Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth (2020)

Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth feels like a warm, hand-held invitation to look up, look around, and remember how astonishing our world is. With luminous animation and a quietly magical tone, it turns big ideas—nature, humanity, belonging—into something a child can grasp and an adult can feel in their chest. It’s gentle and genuinely educational without ever sounding like a lecture, unfolding like a bedtime story told inside a museum where curiosity is the main exhibit. If you’re looking for fast jokes or high-stakes adventure, this may be too soft-spoken, but for families (and anyone who needs a little wonder), it’s a small film with a big heart.

Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth is clearly aiming to be a gentle, Earth Day-themed introduction to wonder, kindness, and curiosity for very young kids, wrapped in warm narration and charming visuals. The catch is that it’s more of a guided picture book than a movie with momentum—there isn’t much of a plot, conflict, or payoff, so adults (and older kids) may find it a bit dull or like it’s stating the obvious. Its “purpose” is more soothing and educational than dramatic, which can feel vague if you’re expecting a story that builds to something. If you want a calm, beautifully designed short that sparks simple conversations about the planet, it’ll do the job; if you need narrative drive or deeper ideas, this probably isn’t your stop.