The Snail and the Whale

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The Snail and the Whale
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Snail and the Whale is a heartening adaptation from a book by Julia Donaldson (The Gruffalo, Zog) with tons of positive messages. The snail, who is voiced by Oscar-winner Sally Hawkins, is offered the chance to realize its dreams of seeing the world, when a kindly humpback whale (Rob Brydon) lets the snail board its tail. There are occasional moments of threat as the pair's adventure includes an encounter with sharks, while the snail is constantly worried about being eaten by seagulls. The biggest moment of jeopardy comes when the whale finds itself beached on the shore. With the clock ticking, the snail is given the chance to be the hero, as it shows courage and perseverance in going to get help. These perilous situations are short-lived and allow the film's positive messages to come to the surface. As well as courage, perseverance, curiosity, and teamwork, the film celebrates friendship, and manages to do so without any of the messaging feeling forced. Beautifully animated, this is a short -- just 27 minutes -- fun-packed adventure that can be enjoyed by the whole family.
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What's the Story?
THE SNAIL AND THE WHALE is the story of an unlikely friendship and an exciting adventure. A tiny snail (voiced by Sally Hawkins) is given the chance to fulfill their dreams and see the world, when a large humpback whale (Rob Brydon) lets them climb onto their tale.
Is It Any Good?
Adapted from another book by hugely popular kids' author Julia Donaldson, this 27-minute adventure is perfect family viewing. The Snail and the Whale join the likes of The Gruffalo and Stick Man in offering a beautifully told and animated short story that teaches -- or reminds, as the case maybe -- of some important life lessons. Oscar-winner Hawkins voices the snail with a sense of adventure, while Brydon is uncharacteristically understated, adding his dulcet tones to the whale who shows the snail the world. Add to that the late Diana Rigg, who provides the rhythmic narration to Donaldson's words, and beautifully rendered animation, and you know you're in very safe hands.
As has become expected from Donaldson adaptations, the film is packed with plenty of positive messages. These include following your dreams, embracing the unknown, and helping others, all of which are shown to require courage. It's to the film's credit that none of this feels force-fed, instead trusting the viewer to pick up these messages themselves. There's the occasional moment of jeopardy -- the snail and whale encounter some sharks, and later the whale ends up beached on the shore. But once again, the film confidently knows its audience and manages the stakes perfectly. The Snail and the Whale is another welcome addition to the stable of Donaldson-book adaptations.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the positive messages in The Snail and the Whale. What character strengths did the snail show? Why are these such important traits to have? Can you give any real-life examples when you've demonstrated any of these?
Discuss the snail and whale's friendship. What was it based on? What did each of them offer the other?
Have you read the original book the film was based on? How did it compare? Did you like the animation style? Were the characters like you imagined them? What other books would you like to see made into TV shows or movies?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: October 5, 2021
- Cast: Diana Rigg, Sally Hawkins, Rob Brydon
- Directors: Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon
- Studio: Magic Light Pictures
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Adventures, Book Characters, Friendship, Ocean Creatures
- Character Strengths: Compassion, Courage, Curiosity
- Run time: 27 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: August 1, 2022
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