Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Borget
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Amid peril, animated adventure celebrates differences.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness
What's the Story?
In CHICKENHARE AND THE HAMSTER OF DARKNESS, a young hero who's half chicken and half hare dreams of being like his father, the great hare adventurer King Peter. The movie begins with King Peter (voiced by Brad Venable) telling Chickenhare (Jordan Tartakow) the story of when he found him. On a quest to find the hamster of darkness, Peter instead discovered an unusual baby left alone in a boat and adopted him. King Peter tells his son that what makes him different makes him special. But Chickenhare doesn't want to be different, he just wants to fit in. When his trickster uncle escapes from prison with a plan to overthrow King Peter, Chickenhare launches his own quest to be the first to finally find the hamster of darkness. Will a clumsy young hero and his two friends be enough to stop his uncle? Or will the trials be too much? As the action-packed story unfolds, viewers will see that sometimes what makes you different is what makes you special.
Is It Any Good?
Based on the graphic novel series by Chris Grine, this is a colorful, often funny take on a classic adventure story. Viewers familiar with Indiana Jones and similar treasure-hunting stories will recognize the borrowed scenes in Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness. From being stuck in a place with closing spiked walls to the booby-trapped stone floors, there's a lot for parents to smile at knowingly.
Since it is so familiar, the story isn't groundbreaking and doesn't explore much new territory. This is a straightforward tale with a clear division between hero and villain. The heroes are kind and willing to forgive, while the villain is very stuck in his ways, stubborn until his last breath. The challenge the hero faces gradually progresses throughout the film as Chickenhare starts out a bit self-loathing and then begins to accept his differences with the help of friends and family. By the end, he's finally able to fully embrace his unique qualities, and he and those around him are the better for it. The idea of accepting your differences is discussed often throughout the film, making it an easy topic for families to talk about after watching.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what message they think creators were trying to get across in Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness. Do you think it's meant to educate or entertain, or both? Can you learn anything valuable from the plot?
Who do you think the movie's intended audience is? Do you think its message could benefit both younger and older viewers?
What parts of the movie were scary to you? Why? How much scary stuff can young kids handle?
Chickenhare hears repeatedly that what makes you different makes you special. What do you think that means? Do you have any different qualities that make you special?
How did Chickenhare and his friends demonstrate teamwork? What makes that an important character strength?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : June 10, 2022
- Cast : Danny Fehsenfeld , Joe Ochman , Jordan Tartakow
- Directors : Ben Stassen , Benjamin Mousquet
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Adventures , Book Characters , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Teamwork
- Run time : 91 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate