As a follow up to the 2008 hit The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo’s Child serves as a way to continue the story of the beloved mouse (James Corden) and the Gruffalo (Robbie Coltrane) and introduce new, adorable characters in the process. In this sequel, through the narration of the squirrel (Helena Bonham Carter) the Gruffalo’s child catches wind of the horrifying mouse that outsmarted her father years ago. The child sets out on a journey to find the mouse, finding other familiar faces on the way. The snake (Rob Brydon), the owl (John Hurt) and the fox (Tom Wilkinson) warn the child not to pursue the mouse, but she refuses. When she finally encounters the famed mouse, she discovers something that she never imagined, and her outlook on life will change forever.
Something I am incredibly fond of is when sequels are able to get every actor from previous installments to return for the film. It seems to be less and less likely that the entire cast returns for films in modern times. However, The Gruffalo’s Child sees each and every voice actor return to their roles and pick up right where they left off. This, alone, is enough to spark my interest and make me watch the film. It is exciting to see that actors of this caliber (Bonham Carter, Corden, etc.) are so willing to reprise their roles and continue these interesting and important narratives for children.
The film, as a whole, is cute and appealing to children, but what makes the story so enjoyable are those underlying themes and ideals that are made available to children in new and exciting ways. Most--even those who are not Christian--have heard the story of David and Goliath, and, while still important, is an antiquated way of telling children that size doesn’t matter, achieving your goals is always possible and standing up to those who like to bully and belittle others is a difficult but noble cause. The Gruffalo makes it clear that the intellect of the mouse is far superior to the malicious demeanor of those who oppose him. The Gruffalo’s Child furthers the understanding that intelligence is one of our society’s greatest tools.
There are levels to the story being told that children may not initially pick up on in full, but parents and guardians have the ability to understand and utilize throughout these childrens’ lives. As previously mentioned, size does not matter, and those who fight for what they believe in or work hard to achieve their dreams will find success. Again, as I’ve mentioned before, The Gruffalo’s Child explores the importance of knowledge and intelligence and the effect it can have on a number of situations. It expresses how (in an anecdotal and camouflage manner) education plays a significant role in our daily lives, and that without it, life can be more difficult than it needs to be. The intelligence of the mouse is quite clear, and audiences are made aware of the importance of this aspect of his character.
Children’s stories and films need to be fun, entertaining and full of vibrant visuals, but they also need to possess accessible themes and emotions for the young viewers to appreciate. I think that while they may not fully understand what is taking place beneath the surface, these young audiences are able to access the most important themes present in Uwe Heidschötter and Johannes Weiland’s The Gruffalo’s Child. The film is everything needed to convey important life lessons to children. They captivate the youths with their exciting and colorful visuals and keep them interested with the storytelling and the simple, but relevant, character development. Both The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child will stand the test of time and ring true for generations to come. They will prepare the future of the world to be independent, loving and understanding of the importance of knowledge and education. On the surface The Gruffalo’s Child presents itself as a beautifully constructed cartoon, and, beneath the surface, explores a number of principal themes relevant to children and adults alike.
Directed by Uwe Heidschötter & Johannes Weiland. Written by Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler & Johanna Stuttman. Starring Helena Bonham Carter, Shirley Henderson, Robbie Coltrane, Rob Brydon, John Hurt, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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