Hilda and the Mountain King Review

December 31, 2021 at 7:05am
By Jason Stettner

Hilda and the Mountain King is a Netflix Original animated film that apparently acts as a conclusion to the overall series. I note apparently as I’m not exactly sure if it’s going to continue past this point. There were two seasons prior and this movie heavily relies on viewers having seen those to truly understand what exactly is going on.

With that, I wouldn’t really call this a standalone film and you must watch what came prior to actually get the just of this one. This is, as mentioned a continuation of the series which ended shockingly with Hilda (Bella Ramsey) being turned into a troll. She’s that of stone, and needs to find a way to turn back. This experience aims to wrap up most loose ends in regards to why the trolls are coming in greater numbers, and to dive deeper into the lore of this world.

It doesn’t necessarily give us a great insight into what comes after, but it does leave things on a really sweet note and also provides a deep amount of context into some of the inner workings of this world and the problems that have arisen over the years. I would certainly love to see more of this series as it’s by far the best youth content Netflix has ever released, but alas I feel satisfied with how everything has wrapped up here and I’m sure most will feel the same.

Just keep in mind that while the important side characters should appear, most are fairly brief and that is somewhat sorrowing as this is such a rich world. They focused on Hilda, her immediate family and then some brief moments with her core friends. The safety group is also at the forefront, have to get those bells out there you know.

The animation work for the movie is just splendid. It’s visually stunning and just generally remarkable. It comes across as minimalistic, while at the same time heavily detailed. All of the characters have unique designs and that rings true from the humans to the trolls. This place feels rightly natural with the series that came before it and it’s neat to see such a well designed aesthetic carry through.

There’s a bit more action here and it’s just as effective as the calmer segments that came prior. It really is a vibrant world and that art style will come through very effectively no matter what point in time you go to watch it. It truly does come across as generally timeless, and they nailed it once again here. Pair that with great voice acting and you’ve got a rather delightful experience to behold. It works out perfectly well.

The Conclusion

Hilda and the Mountain King is a great conclusion to what has been the best children’s show Netflix has ever produced. This was a really enjoyable visit to the world that’s been established over the previous seasons and it ends strong. I wish we did have more time to visit fresh areas, but I was quite satisfied with how everything ended.

It’s got a neat look at motherhood, doing what’s best for the ones you love and of course a deeper look into why the city has had a bit of a troll problem over the years. It’s quite a lovely show, and one I most certainly suggest viewing. Just make sure you watch the two seasons before this as it really does matter in making you fully get the context of this movie.

Hilda and the Mountain King Review at Home with Streamed Viewing
Content Access was Provided by Netflix

Rating Overall: 8.2