Parents' Guide to

Peter and the Wolf

By Carrie R. Wheadon, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Dark, superb short film introduces kids to classical music.

Movie NR 2008 34 minutes
Peter and the Wolf Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all
age 10+

Based on 2 parent reviews

LH Powell
LH Powell Parent of 5 and 7-year-old
April 12, 2014
age 12+

NOT FOR CHILDREN

This is a haunting animated short that is beautifully made but it is not for children. Unlike most children's entertainment that includes or implies violence, in this film the emotional impulses and impacts of violent behavior are very real and very clear. It is just too intense for children. As an adult, I found it disturbing but ultimately hopeful; both of my children were just horrified.

This title has:

Too much violence
1 person found this helpful.
ameyer75
ameyer75 Parent of 8-year-old
January 7, 2014
age 8+

Too violent for 8 years old.

I thought this would be appropriate for my 8 year old, but the opening scene had a boy shoved in a dumpster with a rifle pointed at him. I was appalled, and turned it off immediately. My 8 year old doesn't need to see that kind of scary violence.

This title has:

Too much violence
1 person found this helpful.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Peter is a loner who lives with his grandfather in a rundown shack outside a small town. It's fenced up tight to keep Peter away from the woods and the dangers that lurk. But he and his only friends, a duck and bird, steal grandpa's keys and head out to the frozen pond to enjoy themselves. Grandpa's cat comes along too and trees the bird, distracting everyone from the approach of one hungry wolf. As he eyes the duck, attacks, and gulps him down Peter is both frightened and bent on revenge. With the help of some rope and a tree branch Peter snags the wolf's tale and then has to decide what to do with the him next.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (2):

What a gorgeous take on this classic story. The wonderful expressiveness of the stop-motion animated characters is part of what makes narration unnecessary. The modern-day impoverished setting adds a layer of bleakness and makes lonely Peter a more complex character.

Viewers will also notice that the hunters are the bad guys here, bullying poor Peter and then showing up after Peter's already captured the wolf to make a bumbling macho display by shooting the cat's ear. So Peter not only gets to be the hero, but then gets to display maturity beyond his years when he decides to let the wolf go. Having the duck's theme play right before he makes the decision makes it all the more poignant. It's subtle touches like that one that make this short worth many repeat viewings.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about this version of the classic tale. Did you like this artistic take? Would it have been better with narration or wasn't it needed?

  • Families can also talk about the music here. How does it help tell the story? Did you recognize the different instruments as they played the various themes?

  • Families can also talk about forgiveness. Right before Peter lets the wolf go you hear the oboe play the duck's theme. Peter is clearly thinking about the duck but lets the wolf go anyway. Would you do the same?

Movie Details

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 suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

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