Review
This animation, with a German background, is based on a children’s novel. Focusing on the global issue of what man is doing to the environment it focuses on the microcosm of a valley somewhere in Africa. Man has built a luxury resort upstream, and has created a lake by damning the river. Downstream, the animals are out of water and are slowly dying. In a neat prologue this scene is juxtaposed with similar ones in the Arctic circle and the Galapagos islands, before the animals in these locations (through a dodgy coincidence) end up altogether in the same valley.
Initially they try subterfuge to undermine the resort and get water back, but when that backfires they unite with every type of animal and launch a full out assault. But will they be successful?
“Animals United” is a film with a message, and unfortunately it is not as subtle as it could be. Indeed at times the film becomes really quite preachy. In addition to this, the characters are caricatures. You can almost see the thought processes of the writers up on screen. ”Hey – Meerkats are really popular at the moment. We must have one of them!”. Despite the voice talent on screen, the likes of Stephen Fry and Jim Broadbent, the characters sill seem flat – I suspect this is because we are essentially viewing a dub. The film was originally shot in German, so there is no attempt to sync these characters with the voice talent playing them in any way.
However, there is also much to enjoy here. The animation, in places, is absolutely breathtaking – with gorgeous backgrounds and stunning detail. Sadly, again the characters do not display this level of detail – with their fur never looking as detailed as they might in a Pixar or a Dreamworks animation. When action scenes take place they are suitably kinetic – but there are perhaps not enough of them to keep the young occupied. There is also a lack of the knowing adult humour that the likes of Pixar employ to keep the older viewers happy.
The 3D is also very superfluous here, making me think that it is an upconvert although I am unable to confirm. There was very little depth to proceding and very little (apart from a butterfly at the beginning) coming out of the screen at you. It could just as easily be watched in 2D
To sum up then, if this pops up on TV or on a rental then you could do a lot worse. However, I cannot really see even the less discerning child wanting to watch this again and again meaning it can’t really be recommended as a purchase.
About the Author
