A Children's Movie With an Awesome Heroine?! Wow, When's the Last Time We Saw That?!

Coming out of "Baby World" for just a moment....
Just saw Monsters Vs Aliens, and loved it! Susan was an amazing character! My favorite moment in the whole film? She was captured and seemed defeated. This is the point where her male companions come bursting in to the rescue, right? Wrong. Just as Galaxar boasts about how impenetrable her prison is, she breaks out and becomes a nigh-unstoppable force as she chases after Galaxar.
Monsters Vs Aliens was totally Susan's movie. It was, no pun intended, all about her growth. Susan does start of as a weak person, both physically and emotionally. As time goes on, however, she gains a great deal of self-respect and toughness, and that's what the movie is all about. It's Susan that gets the big moment, where she saves the day.
The film itself was, surprisingly, much smarter than I had thought it would be. It had a very Dr Strangelove-ish feel to it at times that I absolutely adored. Stephen Colbert was brilliant as the President, as well. I loved all the little running gags that kids never would have gotten. At times, it almost seemed more light a light-hearted animated film aimed more at adults than at children.
All that aside, the presence of Susan, a kick-ass heroine that seems like an actual person, (not just someone's dream girl), as the main character is very important in these days of animated films. I mean, when was the last heroine on the big screen that wasn't a princess? Mulan? I loved Susan as a character, and I'm glad to have her around. Maybe she'll act as a hint to all the other animation companies: Kids can watch girls be the main characters, too. And they'll enjoy it.