Common Sense Media Review
By Tom Cassidy
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Animated animal adventure has violence, mixed messages.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Sheep and Wolves: Pig Deal
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In SHEEP AND WOLVES: PIG DEAL, friendly wolf Grey (voiced by Graham Halstead) is living harmoniously with other wolves and sheep. But when a vicious wolf pack decides their species should no longer live with sheep, Grey is forced to defend his peaceful village.
Is It Any Good?
The first movie of the franchise was unremarkable, and this bland and confused sequel follows suit. Sheep and Wolves: Pig Deal is the follow-up to Sheep & Wolves, and despite having had the luxury of a first film to find its feet, its contradictory messaging continuously trips it up. Despite boasting a message of unity and tolerance, when it ends with an entire town rolling with laughter because someone's been turned into a pig, its already paper-thin message dissolves.
The shallow plot and slow animation are likely to engage very young viewers. But the occasionally brutal fights and mindless casual violence put it low in the pile of things you'd want them to watch. Especially when other movies featuring anthropomorphic animals working side by side -- such as the far superior Zootopia -- are available. It's not all bad. Its gentle fantasy elements allow for some lighthearted magic potion mishaps. But the labored pacing means some obvious visual gags come much later than expected, making this relatively short movie feel far too long.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the cartoon violence in Sheep and Wolves: Pig Deal. Did you find any of the scenes too extreme for a movie like this? Did the fact that there were no serious consequences make a difference to how you felt about the scenes? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
Did the movie rely on clichés and stereotypes for jokes? Why is that an issue? How is Bianca treated in comparison to the other wolves? Did it seem fair?
What lessons did Grey learn about leadership? What character strengths did he display? Discuss whether leaders are allowed to make mistakes?
What message do you think the movie is trying to tell? How well is this message told? How could it be applied to real life?
How did this movie compare to other animated animal movies? What do you think is the appeal of these kind of movies?
Movie Details
- In theaters : January 29, 2021
- On DVD or streaming : March 16, 2021
- Cast : Graham Halstead , Kate Bristol , Billy Bob Thompson
- Director : Vladimir Nikolaev
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Vertical Entertainment
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Run time : 72 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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