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Story

Pil (voice of Eleanor Noble) is a young orphan who lives in the top of a tower overlooking a picturesque kingdom. Pil watches the townsfolk below, dreaming of having a family of her own and friends to play with. To survive, Pil steals food and necessities from the town. She causes particular trouble for a guard called Graubart (voice of Richard Dumont), who has dubbed her a ‘sprite’ and will stop at nothing to catch her.

Up until now, the evil Lord Tristain (voice of Terrence Scammel) has been ruling the kingdom on behalf of Prince Roland (voice of Scott Humphrey). But Roland is about to come of age and rule for himself. Tristain decides to poison Roland to keep power. Tristain’s plan backfires when, instead of dying, Roland transforms into a creature that’s part cat, part chicken.

Pil, hiding from Graubart, witnesses the transformation and overhears Tristain’s evil plan. Disguising herself as a princess she, Graubart and an inept court jester called Jiggler (voice of Wyatt Bowen) hatch a plan to save Roland and stop Tristain from seizing power.

Themes

A child going through life without parents and struggling to survive; murder; the quest for power; bullying and ridicule; loneliness

Violence

Pil’s Adventures has some violence. For example:

  • Animals accidentally hit and bang into each other. One is trapped on a wheel, getting squished every time it turns around.
  • Pil smashes a sign into Graubart’s head, and a horse kicks him through the air.
  • Tristain violently stabs a cooked chicken, pretending it’s Roland. He whispers that it will be Prince Roland’s last night.
  • Tristain tells Roland how he killed Roland’s father and framed a sorceress for the murder.
  • Tristain tries to stab Pil with his sword.
  • A lady kicks the chicken-cat, not realising it’s Roland.
  • A table is blasted through a wall as Pil, Graubart and Jiggler try to escape the castle with Roland. They crash into a pile.
  • In his chicken-cat form, Roland is nearly beheaded by field workers who are cutting hay. He’s then nearly stomped on while they’re pressing grapes.
  • Tristain hires an army of mercenaries who are skilled at assassination and torture. He wants them to plunder and burn things and even hurt little cats. The mercenaries beat and incapacitate Tristain’s guards.
  • Graubart accidentally hits Jiggler on the head several times.
  • Graubart and a violent unicorn joust with each other.
  • The mercenaries shoot arrows at Graubart. Pil dives in front of him and is hit in the chest. She collapses to the ground while the others are captured. Pil is left for dead while a thousand flaming arrows fall from the sky.
  • Roland, transformed back into a human, is thrown off a cliff. Pil saves him after she wakes up and removes the arrow from her chest.
  • Tristain is about to have Graubart and the others executed. Pil knocks out all the executioners.
  • Tristain’s army attacks the city, catapulting boulders into the stone walls.
  • Roland turns the citizens into his own army. They launch a counterattack, defending the city by every means possible.
  • Jiggler is trapped in a room with gun powder and is blasted off the roof as it explodes.
  • A dragon takes Pil. Roland grabs her as she falls and keeps her safe as a huge statue crumbles to the ground.
  • An army of women brandishing their weapons chases Tristain’s army out of the kingdom.

Sexual references

There are no sexual references in Pil’s Adventures.

Alcohol, drugs and other substances

Pil’s Adventures shows some use of substances. For example, Tristain tells Roland they’ll drink to his coronation. Instead of wine, Tristain pours poison.

Nudity and sexual activity

Pil’s Adventures has some nudity and sexual activity. For example:

  • When Roland is transformed back into himself, he’s completely naked. He quickly puts on an animal skin and wears it as underwear. The tail hangs down his bottom.
  • A mercenary has his cloak set on fire. It burns off all his clothes including his underwear, which he flings into the air. The flaming underpants land on Jiggler’s sock puppet. The man runs naked through the town with his bottom completely exposed, calling out for underwear.

Product placement

There’s no product placement in Pil’s Adventures.

Coarse language

Pil’s Adventures has some mild coarse language and insults, including ‘coward’, ‘jerk’, ‘idiot’, ‘traitor’, ‘brat’ and ‘good for nothing’.

Ideas to discuss with your children

Pil’s Adventures is an animated adventure with a fast-paced but predictable plot.

This movie has a few examples of crude humour, including references to poo and underpants. It’s likely to appeal to younger viewers, but it isn’t suitable for children aged under 5 years. We also recommend parental guidance for children aged up to 8 years. The movie might be difficult for some adults to sit through.

The main messages from Pil’s Adventures are to believe in yourself, work hard and pursue your dreams.

Values in Pil’s Adventures that you could reinforce with your children include kindness, inclusivity, honesty, sacrifice and persistence.

Pil’s Adventures could also give the chance to talk with your children about the real-life consequences of things like:

  • ridiculing others or putting them down
  • leaving someone out or neglecting to see those in need around you
  • chasing power at any cost
  • using violence to solve conflict.

Supported By

  • Department of Social Services

Raising Children Network is supported by the Australian Government. Member organisations are the Parenting Research Centre and the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute with The Royal Children’s Hospital Centre for Community Child Health.

Member Organisations

  • Parenting Research Centre
  • The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne
  • Murdoch Children's Research Institute

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