Plot Summary
Janner, Tink, and Leeli Igiby are just three normal kids who live near the Glipwood township and who practice T.H.A.G.S. (Three Honored and Great Subjects) at home with their mother. Janner is bored with what daily life has to offer him and wishes he could go on a sailing adventure far away from his boring life. Tink enjoys the humdrum comfort of the day-to-day, but he livens things up with his mischievous, impulsive nature, which often lands him…or Janner…in trouble. Leeli, the youngest, loves playing her whistleharp, playing with her dog Nugget, chasing thwaps out of the garden with her grandpa Podo, and tagging along on her big brother’s adventures. Like everyone else in Glipwood, the Igiby siblings do their best to avoid the volatile Fangs who patrol the town, and under Nia and Podo’s watchful gaze(s), they live a quiet and mostly uneventful life…until the day Leeli kicks a Fang in the leg while defending her beloved Nugget. Little do the children know that Leeli’s decision will serve as the springboard to a journey of discovery, heartbreak, and adventure. What does the Maker have in store for the Igiby family? Only time will tell.
Production Quality (3.5 points)
As they pioneer the first watercolor-like animation of its kind, Chris Wall and this series’ artistic team have done an impressive job of turning out a high-quality product that has staying power. The animation style itself is neither clunky nor unrealistic. The intricately painted scenes and backgrounds add a mystical, fantastical element to what is otherwise a colorful depiction of a world much like yours and mine. Viewers will be pleased to see many members of Pembrick’s Creaturepedia in the first season (who can spot the toenibbler in the cover art). It is clear the creators are dedicated to bringing this story to life in a memorable way.
Plot and Storyline Quality (3 points)
The plot and storyline are strong and engaging. Viewers will find themselves eager for the next episode. In fact, at the end of every new episode at least one of our team members complained that it was too short. 🙂 A few moments of choppiness in the first two episodes, and a moment of shameless advertising for Pembrick’s Creaturepedia in episode one do not have a major negative impact on the overall quality of the story. The fact that this is virtually the only error shows how good the series is. Thus far, Chris Wall, Andrew Peterson, and the rest of the team have stayed true to the heart of the story as they adapt it for the big screen. Some minor changes in the plot progression and the addition of a few new scenes improve the original storyline. Overall, a job well done.
Acting Quality (3.5 points)
Peterson and the rest of the team have managed to round up an exceptional group of talented actors and actresses, including child actors who know how to play themselves through the character. To paraphrase Kevin McNally, gone are the days of child actors who aren’t being coached properly, lol. Also, thank goodness the child roles are not voiced by adults trying to do either a high or nasal sounding voice (relieved sigh). Jodi Benson and Kevin McNally, in the roles of Nia and Podo, have both taken on a different accent for their roles which comes off as believable and fitting. Andrew Peterson (the voice of Oskar N. Reteep) and Henry Ian Cusick (Peet the Sock Man) suit their roles so well that there is currently an ongoing debate in my mind as to which one is doing a better portrayal of their character. Alkaio Thiele, Griffin Robert Faulkner, and Romy Fay, in the roles of Janner, Kalmar, and Leeli, are bringing their best to the table as they set the standard for what child voice actors can and should do with their talents. Finally, secondary cast members like Kellen Goff and Christopher Robin Miller bring the voices of Fangs to life as the reptilian bad guys that all fans of the series know and dislike.
Continuity Quality (3 points)
The first and second episodes have some moments of story choppiness, which is likely due to the fact that the creators were trying to cover a large amount of expository content from the first novel in a relatively short amount of runtime. Throughout the remainder of the season, the story continuity strengthens and begins to build on the foundation Peterson laid in On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness. Without giving away any spoilers, the writers do adapt a few of the original scenes from the novel in a way that ties key plot points together better and gives greater backbone to the overall story. We haven’t seen such an effective adaptation of a book series to the big screen since the beloved Chronicles of Narnia movies.
Conclusion
The Wingfeather Saga is blazing a trail in the Christian animated world by being unapologetically different than it’s counterparts. For one thing, unlike many kids shows, this one has engaging dialogue, a clear storyline, and it’s just plain fun! Parents, there’s no need to invest in earplugs for this one. 😉 Additionally, the creators seem to be listening to both their Creator and to the voices of their audience. We don’t usually see such attentiveness to what type of entertainment families want and need. Other Christian creative teams should take notes and seek to discover what type of entertainment their audience actually wants to see before they start making a show. To conclude, I look forward to forthcoming seasons with great interest, and the BOR team recommends this series to anyone looking for a family show that is truly enjoyable.
Final Rating: 13 out of 14 points
Box Office Revolution 