La Baleine et l'Escargote

This animation company saw great success animating the gruffalo, then the gruffalo's child and have continued the pattern until we are on Julia Donaldson's Snail and The Whale. Here we have characters true to the original illustrations gliding through incredibly animated water in this heartwarming story of a snail who lives on a rock but wants to see the world so gets a lift on the tail of a whale. It's made for small children and is full of innocence and charm and is very very watchable. What's makes Donaldson's books work is her charming simple stories but also her rhythm. The TV show keeps the rhythm but slows it right down to create a peaceful dream like film. They don't overcomplicated it, they just deliver the book and make it cute.

Did you know that a group of snails is called a 'flock". Well it is in Julia Donaldson rhyming world and one of a group who live rather mundanely on an harbour rock dreams of going out to sea and exploring the world. Using it's very own snail-trail, it writes a message that attracts an enormous humpback whale who invites this tiny little gastropod to slide onto his tail and off they go. Luckily, he is quite adhesive so doesn't get washed off as his giant host takes him on an enjoyable trip for both us and the animators who get to present us with a submersible travelogue that shows the delights and dangers of the deep, has some fun with some hungry sharks and even manages to involve some human kids and some human kindness. This is a charmingly simple story that sort of encourages the grass is greener philosophy, but equally extols virtues of inter-reliance, friendship and courage. Maybe best not look at the whale snail scale too closely, but that's just a detail for this finely drawn film.

The Snail And The Whale

This was a slow burning story. It didn't wow me at any point, but it cruised by gently and took me on a sweet journey along with the Snail and her new Whale friend. It was very sweet without having to be too complicated, which I found refreshing and an escape.

It was beautifully drawn and I'm not usually a fan of the Computer Generated cartoons, but because of that, it was able to show such fantastic landscapes and the characters themselves might almost be real animated plasticine, that I could forgive it.

I'm not sure that it was necessary to use the celebrity voices of Sally Hawkins or Rob Brydon for the lead characters, but Diana Rigg was a lovely choice as the Narrator.

It was a perfectly short and simple gem to watch with the little ones and keep them quiet on a Boxing Day or Bank Holiday. Or alternatively you can watch it with your Mum, because you're both children that never grew up like I did.

740.32/1000.

Gorgeous animation, nice music, and l perfect narration and voices. The little one loves following along with the book, even though it doesn't follow the exact order of all the page illustrations. If only another reviewer that was concerned about the snail drowning, realised it's a sea snail, not a garden snail.

Really like to love all the animated festive adaptations of Julia Donaldson's books. It is not hard to see why they are popular stories and how they lend themselves beautifully to animation first aired in the Christmas break. They are perfect for the whole family, kids and adults alike, when that is done well animated and not it is a winner or at least close to it. 'The Snail and the Whale' is a lovely story with very lovable characters and an adorable relationship between the two titular characters.

It is very lovingly adapted here, true in detail and spirit to the source material with all its impact and it is a delight on its own terms. You won't need to have read the story or be familiar with it to love this, for me this was a standout of festive period television this year and if it didn't have high viewing figures it would be a shame as it is far better than a good deal of programmes this year that were hyped more and aired at times people are possibly more likely to be watching their televisions.

'The Snail and the Whale' is animated gorgeously, those vibrant colours, vivid attention to background detail (actually the attention to detail everywhere in the animation is remarkable) and cute but not too cutesy character designs made it a visual feast. The music is filled with whimsy and matches the images in perfect harmony, not overbearing them and not being at odds with them.

Writing, in rhyme, has plenty for children and adults alike. Children will never find it hard to understand and adults won't, or at least shouldn't, find it childish. The environmental message didn't come over as preachy to me and is still of great relevance now, neither is it out of date or convoluted. The story is charming and touching throughout, with an ending that warms the heart and brings a lump to the throat, and the brief jeopardy 'The Whale and the Snail' has with the snarks never gets too scary.

Both the titular characters are immensely likeable, with the viewer always fully engaged with them, and their bond is adorable and gels remarkably well for quite an odd couple when it comes to animals. Diana Rigg's narration is pitch-perfect, understated yet wholly invested in the story's emotion.

Summing up, wonderful. 10/10