Shout! Studios and Shout! Kids in collaboration with Cinema Management Group will present Panda Bear in Africa on Digital, available for purchase and rent across all major entertainment platforms in the U.S. and Canada. A fun and adventurous Panda travels from China to Africa to rescue his best friend Dragon who has been kidnapped by the lions. On his journey, he discovers a completely unknown world and faces frightening hippos, suspicious hyenas, and wise gorillas. Relying on his wits and some newfound friends, he makes his way across Africa, before rescuing his friend Dragon and saving his new friends’ jungle home.
Evaluation comments:
When it comes to children’s entertainment, one could say that “familiarity breeds contentment” since children often are happy with experiences that they know and like. Which is why youngsters watch or listen to a show or song over and over again. This thought crossed my mind while watching the Panda Bear In Africa. This 2024 animated film, which involves a heroic panda bear, a royal lion cub with an evil uncle and a flying dragon learning its powers (and other animals native to Africa and Asia), conjures up memories of hit movies like the Lion King, the Kung Fu Panda and How To Train Your Dragon series.
The plot concerns Pang the panda’s quest to rescue his best friend, Jielong the dragon, who was taken from China to Africa by henchmen of the evil uncle lion who has a scheme to defeat the hyenas who control the neighboring land. The storytelling is on the simple side, but it should be involving enough for little ones.
Directed by Richard Claus and Karsten Kiilerich, it has a good mix of adventure and action (with only a few possibly scary moments) with fun comedy moments (even some jokes that adults will laugh over).
The story also touches on lessons addressing things like friendship, bravery, and overcoming obstacles, that are good for youngsters to learn. A European co-production, Panda Bear In Africa delivers enough humorous moments, valiant adventures, and uplifting messages to keep little ones entertained.