Disney has done various animal documentaries such as Wild and March of the Penguins and this is the first one I have actually seen. This was a super adorable movie. Born in China takes place in the wilderness of China over a year span. The documentary focuses on a snow leopard and her two cubs, an energetic monkey and his clan, and an adorable panda mother with her cub. The film displayed the animals actions during each season and explained their activities.
I was a bit hesitant in the beginning because I was expecting the documentary to be solely about the cute panda family. However, seeing the other animals in their habitat was just as entertaining if not more.
The footage was amazing. The camera crew got close and personal with the animals and showed their personalities through the lens. The narration was filled with corny but comical dialogue. The way the narrator kept up a story line for each animal kept me engaged and wanting to know what happens next.
I did not have many dislikes however, I wish the film was a bit longer and showed what happens next after the leopard mom dies and the panda cub grows up. Then again, that would probably be another film for another day. I noticed Disney stuck to their values of their G-rating. During the fight scenes, specifically speaking of when the leopard mom would hunt, the film censored it in a way. They did not show the actual kill but rather the after effect of the kill. It is enough for kids to watch and not feel too emotional or scared. The documentary also explained the circle of life in a way by explaining how the leopard mom only kills to feed her young or else they would die. The film wants kids to feel a connection with the main animals of the film which in my opinion, worked.
Throughout the movie, there were side images and footage such as the red panda in the bamboo forest and the red-crowned crane. I liked this method of maintaining the audience’s attention especially to children who tend to have shorter attention spans. The nature scenes were also amazing to see. Throughout the film, the documentary displayed the changing seasons and showed the changing autumn leaves, snow in the winter and blooming spring flowers. This was a good take for the movie and showed that the film was more than just about animals and moreso the beauty of China’ s terrain.
My favorite part of the entire movie was the ending credits. The credits showed extra scenes of the crew actually filming and how the animals, specifically the monkeys, interacted with them. There was more footage of China’s land and how the film crew captured the images. It was amazing to see the work and energy it took to make the film happen. The DVD also featured bonus footage of the main animals and the crane. This is a great bonus for families and their kids to enjoy more entertainment and learn more about the animals and their environment.
I would definitely recommend this documentary for people of all ages. I would especially recommend this for families with young children or for a class with young children. This is also a great film for those that enjoy nature and are interested in China’s wildlife and curious about its environment.
