Adventures in Zambezia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Adventures in Zambezia
South African theatrical release film poster
Directed by	Wayne Thornley
Produced by	Mike Buckland Stuart Forrest James Middleton Anthony Silverston
Written by	Andrew Cook Raffaella Delle Donne Anthony Silverston Wayne Thornley
Starring	Jeremy Suarez Abigail Breslin Jeff Goldblum Leonard Nimoy Samuel L. Jackson
Music by	Bruce Retief
Cinematography	Wayne Thornley
Editing by	Michel Smit Paul Speirs Luke MacKay
Studio	Affirm Films Cinema Management Group Wonderful Works Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa 120db Films National Film & Video Foundation of South Africa Triggerfish Animation Studios Department of Trade & Industry of South Africa
Distributed by	Sony Pictures Entertainment (English territories) Cinema Management Group (International)
Release date(s)	3 July 2012 (2012-07-03)
Running time	82 minutes
Country	South Africa
Language	English
Budget	R173 million ($20 million)
Money made	$34.4 million

Adventures in Zambezia, also known as Zambezia, is a fun 3D computer-animated adventure film from South Africa. It was released in 2012. The movie was directed by Wayne Thornley. The story was written by Andrew Cook, Raffaella Delle Donne, and Anthony Silverston.

Famous actors like Jeremy Suarez, Abigail Breslin, Jeff Goldblum, Leonard Nimoy, and Samuel L. Jackson lent their voices to the characters. The film tells the exciting story of a young peregrine falcon named Kai. He goes on an amazing journey to a famous bird city called Zambezia.

Adventures in Zambezia was the first movie made by Triggerfish Animation Studios. It was shown in cinemas starting July 3, 2012. The film earned $34.4 million worldwide. It also won several awards, including Best South African Feature Film at the Durban International Film Festival. It also won Best Animation at the South African Film and Television Awards and the 9th Africa Movie Academy Awards.

Plot: Kai's Big Adventure

Kai is a lively young peregrine falcon who lives with his strict father, Tendai. They live in a quiet place called Katungu grassland. Kai feels bored and lonely because he's not allowed to leave their home.

One day, a saddle-billed stork named Gogo and her co-pilot, Tini the weaver bird, crash-land nearby. They tell Kai about Zambezia, a busy bird city downriver. It sounds like a perfect place for a talented flier like him!

Kai learns that his father, Tendai, has known about Zambezia all along. Tendai even used to live there. Upset by his father's secrets, Kai decides to leave Katungu and find Zambezia himself. Tendai soon follows, hoping to apologize.

Discovering Zambezia

Kai arrives at Zambezia, a huge city built on a giant Baobab tree near Victoria Falls. He is amazed by all the different birds getting ready for the annual Spring Celebrations. He quickly makes a friend, a talkative nightjar named Ezee. Ezee shows him around the city.

Kai also meets Zoe, a strong and beautiful kite. She is the adopted daughter of Sekhuru, Zambezia's wise old founder. Kai accidentally messes up Zoe's decorations, but his amazing flying skills impress everyone. He even earns a spot on the Hurricanes, Zambezia's best flying defense team. Tendai used to be a member of this elite team.

Danger Approaches

Unknown to the birds of Zambezia, trouble is brewing. The sneaky marabou storks have teamed up with a mean rock monitor named Budzo. They plan to take over Zambezia. Budzo has already captured Tendai, who was looking for Kai.

During the Spring Celebration, Budzo and the marabous capture all the weaver birds, including Tini. They force them to build a bridge for Budzo's army. Kai, Ezee, and Zoe try to follow the Hurricanes on a secret mission. Ezee gets hurt, and Kai gets kicked out of the Hurricanes. Meanwhile, the marabous trick the Hurricanes into a trap.

Uncovering the Past and Fighting Back

Gogo takes Kai to Sekhuru, the wise African fish eagle. Sekhuru tells Kai that Zambezia is his birthplace. He also reveals that Tendai and Kai's late mother, Amaya, founded the Hurricanes. Amaya was lost during a fight with Budzo, which made Tendai leave Zambezia. He was too sad to see its value anymore. Sekhuru also reveals that Zoe was the only survivor from a kite nest attacked by Budzo.

Kai, Zoe, and Gogo tell Sekhuru about Budzo's plan. To save Zambezia, Zoe goes to free the Hurricanes. Kai and Gogo rescue Tini, the weavers, and Tendai. But Budzo and the marabous are already heading to Zambezia to eat all the eggs! The marabous realize Budzo has his own rock monitor army and is betraying them.

The Final Battle

Kai and Tendai face the marabous. Kai reminds the marabous that they are birds too. He convinces them to turn against Budzo. He also encourages all the other birds to join the fight. Zoe rescues Ajax and the Hurricanes from the trap, and they join the battle.

Budzo is very strong and corners Tendai. The Hurricanes drop rocks on Budzo's army, defeating them. A recovered Ezee, along with other birds and the Hurricanes, trap Budzo with a net. They push the wheel Budzo is on towards the waterfalls. Budzo falls to his defeat. Kai saves Zoe, who got caught in the net. Zambezia is safe!

Peace in Zambezia

With Budzo and his army gone, the birds of Zambezia celebrate with a proper Spring Celebration. The marabous are now accepted into Zambezia, which makes them happy.

In a short scene after the credits, a baby rock monitor that Kai and Tendai tried to catch earlier reaches the shore. The marabous find it and surprisingly offer it some snacks.

Voice Cast: Who's Who?

• Jeremy Suarez as Kai, the brave young peregrine falcon.
• Abigail Breslin as Zoe, the strong black-winged kite.
• Jeff Goldblum as Ajax, the leader of the Hurricanes.
• Leonard Nimoy as Chief Sekhuru, the wise old African fish eagle and elder of Zambezia.
• Samuel L. Jackson as Tendai, Kai's father and a former Hurricane.
• Jenifer Lewis as Gogo, the quirky saddle-billed stork.
• Jim Cummings as Budzo, the evil Rock monitor who wants to take over Zambezia.
• Jamal Mixon as Ezee, Kai's fast-talking nightjar friend.
• Richard E. Grant as Cecil, the leader of the marabou storks.
• David Shaughnessy as Morton, a marabou stork and Cecil's cousin.
• Noureen DeWulf as Pavi, an African sacred ibis.
• Tania Gunadi as Tini, a weaver bird and Gogo's friend.
• Deep Roy as Mushana, a green pigeon.
• Phil LaMarr as an African grey parrot and Dodo the guineafowl.
• Corey Burton as Neville, a Lilian's lovebird.
• Tress MacNeille as Neville's wife, also a Lilian's lovebird.
• Lee Duru as Nursery Bird, a Lapwing.
• Zolani Mahola as a weaver bird.

Kelly Stables and Kristen Rutherford voiced the Gossip Birds, who are Guinea turacos.

Other voices were provided by Jim Cummings, Tom Kenny, Jon Olson, Brent Palmer, and Wayne Thornley for the marabou storks.

Keeno Lee Hector, Nik Rabinowitz, and Sam Riegel voiced various Hurricanes.

Release Information

Adventures in Zambezia first came out in cinemas on July 3, 2012. It was later released on DVD and Blu-ray on April 24, 2013.

Awards and Recognition

The film won several awards for its animation and storytelling:

• It won the Best South African Feature Film at the Durban International Film Festival in 2012.
• It also won Best Animation at the South African Film and Television Awards.
• It received the Best Animation award at the 9th Africa Movie Academy Awards.

Soundtrack

The music for the film was created by Bruce Retief. The official soundtrack album was released on September 20, 2013. It includes fourteen songs and musical pieces from the movie. You can find music by Bruce Retief, Gang of Instrumentals, Zolani Mahola (who also voiced a weaver bird in the film), and Ludovic Mampuya on the album. It's available to download on iTunes and Amazon.

See also

In Spanish: Zambezia (película) para niños