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This Calls for Courage

In this episode

This episode is one video with 2 short stories. Each story gets its own review and score.

Good

Recommended age Unlock

Co-watching from age 4

Balanced

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This Calls for Courage

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This program is well-balanced. It remains mostly easy to follow and process. It is a good fit for the recommended age. The pacing is moderate. The story remains easy for a child to follow. The sound is soft and supportive. The visuals are calm and well-organized.

One clear thread carries the whole episode: Pinecone sets out on her first solo mission, gets lost, ends up underground, and works out how to get home. Events follow in order with a recognisable beginning, middle, and end, and each turn connects to the last, from ignoring the horn to becoming stranded to finally using the troll's bellow to call for help. Cause and effect stay easy to trace, so a child always understands why the next thing is happening. The dialogue packs in a fair amount of information, but it stays followable for this age.

The emotional heart is warm and consistent: Pinecone's dad is encouraging, and the troll Lichen turns out to be lonely and kind rather than cruel, admitting he was too embarrassed to ask his own friends for help. The tone stays supportive throughout, with characters listening to and reassuring one another. There is a caveat, since the troll is first drawn as a looming, red-eyed figure who talks about appetizers and a main course, which reads as genuinely tense before the misunderstanding clears. That fear resolves fully once he explains himself and everyone reunites safely by the end.

Pinecone drives almost everything herself, packing her own warrior tools, deciding which way to go, and inventing plans to escape the burrow. Her thinking is visible across several tries: she tests a mud wall, sets Pony up as a diversion, climbs the shelves for her bag, and finally reaches for the horn, learning through each failed attempt. The episode also lets her reach a real insight, that she can be independent without being alone, which she puts into action by calling for help. Solutions unfold in recognisable steps rather than arriving instantly.

The language is rich and precise, with playful, grown-up vocabulary like 'bequeathing', 'lacto-vegetarian', and 'constructive feedback' woven into clear, complete sentences. Words are used correctly and the speech is easy to make out, so meaning stays stable even when the jokes are clever. Most lines carry real information or move the story along rather than being empty exclamations. For a school-age child this is a strong, stretching fit that introduces new words through context.

This is a fantasy world of trolls, cockatrice eggs, and magic horns, so the on-screen actions like scaling mud walls or blowing a troll's bellow do not transfer directly to a child's daily life. That limits the practical, do-it-yourself value the pillar looks for. What does carry over is the social core: the fear of asking for help, wanting to prove you can manage alone, and the relief of being found are all deeply recognisable feelings. That relatable emotional lesson is the episode's real-world anchor, even as the setting stays imaginary.

More information

Pinecone is a brown-skinned girl who sets out on her first solo mission, joined by her companion Pony and, later, a lonely green troll named Lichen. The cast mixes human warriors of varied skin tones, a two-parent family, and fantasy creatures, so more than one kind of face and household is visible. Roles are spread in an open way: the girl leads and shows courage, her father is warm and admits he asks for help too, and the fearsome-looking troll turns out to cook, keep a tidy home and long for company. Feelings and initiative are not tied to who is big, small, boy or girl, which keeps the picture varied and free of fixed patterns.

This episode plays out in a fully imagined world of pint-sized warriors, werewolves, cockatrice eggs and a cave-dwelling troll, so little of the setting maps onto a child's everyday life. Its real strength is how it handles conflict: the troll who seems to trap Pinecone and Pony turns out to be a lonely, gentle host who rehabilitates lost animals, so the expected villain dissolves into a character with feelings and a backstory. The magical logic holds together and the emotional lesson about asking for help lands clearly. For a six-year-old who comfortably accepts make-believe, the mix of fantasy and heartfelt storytelling fits well.

This is one of the rarer children's episodes that genuinely rewards the grown-up in the room. The story hides a real twist, the fearsome troll turns out to be a lonely, food obsessed host, and the writing layers in jokes that only an adult will catch. The craft is polished, the voices are warm rather than shrill, and there is no looping song to wear you down. You can sit through this one without reaching for your phone.

Themes

Courage

Central

The title card reads 'This Calls For Courage' and Pinecone must face a frightening troll and her own fear of asking for help.

Wanting to do it alone

Pinecone insists 'This is a solo mission' and refuses the Help Me Horn to prove she is independent.

Overcoming fear

Pinecone confronts the troll she believes will eat her and Pony before learning he is harmless.

Loneliness

Lichen the troll admits he stayed underground too embarrassed to ask friends for help and misses company.

Adventure

Pinecone and Pony shout 'Adventure!' as they head into the woods to gather wild veggies.

Problem solving

Pinecone devises escape plans, climbing shelves and creating diversions to reach her bag of tools.

Friendship

Pinecone worries about Pony's safety and the troll reconnects with the friends who never stopped looking for him.

Activities

Exploring

Pinecone and Pony trek through the forest on their gathering mission.

Foraging

The mission is to gather wild veggies for a picnic, and they hunt for carrots.

Problem solving

Pinecone works out how to climb the burrow shelves to reach her tools.

Using tools

She pulls out a pea shooter, spork and breadcrumb trail from her pack.

Climbing

She scales the mud wall of the troll's den to grab her bag.

Emotions

Determination

Pinecone declares 'I can do this on my own' as she pushes forward alone.

Fear

Pinecone panics when she believes the troll will make Pony into 'troll food.'

Anxiety

She distrusts the troll, demanding 'where is Pony? Have you put him in the pot already?'

Pride

Pinecone wants to show her dad 'I could be an independent warrior.'

Empathy

Pinecone offers to call for the troll's friends after hearing how lonely and ashamed he feels.

Gratitude

Lichen says 'I'd appreciate that' when Pinecone offers to help him leave his burrow.

Behaviour

Taking initiative

Pinecone packs her own warrior tools 'for any eventuality' and leads the mission into the forest.

Asking for help

Pinecone finally blows the Help Me Horn and the troll bellows to summon her dad and his friends.

Problem solving

She plans to scale a mud wall 'like the one in the training yard' to reach her bag and escape.

Admitting mistakes

Pinecone tells her dad 'I got us lost in the woods and I didn't want to ask for help.'

Perseverance

Pinecone keeps trying different tools and routes even after finding only empty holes.

Using tools

She reaches for a pea shooter, a spork and breadcrumbs from her warrior kit.

Exploring

The pair wander unfamiliar woods searching for wild vegetables.

Comforting

Pinecone checks on Pony after the fall, asking 'Does anything hurt?'

Social lessons

Asking for help

The episode turns on Pinecone learning to blow the Help Me Horn instead of struggling alone.

Independence

Dad tells Pinecone 'you can be independent without having to be alone.'

Parent child bond

Dad gives Pinecone the horn and comes running the moment he hears the call.

Friendship

The troll's friends reveal 'we have been looking all over for you' after he feared they had left.

Learning from mistakes

Both Pinecone and the troll admit they should have asked for help when they had the chance.

Belonging

The troll decides to 'step out of my shame' and rejoin the community that missed him.

Scary scenes

The troll is first shown as a large, red-eyed, menacing figure looming over Pinecone and Pony before he is revealed to be kind.

Danger

Pinecone believes the troll plans to cook and eat her and Pony, talking of appetizers and a 'five-star meal.'

Separation

Pinecone gets lost and stranded in the woods away from her parents for much of the episode.

Pinecone, a young warrior, sets out on her first solo mission with her pony to gather wild vegetables, refusing the Help Me Horn her dad offers so she can prove her independence. After getting lost, the pair tumble into an underground burrow where a large troll named Lichen seems ready to eat them, but he turns out to be lonely and kind, hiding away out of shame for needing help himself. Pinecone realises she should have called for help sooner, and the troll's booming bellow finally summons her dad, mom, and Lichen's own friends. Everyone reunites safely and heads off to share a salad, with the troll rejoining his community.

Pinecone & Pony

Pinecone & Pony

The Pwettiest Pony

recommended age co-watching from 4

Pinecone, a young warrior, and her pony stumble on the annual Prettiest Pony Show, a frilly pageant that clashes with her tough image. When Pony badly wants to enter, Pinecone reluctantly becomes his partner and they train and compete through tea party, get-to-know-your-pony and fashion rounds into the final dance-off. Struggling to dance, they instead turn their jousting moves into a 'dance of warriors' and win the crowd and the judges. They take home a trophy filled with lavender bubble bath and head home for a warrior's bath.

Pinecone & Pony

Pinecone & Pony

Try This Club On for Size

recommended age co-watching from 4

Pinecone, a boastful young warrior, and her pony visit their friend Hawthorne's WizKids magic class, sure that spellwork is easier than warrior training. When Pinecone rushes the potion steps she overflows her cauldron and destroys Hawthorne's carefully made rainbow, and he asks her to leave. Realizing how much magic means to him, she returns that night, apologizes, and lets him teach her the real steps. Together they conjure an even bigger rainbow, and Pinecone invites Hawthorne to try her warrior class next.

Pinecone & Pony

Pinecone & Pony

Lance or Not

recommended age co-watching from 4

Pinecone accidentally breaks the lance she built with her mom, Queen Kimya, just before the craft fair. With her companion Pony, she sets off on a quest through the town, visiting a lance shop and a wizard to secretly replace it before her mother notices. Each attempt falls short, and the magical copy never quite matches the original. At the fair Pinecone tells the truth, and her mom responds with a hug and the promise that they can make new lances together.

Pinecone & Pony

Pinecone & Pony

Treat Your Creature

recommended age co-watching from 4

On Treat Your Creature Day, Pinecone sets out to celebrate her pony, Pony, and starts with his simple favorite things. After seeing Annabelle lavish fancy treats and a parade on her pony Paragon, Pinecone abandons the plan and throws an ever bigger, fancier party that Pony never wanted. She gets so caught up in it that she loses track of Pony entirely, then realizes what is special for one friend is not special for another. The two reunite, apologize, and end the day quietly wishing on shooting stars together.

Pinecone & Pony

Pinecone & Pony

O Prickly, Where Art Thou?

recommended age co-watching from 4

Pinecone, a young warrior, joins the Little Rumblers for their first overnight in the fearsome forest and secretly brings her stuffed hedgehog, Prickly, afraid the others will tease her. When Prickly is carried off by a griffin, she and her friend Pony chase him through skunks, dark woods and creatures to get him back. After a hard search, Pinecone admits in front of everyone that she loves her stuffy, and the other children and their leader Gladys reveal they have comfort objects too. The group works together to recover Prickly and ends the night with a campfire story.

Pinecone & Pony

Pinecone & Pony

Big Trouble in Lil Labyrinth

recommended age co-watching from 4

The Little Rumblers, a squad of kid warriors led by Pinecone and her pony, arrive expecting a physical obstacle course, but it has been replaced by a magical labyrinth run by the WizKids. Room by room, each child clears a puzzle using a hidden talent, playing musical circles like a harp, solving a riddle, reading a shifting tile pattern and dancing across, while Pinecone worries she has no skill to offer. She finally uses her rope-jumping game to get the group through the last room. Everyone is awarded a Most Valuable Warrior token, with the lesson that every talent, big or small, has value.

Pinecone & Pony

Pinecone & Pony

This Calls for Courage

recommended age co-watching from 4

Pinecone, a young warrior, sets out on her first solo mission with her pony to gather wild vegetables, refusing the Help Me Horn her dad offers so she can prove her independence. After getting lost, the pair tumble into an underground burrow where a large troll named Lichen seems ready to eat them, but he turns out to be lonely and kind, hiding away out of shame for needing help himself. Pinecone realises she should have called for help sooner, and the troll's booming bellow finally summons her dad, mom, and Lichen's own friends. Everyone reunites safely and heads off to share a salad, with the troll rejoining his community.

Pinecone & Pony

Pinecone & Pony

The Straight and Arrow

recommended age co-watching from 4

Princess Pinecone, an eight-year-old archer, is thrilled to meet her hero Prince Randolph at a garden party, but he is arrogant and dismissive. Stung by his taunts, she challenges him to an archery duel with her trophy at stake, and when he cheats with his falcon she cheats back using a wizard's magic arrows. On the verge of winning, she confesses to the crowd that she used enchanted arrows and does not deserve the prize. The king makes Randolph return the trophy, and the group shares cake as Pinecone decides she would rather be herself than be like the prince.

Pinecone & Pony

Pinecone & Pony

It's a Pony Thing

recommended age co-watching from 4

In a warm fantasy village, the wizardly mentor Grey Moon leaves Pony in charge of a rare cocoon that will hatch into a glowing lunar butterfly named Winnie. Pinecone, sure that her best friend would rather adventure with her, keeps inventing ways to skip the job, and her makeshift alarm fails so they miss the hatching. When Pony turns out to have quietly cared about Winnie all along, Pinecone apologises and the two track the butterfly to a dark cave and return her home. The episode ends with the friends agreeing to spend part of the afternoon doing their own separate things.

Pinecone & Pony

Pinecone & Pony

Hawthorn the Adventurer

recommended age co-watching from 4

Hawthorn, a careful WizKid, sets out on his first quest to reach One-Eyed Rock before sundown, joined by his bold friend Pinecone and the frog Blaze. Pinecone keeps pushing him to drop his planning and follow instinct, and a magic sweatband from a curious shop briefly turns Hawthorn reckless. When a stone giant snatches Pony and Blaze, Hawthorn removes the sweatband, thinks clearly, and uses his packed supplies and research to free them. The two friends finish the quest together and agree that both their adventuring styles have value.

Pinecone & Pony

Pinecone & Pony

In Plain Sight

recommended age co-watching from 4

In a fantasy training world, warrior-in-training Pinecone is paired with the quiet, nature-loving Wizkid Fauna to care for a magical snake root plant and earn a plant care token. Distracted by jealousy over her best friend Hawthorne befriending Annabelle, Pinecone bungles the plant care while Fauna patiently does the real work. By the end Pinecone admits she did not earn the token and gives Fauna the credit, then makes up with Hawthorne. The episode closes with Fauna inviting Pinecone to the hidden waterfall.

Pinecone & Pony

Pinecone & Pony

Belt or Bust

recommended age co-watching from 4

In the fantasy town of Sturdy Stone, a traveling saleswoman called Granny Cutie trades enchanted belts for the villagers' treasured old belongings. Pinecone and her pony miss out and, encouraged by Hawthorne, build a belt of their own from workshop materials, which friends first mock. When Granny is exposed as the shapeshifting witch Magpie, whose belts were fake magic, Pinecone leads the group to confront her. Using their homemade belt gadgets they defeat Magpie, recover everyone's items, and the handmade belts become the new trend.

Pinecone & Pony

Pinecone & Pony

You're On!

recommended age co-watching from 4

Pinecone and her family settle in for a game night, but the board game Ultimate Ruler turns Mom into a fierce, taxing competitor the family jokingly calls a game monster. Pinecone and her dad launch a series of numbered plans, a fake ghost, invented rules and a staged illness, to make Mom lose interest, and none of them work. Pinecone finally joins the competition herself and then tells her mom plainly that a game is only good when it is fun for everyone. Mom apologizes, the family decides to get rid of the game, and they choose a different one to play together.

Pinecone & Pony

Pinecone & Pony

The Pony Express

recommended age co-watching from 4

Two young warriors, Pinecone and Annabelle, are sent by their leader Gladys to deliver a package to a wizard before sundown. On the way they bicker over routes and leadership, egged on by a hidden Wood Imp who whispers lies to each of them. When they discover the imp is behind the fight and has stolen the package, they build a trap, distract the imp, and recover it. They deliver the package together and agree they make a good team.

Pinecone & Pony

Pinecone & Pony

What Would Freda Do?

recommended age co-watching from 4

Pinecone, who idolises her town's founder Frida the Fierce, is chosen to lead her friends in a group song for the festival honouring Frida. Believing a leader has to be 'fierce', she bosses everyone around until her friends leave to do their own presentations. In her attic she meets Frida's ghost, who reveals she never punched buildings into being but united the town by listening and combining everyone's ideas. Pinecone apologises, reunites the group, and they perform a song they wrote together about a place built on everyone's voice.

Pinecone & Pony

Pinecone & Pony

A Token of Toughness

recommended age co-watching from 4

Pinecone, a young member of the Little Rumblers, is challenged by her mentor Gladys to find a personal token that represents an act of toughness. Set out to top Gladys' dragon scale, Pinecone leads Pony and her friends on a risky quest up the Dragon Mountains, losing companions along the way as the danger grows. Face to face with a huge dragon, she panics, flees the lair and returns with only a small pinecone, feeling like a failure. Gladys reframes the outcome, explaining that walking away to try again another day is its own kind of toughness, and Pinecone decides to keep trying.

Pinecone & Pony

Pinecone & Pony

Hero Soup

recommended age co-watching from 4

In a make-believe warrior world, young Pinecone and her friend Hoth decide to cheer up their sick teacher Gladys by cooking a magical 'Hero Soup'. The recipe needs a mysterious 'Essence of Hero', which sends them chasing heroic deeds and then a famous hero named Ace. When Ace is revealed to have faked all her rescues, Pinecone realizes a true hero simply helps others with what they need. The friends quietly take care of Gladys's chores, and the soup finally works.

Pinecone & Pony

Pinecone & Pony

Sleepless at the Sleepover

recommended age co-watching from 4

A young boy named Hawthorne goes to his first sleepover at his best friend Pinecone's home in a magical kingdom, where her dad makes snacks and the families share dinner and music. When creepy puppets, shadows and unfamiliar surroundings keep him from sleeping, his parent picks him up in the night, leaving both friends sad. The children then study, prepare and train to try again, with Pinecone removing anything scary from her room. On the second attempt Hawthorne makes it through the night, and both families celebrate together over breakfast.

Pinecone & Pony

Pinecone & Pony

The Harvest Spirit

recommended age co-watching from 4

During a Harvest Festival dinner in the town of Sturdy Stone, Pinecone questions why everyone hides indoors from a Harvest Spirit no one has ever seen. She, her unicorn Pony and their friend Hawthorn set out on a nighttime quest, following an eerie moaning sound through the streets and into the swamp. They discover the sound comes from jilly-toads driven out of their flooded home by the town's heavy festival float. The town moves the float, frees the toads and celebrates together, agreeing to keep the tradition without harming the swamp.

Pinecone & Pony

Pinecone & Pony

Speak From the Art

recommended age co-watching from 4

Annabelle, a warrior-in-training from a family of famous artists, is assigned to make something for the big art show but fears she has no talent for it. She joins Pinecone's family crafternoon, gets overwhelmed, and tears up her painting before running off in tears. Her mother June then unveils a painting of Annabelle mid-performance, showing she sees her daughter as a living work of art. Annabelle accepts her crafting token, feeling understood, and plans to share a crafternoon with her own family.

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