Was pleasantly surprised by 2011's 'The Jungle Bunch: The Movie'. While it wasn't great with some problems and may not be the most memorable or innovative of animations, after seeing some rubbish animated films recently it was nice to see something that was actually watchable.
Hearing that 'The Jungle Bunch: The Movie' had a follow-up filled me with intrigue but also nervousness, considering the general reputation of follow-ups/sequels. Needn't have worried though as, after eventually finding it, 'The Jungle Bunch 2: The Great Treasure Quest' while not great as such is worth uncovering and actually perhaps better than its predecessor, being that it's shorter and more eventful. Another example of an animation that was somewhat of an antidote after coming across many animated films recently, out of curiosity, that were mediocre or less (most actually rubbish).
'The Jungle Bunch 2: The Great Treasure Quest' could have been a little better. Fred and his dialogue are still annoying and there is still at times an extended television episode feel (though not as much as the previous outing), with it not getting to the point immediately. The villain is not too scary thankfully but there is not much special either.
On the other hand, 'The Jungle Bunch 2: The Great Treasure Quest' has a lot in its favour. The animation is bright and colourful, not imaginative but it looks decent at least. The characters have the odd stiff movement but are not too badly designed and look cute, though it's the rich in detail backgrounds and vibrant colours that impress more. Most of the characters, while not particularly well developed, are fun and likable, with a protagonist that's easy to root for and some fun-loving support. The music is catchy and things go at a lively enough pace, more so than 'The Jungle Bunch: The Movie'.
Voice acting has a lot of enthusiasm with the voice actors characterising cleverly and engagingly. John Lithgow proves to be a surprisingly good choice for Maurice. There is some amusing comedy and while there is some violence it is of the mild kind and won't be too scary or dark. There is no doubt who the target audience is and there is a real effort to appeal to all ages and include things that give the story heart and sincerely good intentions without being heavy-handed.
All in all, not great but worth uncovering. 7/10 Bethany Cox
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