Parents' Guide to

Pil's Adventures

By Tom Cassidy, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Fantasy animation has positive messages, slapstick action.

Movie PG 2022 89 minutes
Pil's Adventures movie poster

A Lot or a Little?

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

  • Pil's Adventures Scene #1: Young girl Pil and her weasel friends
  • Pil's Adventures Scene #2: Pil and her gang ready for action
  • Pil's Adventures Scene #3: Young girl Pil and her friend Jiggler the jester, a boy

Community Reviews

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age 6+

Based on 2 parent reviews

ichigo2003
ichigo2003 Parent of 7, 9 and 12-year-old
October 1, 2022
age 6+

Solid family film!

My 6 & 8 year olds loved it! It wasn't an amazing movie, but it was fun, appropriate, and kept their interest all the way through - so that's a big win in our house!
theresathorn
theresathorn Parent of 5, 8 and 11-year-old
October 22, 2022
age 6+

Fun family movie, low-stress

I thought this was a fun movie. My somewhat precocious, but also sensitive, 5-year-old really enjoyed it. My 8- and 11-year-olds watched most of it and were pretty engaged but they also complained that it was nothing new or interesting. I really appreciated that it had action and excitement without being stressful.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In PIL'S ADVENTURES, Prince Roland, the true heir to the throne, is turned into a half-chicken, half-cat creature by the evil Lord Tristain (voiced by Terrence Scammel). In an effort to help, young orphan girl Pil (Eleanor Noble) sets off with her three weasels and two new friends to find a sorceress to help restore Prince Roland (Scott Humphrey) back to his human form. When Tristain discovers he might not keep the throne, he hires a gang of bandits to stop them.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (2 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

True laugh-out-loud funny slapstick is a rare thing in animated movies. Pil's Adventures has found the perfect sweet spot, mixing the smart execution of 1940s Donald Duck shorts and classic Laurel and Hardy. But what stands out most about this French fantasy adventure is the glee that comes with its inspired moments of comedy, even in the most thrilling of action set pieces. The action is big, bold, very loud, and utterly gripping, with a heft that makes every bang count. So, that's laughing and gasping taken care of. Thankfully writer-director Julien Fournet also crafts a compelling story packed with important lessons that include questioning power, learning from mistakes, empathy for others, kindness, and acceptance.

All of this takes place in a stunningly rendered world. The town of Foggyborough is alive with characters coming and going, while the eerie but beautiful Cursed Forest has a gorgeous red glow. The fantasy beasts are a joy, too. Boasting the most strokeable fur this side of The Secret Life of Pets, everything from the weasels to the "chickat" look luxuriously soft. On the flip side, the monsters strike the right balance of being intimidating but not too scary, keeping the emotions the right side of excited. In its truly emotional moments, the movie doesn't milk the worry kids will feel when they think a character might be in peril. These scenes are kept brief and always deliver a happy ending. All this and with a social message weaved in for good measure.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Pil and her friends demonstrate great courage, empathy, and teamwork in Pil's Adventures. Why are these such good character strengths to have? Can you think of any examples in real life when you've shown these traits?

  • Discuss the slapstick violence in the movie. Did the fact that it was played for laughs make it less impactful? If so, why do you think that is?

  • How did those in power choose to treat people? Even Pil became rude for a short time when Graubart thought she was a princess. Why do you think this can happen and what can we learn from it?

  • Were the monsters in the movie scary or exciting? Can you draw your own monster that Pil might meet in the Cursed Forest?

Movie 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.

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