Valiant is an enjoyable British CGI animation that tells a heroic World War Two story we are all familiar with. But the heroes are plucky pigeons instead of heavily-armed soldiers.
Directed by Gary Chapman and produced by John H. Williams (Shrek), the film revolves around a little wood pigeon named Valiant (Ewan McGregor) who dreams of joining the elite Royal Homing Pigeon Service (RHPS) squad, which is responsible for delivering vital messages across the English Channel for the Allies.
His opportunity arrives as the RHPS squad continues to suffer heavy losses under the attack of the Nazis' Falcon brigade led by Von Talon (Tim Curry), and new birds are urgently needed to fill in the ranks.
Together with a group of misfit pigeons, including the hilarious dodger Bugsy (Ricky Gervais), Valiant embarks on a dangerous mission that will change the course of history.
Although visually the film is less refined than its Hollywood counterparts, this is compensated by vivid characters, clever details and vintage cartoon humour.
All new recruits of the RHPS squad have their distinct character, and scenes of these bouncy pigeons training together or fighting arrogant falcons offer plenty of good laughs for both children and adults.