‘Puffin Rock And The New Friends’ Review – A Serene, Charming And Uplifting Movie Full Of Adorable Creatures

Adapting a television series into a full-length feature doesn’t come without its challenges. You want the story to be more than just an extended episode or a mix-and-match of different episodes. On top of that, the movie must stay true to the original works to ensure that the fans will love it while also introducing some new and exciting elements to attract a potential new audience who do not know the series. When deciding to adapt Puffin Rock, the 2015 animated television series, directors Jeremy Purcell (Joe and Jack, Pete the Cat) and Lorraine Lordan (A Cat Called Jam) had their work cut out. However, just like the adorable characters in their feature, they overcome the challenges with ease as they create a brightly animated, joyful, and charming movie for an audience of all ages.

What instantly strikes us is that the story by writer Sara Daddy (Mimi’s World, Sol) is much more grown-up than you would expect from the movie about the adventures and colourful puffins living on Puffin Rock. At first, it’s still happy-happy joy-joy when Oona (Beth McCafferty) and her little brother, Baba (Jo McDaid), are having the time of their lives with Mama (Geraldine Cole) and Papa (Matt Deery), who are tending to a single egg.

Because the world of Puffin Rock is now much more extensive as it gets its first film treatment, Daddy gets the chance to introduce and play with many new characters. She grabs that opportunity with both hands. The writer certainly increases the number of puffins, resulting in even more fun and play and the arrival of Isabelle (Eva Whittaker) and Phoenix (Euan McGrath). While the beautiful golden pheasant Phoenix is ready to embrace his new living environment and friends, Isabelle is much more distant and unsure. It’s from then onwards that the movie becomes much more adult. Unable to express her true feelings and to find her voice, she reflects with great nostalgia to the time Phoenix, her parents, and she lived in peace before a brutal storm destroyed their home.

Those nostalgic flashbacks are one of those elements that make this movie stand out from the series. The creators successfully swap the vibrant animations for more paint-like visuals, resulting in the audience feeling that not every moment can be as happy as we want. Another aspect that sets the film adaptation apart from the television work is the usage of songs. During Isabelle’s song, you can instantly feel the loneliness and her desire to belong, two topics handled with a lot of care and sensitivity. While Puffin Rock and the New Friends is never an explosive musical, the musical interludes are a welcoming addition to the Puffin family.

Speaking of the Puffin family, darker times are ahead for the community. A storm is heading their way, and with the help of their new friend, otter Marvin (Aaron McGregor), they have to dig tunnels and underground hiding places. When the little egg Mama and Papa are keeping an eye on disappears, the community faces even more problems. Will they find the egg before the storm hits Puffin Rock, or is it sadly lost forever?

While that ‘time is ticking’ element is undoubtedly present, mainly because of the impending storm, the feature never becomes too dark. The filmmakers don’t want to scare away the younger audience after all. To achieve that, Chris O’Dowd (My Father’s Dragon, Puffin Rock) is returning as narrator and commentator and assures the kids that the puffins will be just fine and that everything will be okay; he here and there also shares some cool animal facts as well as easy to understand insights in the current climate problems such as overfishing, pollution, and the general climate change.

Puffin Rock and the New Friends might not be as big, bold, and visually striking as Song of the Sea and The Breadwinner, but that’s because this time, Cartoon Saloon chose simplicity and serenity above dynamic visuals. With the adorability of the animals, uplifting voices, and the fun, but also slightly grown-up storyline, the movie will be adored by kids and will keep the adults entertained.

Puffin Rock and the New Friends is now available to rent or purchase on Google TV, Amazon Prime Video & Apple TV courtesy of Shout!  Studios, Cartoon Saloon, and Dog Ears.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sH-48xOwZro]