VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH
I don't think labeling the creation of Sikhi based movies for children can be labeled as a waste of time, as it is a mode of Sikhi parchar that children can understand and relate to. This is akin to saying that the Puratan idea of Gursikhs telling sakhian of Sikh history to Sikh children to strengthen their faith in Sikhi was a waste because they should have spent their time doing Simran/Paath/Keertan and achieving higher spiritual avastha. It is a modernization of parchar, a weapon to combat the myriads of manmat that is prevalent on TV and the internet. Rather than idolizing Barbie and Ken, the Sikh children idolize Bibi Sundri and Baba Banda Singh Bahadur. Even adult Sikhs, Gursikhs, watching these movies are moved to tears because the re-ignite the Kurbani that the Sikh forefathers(and mothers) gave for the Panth and gives them pause to self-evaluate.
I am not sure who you are particularly referring to, but I will give the example of Bhai Sukhwinder Singh of Vismaad. If you ever get a chance to speak to him, he can tell you of all the trials and tribulations, up to an including almost being forced to be pesh at the Akaal Takht Sahib for his movies and taking out loans to make the Vismaad movies, that he faced to produce those movies. When asked why he did this, he gave examples of children who adopted Sikhi saroop (one local female Sikh child who started to tie a dastaar after seeing Bibi Sundri), memorized the Shabads from the movies (Youtube video on child who had memorized Shabads from Bhai Taru Singh Movie) and many others as his inspiration. I doubt that Guru Sahib would shun his seva and others like him because they were not doing Keertan (Bhai Sukhwinder Singh does do Keertan) and only a Sikh with strong Sikh principles and Gursikhi spirit would even attempt to make these attempts. So I think it is a great dis-service to label the creation of such movies as a "waste of time..." (but again, I apologize if this is not the target of your comments).
At some point, we as a community have to stop being so negative at others and accept that their contribution is still a contribution to the Panth, even if it is different from what we see as the "best" or highest contribution. Someone is making movies, someone is doing Keertan, someone is running a Sikhi civil rights organization, someone is doing Langar seva. Guru sees all and knows all, and also knows who is a pakhandi, who is genuine. Like a parent, he sees his children trying. What parent here would not be proud of a child who tries? He would encourage, bless and love those children who are trying to do something in whatever way they can. Also, as every Sikh is unique, each was brought into Sikhi by different means. Some through Keertan, some through Paath, some through Katha, some through Gatka, some even through these movies. In the end, it is all Guru Sahib's work.
ਸਤਿਗੁਰਬਚਨਕਮਾਵਣੇਸਚਾਏਹੁਵੀਚਾਰੁ॥