Ainbo: Spirit of the Amazon is a cautionary tale about believing those around us and saving the world we live in. I know this sounds like a story we have seen before but this is a story that we need to see to remind us about the importance of the rainforest. Ainbo is not the first movie to tackle this issue and will not be the last.
Ainbo: Spirit of the Amazon starts with Ainbo out hunting. She accidentally gets caught in her own trap and this will make her late to see her best friend Zumi become the leader of their tribe. While hanging upside down she is visited by Vaca and Dillo two spirit guides that tell her they are there to help her save her people. There has been an evil that is slowly destroying the land and taking the life of the chief. Excited to hear this news Ainbo races to tell her friend Zumi but ends up ruining her coronation ceremony.
Ainbo is laughed at when she speaks of the spirit guides and ends up running away from the village. Vaca and Dillo inform her of how she can save the village and what she needs to do. This sets Ainbo on a journey through the rainforest finding various items to save her people.
While Ainbo is out on her journey we learn about an evil that is slowly destroying the rainforest. A smoke monster called Yacaruna is tearing down the rainforest piece by piece. It turns out that Yacaruna is people, that Ainbo did not know existed outside of their village, tearing down the rainforest. The smoke is coming from the machines but it also inhabitants Cornwell DeWitt, who is leading this logging and mining operation in the rainforest.
We don’t want to give too much away from the movie, but the third act of the movie really picks it up. We see Ainbo use the items she collects to get the help she needs to fight the evil that is destroying the land. We learn more about who Ainbo is and why certain members of the tribe fear her. Zumi learns to listen to her friend and listen to what she is telling her.
Ainbo: Spirit of the Amazon really tells a great story without beating you over the head as to why we must preserve the rainforest. We see the importance of it and get a glimpse of all the amazing animals that live in the rainforest. Families will enjoy watching this movie and will probably watch it more than once.
While watching the movie with your family download these activity sheets to enhance your viewing experience.
Final Thoughts: Ainbo: Spirit of the Amazon is a great cautionary tale about protecting the rainforest and respecting the past. While Ainbo seems reminiscent of other movies with this tale the difference here is that the main characters only rely on themselves to save their tribe. There is a great lesson about friendship, family, and respecting the past.
Kid-Friendly: Ainbo: Spirit of the Amazon is very kid-friendly. While there are a few images that might scare younger kids, the movie is great for the entire family.
Violence: There is no violence in the movie but the final battle with the Yacaruna might be too much for very young viewers.
A world of adventure awaits you in Ainbo: Spirit Of The Amazon, the tale of a young girl determined to save her home in the deepest jungle of the rainforest. One day, Ainbo discovers that her homeland is being threatened and realizes that there are other humans in the world besides her people. Using the help of her spirit guides, Dillo the armadillo and Vaca the tapir, she embarks on a journey to seek help from the most powerful Mother Spirit of the Amazon, Turtle Motelo Mama. As she fights to save her paradise against the greed and exploitation of illegal gold mining, she struggles to reverse the destruction and the impending evil of the Yacaruna, the darkest demon that lives in the Amazon. Guided by her mother’s spirit, Ainbo resolves to save her land and her people before it’s too late!
DVD Bonus Features
- Special featurette about the making of AINBO: SPIRIT OF THE AMAZON
- Music video
There is so much life in the Amazon Rainforest. I think everything is there for a reason – from the plants, bugs, micro-organisms, animals, etc. Just like the rest of our Earth, it is important to take care of it so it can continue to provide in ways we do not even know.
This seems like a modern version of Fern Gully. I think its always a good reminder/lesson to be kind to the rainforest and earth as a whole. I will for sure be watching this with Aaron
This sounds similar to the movie Fern Gully, just a modern version! It looks like it would be exciting and good for my son to watch! It’ll be a good lesson/reminder to be kind to the rainforest and the environment in general