Willy the Sparrow facts for kids

Willy the Sparrow (Hungarian: Vili, a veréb) is a 1989 Hungarian animated film. It was directed by József Gémes. The movie was released in Hungary and was very well-liked. It even won an award at the 3rd Kecskemét Animation Film Festival. The English version of the film was directed by Scott Murphy. Famous voice actors like Sarah Schaub and Rick Macy helped bring the characters to life. The film became available on DVD in 2004.

Discovering Willy the Sparrow

This animated film tells the story of a boy named Willy. He learns an important lesson about being kind to all living things. The movie shows how his actions affect others.

Willy's Big Lesson

The story begins with 10-year-old Willy at home. He is sick and pretending to be a hunter. He uses his imagination to see his cat, Sissy, as a tiger. Willy even uses a water gun to bother Sissy.

Later, Willy decides to shoot a BB gun at sparrows outside. He scares them away. This makes an elderly lady very angry. She is secretly the Sparrow Guardian. She magically enters Willy's apartment. The Sparrow Guardian turns Willy into a sparrow. She hopes to teach him to respect all living things.

However, she doesn't have enough magic spray. Willy cannot fly in his new sparrow body. This leaves him helpless. The Sparrow Guardian quickly leaves to get more magic spray. While Willy is getting used to being a sparrow, his cat Sissy appears. Sissy now sees Willy as food. Willy is not used to walking like a bird. He is almost eaten by his own cat! Luckily, his little sister, Tonya, saves him. She places him safely outside.

Learning to Fly and Read

Outside, Willy meets two sparrows, Red and TJ. They see that Willy cannot fly. They call for an older sparrow named Cipur to help. The three sparrows carry the flightless Willy to safety. They escape another attack from the hungry Sissy.

Cipur takes Willy to his nest in an attic. Cipur tells Willy a secret. He wants to read and write like a human. He is fascinated by human knowledge. But he keeps this a secret from other sparrows. He fears they would not understand. Cipur makes a deal with Willy. If Cipur teaches Willy to fly, Willy will teach Cipur to read.

As the flying lessons begin, Sissy finds them. She attacks again. Cipur bravely steps in. He lures Sissy onto the roof. He traps her head under a ceiling hatch. Under Cipur's care, Willy learns how to fly. In return, Willy teaches Cipur how to read and write.

New Friends and Challenges

One day, Willy decides to explore the world. He flies back to the park. He joins a flock of young sparrows, led by Red. They decide to show Willy a barn. This barn used to be their hangout spot. But it was taken over by a big, black cat named Blackie.

The sparrows fly across the city to the barn. They do not know that a dog and Sissy are following them. Once inside the barn, Willy sees a mouse. The mouse wakes up Blackie. Blackie attacks the sparrows. He almost eats a sparrow named Amy. Willy quickly drops a light bulb on Blackie's head. This distracts Blackie. Amy escapes safely. Willy then escapes the barn. Sissy appears and meets Blackie. They both like to eat sparrows. They decide to team up to catch Willy.

Facing Difficulties

Willy flies back to his apartment. He writes a note to his family. He wants them to know he is okay. Then he flies back to Cipur's nest. Cipur is angry with Willy. He asks about something called 'The Elixir of Knowledge'. Willy is confused. He doesn't know about any "elixir." Cipur angrily tells him to leave.

Willy sadly flies away. He follows Cipur. He discovers that Cipur has been drinking a strange liquid. Two rats convinced Cipur it would give him knowledge. But it only made Cipur feel worse. Willy quickly carries Cipur to safety. But Cipur is still angry. Willy then sees Amy flying towards him. Amy tells Willy that Red is angry. Red thinks Willy woke up Blackie. Willy follows Amy to a safe indoor nest. A storm is coming.

Willy's Leadership and Return

The next day, Willy and Amy fly back to the park. Their friends are waiting. Red is still angry at Willy. He says Willy must lose two feathers as punishment. Willy refuses. Red fights Willy. But Willy, still used to fighting like a human boy, easily wins. Willy is then made the leader of the flock.

The Sparrow Guardian and Sissy find Willy. Willy does not want to turn back into a boy yet. He wants to help his new friends first. Willy leads the flock back to the barn. The Sparrow Guardian and Sissy follow them.

Under Willy's leadership, the sparrows tie up the mouse. This mouse was working with Blackie. They then tie up a sleeping Blackie. They begin to eat the grain. But Sissy arrives first. She releases Blackie. The two cats team up. Blackie knocks sparrows unconscious. Sissy catches them and puts them on a sheet. She plans to eat them. Soon, only Willy is left to fight Blackie.

Just when all hope seems lost, Cipur arrives. He helps Willy fight Blackie. But Blackie is too strong. The Sparrow Guardian saves Willy and Cipur. She hits Blackie with a broom. Blackie runs away from the barn for good.

A New Sparrow Guardian

The Sparrow Guardian is ready to turn Willy back into a boy. His family is worried. But Willy refuses. He says he will only turn back if Cipur becomes human too. Willy is then offered a new role: the Sparrow Guardian. Willy accepts without hesitation.

The Sparrow Guardian uses her magic spray. Both Willy and Cipur turn into humans. Cipur wants to learn more about the human world. He leaves the barn with the retired Sparrow Guardian. They go to get something to eat.

The film ends with Willy and Sissy, now friends again, going home. The flock of young sparrows follows them.

Meet the Characters

Here are some of the main characters you'll meet in Willy the Sparrow:

• Willy/Vili - A young boy who learns a big lesson. He is turned into a sparrow by the Sparrow Guardian. This happens after he tries to shoot sparrows with his BB gun. As a sparrow, he learns kindness and respect for all living things.
• Sissy/Cili - Willy's pet cat. In the original film, Sissy sees Willy as food after he becomes a sparrow. She wants to eat him. In the English version, Sissy wants to teach Willy a lesson. She also wants to get back at him for bothering her. By the end, Sissy learns to respect other creatures too.
• Sparina/Verbene (The Sparrow Guardian) - An older woman who protects sparrows. She turns Willy into a sparrow. This is a test to teach him to respect life.
• Cipur - An old sparrow with a secret dream. He wants to read and write like humans. He teaches Willy how to fly. In return, Willy teaches Cipur how to read and write. Cipur is Willy's teacher as a sparrow.
• Blacky/Krampusz - An evil black cat. He loves to eat sparrows. He took over the barn where the sparrows used to live. A mouse helps Blacky by telling him when sparrows are in the barn.
• Tonya - Willy's little sister. She saves Willy from being eaten by Sissy the cat.
• Amy - One of Willy's new sparrow friends.

Film Differences: Original vs. English Version

Movies sometimes change when they are made for different countries. Here are some differences between the original Hungarian Willy the Sparrow and the English version:

• In the original film, Willy actually shoots at the sparrows with his BB gun. In the English version, he only yells "Bang! Bang!" This change was likely made to be less upsetting for younger viewers.
• The Sparrow Guardian is called a "fairy" in the original version.
• When the Sparrow Guardian first sprays Willy, he briefly turns into a crocodile and then a mouse in the original. This part was cut from the English version. It might have been too scary.
• In the original, Sissy the cat truly wants to eat Willy when he's a sparrow. In the English version, Sissy's reason for chasing Willy is to teach him a lesson.
• The voices for Willy's sparrow friends are done by adults in the original. In the English version, young kids voice them.
• The black cat's name, Krampusz, was changed to Blacky in the English version. Krampusz is a scary figure in some old stories. This change made the name less frightening.
• In the English version, Cipur is tricked into drinking a strange liquid by two rats. They tell him it's an "Elixir of Knowledge."
• The ending songs are different. The original song talks about life being dull and pretending dreams are real. The English version has a happy song about how great it is to fly.