Here's the thing: Balto has a good heart and a genuinely interesting true story at its core. The themes of overcoming prejudice and finding your place are solid, and there's real educational value in the historical connection.

But let's be honest—this is a 30-year-old animated film that hasn't aged particularly well. The animation feels stiff, the pacing drags, and the 54% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes tells you what you need to know: it's middling even by 1995 standards. Kids raised on Pixar, Disney Renaissance films, or even modern TV animation are going to find this slow and visually unimpressive.

If your 6-8 year old is into animal adventures or you're looking for something with historical tie-ins, it's a decent rainy afternoon option. But don't expect it to become a favorite or hold up to repeat viewings. There are simply better animated dog movies out there (looking at you, Isle of Dogs... wait, that's for older kids. Okay, fine, even Bolt is more engaging).

The WISE components are decent but the watchability factor in 2025 really drags this down. It's not bad, it's just... fine. And fine doesn't cut it when you're competing with everything else available.