What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedNils
Selma Lagerlof · Book · 2000
If you loved Nils, start with The Secret of NIMH (Don Bluth, 1982) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Nils across media.
What hooked you in Nils was the way being thrust into a vast, transformative journey forces a shift in perspective.
Films on the same thread
The Secret of NIMH
Don Bluth · Film · 1982
Explores: Courage in the face of adversity, Scientific experimentation ethics, Intelligence vs. instinct.
Much like Nils, the protagonist of this film experiences a jarring reduction in scale that demands immense courage and empathy to survive a perilous journey through an unfamiliar world.
Spirited Away
Hayao Miyazaki · Film · 2001
Shares a thread with Nils: environmentalism.
If the environmental awareness and personal growth found in Nils resonated with you, you will appreciate how this film mirrors that journey of self-discovery amidst a strange spirit realm.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Peter Jackson · Film · 2001
Explores: Good vs Evil, The Corruption of Power, The Burden of Responsibility.
The epic, transformative quest undertaken by the characters here echoes the grand scale of the migration in Nils, emphasizing how small individuals shape the fate of their wider world.
Howl's Moving Castle
Hayao Miyazaki · Film · 2004
Shares 2 threads with Nils: Transformation, Environmentalism.
Just as Nils undergoes a physical transformation to learn wisdom, this film explores how a sudden, magical curse serves as the catalyst for the protagonist to find her inner strength.
Series on the same thread
Naruto
Series · 2002
Explores: Coming of Age, Underdog, Friendship.
If you enjoyed the way Nils evolves from a selfish boy into a hero, you will recognize that same arc of personal growth and redemption in this underdog story.
Hunter x Hunter
Series · 2011
Shares a thread with Nils: self-discovery.
This series captures the spirit of adventure that defines Nils, focusing on a young boy who must navigate a rigorous, transformative path to prove his worth and find home.
Smallville
Alfred Gough · Series · 2001
Explores: Secret Identity, Destiny vs. Free Will, First Love.
The struggle to reconcile a normal life with a sudden, extraordinary destiny mirrors the internal conflict Nils faces after his life is irrevocably altered by a magical event.
Hilda
Luke Pearson · Series · 2018
Shares a thread with Nils: Environmentalism.
This show beautifully captures the environmentalism and sense of wonder found in Nils, following a brave protagonist who discovers the hidden, magical truths of the natural world around her.
Podcasts on the same thread
Bedtime Tales from Lapland
Podcast
Explores: Christmas spirit, Holiday magic, Elves.
If the setting of Lapland in Nils sparked your imagination, these tales offer a direct connection to that same magical landscape filled with elves and whimsical, adventurous spirit.
1619
The New York Times · Podcast · 2019
Explores: systemic racism, national identity, legacy of slavery.
If Nils hit, 1619 shares the thread.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Nils a story about a boy who changes his behavior?
Yes, Nils begins the story as a selfish and lazy fourteen-year-old. Throughout his journey across Sweden to Lapland, he learns the values of kindness and wisdom after being bewitched into an elf-sized boy.
How does Nils travel across Sweden to Lapland?
After being transformed into an elf-sized boy, Nils is carried off by a barnyard goose. He joins the migration of wild geese, which serves as the primary mode of transportation for his travels from his home to Lapland.
What happens to the main character in Nils?
In Nils, the protagonist is bewitched and turned into an elf-sized boy. This transformation forces him to leave his home and join a migration of wild geese, ultimately leading him on a journey where he acquires wisdom and kindness.
Is Nils a book about a migration?
Yes, Nils features a central plot point involving the migration of wild geese. The protagonist travels across Sweden to Lapland alongside these birds after he is bewitched and shrunk to the size of an elf.