‘Tafiti: Across the Desert’ Review: In Search of a Blue Flower
A meerkat and a bush pig team up in Nina Wels’ lively animated adaptation of Julia Boehme’s book series.
Refreshingly modest, absent any intergenerational conflicts, parental discord, or youthful rebellion, and with nary a human in sight, Tafiti: Across is happily free to follow its titular protagonist as he makes an epic journey in search of salvation for a member of his family.
The oldest of three meerkat children, Tafiti (voiced by Cosima Henman) listens to his aged grandpapa tell him and his two younger siblings that ‘all animals are dangerous,’ except, of course, meerkats. It’s a common warning that is routinely given by human parents to their young children, and very sound in principal, especially, one imagines, for all meerkats living in the African Savannah, where mortal dangers abound.
Still, Tafiti is old enough to be allowed by his grandpapa to explore the territory nearby on his own, with a kind yet stern reminder to ‘always be on the watch.’ With this in mind, Tafiti heads out for a day’s exploring. Coming across a friendly bush-pig (red river hog) named Bristles (voiced by Steve Hudson), Tafiti is determined to heed his grandpapa’s advice, which comes true as Bristles is snatched by an eagle (Jeremiah Costello).
As a kind-hearted meerkat, though, Tafiti cannot help but come to Bristles’ aid, which leads to Bristles meeting Tafiti’s family, inadvertently putting them into danger from a snake that bites grandpapa with poisonous venom that will surely kill him, unless Tafiti can find a legendary blue flower that can only be found across the not-so-nearby desert.
Based on characters in a 23-book series by German author Julia Boehme, the screenplay is credited to Boehme and Nicholas Hause, who has considerable experience in writing for younger audiences. Their script dispenses with the necessary exposition early, focusing on Tafiti and Bristles’ journey, and situating them into a richly wonderful variety of locations -- not just the Savannah and the desert, although those locations play a prominent role, but also locales both wet and dry -- that enables a slew of animals and insects to figure into the action.
Thus, young audiences won’t get bored, since they will not just be watching two animals making an endless journey across endless sands, but instead meeting creatures of all types: creeping, crawling, leaping, walking, and flying. The only thing they have in common? They all talk.
The great variety of backgrounds are beautifully rendered and lovingly detailed, while the foreground animals are playfully animated. Without the juvenile snark commonly manifested by young characters in Hollywood studios, there is no need for ‘smackdowns’ and no room for insulting or belittling ‘jokes.’ Instead, these young animals show respect for each other, no matter their species, and -- shocker! -- respect for their elders.
And Tafiti: Across the Desert is not just for children; I found myself frequently smiling in amusement and occasionally laughing at loud. The film is filled with recognizable behavior that is a pleasure to behold, making it easy to recommend for all ages.
The film opens Friday, January 30, in select theaters nationwide, via Blue Fox Entertainment. Visit the official site for locations and showtimes.