Now Playing in Cinemas Across the UK and Ireland.
Heidi Rescue of the Lynx continues a beloved story, capturing the same charm and warmth found in Johanna Spyri’s classic Swiss tale—while also welcoming a new generation of fans. I first discovered this story through the 1970s animated series Heidi, Girl of the Alps, one of Hayao Miyazaki’s earliest projects. His work on the screenplay and production art—centered on nature, kindness, and emotion—would shape many of his later cinematic works.
At the time, shows like Lupin the Third and The Rose of Versailles introduced me to European stories told through anime. But Heidi stood out. It had a quiet, heartfelt tone that stayed with me. Its characters and designs even helped inspire others, like Mei in My Neighbor Totoro. Over the years, Heidi has returned in a few new versions. Most of them stayed close to the original story.
This movie does something different. While it keeps the familiar setting and characters, it tells an original story. Watching it feels like comfort food for the heart. Three years have passed since the earlier series, and Heidi (voiced by Lilly Graffam (no public profile found) in the English version) is now eight. She still lives in the Alps with her grandfather (Tom Zahner) and has grown even closer to nature. The tale here begins with an invitation: her friend Clara (Lily Held) wants her to visit the Baltic Sea for the summer. Heidi looks forward to the trip—but things change.
Just before she leaves, Heidi finds an injured lynx cub. She names her Pepper and writes a heartfelt letter to Clara, explaining why she’s staying behind and hoping her friend will understand. The film emphasizes deep connections—between people, and with animals—and treats them as vital. She promises to protect the cub from danger. More cute animals appear as the film goes on, and young viewers will love the warm, friendly scenes with them.
Heidi’s loyal friend Peter (Leonardo Lucero; no public profile found) and their trusty dog Joseph also help, but soon, a fresh problem arrives. A businessman named Schnaittinger (Max Giermann) wants to build a large sawmill in the mountains. He says it will help the local economy, but he doesn’t care much about the animals. He’s ready to move—or get rid of—them to make space for his project.
This sets up a classic man-versus-nature conflict. When Heidi ventures deeper into the mountains, she discovers the fallout from Schnaittinger’s plan to bring jobs to the region. This entrepreneur’s actions razed the woods, and the animals who depend on the natural flora for sustenance and cover are starving and lost! Everyone gets involved, and it’s easy to cheer for the good guys especially when considering how terrible the landscape looks.
Although finding and protecting Pepper’s family is just one part of the story, this young girl vows to do more! During this adventure, she learns something new about her grandfather, a detail I don’t recall from earlier versions—that adds emotional depth.
Visually, Heidi Rescue of the Lynx is a big step up from the last CGI version. That one looked rough, almost like claymation. For those curious, some older episodes are on YouTube. This new 2025 version looks much smoother. The animation is bright and clean, with rich detail in both the landscapes and the characters. Some scenes even seem to pay tribute to the 1974 series, especially in how they highlight Heidi’s values—kindness, respect, and care for all living things.
When the story reminds us who Heidi really is—a kind and brave girl brought to life by Graffam’s warm voice—it’s hard not to feel moved. And when kittens are involved, let’s be honest: even the grumpiest viewer might smile. The animals show surprising awareness—hinting at their own role in the conflict—but ultimately, it takes a team effort with the locals to stop the development. Given Miyazaki-san’s own exploration of this theme in his works, it’s a message he would surely appreciate.
4 Stars out of 5
Heidi Rescue of the Lynx Trailer
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