Hilda

Hilda is a show I did not expect to love as much as I do. What could've been passed off as a decent show for children turned out to be a fantastic show for all ages. With an amazing cast of characters, creative world building and strong writing, this show stands toe to toe with the likes of Steven Universe as one of the best cartoons from the 2010s.

Based on the book series by Luke Pearson, the show follows the adventures of the titular blue haired girl, Hilda, alongside her deerfox companion Twig, her friends David and Frida, her elf scribe Alfur and her mother Johanna. Set in the quaint city of Trollberg, each episode of the show finds Hilda exploring the wilderness around the city and discovering fantastical new creatures. In addition to that she learns valuable lessons about actions and consequences, being a good friend and being responsible. The show wisely incorporates genuine stakes in each episode as well as a good amount of humor and a sense of wonder to this world so as to prevent dragging. The show also takes the time to add character to not just the fantastical creatures, but also the people of Trollberg.

Transitioning to the characters, just about every single one of the main cast is well developed, has a strong personality and have excellent chemistry with one another. Starting with our leading lady, Hilda is very much the epitome of an adventurous tomboy with a heart of gold. She's brave, curious, cautious and optimistic, making her a well rounded character audiences can relate to. Her deerfox companion Twig is brave like Hilda but also very loyal and friendly. Plus, he's just got an adorable design that makes me wish he was real. Hilda's Mom, Johanna is a very well written portrayal of a single mother. She's caring, she's helpful, she worries for Hilda and she's also resourceful when the moment calls for it. Alfur is a smart, honest little elf that comes up with genius plans to save the day and his fascination with all of Trollberg is always a treat. David and Frida are two haves of the same coin. David may be fearful and Frida's alot more brave but one thing they have in common is that they couldn't wish for a better friend than Hilda. Hilda actually helps David learn to overcome his fears and her and Frida may have their differences but very much remain good friends. Other notable characters that appear in the show include the librarian, the Wood Man, The Great Raven and the lost elf clan.

In addition to great characters, this show has a very talented voice cast behind it. Bella Ramsey plays Hilda beautifully and makes her sound like a real little girl with a heart of gold. Daisy Haggard gives a very good performance as Johanna, making her sound like a real caring Mom to a very adventurous girl. Ameerah Falzon-Ojo and Oliver Nelson fit the roles of Frida and David perfectly, with Ilan Galkoff providing a beautiful singing voice to David. Thomas & Friends fans will be happy to recognize Rasmus Hardiker as the voice of Alfur as he gives him such a cute and friendly voice that matches his personality.

Visually, the show looks stupendous. Mercury Filmworks and Atomic Cartoons provided the animation for the show and it looks amazing. The color palette has a nice autumn feel to it, the animation feels so smooth and natural and the designs of the characters are all unique fit with their personalities. I especially love the designs of the fantastical creatures and how no two creatures are alike. I once again have to bring up that Twigs design is so adorable. When he sleeps he curls up into a ball with his long tail wrapped around and it's just so cute.

Hilda is without a doubt one of Netflix's best cartoons and it's not hard to see why. It's got a great cast of characters, amazing animation, stellar voice work, and strong, clever writing. Really the only gripe I have is in Season 2, the head of safety patrol Erik Alhberg is just an arrogant town's hero who only cares about the glory. Thankfully the rest of the cast is so great I'm willing to let it slide. If you haven't seen Hilda yet, I highly recommend giving it a watch. I guarantee you'll want to explore this world too as much as Hilda.

This deserves all the praise. 30 seconds into the 1st episode, when that music hits with an amazing intro into the warm and cold mixture of calming colour tones to the not overly-simplified yet beautiful, sunday newspaper comic strip type art, unique and lovable characters...it's just perfect. The world she lives in, the people/things she meet, the plot...gotta give props to Luke Pearson for his books and Silvergate Media and Mercury Filmworks for making the pages come to life...this is such a treat. The interactions between Hilda and her mother makes it better.

This is more towards kids but you'll find yourself smiling at what they have to offer to the child inside of you. Some say it's Gravity Falls reborn... this show has so much heart. Try it. You won't regret it ;)

This feels so much like childhood. It a cozy fall evening near the fire. The colours and the artistic direction is stunning. In my childhood I used to read Calvin & Hobbes and Peanuts and it feels like going back to those small lighthearted adventures where you're immagnation is the limit. The creatures seem to be coming out of a child fantasy and they recall so much that part of me I always end up drowned in the atmosphere and wanting to come back to rewatch again the same adventure, for the simple feel of it, just like I'd always come back for the same old book of strips I had

One of the best shows ever. The world is amazing, the characters are fun and dynamic. Brings out the child in everyone

Imagine what would happen if you combined the fantasy elements of Gravity Falls and Over the Garden Wall, and mix them in with both the practical humor of Calvin and Hobbes and the family and friend bonds of Laika's best works. You'd get a simple albeit engaging graphic novel turned cartoon series like Hilda. It's always good to stream new content on Netflix, because then you discover adorably wholesome gems like this.

Set in a world consisting of people and fantasy creatures, the series centers around a kindhearted and adventurous little girl named Hilda, who has lived most of her life in the wilderness, along with her mom Johanna and pet deerfox Twig. Upon moving to the city of Trolberg, she befriends two kids named Frida and David. With that said, a lot of the episodes center around the trio working out a situation regarding their scout activities, and this is where Hilda shines as the show's true star. She always knows the procedure whenever a creature like a giant, troll and even a raven is afloat due to her upbringing, but that does lead to her either screwing up or learning something different each time. It's always neat when children learn something new every day on top of what they already know.

In addition, the other characters all have their own pros and cons that work well with each other. Frida is a highly determined scout always trying to earn badges, but she tends to get too caught up in them and hates to face her own flaws. David can be easily frightened and anxious, but always tries to overcome his worries with the help of his friends. The relationship between the kids really feels genuine, as even when they disagree or even argue, they still work well with each other on their adventures and even develop based on what one thinks of the other. As for the rest, Johanna never minds the surreal creatures Hilda is around, but only when it depends on what Hilda is up to. As she wants what's best for both Hilda and her, the series' heart tends to bloom with their adorable mother-daughter bonding.

The last thing to really talk about is the wonderful animation, as the soothing color scheme helps paint the down-to-Earth feel of both the wilderness and Trolberg in a comforting aesthetic. If one is to recreate a setting with forests, city architecture and other wilderness features, they should definitely create it to resemble the real world, and this show does just that. Not to mention, the characters are designed in a simplistic cartoony style, which makes them look very appealing, even the more macabre ones. I know people get sick of cartoons that resemble the Cal Arts style, but this show presents itself as a breath of fresh air given how monotone the visuals are.

Needless to say, Hilda is a wonderful animated series that captures the innocence of childhood adventure through brisk story telling, relatable and endearing characters, and gorgeous animation. Whether you're a child or an adult, I definitely recommend giving this show a watch. It's one of the few cartoons nowadays that is able to invite its audience to join in the mystery on finding new characters and their curiously strange habits. I think if we can take away anything from this show, it's that like Hilda, we shouldn't put aide our childlike fun just because we are to grow up soon.