Le Petit Gruffalo

I'm a bit of a sucker for a snowy adventure so I actually enjoyed this every bit as much as I did the first film (2009). Clearly in the intervening years, "Gruffalo" has had some fun for now there is a child. An inquisitive little beastie who has been warned by her dad not to go into the woods unaccompanied for fear of encountering the mouse! In a bit of a reversal of the original story, this intrepid young explorer sets off in the middle of a frosty night on an adventure that introduces her to the fox, the hapless owl and to the clever snake. Her encounter, eventually, with the mouse? Well let's just say our big-eared little friend has lost none of it's vivid imagination! The animation is engaging and detailed, with the snow working well to provide a nice canvas for the lively and entertaining artwork. I'm not sure we need another of these, but this is still good fun for half an hour, and is an easy watch for children and grown-ups alike.

The Gruffalo's Child (2011)-

I think that I actually prefer this one to the original, although I realise that it would make less sense on its own, but I think that the snowy season and the cosy feel of the Gruffalo's cave give it a warmth that seems appropriate for a film shown regularly at Christmas. It makes you appreciate the comfy chair in front of the TV.

It's a sweet and harmless story with a moral or two about not judging people based on their reputation or believing what you hear about people and maybe you shouldn't heed your own fears too much.

The voice cast is very good, but I'm not sure that they ever need to spend so much on such well known actors. I'm sure it means nothing to the kids watching, but I suppose that's what gets them the prime TV spot.

I can imagine that most kids would love it for it's simplicity and well created characters and animation.

I personally love these cartoon shorts released each year. It really makes my Christmas to see such charming little tales that can take you away from the horrors of the real world.

769.92/1000.

I have been going to the theater on a pilgrimage for quite a few years now each January-February to see the annual showings of the Best Animated and Best Live Action Shorts. I am lucky enough to live in one of the few places in the country that shows it each year. And, along with the nominated films, they usually show several commended films--animated films which didn't make the final cut but which are well worth seeing.

The final commended film shown in this viewing was "The Gruffalo's Child". I must admit that I don't understand the Gruffalo films. They are slickly made but the films never really excited me and seem purely of interest to small kids. HOWEVER, when I went to Europe (where the stories originated), I went in quite a few bookstores and saw HUGE displays of the books. Clearly, the kids in Europe love those Gruffalos!! I may sound very selfish in saying this, but although this film was nice, I wish they hadn't picked it since I'd already seen "The Gruffalo" during a similar screening last year (or was it the year before?) and it was by far the longest of the shorts shown this year. So, this means other wonderful films made by smaller film makers didn't get to be seen because they showed this one. Surely, the Gruffalo folks appreciated the exposure but also didn't NEED it nearly as much as the struggling artists whose work COULD have been shown. And, at almost a half hour, two or three other shorts could have been shown instead. Just my two cents worth. A good film but a familiar one as well.

Nice story about curiosity and survive. About childhood and search behind legend. And soul of legend. A naive story about basic things. In the skin of evening tale but seductive for animation, game of snow, remember of lost age and moral. For short dialogs and small ambitions. For old fashion flavor. And for memories about another meetings of heroes with the secrets or monsters. In fact, a kind of hot tea. With lemon, cookies and a sunny morning. Or a piece of chocolate or a milk cup. Or fly of a bird. After complicated projects of Disney or Pixar revolution, it is an oasis far from universal movies or box office star.And this is secret of its success. Courage to be only a story of a clever mouse and a Gruffalo in search of truth Nothing more.

first... I have not seen the Gruffalo.

Second... I read this on a bi-weekly basis with the kids. They are 6,4 & 2.

Third... I love to read and want the kids to love reading too. This is something we do together just me and the kids.

So....

I was super excited when i found this and the kids were really exited when they realised what it was we where watching. It has been supremely presented as the actual book is not heavy on words. The narration was fantastically paced with the additional on charter interplay that was not actually in the book. The story flows well with tension on an entirely appropriate level for the kids. I appreciated the most (and it was a deal breaker for me to be honest) was the sticking to the rhyme and word play.

In short this is great... the kids loved it, i loved it and it was a wee bit special for the kids an i.