Please give this a shot if you speak only English, it really is a hidden gem. There are dubbed versions and subtitles available ( you will enjoy the dubbed version better as you will be able to watch the animation more and read less). It will be especially enjoyable if you are British, a motorsports fan or a fan of the newer Wallace and Gromit series by Aardman ( whose characters may well have been modeled or inspired by these ).
The animation may seem a bit crude by today's standards, but keep in mind how long ago this was made. When compared to the popular Rankin-Bass animations of the time, it is easily comparable if not superior.
Motorsport fans will appreciate the level of detail on the cars and the humor, as well as the fine sound effects used from various racing engines. Especially enjoyable is having Murray Walker announce the race. For Americans that aren't familiar with Murray, he truly is a living legend among motorsports enthusiasts in Britain for his exciting and distinctive call of Formula 1 on the BBC and ITV through the years. He retired in 2001, but still makes occasional appearances. ( It would be similar to having someone like Cubs announcer Harry Caray do the call of an animated baseball game or Bob Cole of the CBC doing hockey).
The only minor complaint I would make is that the dialog and vocabulary is a bit advanced for young viewers ( especially in the opening sequences ) even though the film seems to be more aimed at kids than adults. This may not apply in the original Norwegian version and just be a matter of translation. Once the action begins, the kids should be glued to the set though.
The animation may seem a bit crude by today's standards, but keep in mind how long ago this was made. When compared to the popular Rankin-Bass animations of the time, it is easily comparable if not superior.
Motorsport fans will appreciate the level of detail on the cars and the humor, as well as the fine sound effects used from various racing engines. Especially enjoyable is having Murray Walker announce the race. For Americans that aren't familiar with Murray, he truly is a living legend among motorsports enthusiasts in Britain for his exciting and distinctive call of Formula 1 on the BBC and ITV through the years. He retired in 2001, but still makes occasional appearances. ( It would be similar to having someone like Cubs announcer Harry Caray do the call of an animated baseball game or Bob Cole of the CBC doing hockey).
The only minor complaint I would make is that the dialog and vocabulary is a bit advanced for young viewers ( especially in the opening sequences ) even though the film seems to be more aimed at kids than adults. This may not apply in the original Norwegian version and just be a matter of translation. Once the action begins, the kids should be glued to the set though.