Kingdom Adventure: Escape From The Dark Wood

Another series opener aimed at young Christian audiences, Kingdom Adventure: Escape From the Dark Wood features an imaginative mix of puppetry and animation in an allegorical tale reminiscent of C.S. Lewis and Tolkien. The opener introduces viewers to the Kingdom of Lumia, an idyllic fairy tale setting that quickly turns dark when two forest lumans (Pokum and Keena) witness a terrible deed in the forest: the Prince, son of the Emperor, is murdered by the minions of the evil Zordock. Although the corollary seems almost pointlessly stretched (Christ's crucifixion and subsequent resurrection), the Prince does indeed come back to life some three days later, and basically stays out of the rest of the story. Pokum and Keena, meanwhile, must find their way back to Lumia--which they do, only to be branded as thieves and sentenced to death by Pits, the evil magistrate. At this point, near the close, the Prince briefly re-enters the story to save the day. The booklet which accompanies the tape offers discussion ideas for parents, linking elements of the story to specific scriptural passages in the Bible. Yet, the program itself does not use religious references. Good animation, puppet work, and nice songs make this an enjoyable program for youngsters. Recommended. (See DEBBY BOONE'S HUG-A-LONG SONGS VOLUME ONE for availability.)