Adventures in Zambezia
 |
| Zambezia | |
|---|---|
 Poster | |
| Directed by | Wayne Thornley |
| Screenplay by | Raffaella Delle Donne Anthony Silverston Wayne Thornley Andrew Cook |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Bruce Retief |
Production company | |
Release date | July 3 2012 |
Running time | 83 minutes |
| Country | South Africa |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $20 million |
Zambezia (Adventures in Zambezia) is a South African computer-animated comedy-drama adventure film directed by Wayne Thornley and written by Raffaella Delle Donne, Anthony Silverston and Andrew Cook and the first film produced by Triggerfish Animation Studios. It tells the story of a young falcon who leaves the desolate desert where he lives with his father to discover action and adventure in the big city of Zambezia.
Plot
Kai (Jeremy Suarez), a high-spirited falcon on the cusp of adulthood is bored and lonely living in a remote outpost with only his strict father, Tendai (Samuel L. Jackson), for company. Forbidden from venturing beyond the Katungu Boundary, his suspicions that there must be more to life are confirmed when Gogo, a kooky Stork (Jennifer Lewis) and her co-pilot, a cute weaver called Tini,(Tania Gunadi) crash into his world. From them, Kai learns that downriver is a bustling bird city with exciting opportunities for a talented flier such as himself. In an angry exchange with his father, Kai discovers that Tendai has known all along about Zambezia and has been there himself! Hurt and angry at his father’s betrayal, Kai leaves Katungu and journeys downriver.
Arriving at the famed bird city – a majestic Baobab perched on the edge of Victoria Falls – Kai is amazed by the throngs of birds from all over Africa who are busy preparing for the Spring Celebrations. He soon befriends a fast-talking Nightjar called Ezee (Jamal Mixon) who knows how to enjoy the perks of community life and guides him through the city. Kai is bowled over when he meets Zoe (Abigail Breslin), a beautiful and feisty Black-Shouldered Kite who is the adopted daughter of Sekhuru (Leonard Nimoy), Zambezia’s founder.
Unfortunately for him, Kai doesn’t make a good first impression when he accidentally ruins her Spring Celebration decorations. But he is thrilled when his skilful flying earns him a place on the Hurricanes, the elite defense patrol made up of the best fliers in Zambezia.
Meanwhile, unbeknownst to him and the rest of the Zambezians, Marabou Storks, (Richard E. Grant and David Shaughnessy) tired of scavenging off the scraps of Zambezia, have joined forces with Budzo, a vicious egg-eating Leguaan, (Jim Cummings) and hatched a plan to take control of the island city. To make matters worse, Budzo captures Kai’s father and all of the weavers, including Tini. In order to save Zambezia and Tendai, Kai has to face his past and learn that no matter how fast and talented a flier he is, no bird is an island.
Cast
- Jeremy Suarez as Kai the Peregrine Falcon
- Abigail Breslin as Zoe the Black-shouldered Kite
- Jeff Goldblum as Ajax the Lammergeier
- Leonard Nimoy as Chief Sekhuru the African Fish Eagle
- Samuel L. Jackson as Tendai the Peregrine Falcon
- Jennifer Lewis as Gogo the Saddle-billed Stork
- Jim Cummings as Budzo the Monitor lizard/Marabous
- Jamal Mixon as Ezee the Nightjar
- Richard E. Grant as Cecil the Marabou Stork
- David Shaughnessy as Morton the Marabou Stork
- Noureen DeWulf as Pavi the African Sacred Ibis
- Tania Gunadi as Tini the Weaver bird
- Deep Roy as Mushana the Green pigeon
- Phil LaMarr as Announcer Bird the African Grey Parrot
- Corey Burton as Neville the Lilian's Lovebird
- Tress MacNeille as Neville's wife the Lilian's Lovebird
- Tom Kenny as Marabous
- Sam Riegel as Hurricanes Birds of prey
- Lee Duru as Nurse Bird
- Zolani Mahola as Weaver
- Nik Rabinowitz as Hurricanes Birds of prey
- Keeno Lee Hector as Hurricanes Birds of prey
- Wayne Thornley as Marabous
- Kelly Stables as Gossip Bird 1
- Kristen Rutherford as Gossip Bird 2
- Jon Olson as Marabous
- Brent Palmer as Marabou
Reception
The film has received many positive reviews[1] and won the Best South African Feature Film[2] at The Durban International Film Festival in 2012.
Accolades
| Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annie Awards[3] | Music in an Animated Feature Production | Bruce Retief | Pending |
| Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production | Jim Cummings |
Home Media
if coming on DVD And Bluray.
References
- ^ Peter Osteried (October 16, 2012). "Zambezia - Movie review". /cineman.ch. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
- ^ "Durban International Film Festival: All the winners". Deadline. July 30, 2012. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
- ^ "Annie Award Nominations Unveiled". Deadline. December 3, 2012. Retrieved December 3, 2012.