Bilal: A New Breed of Hero

[A] handsome computer animation.

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

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.

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

Just who is "Bilal" for?

The action scenes are intense and well-staged, but the non-action scenes are ponderous and static.

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.

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.

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.

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.