Here's the thing: The Brave Little Toaster has a devoted cult following, and if you grew up with it, you probably have fond memories. But watching it with fresh eyes (or showing it to your kids for the first time), you'll realize this movie is dark. Like, genuinely unsettling.

An air conditioner character has what can only be described as a rage-induced suicide. There's a nightmare clown sequence. The junkyard scene where cars get crushed while singing about their deaths is the stuff of childhood trauma. Multiple parent reviews confirm kids were scared or upset.

The animation is very 1987—choppy, dated, and slow-paced by today's standards. Most modern kids will struggle to stay engaged. The 90-minute runtime feels long when the pacing drags.

That said, there's real imagination here. The concept is creative, the themes of loyalty and obsolescence are surprisingly deep, and each appliance has personality. For older kids (8-10+) who can handle heavier content, it might spark interesting conversations about friendship and purpose.

Bottom line: This is more of an adult nostalgia piece than a genuine kids' movie recommendation. If you loved it as a kid, maybe rewatch it yourself first before deciding if your kids can handle it. It's not bad, but it's definitely not the wholesome family romp the premise suggests.