Silverwing
By Andrea Graham,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Classic books fly by night in great kids' series.
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Based on 2 parent reviews
the book was better!!!!
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Pretty good.
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What's the Story?
Based on the acclaimed young adult novels by Kenneth Oppel, SILVERWING is a fantastic story about a young bat named Shade who decides to challenge the laws of nature. According to legend, birds and land-dwelling beasts engaged in a great battle over territory. Since they were neither bird nor beast, the bats remained neutral in the war -- a stance that resulted in their whole species being forever banished to the night. But Shade (voiced by Bill Switzer) chooses to break this law; he wants to see the sun. This act of rebellion causes a great rise in violence between the bats and their bird and beast enemies, and Shade's home is set fire. As a result, he's driven out of his colony and left to fend for himself -- only to realize that he's the key to saving his home, his colony, and his species. With his friends, Shade seeks to restore the balance of nature by defeating bands of cannibal bats, ferocious wolves, and vicious birds.
Is It Any Good?
Silverwing is an excellent choice for action and animation fans. Combing both 3D and more traditional 2D animation, the show has a unique look that will be sure to keep viewers tuned in. The main storyline is also excellent -- it asks viewers to consider complex dilemmas without easy answers, which may even have them questioning their own values.
That said, the conflict in Silverwing is highly political and may be too complicated for younger viewers to follow. But older kids (young tweens and up) will enjoy this tale of adventure, regret, and redemption.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Shade's determination to do what's right. What does determination mean? Have you ever tried to complete a task that was so hard you wanted to give up? What made you feel that way? Did you keep going? Why and how? How do challenges help develop character?
TV Details
- Premiere date: September 19, 2003
- Cast: Bill Switzer , Michael Dobson , Sharon Alexander
- Network: Toon Disney
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Adventures , Book Characters , Wild Animals
- TV rating: TV-Y7
- Last updated: February 28, 2022
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