New Showbiz

You are here:
Babar: King of the Elephants

Babar: King of the Elephants

1999

G

Director

Raymond Jafelice

Runtime

80 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Babar is a young elephant in the great forest. Whilst out with his mother a hunter kills his mother and he flees to escape the same fate. He eventually finds himself in a human city and experiences the many differences between city and forest life. Treated as an outsider he is taken in by an elderly woman, dressed in fancy suits, taught to write and count and is brought up in human culture.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

2.9/10

Limited

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Minimal

The film follows a traditional heteronormative structure. The plot focuses on Babar’s journey toward a conventional monarchical role and his union with Celeste, with no queer subtext present.

Gender Representation

Limited

Gender roles follow traditional hierarchies. Babar holds the central agency and authority, while Celeste functions primarily as a royal consort within established social frameworks.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Fair

The story uses a 'civilization vs. nature' trope that mirrors colonialist perspectives. Babar’s transition to the city involves assimilating into Westernized social structures through clothing and literacy.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Limited

The narrative prioritizes the adoption of formal institutions like monarchy and literacy as social evolution. It celebrates integration into a structured, Western-centric model of progress.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There are no prominent depictions of physical or neurodivergent disabilities that drive the narrative or provide character agency.

Strengths

  • The film provides a clear, classic storytelling structure suitable for family audiences.
  • It offers a cohesive narrative regarding the protagonist's journey from the wild to a structured society.

Areas for Improvement

  • The narrative relies on colonialist tropes regarding the 'civilizing' of nature and outsiders.
  • The film lacks representation of diverse gender identities and non-cisnormative characters.
  • Character roles reinforce traditional gender hierarchies rather than offering modern agency for female characters.

AI Analysis

Babar: King of the Elephants is a classicist tale that reinforces historical social structures. The narrative centers on a hero's journey that emphasizes assimilation into a structured, Western-coded civilization. While the film succeeds as a traditional family animation, it lacks intersectional complexity. The story relies on established hierarchies and conventional developmental milestones rather than subverting social norms. The themes of 'civilizing' the outsider through dress and etiquette reflect traditionalist views of cultural development and social order.

How are these scores produced? →

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.