The Magic Roundabout – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Magic Roundabout

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2004

42%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A candy-loving dog and friends chase diamonds to stop an ice wizard in this 2004 animated dud that even nostalgia can't rescue.

50%

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The Magic Roundabout

movie

G, 2004

42%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A candy-loving dog and friends chase diamonds to stop an ice wizard in this 2004 animated dud that even nostalgia can't rescue.

50%

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50%

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Screenwise Verdict

Let's be real: this movie is skippable. The Magic Roundabout is a westernized adaptation of a beloved French series that lost most of its charm in translation. With a 50% on Rotten Tomatoes, 5.2/10 on IMDb, and a dismal 2.9/5 on Letterboxd, audiences have spoken—and they're not impressed.

The premise is fine: cute dog, evil ice wizard, magical quest. But the execution is reportedly chaotic, the humor falls flat, and the 2004 animation looks rough compared to what kids expect in 2025. Even the positive elements (teamwork! friendship!) can't overcome the fact that this is just... not entertaining.

If your 6-year-old stumbles across this and wants to watch, it won't harm them. But why subject yourself to 85 minutes of mediocrity when you could watch Moana, How to Train Your Dragon, or literally any other well-reviewed animated adventure? Life's too short for 5.2-rated movies.

Age Fit

Best for ages 5-8 who aren't picky about animation quality and just want talking animals on screen. Older kids will find it boring and dated, while younger ones might find the villain a bit much. Honestly, there are dozens of better animated adventures from this era.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Features themes of friendship and teamwork as Dougal and friends work together to stop an evil sorcerer. The premise is fundamentally about good vs. evil with cooperation at its core. However, the execution is reportedly chaotic and the humor often falls flat, undermining the wholesome messaging. The candy-loving puppy protagonist models some positive traits but the overall tone is uneven.

Imaginative

The concept of a magical world with talking animals, ice sorcerers, and a quest for diamonds has imaginative potential. However, this 2004 animated film is a westernized adaptation that reportedly strips much of the charm from the original French series. The world-building feels derivative rather than genuinely creative, and the quest structure is fairly paint-by-numbers. Limited evidence of inspiring creative thinking beyond passive viewing.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates this for age 7, suggesting generally appropriate content for elementary-aged kids. The villain wants to freeze the world, which creates peril but nothing graphic or traumatic. No indications of inappropriate content, gore, or unexpected disturbing material. The 'dangerous journey' premise involves typical animated adventure stakes without crossing into genuinely scary territory. Safe for its target audience, though younger kids might find the villain mildly intimidating.

Enriching

Minimal enrichment value. The film offers basic lessons about friendship and courage, but the poor critical reception (50% RT, 5.2 IMDb, 2.9/5 Letterboxd) suggests weak execution that undermines any meaningful takeaways. The story doesn't offer particularly deep character development or thought-provoking themes. Entertainment value is also low based on ratings—this isn't even succeeding as pure fun. No evidence of skill-building, cognitive growth, or memorable insights.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Harmless adventure story with clear good vs. evil that won't traumatize younger viewers
Teaches basic teamwork and friendship lessons through the quest narrative
Short enough that you won't lose an entire afternoon if your kid insists on watching
The original French series had charm, so there's... DNA of something good here?

⚠

What to Watch For

This is genuinely not very good—mediocre ratings across every platform for a reason
The 2004 animation style has aged poorly and will feel clunky to kids raised on Pixar and modern CGI
The villain's ice-freezing-the-world plot might be mildly scary for sensitive kids under 6
Your kid will probably get bored and ask to watch something else halfway through

Conversation Starters

"What would you do if you had to go on a quest to save the world with your friends?"
"Why do you think Zeebad wanted to turn everything to ice? What makes a good villain?"
"If you could have any magical power like the characters, what would you pick?"

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