Hot take it is trifling effort to make a child’s thing gritty. You take a character who, because of the medium, had no access to sex, (consequential) violence, or pessimism and put them through that.

Making a gritty thing accessible to children? That’s the real challenge.

Because all (good) stories are about emotional journeys, and at their core emotions transcends age. So you have to actually understand what you’re adapting, not just slap names from, idk, Dora onto a Stock Noir Thriller plot whose characters have only passing resemblance.

Like, I’m not actually impressed if you give me an R-Rated movie that’s like...Buster Baxter: Lord of War.

I will be impressed if you retell The Crow on a playground, and it’s still both good and totally child friendly.