Literary Adaptations

Cert

Age group5–11

Duration27 mins

The Gruffalo(2009)

Animated tale of a clever little mouse who uses his wits to stop being eaten by the scary Gruffalo as he takes a walk through the woods.

This bestseller from Julia Donaldson has quickly become a bedtime staple in many households and is known as much for its vivid illustrations as its story. This half-hour animated adaptation does a fantastic job of capturing the humour and spirit of the well-known tale as well as bringing the vibrant illustrations to life, enthralling the audience in the process.

Cert

Age group5–11

Duration69 mins

Winnie the Pooh(2011)

This gentle, whimsical animated Walt Disney feature uses the old-school, hand-drawn style of the classic A. A. Milne children's books it's based on.

A.A. Milne’s stories of the bear with a big heart who loves honey have been enchanting children for generations. This gentle animation is the perfect companion piece to those books, using traditional animation and oodles of charm to capture the hearts of a whole new audience.

Cert

Age group5–14

Duration86 mins

The Iron Giant(1999)

Superbly animated adaptation following young Hogarth's discovery of a colossal, friendly robot, and his plight to protect him from government agents.

Based on Ted Hughes’ classic story The Iron Man, this animation has long been one of the most popular titles at Into Film and is now regarded as a genuine classic of children’s cinema. With its roots in the space race of the 1960s, the film is full of heart and is guaranteed to ignite the imagination of young people.

Cert

Age group7–14

Duration88 mins

Watership Down(1978)

Moving and rewarding animation about rabbits on a long journey to safety.

Adapted from Richard Adams' novel, Watership Down is a moving and rewarding experience for all viewers, although the film does not shy away from exploring dark subject matter. The tale is an enchanting one, and a classic of British cinema, but should be viewed beforehand before showing to younger audiences.

Cert

Age group5–11

Duration93 mins

Charlotte's Web(2006)

Adaptation of the popular children's novel, capturing the magic of a wonderful friendship between a pig and a spider.

E.B. White’s children’s classic is a wonderful story of friendship, in this case between a pig and a spider. Full of charm and magic, this film is a worthy adaptation of one of the most popular children’s books of all time, dealing with friendship, community and the environment.

Cert

Age group5–11

Duration89 mins

Babe(1995)

A heartwarming and very funny family tale of a pig with a penchant for sheep-herding, much to the chagrin of the local sheepdog.

Talking pigs of course also play a key part in Babe, adapted from Dick King Smith’s The Sheep-Pig about a pig who is desperate to be a sheep-dog. As well as being terrifically entertaining and full of cheeky charm, the fillm contains wonderful messages about refusing to simply accept your apparent role in life.

Cert

Age groupAll ages

Duration95 mins

Muppet Treasure Island(1996)

Trademark Muppet lunacy abounds in this musical adventure about a quest to claim buried treasure using an old pirate map.

As always, the Muppets prove once again that they are as capable of turning a classic book into a great film as anybody. Robert Louis Stevenson’s swashbuckling tale is turned into a slightly mad musical comedy, but Long John Silver is never far away and the book’s spirit remains intact.

Cert

Age group7–14

Duration92 mins

Diary of a Wimpy Kid(2010)

Funny and painful by turns, Diary of A Wimpy Kid is a clever take on pre-teen angst.

A perennial favourite amongst young Into Film members, this school comedy based on Jeff Kinney’s series of books has a fantastic message about learning to be yourself. Its painfully funny take on pre-teen angst will appeal to anyone who ever wanted to be the popular kid in school.

Cert

Age group7–14

Duration97 mins

Swallows and Amazons(2016)

Adaptation of Arthur Ransome’s timeless novel about four siblings embarking on an extraordinary adventure whilst on holiday in the Lake District.

When school is out, the best thing to do is to go in search of adventure. Arthur Ransome’s timeless classic about young siblings on holiday in the Lake District is winningly adapted here, taking in themes of self-discovery, adventure and exploration, offering a perfect antidote to our increasingly digital lives.

Cert

Age group7–14

Duration112 mins

Holes(2003)

Offbeat film about a kid who's sent to a sinister correctional facility in the desert to dig holes after being falsely accused of theft.

This comedy adventure, faithfully adapted from Louis Sachar’s novel, is imaginative, inventive family entertainment, full of visual flourishes and a genuine weight to its story. Like the book, the film is likely to enchant as well as challenge its young audience.

Cert

Age group7–14

Duration109 mins

A Wrinkle in Time(2018)

Thirteen-year-old Meg must travel throughout the universe to find her father who has been missing for four years.

Madeline L’Engle’s 1962 novel introduced themes of spirituality and fate to a younger audience whilst also telling an exciting and inclusive adventure story with children at its centre. With this adaptation, director Ava Duvernay became the first Black woman to direct a live-action film with a budget of more than $100 million alongside casting a diverse and recognisable cast.

Cert

Age group5–11

Duration77 mins

Ernest and Celestine(2012)

A beautiful animation about an unlikely friendship between a big clown bear and a clever orphan mouse, from the makers of A Town Called Panic!

Based on a series of children’s books from Belgium, written and illustrated by Gabrielle Vincent, the visuals in this film take their cue from the gorgeous watercolour images of its source material. Friendship and tolerance is explored through a lovingly rendered prism of an exciting adventure story for the ages.

Cert

Age group7–14

Duration99 mins

Where The Wild Things Are(2009)

Spike Jonze's live action adaptation of Maurice Sendak's children's classic about tameable monsters and an angry little boy.

Having stood the test of time to become one of the most well known children’s books of the modern age, Maurice Sendak’s universal tale of the importance of fantasy and storytelling during childhood comes alive on screen. Director Spike Jonze captures the scariness of being young and experiencing new things in this dazzling adaptation full of giant but friendly creatures.

Cert

Age group5–11

Duration78 mins

The Giant Pear(2017)

After the town’s beloved mayor disappears, two friends receive a message suggesting he’s still alive, and set out on an adventure to find him.

Taking a cue from Roald Dahl and another famous giant fruit, this is a rip-roaring adventure filled with gorgeous animation, sea dragons, pirates and ghosts. Adapted from the Danish children’s book ‘The Incredible Story of the Giant Pear’, young audiences will be drawn into a surreal story that is nevertheless grounded by themes of friendship and exploration.

Cert

Age group5–14

Duration95 mins

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2(2013)

Intrepid inventor Flint Lockwood and his crew travel to a mysterious island to fend off a new breed of mayhem causing food-animals!

Written and illustrated by husband and wife team Judi and Ron Barrett in the 1970s, the original novel ‘Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs’ was voted as one of the Top 100 Books for Children by American teachers. After the worldwide success of this zippy animated feature, the book began to gain more recognition worldwide and is now viewed as a well-loved classic bedtime story.