Superworm

Given the excellent track record of magic light with release like the lovely room on the broom and the highway rat, expectations were high for super worm. Whilst the book is good this misses the mark. Matt Smith irritates as the main character (perhaps through no fault of his own) and the characters just don't seem that likeable. Rob Bryson's exceptional talent is wasted in the crow and the whole thing begins to drag as it goes on. It's not a dud by any stretch of the imagine but it disappoints -perhaps thanks to the high standards set by their other productions.

This version of the book brings depth and fun to a great children book. The addition of an additional character means that narration from the book becomes an active part of the story. There are so many lovely little additions in the drawings and events that really embellish the book and give it far more depth.

The book is fast paced and great, the kids love it. This short film is too dragged out and slow. It 5 year old and 2 year old aren't too fussed, Gruffalo, Gruffalo's Child, Stickman, and Room on a Broom are delivered much more inkewping with the books.

We were looking forward to this having read the book to my kids a lot and loving most of the previous magic light ones. While the animation etc is still as good I just felt surprised at how superworm was portrayed. In the book he comes across as somewhat humble and just happy to help others while the others big him up. Well that's how we took it. But in this he was portrayed as starting his own chant and saying 'hip Hip hooray' to about himself and it just felt out of character. He's talking about himself in the first person too at times. Always a sign of a big ego. Just didn't quite land well.

I love the story, and enjoyed the animation. But it's not on the same level as The Gruffalo's Child and Stickman - they have a more natural, beautifully crafted and tactile feel. This one lacked some of that, and felt too smooth and flat in much of it. Too 'computery'. That said, I've rated it an 8 as I love all of the stories, and original illustrations.