The lags in Bilal: A New Breed of Hero come when the informative and soulful journey is sidetracked by the showy tendencies to still want to be an action film as well, hurting its overall engagement.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Feb 16, 2024

I can't imagine the film drawing in too many crowds of non-believers, but animation fans in particular will probably be quite impressed by the artistry on display.

| May 28, 2020

Bilal: A New Breed of Hero, despite being a film about one of prophet Muhammad's most trusted companions, carries themes that are just as relevant today as they were back then.

| Original Score: 7/10 | Apr 23, 2020

[A] handsome computer animation.

| Mar 9, 2020

It has the lens on a hero who's not the usual white American or even European character and it's from a voice that is rarely heard of in the west in film and pretty absent in animation.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jan 11, 2020

It's nice to see an animated feature showing characters from world history from which all children can learn and be inspired.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 18, 2019

Bilal: A New Breed of Hero's adventurous tale is a step into the international field of genre storytelling with the one thing it could always use more of: a new perspective.

| Jul 29, 2019

No surprises that intrigue or draw the audience in. The outdated visuals, despite having a unique and consistent art style, take you out of the story.

| Original Score: C- | May 9, 2019

While "Bilal" is a noble effort, and quite involving if you sit back and drink in the visuals, there's a good story here that should have been told better.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Aug 14, 2018

Its computer-generated look is more what you'd expect from a Saturday morning show and not a wide-release film.

| Original Score: C+ | Aug 14, 2018

Stirring, mythic hero's journey with rare Islamic hero and great voice cast. Too violent for little kiddies. But fine for older ones.

| Original Score: B+ | Feb 2, 2018

Bilal: A New Breed of Hero is a lush, impressive animated film, from an unlikely corner of the world, about a story not likely known to most Western audiences.

| Original Score: B- | Feb 2, 2018

Bilal achieves a vibrantly noble tone even when it stumbles plot-wise.

| Feb 2, 2018

Overall, the message is an inspiring one, of racial and class equality, spiritual freedom, and discovering the power that lies within.

| Feb 2, 2018

For all of the impressive animation renderings of environmental backgrounds, structures, clothing and such, the characters don't appear real. (Full Content Review for Parents - Violence, etc. - also Available)

| Feb 2, 2018

We don't get many animated adventures with Islamic heroes and historical Arabian settings, and while it may be too intense for younger kids, the film merits note for bringing these elements to Western family audiences.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Feb 2, 2018

The crisply detailed animation is colorful and vibrant. However, the screenplay suffers from awkward dialogue, predictable narrative twists and anachronisms, and earnest platitudes.

| Feb 2, 2018

Powerful but violent story of slave's battle for freedom.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Feb 2, 2018

Bilal: A New Breed of Hero is the rare animated film that is rated PG-13, but its messages about equality and oppression are timely and will spark conversations.

| Original Score: 3.5 | Feb 2, 2018

The intentions are honorable, for sure, but the execution is awkward, not just visually but tonally.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Feb 2, 2018