Parents' Guide to

Hilda

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Whimsical books-based show celebrates adventure, friendship.

TV Netflix Kids' Animation 2018
Hilda Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all
age 7+

Based on 52 parent reviews

Vavavumvum
Vavavumvum Adult
January 5, 2022
age 10+

Loved the 1st season but...

Docked a star watching the second with my 4 yo daughter. Really love the premise, art and music. She was not scared watching the first season, but we just started a new episode where one of the little kids gets their head chopped off and I had to stop it immediately. Kind of disappointed as it did not seem pivotal to the plot.
2 people found this helpful.
Stefan T.
Stefan T. Adult
January 17, 2023
age 8+

Wonderful tale about curiosity, friendship and becoming an adult in a world you don't know

A wonderful tale about friendship, curiosity and growing up. Hilda tells a simple, but amazing episodic story, with an overarching lore that focusses on many different topics about growing up. It includes a wide variety of interesting characters. The music and art are superb and wonderful and give the show a very unique flair. A must watch if you like good cartoons and animation.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
See all 52 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In HILDA, the main character (voiced by Bella Ramsey) is a young girl who finds all kinds of adventures among the elves, trolls, and giants nearby the secluded woodland home she shares with her mom (Daisy Haggard). But when the two of them pull up stakes and relocate to the town of Trolberg, Hilda discovers that even bigger adventures -- and more surprising new friends -- await her there.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (52):
Kids say (36):

The beloved graphic novel series adapts beautifully to the screen in this whimsical fantasy about a gregarious girl who thrives on experiencing new things. Hilda's is a world where mountains awaken from eons-long naps to become giants once again, and elven communities have strict rules about who can and cannot see them. Rotund furry creatures fly in the sky like birds, and sun-sensitive trolls are turned to stone. There are surprises around every corner in this surreal place.

What also abounds here are gentle storytelling and sweet themes of tolerance and friendship. Hilda is decidedly unrushed, with music filling pauses in dialogue and characters (especially Hilda) extending kindness to others at every opportunity. Its delightful animation draws heavily on the books for inspiration and matches well the story's roots in magic and fantasy.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Hilda's fantasy world compares to the real one. Are there aspects of Hilda's experiences that are similar to your own? What place does fantasy have in entertainment? How does seeing a different perspective through the eyes of a TV character influence how you view the world?

  • Kids: What accounts for Hilda's eagerness to befriend the many creatures and people she meets? Is she ever hesitant because they look or act differently from her? How do stereotypes affect how we relate to new people? Are all stereotypes inherently bad, or are there instances in which they can be helpful?

  • Do this story and these characters transition well from book to screen? How might Hilda be received if it was live action instead of animated? What other book characters do you enjoy seeing in TV shows or movies? Which haven't made the jump but in your opinion should?

  • How does Hilda display curiosity? Why do you think this is an important character strength?

TV 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 tv lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

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