Winnetoons – The Treasure of the Wild West-WinneToons – Die Legende vom Schatz im Silbersee (2009)

Directed by: Gert Ludewig | 72 minutes | action, animation, western, adventure, family | Dutch voice cast: Sven de Ridder, Roel Vanderstukken, Vic de Wachter, Terence Schreurs

Karl May wrote numerous books on Old Shatterhand and Winnetou at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Winnetou is such a well-known character in the novel that people are undoubtedly surprised that this Indian did not really exist. The popularity of Karl May’s adventure novels extended far beyond German borders and the author is one of the best-selling German writers ever. After many (German) film adaptations and a few TV series, the classic hero gets a modern(er) makeover in 2009: animation film ‘Winnetoons – The Treasure of the Wild West’ (‘WinneToons – Die Legende vom Schatz im Silbersee’).

However, Winnetou is not the main character in this animated film. That role is for the poor boy Bobby. At the beginning of the story, the street rascal is still full of bravado and dreams and tells the story about Montezuma’s treasure to peers. When it was stolen by a Spanish general, Montezuma’s warriors tracked down this thief and hid the treasure in a hidden temple. A dangerous, feathered serpent was supposed to protect the treasure. Bobby’s seriously ill father is in possession of the map that leads to the treasure. Just before he dies, he gives Bobby the card and informs him that the underground vault can be opened with the words water, wind, earth and fire. Refusing to live in an orphanage, Bobby flees with his best friend, the rat Winchester. With the police on his tail, he just manages to catch the train that takes him to Arizona. Off to the Wild West!

Parallel to Bobby’s story is the story of Winnetou, his sister Nsho-tshi, Old Shatterhand and Colonel Brinkley’s gang. Winnetou has a lot to do with his sister. Instead of female tasks such as cooking and sewing, she prefers to go hunting. In addition, Winnetou and Old Shatterhand finally want to make short work of the trail of destruction that the gang of thugs leaves behind. Colonel Brinkley is a master of train robbery and plans to hit a big blow: a gold transport is taking place. Let that just be the train that Bobby is on! A confluence of events brings Nsho-tshi (or is it Disney’s Pocahontas?) and Bobby together and must fight alongside Winnetou and Old Shatterhand to keep the silver lake treasure from Colonel Brinkley.

Creators of ‘Winnetoons – The Treasure of the Wild West’ are also the ones who made the cartoon series ‘Winnetoons’ (a success on German television). ASL Animation Studio by Gerhard Ludewig has been around since 1967. The studio uses CGI, but does not lose sight of the atmosphere of the hand-drawn 2d animation films. The film looks very neat, there is a lot of attention to detail. ‘Winnetoons’ stands head and shoulders above recent animation films such as the rushed ‘Space Chimps 2’ or ‘Boss in your own forest 3’. Where things go a little less well is the story. Bobby’s story feels a little out of place in a wild west adventure film. It is understandable why this was chosen: the Charles Dickens-like kid should ensure that children can identify more with the story, but it doesn’t really work. In any case, adult viewers will not be drawn into the film by the somewhat flat characters. The events in the cave where the treasure is hidden – the film already starts with it – contrast sharply with the rest of the film. The high ‘Indiana Jones’ content of these scenes does add tension, but not heart and soul to the animated film.

That does not alter the fact that ‘Winnetoons – The Treasure of the Wild West’ is excellent viewing material for young, tough boys and girls. The Wild West and its cowboys and Indians still appeal to toddlers and slightly older children and this target group will certainly be entertained by this at times very exciting animation film.