Zambezia (film) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids 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	Triggerfish Animation Studios
Distributed by	Cinema Management Group (International) Sony Pictures Entertainment (English territories)
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

Zambezia (also known as Adventures in Zambezia) is a 2012 English-language South African 3D computer-animated adventure film. The film was directed by Wayne Thornley, written by Andrew Cook, Raffaella Delle Donne, and Anthony Silverston, and stars the voices of Jeremy Suarez, Abigail Breslin, Jeff Goldblum, Leonard Nimoy, and Samuel L. Jackson with supporting roles done by Jim Cummings, Richard E. Grant, Jenifer Lewis, Jamal Mixon, and David Shaughnessy. It is the first film produced by Triggerfish Animation Studios and distributed by Cinema Management Group and Sony Pictures in English territories.

Zambezia was theatrically released on 3 July 2012 and earned $34.4 million on a R173 million ($20 million) budget. It received Annie Award nominations for Music in an Animated Feature Production and for Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production. The film 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 and Best Animation at the 9th Africa Movie Academy Awards.

Plot

Kai (Jeremy Suarez), a high-spirited falcon on the cusp of adulthood is bored and lonely living in a remote outpost with only his strict father, Tendai (Samuel L. Jackson), for company. Forbidden from venturing beyond the Katungu Boundary, his suspicions that there must be more to life are confirmed when Gogo, a kooky Stork (Jennifer Lewis) and her co-pilot, a cute weaver called Tini, (Tania Gunadi) crash into his world. From them, Kai learns that downriver is a bustling bird city with exciting opportunities for a talented flier such as himself. In an angry exchange with his father, Kai discovers that Tendai has known all along about Zambezia and has been there himself! Hurt and angry at his father's betrayal, Kai leaves Katungu and journeys downriver.

Arriving at the famed bird city – a majestic Baobab perched on the edge of Victoria Falls – Kai is amazed by the throngs of birds from all over Africa who are busy preparing for the Spring Celebrations. He soon befriends a fast-talking Nightjar called Ezee (Jamal Mixon) who knows how to enjoy the perks of community life and guides him through the city. Kai is bowled over when he meets Zoe (Abigail Breslin), a beautiful and feisty Black-Shouldered Kite who is the adopted daughter of Sekhuru (Leonard Nimoy), Zambezia's founder.

Unfortunately for him, Kai doesn't make a good first impression when he accidentally ruins her Spring Celebration decorations. But he is thrilled when his skilful flying earns him a place on the Hurricanes, the elite defense patrol made up of the best fliers in Zambezia.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to him and the rest of the Zambezians, Marabou Storks, (Richard E. Grant and David Shaughnessy) tired of scavenging off the scraps of Zambezia, have joined forces with Budzo, a vicious egg-eating Leguaan, (Jim Cummings) and hatched a plan to take control of the island city. To make matters worse, Budzo captures Kai's father and all of the weavers, including Tini. In order to save Zambezia and Tendai, Kai has to face his past and learn that no matter how fast and talented a flier he is, no bird is an island.

Voice cast

• Jeremy Suarez as Kai, a peregrine falcon.
• Abigail Breslin as Zoe, a black-winged kite.
• Jeff Goldblum as Ajax, a lammergeier who is the leader of the Hurricanes.
• Leonard Nimoy as Chief Sekhuru, an African fish-eagle who is the elder of Zambezia and had lost one of his wings in an earlier battle.
• Samuel L. Jackson as Tendai, a peregrine falcon, former member of the Hurricanes, and Kai's father.
• Jenifer Lewis as Gogo, a saddle-billed stork who tells Kai about Zambezia.
• Jim Cummings as Budzo, a rock-monitor who seeks to invade Zambezia.
• Jamal Mixon as Ezee, a nightjar.
• Richard E. Grant as Cecil, the leader of the marabou storks.
• David Shaughnessy as Morton, a marabou stork.
• 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, the arrival announcer for Zambezia.
  • Phil LaMarr also voices Dodo, a guineafowl.
• Corey Burton as Neville, a Lilian's lovebird.
• Tress MacNeille as Neville's wife, a Lilian's lovebird.
• Lee Duru as Nursery Bird
• Zolani Mahola as a weaver

Kelly Stables and Kristen Rutherford provide the voices of the Gossip Birds.

Tom Kenny, Wayne Thornley, Jon Olson, Brent Palmer, and Jim Cummings provide the voices of various marabou in the film.

Sam Riegel and Keeno Lee Hector provided the voices of various Hurricanes.

Accolades

The film 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 and Best Animation at the 9th Africa Movie Academy Awards.

Soundtrack

The original motion picture soundtrack for the film was written, composed and produced by Bruce Retief, which was released on 20 September 2013 through Triggerfish in digital download. It includes fourteen tracks, with music from Retief as the film's score composer, and studio performances from various artists, including Gang of Instrumentals, Zolani Mahola (who also provided the voice of a weaver in the film), and Ludovic Mampuya. It is available on iTunes and on Amazon.

Track listing

All music written and composed by Bruce Retief, except where noted.

See also

In Spanish: Zambezia (película) para niños