Hilda

Hilda (the show) is about a young girl, Hilda, that grew up in the woods with her mother. For a long time, it was just her, her mother, and their pet deerfox. However, circumstances force Hilda’s family to move into the nearby city of Trolberg. There is no less magical adventure going on in the city, though, as Hilda learns to navigate her new, more structured, environment.

Hilda (the show) draws a lot on Scandinavian mythology. There are magical creatures abound. The most worrisome for the city of Trolberg are the trolls. That’s why there is a huge wall to keep them out. There are also elves, draugen and more. Hilda (the girl) will deal with and make friends with all sorts of creatures during the adventures of the show. Of course, she will also make friends with humans as she is forced to after moving to the city.

As of writing, there are two seasons and one movie to Hilda. The first season is mostly standalone adventures where Hilda, David and Frida must deal with a random magical creature. Most of the time, the magical creature’s are not causing trouble, but the kids are out looking for adventure. In the second season, there is more of an overarching plot, especially between Hilda and her mother.

Hilda (the girl) struggles with trying to fit in the city. She wants to be run wild and be free and is always looking for adventure. This leads to her keeping things from her mother and is a source of conflict. As for her friends, Frida is the organized one that always wants to do perfect. She is studious but is mostly supportive of Hilda’s more freeform way of doing things. David is more of the cautious type and usually has to be dragged along to their escapades. He still goes along, though, and slowly grows in courage over the show.

The show is a charming and fun adventure. The art style is homey and welcoming. The atmosphere of the show is pleasant to watch. There is magic all around with an assortment of magical creatures and mischief. There are many ways to deal with the magical creatures, but it all starts with talking to them. There is a bit of drama between the characters as well. Some of it is well done, like between the one between Hilda and her mother. Others are more just kids being stubborn, which still works.

Hilda (the show) is good fun with lots of Scandinavian folklore to go around. Trolberg feels like a cool, welcoming place to live. It is a world you want to dive into, aside from the threat of troll invasion.