4/10
Cute But Lacks the Emotional Depth and Characterization of the 2D Cartoon
8 May 2019
Maybe this is only a matter of opinion, or just my nostalgia talking, but this series, while cute and certainly modern, simply doesn't feel right watching. The CGI doesn't suit the characters, Badou isn't particularly likeable, and the characters certainly aren't as endearing - moreover the older 1990's cartoon, while not perfect, was a show that adults and children alike could enjoy. Parents could watch it with their children and genuinely enjoy it. I loved the characters in the older series such as Basil, Pompadour and Troubadour, and they were very well-developed, fun and unforgettably unique. Luckily this new show does retain characters like Babar himself, and lovable old Cornelius (with their original voice actors, so kudos to the show for that; sadly Chris Wiggins has since passed away), but in TAOB, Cornelius is less developed and more of a comic relief, and Babar just doesn't have much screen presence anymore. Badou and his friends really aren't as fun to watch, nor are they endearing and memorable. The show is painfully childish to the point where most children I've babysat are put-off by it and find it "lame", whereas they enjoy the older version better, or neither version. It's a genuine attempt, but it simply doesn't capture the magic of the older cartoon or the original French Babar storybooks of the 1930's for that matter.
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