William Hanna and Joseph Barbera are not known for pathos. That's why it's so surprising that they produced this wholly depressing animated film. This whole film is something I would expect from Don Bluth. Not the creators of The Jetsons, Scooby Doo, The Flintstones and Tom And Jerry.
Once upon a Forest tells the tale of small woodland creatures whose world becomes in danger due to man. Following a deadly gas leak a hedgehog named Russell, a mouse named Abigail and a mole named Edgar travel to another forest in order to find a certain plant to save her before their badger friend dies. Their entire families were most likely killed by the gas but we don't know for sure. The young badger girl's family is most certainly killed (we see their bodies) save for her uncle who has his own horrible experiences with man. Along their journey they escape from a frightening looking owl, backhoes and bulldozers referred to as "yellow dragons", and save a young bird from certain death. It's just one bad event after another.
The film sort of has a happy ending. I must put large emphasis on the "sort of". Even though the badger girl is saved her family is still dead. There is no feeling of hope throughout the picture and it leads to quite an unpleasant experience for the audience especially children. The color of the film is dark and gray. One gets the same feeling from it that one would get if driving from sunshine into an oncoming thunderstorm.
There are no real optimistic moments in the film to combat the gloomy scenes. When Disney made The Lion King they had juxtaposition and balance so that people could appreciate the lightness by showing a darker side of the movie. Even in Bambi when the title character is faced with an extreme tragedy he is able to rise above it. In Once Upon a Forest the characters are faced with a major tragedy and the possibility of more tragedy. Not a good way to structure a family film.
I'm not put off by the "go-green" type of message in the film like I am with Ferngully: The Last Rainforest. What I am put off by is the complete lack of cheerfulness in the film. Never have I felt more depressed about an animated film in my life.
★
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