny House Documentary” (2014)

Intrigued by the concept of tiny houses? Follow along with four people who bucked the housing crisis by joining the tiny house movement to create cozy and affordable homes.

9. “Requiem for the American Dream” (2015)

According to Noam Chomsky the American Dream is dead. He lays  all out about the how the bulk of America’s wealth and influence is in the hands of hands of a few and how that has changed everything.

10. “What the Health” (2017)

If “Cowspiracy” wowed you, get ready to never look at food the same again. The same filmmakers are back, examining this time the link between diet and disease, and the billions of dollars at stake in the healthcare, pharmaceutical and food industries.

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If you, like the rest of Netflix’s subscribers, are obsessed with the “Making a Murderer” docu-series but wonder what to watch next, continue reading for some spoiler-free suggestions.

Whether you think Steven Avery and his nephew, Brendan Dassey, are innocent or guilty, chances are you got sucked into the drama of “Making a Murderer” nonetheless. While the docu-series has its critics, it’s safe to say that since finishing it a lot of folks are looking for what to watch next. Here are our suggestions for what to watch next. The list features both docu-series and documentaries.

What to Watch After “Making a Murderer”

1. “The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst” (HBO)

Directed by Andrew Jarecki (“Felicity” and “Capturing the Friedmans”), this six-part documentary series shares the information gleaned from a seven-year investigation into a series of unsolved crimes and their connection to Robert Durst, the wealthy scion of New York’s Durst family. The most interesting aspect of this series is that it was made with his full cooperation, just like “Making a Murderer.”

2. “Central Park Five” (PBS)

If you came away from “Making a Murderer” with concerns about the problems in our justice system, you might want to watch this film. It’s by the award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns and tells the story of the five black and Latino teenagers who were wrongly convicted of raping a white woman in New York City’s Central Park in 1989. The film chronicles the case from the perspective of the five teenagers whose lives were changed forever by a miscarriage of justice.

3. “Kids for Cash”

By the same token, “Kids for Cash” is another film that highlights injustices in the criminal justice system. The film unpacks the notorious scandal of one Pennsylvania judge, who sent more than 3,000 kids to jail, and received millions of dollars in payments from the privately-owned juvenile detention centers where the kids were incarcerated.

4. “Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills” (HBO)

This film is the first in a trilogy that chronicles the story of the 1994 conviction of the ‘West Memphis Three’, a trio of teenagers accused of murdering three boys as part of a Satanic ritual in West Memphis, Arkansas. This film, like “Making a Murderer” takes a  critical look at the criminal justice system, especially when it comes to the juvenile justice system.  The subsequent films in the series are “Paradise Lost 2: Revelations” and “Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory.”

5. “The Prince of Pennsylvania” (ESPN)

If the appeal of “Making a Murderer” were the seemingly unstable cast of characters, then you might want to catch this film. It documents the murder of Olympic-wrestler Dave Schultz who was murdered by John DuPont. It also makes a nice companion to “Foxcatcher,” the film inspired by the murder that came out in 2014.

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Judd Apatow is up to something — we bet it’s going to be pretty dirty and a whole lot of funny.

While the trailer for Apatow’s new series “Love” is short and sweet, it still makes us excited for the show’s release date — February 19th on Netflix. According to Mashable, “the series follows nice guy Gus (Paul Rust) and wild-child Mickey (Gillian Jacobs) as they navigate the exhilarations and humiliations of intimacy, commitment, love and other things they were hoping to avoid.”

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Bill Murray, everybody’s favorite dude, is going to “host” a Christmas special… I KNOW.

“A Very Murray Christmas” will air starting December 4 on Netflix. Watch the glorious trailer below.

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Are you a fan of “Orange is the New Black?” Of course you are. Well, the Netflix series is gearing up for its third season, and the streaming service just released a series trailer to get you ready.

Relive past crazy storylines and get ready for the few season by watching the video below. You’ll be able to stream season three of “Orange is the New Black” on June 12.

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Ah, television nostalgia. You’re the reason we still watch “Saved By the Bell” episodes like they’re new. And you’re also responsible for the fact that I — a 32-year-old woman — am kinda excited for the upcoming “Full House” reboot.

“Fuller House,” the “Full House” reboot, will definitely feature a few “Full House” regulars, but the majority of the original cast is still “in talks” about joining the show. The reboot will air as a 13-episode run on Netflix, Refinery29 reports.

Get the scoop by watching John Stamos break the news on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”

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Netflix is almost becoming too perfect. It’s one of the only places you can find original series that feature women of all shapes, sizes, and genders, and a selection of incredibly shows.

While Netflix was about 85 percent perfect before, it just gained five extra percentage points because it added a natural history series. “Our Planet”, an eight-part series, will stream in 2019.

The Hollywood Reporter reported that the streaming platform was partnering with “Planet Earth” creators and the World Wide Fund to make “Our Planet.” The Reporter states that Silverback Films’ Alastair Fothergill and Keith Scholey, who created BBC’s “Planet Earth,” “Frozen Planet,” and “Blue Planet,” will produce “Our Planet.” The WWF also will provide “Silverback access to its projects in protected areas around the globe.”

Now, we know it’s kind of a drag that you’re going to have to wait four long years before the show starts, but it’ll be worth the wait. The Reporter notes that the series will be “largest of its kind ever attempted.” The series runners will film in wilderness areas that have never been captured. “Our Planet” also will feature shots of the depths of the oceans, ice caps, deserts, and remote forests. In addition to awe-inspiring landmarks, the series also will film unique species, according to the Reporter:

“The show will introduce its viewers to the most precious species and places that must withstand the impact of humanity so generations to come can enjoy the bounties of the natural world.”

The series will use the latest 4K camera technology and also will feature a variety of “specially produced storytelling for multimedia platforms.”

According to Lisa Nishimura, vice president of original documentaries at Netflix, The “Planet” series have done well on the streaming platform. The company expects that viewers will respond positively to this new series, too.

Do you enjoy watching any other nature history series on Netflix? If so, which shows are your favorite?

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While I was born in the 1980s, I did a lot of my growin’ in the 1990s. And any growing teenager needs a good dose of television to get them through puberty, high school and unrequited love. Let this list of streaming ’90s TV shows take you back to the decade of, “whatever, man.”

Streaming on Netflix

1. “Dawson’s Creek”: If you’re a soap opera addict as an adult, you can blame “Dawson’s Creek” for that. It was pretty much a nighttime soap on training wheels for the pre-teens and teens. The series follows a group of friends as they navigate young adult life.

2. “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”: This is one of the few ’90s TV shows I watch every year. (Buffy heads unite!) The one thing harder than being a normal high school student is being a high school student who has to save the world. Get to know the amazing Buffy Summers, aka the Slayer, as she tries to live life while fighting vampires, demons and goblins. All seasons streaming for free with a Netflix subscription.

Streaming on Hulu

3. “The X-Files”: Skeptic Scully and believer Mulder make this cheesy, sci-fi classic a pleasure to watch. (Truth be told: I revisited this show while writing this list.) Watch as the two investigators handle crimes that cover the spectrum of spooky stuff. Streaming on Hulu plus (free with a subscription) and nine seasons streaming for free with a Netflix subscription.

4. “My So Called Life“: While, yes, adolescence is unfair (as this television show proves) it’s also unfair that this show was canceled so soon. Watch as Angela Chase tries to be a normal 15-year-old teen, which as we all know is impossible — none of us are normal.

Streaming on Amazon

5. “Home Improvement“: While I mainly watched this show to swoon over Jonathan Taylor Thomas, I also liked it because it was funny and just plain easy to watch. There was never too much drama, and you could always count on Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor to do something crazy. Oh. Tim. Watch the first season for $1.99 an episode.

Streaming on Vudu

6. “Friends“: We all thought adulthood was going to be like this, right? Well, even though we all now know the truth, it’s still fun to revisit the cast of friends and watch them as they live, love and say quippy lines. Pay $19.99 for the entire first season.

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Did Netflix just redefine late night television with acquiring Chelsea Handler’s show?

The internet is abuzz with Netflix’s biggest announcement since launching its original programming with “House of Cards.” What sets the Chelsea Handler show apart from Netflix’s other programming is that it’s a talk show. Not exactly binge-watch material.

Editor-in-Chief of Variety, Andrew Wallenstein wrote: “Well, there’s two different ways to view the Handler hire: as a deviation from a core strategy or the formation of a new strategy. Either way, the move begs explanation.”

I say it doesn’t beg anything, save for its obvious plea: watch me.

The late night talk show scene has been defined for more than half a century as hosted by way too many moderately funny white guys. I’m not saying that’s a sexist decision as much as it’s one of convenience–if not a boring move, even though I’m pretty excited for Stephen Colbert to take over the Late Show from David Letterman next year.

Handler’s name was tossed about as a possible replacement for the Late Show spot, but deep down we all kind of knew that the most coveted late night seat would not be breaking from tradition, at least not yet, anyway. Handler could have taken Craig Ferguson’s spot. But that’s a sleepy time slot time. She knows better.

As an avid fan of “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report”, it is extremely rare that I watch the shows at 11/11:30 respectfully. But I do watch them with as much commitment as being a new mommy allows—sometimes that’s a full day or even a week later. Netflix is banking on this approach with the Chelsea Handler show because she already has an audience who will make the time to watch her show. For the people who may tune in but not stick around for a full episode, Netflix knows those viewers are more likely to move around the site, and that’s never bad for an online business that represents a whopping one-third of all Internet bandwidth in the U.S.

And this is my best guess as to why the networks didn’t go with Handler or anyone who wasn’t a moderately funny white guy. It’s not a sexist move, but a strategic one. In light of what the Internet is doing for entertainment, which is already proving to be huge, we can anticipate seeing the “original” networks revert back to even more rigidly classic programming styles to define their place in the entertainment world. While streaming web content is replete with the ‘anything goes’ tagline, networks are becoming stylized iconic brands like Ralph Lauren, Levi’s or Nike—there may have been periods where they were no longer quite in fashion, but once they figured out how to stop chasing trends and just do what it is they’re really good at, consumers embraced them with even more intensity. Network television will soon become the equivalent of a really well made pair of jeans, shoes or a timeless sweater you want to have in your wardrobe. That means conceivably “safer” programming choices for networks. Classics. More men in suits. Better news reporting. Dorkier family humor programming. That’s not Handler’s style and that’s not Netflix’s style, either, but we’re lucky now to have so many options at our fingertips.

Find Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

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