Hilda e o Rei da Montanha

I just watched "Hilda and the Mountain King" twice, and it was INCREDIBLE. Everything I could have asked for and then some.

From the breathtaking opening sequence to the art direction to the emotional impact to the jokes to the resolution....all just absolutely amazing. I'd be lying if I said that I didn't cry a little.

At the beginning of the month, I speculated that this would be the saving grace of 2021 for me, and it most definitely was.

Not only did it live up to all of my expectations, but it EXCEEDED them. At times, it almost felt like an apology for some of season 2's shortcomings.

If I only had one small complaint, it'd be the absence of the Great Raven once again. I discussed this in my review of season 2 last year, but again, I'm sort of bummed that the Raven didn't show up here either. He could have taken the role of the Lost Clan pigeon in the search for Hilda.

Just a little nitpick, though. Hopefully, we'll see the Raven or the Marra at least once in season 3, even just a cameo....right? Right?

Hilda and The Mountain King was a movie that I was really looking forward to because Hilda is one of my all time favorite animated series and it's definitely one that has had a huge impact on me as a person. From the first frame of the movie, you can definitely tell that they took full advantage of the fact that this is a film. With it being Hilda, it ended up having a lot of heartfelt moments and also had a lot of funny moments. I knew that it was gonna be worth the wait but this movie was so good that I ended up watching it twice on the day it came out and I've rarely rewatched a movie in the same day that I watched something. Sure I've rewatched a movie later on down the road but this was the first time that I rewatched a movie in the span of 24 hours and it is so worth it since there's never a dull moment through the 87 minute runtime.

The film is a sequel to the 2 seasons of Netflix show Hilda.

The 2 seasons together are some of the absolute best programs Netflix has ever produced. They're touching, emotional, funny, fantastical and real and are absolutely required viewing for everyone.

The film continues the show and brings charm, warmth, emotion and humour in spades. The story caps of the seasons in a way that is perfect when seen as a whole.

The only flaws I can see with this film is the fact it relies on people seeing the preceding show. Other than that, the voice work, the animation, the music, the story line etc. It's all absolutely fantastic.

Coming off the previous two seasons, there were very high expectations for the film, and I believe it's safe to say that they met and exceeded them.

The art matches that of the series, with gorgeously blended pastel colors and that warm soft lighting of which the show is known for. It's difficult to go ten minutes through the film without being presented a spectacle or landscape that leaves you in awe. The animation itself has been given noticeable refinements since the series, particularly in its character movement and speech animation. It's a subtle, but noticed step forwards.

Accompanying the art and animation is, like the series before it, a fantastic soundtrack. While it may have been more restricted this time, when it does make an appearance, it completely clicks with the aesthetic of the show and the plot in an amazing combination.

The film pushes our two main characters, Hilda and her mother Johanna, to their limits. The relationship between them had been growing more tenuous throughout the running of the series, and in the film it gets further attention and development.

Amidst all this, the other sub-plot regarding the threatening buildup of troll activity outside the city gets pulled to the fore within the film, and has its own bittersweet resolution.

Despite tying up the biggest loose ends from the previous two seasons, and the film being based off the final book installment of the same name, there is in fact a third and final season coming! It's uncharted territory, it could go anywhere.

"Our (last) adventure, Twig! Where should we go?"

I can't recommend enough to watch Netflix's Hilda series! It's charming, intelligent, engaging, entertaining and positive, fit for any age category. Hilda and the Mountain King is not really a separate film, but a continuation of the two seasons of the show, so watching it without watching the series doesn't make a lot of sense.

Hilda is again put in a situation where established custom falls short and she has to figure out how to get to the truth and solve the problem, this time one that would affect everybody in Trollberg. It was a bit disappointing that the trigger to the entire film, the swap, was not actually explained. But other than that, the film was just as good as the series and probably just a rework of whatever they had done for season 3.

It's so sad that Netflix's strategy to get more viewers and money does not extend to caring for them once they are in. The system, as is, motivates them to make a lot of shows, but not to continue them. If a viewer felt for it and subscribed, that's great, it doesn't bring more money to continue the show that got them there. And that is probably what is happening with Hilda, too. I really really want to see the show continue, but at this rate, you should probably consider this film as a "wrap up".