Behold the courageous adventure of one Riki Rhino! Uncork’d Entertainment presents a children’s film unlike any other, an animated quest that tackles subject matter often avoided by similar fare targeted at such young audiences. Riki Rhino depicts the journey of a Sumatran rhino, who, after being attacked by poachers and having his horn stolen for profit, embarks to take back what was so callously stolen from him.
The film takes place in the Indonesian wilderness and features a cast of talking animal characters including the titular Riki the Rhino along with his duck companion Beni, and many other animal characters. As this is a film targeted at young children, you may not be surprised that these are talking animals, with more than enough attitude to share between the lot of them. Children will get a kick out of the gruff monkey character who wears a top hat and cape and plays the fiddle.
As far as voice acting goes, the cast of characters leaves much to be desired. Young children may not pick up on it, but the voice acting gives the sense that none of these actors were ever in the same room at the same time, have ever met each other, or even read their lines with a VO director acting out the scene with them; it feels poorly hobbled together, and only serviceable at best. This is a low-budget animated film we’re talking about here, but at a certain point, you have to wonder if anyone involved was asked to really care about what they were creating. I don’t mean to come off too harsh here, but I do have to consider the parents who will be forced to sit through this one while their kids get a kick out of the colorful visuals.
To that same end, the animation is, well, less than great. It’s stiff, often poorly rendered, and it can be truly hard to look at sometimes. Toy Story runs circles around this film in terms of visuals and had considerably worse tools to work with. At the end of the day, it all gets the job done, but at what cost? To the animators, the voice actors, and the producers involved? I don’t think I’m being overly cruel by saying this film consumes and gives little in return, much like the poachers who stole Riki the Rhino’s invaluable horn.
How would audiences react to this screening?
Depending on their age some children may enjoy it and go on to forget it. Parents will likely be glad when it is over.
Does this film have Public Performance Rights available?
It does, though one will have to contact Uncork’d Entertainment to inquire about this.
What ages would this children’s film be suitable for?
Very young, approximately 4-7 years of age. Though in terms of appropriateness it would be suitable for all.