The Blue Elephant

In this computer-animated adventure from the Jim Henson Company, blue elephant Khan grows from a tiny baby into a giant warrior in the jungles of Siam. Due to war, Khan has been raised by his mother and grandmother, while his father—the great royal elephant Prahn—was off fighting for Thai independence. After Khan's mother reveals that Prahn was taken prisoner, the little pachyderm takes off on a rescue mission. During his travels, Khan (voiced by Thomas Sharkey) meets a captured prince (Troy Baker) and a pink elephant (iCarly's Miranda Cosgrove), while also learning some lessons about life (not all humans are bad, and not all elephants are good). The first full-length movie from Thai director Kompin Kemgumnird (the film debuted in Thailand as Khan Kluay, i.e., “Great Heart”), this English-language edition also features the voices of Carl Reiner as Tian, the village elder who looks after Khan, and Martin Short as Jai, our friendly bird narrator. Although it starts off a little like The Jungle Book, this will more likely appeal to fans of history-minded entertainment such as Mulan. Recommended. (K. Fennessy)