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Babar: King of the Elephants

  • 19991999
  • GG
  • 1h 20m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
535
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Babar: King of the Elephants (1999)
Trailer
Play trailer0:36
1 Video
24 Photos
  • Family
  • Animation

Based on the classic tale by Jean de Brunhoff, this fully-animated feature is the heart-warming story of a little orphan elephant named Babar who grows up to be King of the Elephants.Based on the classic tale by Jean de Brunhoff, this fully-animated feature is the heart-warming story of a little orphan elephant named Babar who grows up to be King of the Elephants.Based on the classic tale by Jean de Brunhoff, this fully-animated feature is the heart-warming story of a little orphan elephant named Babar who grows up to be King of the Elephants.

IMDb RATING
6.0/10
535
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Raymond Jafelice
  • Writers
    • Jean de Brunhoff(based on the books by)
    • Laurent de Brunhoff(based on the books by)
    • Raymond Jafelice(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Philip Williams(voice)
    • Wayne Robson(voice)
    • Ellen-Ray Hennessy(voice)
Top credits
  • Director
    • Raymond Jafelice
  • Writers
    • Jean de Brunhoff(based on the books by)
    • Laurent de Brunhoff(based on the books by)
    • Raymond Jafelice(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Philip Williams(voice)
    • Wayne Robson(voice)
    • Ellen-Ray Hennessy(voice)
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 4User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Babar, King of the Elephants
    Trailer 0:36
    Babar, King of the Elephants

    Photos24

    Babar: King of the Elephants (1999)
    Babar: King of the Elephants (1999)
    Babar: King of the Elephants (1999)
    Babar: King of the Elephants (1999)
    Babar: King of the Elephants (1999)
    Babar: King of the Elephants (1999)
    Babar: King of the Elephants (1999)
    Babar: King of the Elephants (1999)
    Babar: King of the Elephants (1999)
    Babar: King of the Elephants (1999)
    Babar: King of the Elephants (1999)
    Babar: King of the Elephants (1999)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Philip Williams
    Philip Williams
    • Zephiras Zephir
    • (voice)
    Wayne Robson
    Wayne Robson
    • Marabouas Marabou
    • (voice)
    • …
    Ellen-Ray Hennessy
    Ellen-Ray Hennessy
    • Babar's Motheras Babar's Mother
    • (voice)
    • …
    Kristin Fairlie
    Kristin Fairlie
    • Young Babaras Young Babar
    • (voice)
    Chris Wiggins
    • Corneliusas Cornelius
    • (voice)
    Jennifer Martini
    • Young Celesteas Young Celeste
    • (voice)
    Kyle Fairlie
    • Young Arthuras Young Arthur
    • (voice)
    • …
    Elizabeth Hanna
    Elizabeth Hanna
    • Madameas Madame
    • (voice)
    Paul Haddad
    Paul Haddad
    • Elevator Boyas Elevator Boy
    • (voice)
    • …
    Dan Lett
    Dan Lett
    • King Babaras King Babar
    • (voice)
    Janet-Laine Green
    Janet-Laine Green
    • Queen Celesteas Queen Celeste
    • (voice)
    Amos Crawley
    Amos Crawley
    • Uncle Arthuras Uncle Arthur
    • (voice)
    Allen Stewart-Coates
    Allen Stewart-Coates
    • Rataxesas Rataxes
    • (voice)
    Kristen Bone
    • Floraas Flora
    • (voice)
    Cody Jones
    • Pomas Pom
    • (voice)
    Michel Barbey
    Michel Barbey
    • Philophageas Philophage
    • (French version)
    • (voice)
    Bernard Bollet
    • Adult Babaras Adult Babar
    • (French version)
    • (voice)
    Franck-Olivier Bonnet
    • Pamiras Pamir
    • (French version)
    • (voice)
    • Director
      • Raymond Jafelice
    • Writers
      • Jean de Brunhoff(based on the books by)
      • Laurent de Brunhoff(based on the books by)
      • Raymond Jafelice(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Babar is a young elephant in the great forest. Whilst out with his mother a hunter kills his mother and he flees to escape the same fate. He eventually finds himself in a human city and experiences the many differences between city and forest life. Generally treated as an outsider he is taken in by an elderly woman, dressed in fancy suits, taught to write and count and is brought up in human culture. Later in life his friends Celeste and Arthur stumble into the city and find him - previously assuming he was also killed by the hunter. Babar dresses them and treats them to the comforts of his world until more elephants arrive to bring them back. The three elephants return by car to the great forest. Soon after Arthur sparks a war with the neighbouring Rhino tribe but peace is formed due to quick thinking by Babar. After this Babar is crowned king with Celeste his Queen. Due to his human upbringing Babar decides to alter the elephant society and builds a city and kits every elephant out in human clothing, every elephant is assigned tasks and everyone has his place. But with human culture comes problems associated with modern living. How will Babar cope with the onset of misfortune? —Paul Hunter aka Bob the Moo
    • elephant
    • hunter
    • old lady
    • jungle
    • friendship
    • 9 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Family
      • Animation
    • Certificate
      • G
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Amos Crawley, who voiced Uncle Arthur, previously voiced Alexander on the Babar (1989) series.
    • Goofs
      In the book that the film is based on, Babar is made king of the elephants and soon after makes Cornelius general of the army. In the film, some events happen in a different order than the book, which results in Babar declaring Cornelius general of the army well before Babar becomes king, when Babar is just a civilian with no position that would give him any sort of power, never mind to make someone a general.
    • Connections
      Featured in Troldspejlet: Episode #23.14 (2000)
    • Soundtracks
      Find Your Way
      Music & Lyrics by Great Big Music, Tom Thorney, Tim Thorney, Pete Coulman (as Peter Coulman), Brent Barkman, Carl Lenox (as Carl Lennox)

      Performed by Lis Soderberg

    User reviews4

    Review
    Top review
    Simple animation for kids only
    Nowadays all successful animation needs to be either packed with as many jokes for adults as kids (Toy Story, Antz) or need at least one smart mouthed sidekick for adult laughs (every Disney film of the past 10 years!).

    Babar is a older style of animation - if I had to guess when it was made I would never have got close to guessing 1999! The style is simplistic and lacking in style or flair but the elephants and other characters are faithful to the books and the basic visuals are good for younger kids.

    The story is based on the beginnings of the Babar story and follows him from childhood to growing up in with humans in the city and returning to build an elephant city later in life. The film shows his mother die - however it's not exactly a "bambi's mother" moment but it might still freak some children out.

    The story is simple enough to follow and it has some cute moments for adults while children will fall for the fun antics of the elephants. In terms of story the message conveyed at the start is that humans are intruding in this wonderfully relaxed and fun elephant culture - in the form of the hunter ending Babar's childhood innocence and separating him from his own kind. However the message then changes and the human culture is then the ideal, with Babar no longer seeking to play in mud but rather wear a green suit and live an aristocrat lifestyle of sorts. Once he returns to the great forest he keeps his clothing and frills (having decked out his friends) and uses his learning to beat the rhinos in a war. When he is then crowned he then sets around building a city in place of the great forest and giving the elephants all human jobs and clothes. What does this say to children? That our distinctly western human culture is better than the elephant culture that exists at the start of the film? At some level this must degrade the idea that other groups that don't live our way should be viewed as lesser unless they change to wear our clothes etc. Also Babar's "putting things right in the forest" by concreting it all into a huge city gives the impression that the natural environment is less desirable than a good human city.

    In terms of Babar the King - the film generally gives a good image to kids. Babar successfully avoids a war with rhinos and then negotiates peace, when he builds his city he ensures that every elephant has a place and is given human stuff equally. A socialist king! This impression that the King is on the same level as others and has equal right to clothes etc is good for children - rather than the idea that the royalty get the good life while the other elephants are given work but no frills!

    Overall the film will have simple laughs for young children but there's nothing for adults to check out - unless you read too much into the subplots like I did!
    helpful•8
    5
    • bob the moo
    • Oct 24, 2001

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 26, 1999 (Canada)
    • Countries of origin
      • Canada
      • France
      • Germany
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Babar - Elefanternas konung
    • Production companies
      • Nelvana
      • Home Made Movies
      • TV-Loonland AG
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $227,374
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $49,090
      • Feb 28, 1999
    • Gross worldwide
      • $227,374
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 20 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR

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