Hilda is a graphic comic series and celebrate Netflix animated show about a young adventure loving girl. There are currently 2 series which adapt Luke Pearson’s work and now there is to be a Netflix movie, ‘Hilda and the Mountain King’.
Season 2 ended with The Stone Circle, the final and longest episode of the show so far. It built on the television series but also the story arc of the final graphic novel which was released at the tail-end of 2020. I reviewed the graphic novel but this episode is a little different as Hilda and her mum get thrown out by an accident occurring in the Nissa No-where Space. They end up inside a mountain inhabited by trolls and must make their way out back to Trolberg. In another plot, The Trolberg Safety Patrol end up stranded outside the walls with David and Frida and must survive the night. Both plots complement each other as they are about surviving against the odds in perilous circumstances. There are some pretty close calls and squeaky bum moments but it all ends up pretty well, until the final moments which sets up the upcoming feature movie.
With the animated movie coming out I wonder if they stay true to the source material or if they veer off and adapt it whilst keeping true to the spirit of the comics. Either way, I loved how they adapted season 1 and 2 and so am excited for 30th December 2021!
For those not in the know, here is a primer on all things Hilda. The graphic novel stories are about a young blue-haired girl named Hilda. She lives in the mountains, surrounded by fantastical mythical creatures, with her mother and Twigg, her pet deerfox. Hilda is an adventurer and explorer who wants to understand her world and has lots of fun and exciting adventures. With each event Hilda learns something, often something profound for someone so small like what it is to be lonely, how easy it is to be unkind to animals, why rituals are important to many and how we can make the world a better place by working together.
In the first book, Hilda and the Troll, we find out about Hilda's world. Her passion for exploring, understanding the world and art lead to a grand adventure in which she realises that her prejudices led her to treat a creature in an unethical way. She learns from her mistake and grows as a person and that is what these stories are about... having flaws, learning from mistakes and growing to be a better person.
In Hilda and the Midnight Giant, the second book, Hilda helps a lost mountain giant find his friend after many millenia alone. Hilda meets the hidden smallfolk on her way and discovers that the invisible hidden folk have been disturbed by the presence of her and her mother in the mountains. The ending for this book is particularly profound and beautiful and is all about the effect we have on the world without even realising. Heady stuff indeed for a 'kids' comic. The weirdness and slight tinge of unease reminds me of Over The Garden Wall or even Frankenweenie.
After the events of book 2, Hilda and her mother leave their cabin and move to the city of Trollberg. Hilda then adapts to life in an urban setting, meeting new people and the complexities that brings. She begins to understand the beauty that can exist in the city and develops friendships through the Sparrow Scouts group she joins and it is here that the main thrust of the graphic novels is pushed forward with each novel being an amazing and whimsical adventure. There are elves, stone giants, a Thunderbird and even a hell hound thrown in the mix... it all ends up making sense as the world is a tapestry of stories and characters, all building towards a cohesive whole.
The fifth book released in mid 2018, Hilda and the Stone Forest, ended on a real cliffhanger as Hilda was turned into a troll. Fans of the series had been waiting excitedly for the conclusion and with Hilda and the Mountain King, which was released only a few weeks ago, they finally got it. We finally understand how the trolls live and why they have gathered around Trollberg. The series ends on a note of hope and there isn't a deus-ex machina to make everything okay, and I like that, life is messy and things don't always reach a neat conclusion and this graphic novel series shows that and respects it's audience to understand that too.
LINK- Hilda Comic Series Review
LINK- Disenchantment- Complete Series 1 Review
LINK- Gravity Falls Complete Series Review
LINK- Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated Complete Series 1 Review