A Profecia dos Sapos

A modern version of Noah's ark, without religious mentions, interesting from a technical and artistic point of view and with a touch of originality in remaking the story for contemporary tastes.

In a genre, animation, which has evolved in winning over audiences of the most varied ages, seeking to impose itself as universal, this film is very specifically aimed at younger audiences, thus going against the trend.

However, it has all the ingredients to please the youngest. With no religious mentions, with many animals filling the plot, a clear ethical sense of inclusion and acceptance of difference, it is an educational film without being moralistic.

It is wonderful in these times of 32-bit bump maps and other animation "aides de compute" to see something this organic; this handmade. The colours are gorgeous, the fantasy is wonderful. So why did I leave the cinema verging on angry? It was the story. Though this is principally a children's film it goes for the jugular with a kind of morality tale I haven't seen since "It's a Wonderful Life". Don't get me wrong, "Wonderful Life" is a terrific, sentimental film from nearly 6 decades ago but even 7-year-olds today are more cynical than George Baily in Capra's film.

The basic premise in "Prophétie..." is that humans need to be nicer to each other otherwise the world will end. This is OK as far as it goes, but not even another person who said the same thing 2000 years ago made out that we all had to behave exactly the same way to achieve this utopia.

In this film the main difference between the animals on the new ark are that some are herbivores and some are carnivores - and the carnivores are forced to eat potatoes in order for them all the survive. This is has some comic point to start with, but when the fox, tiger and others start complaining that they are sick of pommes frites, the captain sings a song about how they need to pull together. Not even The Brady Bunch went this far! Everyone was respected as individuals and difference were encouraged. Here it is more "shut up and eat your spuds". Though I hope the author of the film expected it to come across more as some subtle morale to the tale, for me (admittedly not the demographic I expect he was trying to reach), this was closer to socialist propaganda of the worst 1970's sort; except it was made more addle-minded by adding even more ethically dubious green values. Lions eat meat. They always have. And they should. The world might be a better place if humans where all happy to eat their metaphorical spuds, but that's not a world I want to live in.

Most animation films are so bad nowadays - they are full of flashing colours and meaningless noise. When children are watching them it's like feeding them white sugar with a spoon.

But still there are some jewels that offer real nourishment for those growing - this film is definitely one.

And this is just to fill line to achieve the minimum amount required. I wonder why they have these requirements - its not at all suitable for people that come from a country where much is said but only very few words are actually used : ) And there's no need to over-analyze everything - people are smart enough to think themselves!