Der vierte König

When a bright star appears in the sky four kings set out on a journey to follow it to their destiny. However the fourth king sets out slightly late but, with the help of his trusty royal camel Chamberlain hopes to catch up. However, along the way they come across several groups who need their help.

Taken from the book of the same name this short animation is a very simplistic but accessible affair that will make for a good family viewing if you have children under ten years old. The plot is a simple message about the meaning of Christmas and the true meaning of Christianity (although the latter is scaled back and not pushed – for fear of alienating viewers perhaps). It doesn't really make the message difficult to get and it doesn't dress it up too much in anything that will be difficult for children. The downside of all this is that there isn't a great deal for adults to get from it apart from having the kids distracted for a bit.

The animation is similar in approach as it is very rounded and colourful. Overall then a family cartoon designed for under-tens around Christmas time – it delivers on that regard but there isn't a great deal to it to justify watching it again or to give it a greater value than distracting the kids.