De Fabeltjeskrant: the Great Animal Forest games (2018)

Directed by: Freek Quartier, Jens Møller | 83 minutes | animation, family | Original voice cast: Georgina Verbaan, Elsje Scherjon, Armin van Buuren, Richard Groenendijk, Loes Luca

Nostalgia can be a thing. What was incredibly fun and good in your head, can’t stand the test of time well. After a viewing, your childhood heroes turn out to be insufferable empty heads years later. To transport beloved characters from bygone times to the present requires a major metamorphosis. And a critical eye.

Take the Fabeltjeskrant for example. In the 80s, static puppet dolls were still acceptable, but in 2019 you can’t get around that anymore. Modern children want smooth figures with wild hand gestures and an ADHD attitude. Director Freek Quartier has managed to successfully and respectfully bring a much-loved but quite corny franchise to the present day.

In ‘De Fabeltjeskrant: de Grote Dierenbos-spelen’ old-timers such as Juffrouw Ooievaar, Bor de Wolf, Lowieke de Vos and Truus de Mier trot out. A lot is happening in the Grote Dierenbos. For example, a picnic threatens to fall into the water, there is cheating during a sports match and a foreign guest causes a stir.

This film is a nice, modern update to the beloved hand puppets. Computer animation has been used and it is convincing on all fronts. The characters look like they are made of felt. The busy movements are completely contemporary and actually suit all figures. What makes the idea behind De Fabeltjeskrant so nice is that all animals refer to character traits in people. Bor is an insecure type who feels misunderstood rather quickly. Miss Stork, on the other hand, is an authoritarian character who is as stubborn as he is stubborn. Problems that arise are only solved by talking to each other. Communication as the key to success: a beautiful message in a beautiful film.

The minimalistic rendering of the Grote Dierenbos is also a beautiful ode to the old, handmade decors of yesteryear. The voice acting is also well done and is a nice tribute to the old series. Quartier has made a smooth film that will delight old and new fans alike. Great performance! The Fabeltjeskrant can last for years in this form!