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The Wingfeather Saga (2022)
Fantastic Story with a Solid Start and Tremendous Improvement
There's a trope regarding television and streaming shows-you have to get through the first two or three episodes before it really hits its stride. That is certainly true of the Wingfeather Saga. If you quit on Episode 2 of Season 1 (easily the weakest episode in the series), then you miss out.
Season 1 was solid, really hitting its stride in the fourth and fifth episodes as the peril became real. Fans of the books will notice allusions and foreshadowing of later developments, but people new to the story won't feel left out.
Season 2 makes tremendous strides in acting and animation. The stakes are raised believably, and the peril hits a crescendo in episode 5. There is something lost in translation, but it is reasonable for the adaption process, especially for books that are very deep and thoughtful explorations of serious ideas (despite the fart jokes and middle school humor).
Hopefully this series continues. It is one of the better animated series one can find, and it is a ton of fun to watch for the whole family. (It's probably a little scary for younger children, but my 2 and 4 year old children are fine as long as I hold them.)
The Wingfeather Saga: Escape to the North (2024)
Good Finish, but loses something in adaption
This episode closed the season well. The losses and twists made sense, and the writers and actors held the suspense well. They expertly finished the season with suspense while minimizing cliffhangers that would otherwise ruin the season (not that there are no cliffhangers, but the season felt finished and ready for a new chapter).
This episode particular showed the strides that the team has made with the art style. The end credits scene shows tremendous promise, but the entire episode was excellently animated.
Having read 'North! Or Be Eaten', there is a lot that was lost in this episode that just doesn't fit the television/streaming format well. If one has not read the books, then nothing will be missed though.
This episode made season 2 stand very well on its own, and it set up the next season very well without being dissatisfying on its own.
The Wingfeather Saga: The Roundish Widow (2024)
Fun, but paced like a movie
The pacing set up a lot without paying anything off in this episode. It was more like a movie's pacing. Despite that problem, it felt like it went by much more quickly than the actual runtime, so it was by no means boring.
The voice acting was good, and the animation team had a superb moment showing Nia's emotion at the climax of the episode.
It quietly foreshadows a lot of details well. Readers of the books will pick up on it easily, but those who haven't will want to rewatch this in a year or two.
7 out of 10 for being a well-done cartoon that adults can enjoy, but having pacing that made it somewhat unsatisfying.