Babe: The Gallant Pig

Babe: The Gallant Pig

1983 • 118 pages

Ratings9

Average rating4.2

15

Ah, such a masterpiece. I kind of went in knowing I would love this because the movie is 10/10, but it was just so charming! It's so simple and wholesome with adorable characters, a relaxing setting and cute illustrations. Stories that partially star cute old people are underrated. I feel like I didn't know (or maybe I just forgot) that this was a British story, but that checks out. They seem to be good at family-friendly, picturesque, pastoral stuff.

Differences I noticed from the movie are that the movie added more animal characters and Babe stayed a piglet throughout the whole thing (which is kinda sad, justice for older pigs!) In the book Babe grows up but stays pretty lean because Fly “trains” him (I could hear the Rocky theme lol).

The way they end the book right on “that'll do, Pig” and Babe's 100 point performance is just -mwah- chef's kiss. I love it when stories end on a stunned audience, that's so powerful. We don't need to see anymore. It's like a sheep herding mic drop.

Anyway, Babe is perfect in both book and movie form and I can't wait to give the film a rewatch now.

February 28, 2021