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Ainbo: Spirit of the Amazon follows the titular character, a 13-year old girl, as she sets out to save her village in the Amazon from an evil, cursed presence called Yacuruna. However, she must also deal with her own confidence as well as the ghosts of her past after the apparent death of her parents. Ainbo is joined by her two spirit guides, Vaca and Dillo, and her best friend Zumi, who is set to become the new leader of the village.
This is an international animated production that popped up on streaming last month, so my wife decided to put it for the kids and I joined. I'll start by saying that, despite whatever flaws the film might have, I think it had some things on its favor. First, the animation was pretty clean and well done. I also don't think the film was ever boring. The kids had fun and the film was mostly inoffensive and engaging.
However, the flaws are there. Despite its exotic setting, the film still feels like its ripping off of countless other animated films. The two spirit guides are similar to Timon and Poomba and the overall theme of being exiled felt like The Lion King, the sister-like relationship between Ainbo and Zumi reminded me of Frozen, the eco-friendly message is pretty similar to Ferngully, Ainbo's character also has echoes of Moana, and so on and so forth.
The story is also very quest-like; Ainbo has to fulfill certain tasks in order to save the village, and some of those tasks feel like the writers padding the runtime. Finally, the resolution in the end feels a bit muddled and it doesn't make a lot of sense. Despite all these flaws, it might still work as something to pass the time for your kids. It worked for mine.
Grade:
AINBO
SPIRIT OF THE AMAZON
(2021, Claus & Zelada)
SPIRIT OF THE AMAZON
(2021, Claus & Zelada)
"If I tell you everything and show you everything then what will you learn for yourself?"
"I'll learn how to save the village?"
"But it is you who has to save the village, not them"
"I'll learn how to save the village?"
"But it is you who has to save the village, not them"
Ainbo: Spirit of the Amazon follows the titular character, a 13-year old girl, as she sets out to save her village in the Amazon from an evil, cursed presence called Yacuruna. However, she must also deal with her own confidence as well as the ghosts of her past after the apparent death of her parents. Ainbo is joined by her two spirit guides, Vaca and Dillo, and her best friend Zumi, who is set to become the new leader of the village.
This is an international animated production that popped up on streaming last month, so my wife decided to put it for the kids and I joined. I'll start by saying that, despite whatever flaws the film might have, I think it had some things on its favor. First, the animation was pretty clean and well done. I also don't think the film was ever boring. The kids had fun and the film was mostly inoffensive and engaging.
However, the flaws are there. Despite its exotic setting, the film still feels like its ripping off of countless other animated films. The two spirit guides are similar to Timon and Poomba and the overall theme of being exiled felt like The Lion King, the sister-like relationship between Ainbo and Zumi reminded me of Frozen, the eco-friendly message is pretty similar to Ferngully, Ainbo's character also has echoes of Moana, and so on and so forth.
The story is also very quest-like; Ainbo has to fulfill certain tasks in order to save the village, and some of those tasks feel like the writers padding the runtime. Finally, the resolution in the end feels a bit muddled and it doesn't make a lot of sense. Despite all these flaws, it might still work as something to pass the time for your kids. It worked for mine.
Grade: