DELGO
An uneven fantasy about forgiveness, prejudice, and dangerous power.
Should You Watch It?
DELGO has a worthwhile moral center. It asks its characters to forgive enemies, overcome prejudice, and learn to live together. The art direction is beautiful, the scenes are well lit and designed, and the animation is very well done.
But the movie is only competently made overall. The story drags because of its backstory, the camera work is standard, the score is pedestrian, and most of the voices do not bring the characters to life. More importantly, the positive message is mixed with a strong pagan New Age idea of moving magical stones with the mind. The violence includes killing, battles, and shots of dead soldiers.
The practical answer is to wait for home, where discerning adults can control the experience and discuss its ideas.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESDelgo is a reckless Lockni teenager who becomes friends with Princess Kyla, a member of the enemy Nohrin tribe. As their friendship grows, hatred between the two groups moves toward war.
A banished Empress hopes to use that hatred to rule both tribes. Delgo and his faint-hearted friend Filo must eventually work with Bogardus, a Nohrin warrior, to stop her before the conflict escalates.
Is It Any Good?
Two stars means DELGO has some worthwhile craft but falls short overall. Its art direction is beautiful, the scenes are well lit and well designed, and the animation is very well done. The musical theme over the end credits is full and worthy of a feature film.
The weaknesses are substantial. The characters are not overly attractive, the camera work is rather standard and not very cinematic, and the score during the movie is pedestrian, more like an animated television series. The story drags because it contains much backstory and history. Despite its well-known talent roster, the voices do not bring most characters to life, though Eric Idle’s dim-witted servant is a standout.
The Worldview
DELGO presents a positive message about forgiving enemies, losing prejudice, and learning to live together. It also includes light moral elements about fighting evildoers. These themes offer a constructive starting point for discussion.
The film’s worldview is strongly New Age and pagan, in the STAR WARS vein. Delgo learns to “let go” and move magical stones with his mind, following an “ancient religion” that involves New Age-style mind control of objects. The movie discusses forgiveness but does not discuss justice for the wrongs committed by either tribe, especially the Nohrins’ massacre of many Lockni.
The film’s longing to overcome hatred points toward Christ’s command: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). Biblical forgiveness, however, does not erase the need to recognize wrongdoing and pursue justice.
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong New Age, slightly mixed pagan worldview in the STAR WARS vein, with light redemptive, moral elements of forgiving enemies and fighting evildoers; no foul language; fantasy violence includes battle scenes involving sword play, villages burned, offscreen death of father seen by young boy, character stabbed, character falls to death, wings cut off character, though offscreen; no sexual content; no nudity; no alcohol; no smoking or drug use; and, lying, deception, revenge.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The film emphasizes forgiving enemies and overcoming prejudice. What does biblical forgiveness require, and how does it relate to loving those who hurt us?
Matthew 5:44 · Ephesians 4:32The movie discusses forgiveness without much attention to justice. Why do both mercy and justice matter when people have been wronged?
Micah 6:8 · Romans 12:19Delgo learns to move magical stones with his mind. How can you discern the difference between imaginative fantasy and ideas that conflict with biblical truth?
1 John 4:1 · Philippians 4:8The two tribes allow hatred to grow between them. What practical steps can help you pursue peace with people who are different from you?
Romans 12:18 · James 1:19–20The Final Word
DELGO offers beautiful animation and a message about forgiveness, but its uneven craft, violence, and strong New Age pagan elements make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults, WAIT FOR HOME — ADULTS ONLY, where the film’s ideas can be discussed carefully. Consider these instead.
