When did we stop being a community? Director Anthony Silverton brings suggestion in this heart-tugging film about the quest for unity – which indirectly rattles the high fences that we stand behind. Khumba (2013) is the sweetest animation story of a zebra who was born without strips on the lower part of his body. The
Insecurity swept over young Khumba (voice of Jake T. Austin) as he grew up in an isolated zebra herd that had enclosed themselves around a waterhole in the draught-ridden Karoo. Encouraged by the folk tale of a magic watering hole Khumba escapes the zebra compound to encounter a pack of starving hyenas that chase him into the hooves of buffalo Mama V ( voice of Loretta Devine ) and a fearless ostrich Bradley ( voice of Richard E Grant). Unaware that the crafty leopard Phange ( voice of Liam Neeson) has captured his scent and is on his trail.
The threesome excavate mountains trails and encounter erected fences to prohibit the wildlife within the game reserve from escaping into the wild. A scene to watch out for in the film is when the springboks scrum together with Khumba to push down the barrier fence of the game reserve. A sweet way of honouring the national squad. Khumba unknowingly is on the determined quest to get his strips that would led him into the cave of Phange. Instead of escaping the claws of Phange, Khumba sees the magic waterhole within reach and he refuses to turn back.
The film is a refreshing addition to films about gangers, heists, apartheid, Coloured-accented robots and alien-invasion in Johannesburg that South Africa film industry is known for. This is not the first animation film from Mzansi- remember Jock of the Bosveld? The film is by Triggerfish Animation Studio, in association to the Department of Trade and Industry, and they did an outstanding job with capturing the life-like motions of the characters. The film’s music compilation by Bruce Retief is uplifting and adds to the film’s experience. I give Khumba 8.5 skopas.
skopas & champagne 