The beautiful animated Netflix show Hilda is the perfect binge watch

Netflix Hilda begins with beautiful mountain landscapes and peaceful forests, while the protagonist Hilda and her deer dog Twig plan their first adventure: sketching a rock troll that is frozen in the shape of a statue until sunset. Like all her antics, she plays it close to the cuff. As the sun goes down, instead of going back, she adds a few more sketch lines – the troll follows her all the way home.

Hilda has the wonderful feeling of a fantasy fairy tale book, wrapped in the cozy blanket of a folk tale. The series, which debuted on Netflix in 2018, is also criminally underestimated. Based on Luke Pearson’s acclaimed Hilda comics, the animated series follows the young blue-haired girl as she gets into all sorts of trouble in the Scandinavian-inspired world of the series. Trolberg is not a normal city. There are all kinds of ferocious creatures and monsters that live in and around the city – from the plant-like Vittra who lives in complex tunnels under the city to the forest people who live in the lush, surrounding forests.

Throughout the series, Hilda and her Sparrow Scout friends Frida and David experience tons of adventure as they collect badges and come to the rescue of local wildlife. It is great fun to see, but it also contains some valuable lessons about the importance of nature and mindfulness when dealing with wild animals. After two seasons that ended at the end of 2020, Hilda finally continues in the form of a film. Hilda and the mountain king will be released on December 30th. Now is the perfect time to catch up.

Image: Netflix

The show makes nature accessible

Hilda begins with mother and daughter who live in a hut in the forest brimming with wild creatures that Hilda likes to watch, sketch and chat with. But after their home is wiped out under the feet of a giant, the two move to the city of Trolberg in the second episode. Hilda is initially depressed about moving to a city; she vehemently protects her forest life. She is probably right in the truest sense of the word. But as the season progresses, she realizes that Trolberg is teeming with natural life of a different kind – only they have adapted to the city’s surroundings just as they are forced to.

After seeing so many planet EarthWith Netflix-style documentaries, nature can easily be detached from the big city or suburban life – or any kind of life that is not rural or remote. I often fall into this mistake in thinking that “nature” is this static idea of ​​a packed ecosystem that is rather “untouched” or “untouched” by humans. According to this definition, “nature” exists far away from cities with their incessant pollution – both in material and in sound – and their busy streets.

But that is far from reality. Birds fly overhead and congregate on shorelines and telephone lines; smaller creatures like squirrels, gophers and rabbits have found shelter in yards and parks. In Southern California, where I live, coyotes, mountain lions, and bears also live in the arid desert, despite the sprawl of the suburbs. Insects multiply under our feet, rats and mice squeeze into places where we would rather not see them. All of this does not mean that animals are not endangered by life in large cities. But they have also adapted around us – and not seeing them means not looking.

Watch out Hilda reminded me of it. Even though HildaMany wild creatures are those of myth, and they exist in droves across the city. Some are literally elves, tiny, and invisible to the human eye – unless you sign an extremely long contract that allows you to see them. Some are fun, anthropomorphic plants like Vittra, or majestic like the fluffy, flying, dog-like Woffs. Some are a little grotesque, like the Rat King who lives in the sewers. And some are terrifying and intimidating, as in the case of the trolls who live around the city limits and are held up by the walls. But in Hilda’s eyes they deserve all due care, even if it is as dangerous as turning off the “anti-troll” bells in the city that cause pain for the troll population.

In each episode, Hilda discovers a new corner of Trolberg’s busy scene of fantastic creatures, making it increasingly clear how the city has become its own unique ecosystem in which these creatures continue to make their home.

Image: Netflix

A young hero who is allowed to make mistakes

Hilda can be difficult to observe, as the title character often gets too involved in all sorts of dangerous scenarios – panicking her overworked single mother – and clinging to a forest dweller’s self-image compared to her city. smarter friends. But that’s also the key to what makes the show so important. Her mistakes are those of a child, and as stressful as they may be at times, it’s nice to see Hilda grow into her deep confidence that she made those mistakes. It’s refreshing to see a show about a young girl who no lack of trust, and whose missteps never intimidate them in meekness.

Hilda comes to the aid of some creatures. After learning of the existence of tiny elves in the pilot project, whose houses she has smashed, she is determined to repair the damage she has caused. But the show doesn’t shrink from the grave consequences of jumping in before thinking about it, either. In the same wonderfully cyclical episode, she also makes a discovery of a skyscraper-sized creature in the forest and helps it find what it’s looking for. The two-part arc ends with the giant accidentally crushing her house, which then prompts her mother to move her to Trolberg. It’s all a fine balance.

This approach also applies to Hilda’s relationship with her friends. She often interferes in other people’s businesses just to make life difficult for them. She has a tendency to act rashly, not to think things through, and to skip the fine print, both metaphorically and literally. When Hilda, at the expense of her mortal soul, creates a tidal mouse, a fortunate, enchanted mouse that helps her goal accomplish a specific task, Hilda doesn’t read the entire spell in the witch’s spellbook – nor did she ask her friend if he wanted help . The resulting creature eventually improves David’s singing voice while nibbling on his soul.

Image: Netflix

Each episode teaches a solid lesson in drawing the consequences for your actions. It is an excellent antidote to the more common children’s television, which falls under a type of “Chosen Syndrome”. So many children’s media perpetuate this idea that if it is motivated by the right morals, then everything will be fine if only good intentions are involved. In Hilda, it does not always work. Frida disappears from the Sparrow Scouts because she gets into a spiral if she doesn’t tidy her room. Sometimes the two friends hardly get along.

The show is a must see for both adults and children. Hilda’s courage, despite or perhaps because of her many imperfections, makes her a great protagonist for younger children who overcome the boundaries between themselves, their friends and nature. This is especially true of young girls, who can find solace in Hilda as a brazen adventurer who makes mistakes. For the rest of us Hilda is a return to this childlike state of trust and curiosity and a portal into the natural world that exists independently of our surroundings. But be warned – season two ends on a massive cliffhanger as Hilda got into a dangerous situation that may not resolve itself well. We’ll have to wait for the movie to be released on December 30th to see how things turn out.