Axel: The Biggest Little Hero

Axel: The Biggest Little Hero (original title: Bonta) is a 2013 animated 3-D film written and directed by Leo Lee. The English-language version stars the voices of Yuri Lowenthal, Sarah Natochenny, Colleen O'Shaughnessey, Kate Higgins and Ed Asner. Under its original title of Bonto, the film released nationwide across China on August 2, 2013,[1] as China's very first 3-D film to combine stereoscopic effects with CG technology, representing their highest level of animation.[2]

Axel: The Biggest Little Hero
DVD coverart
Directed byLeo Lee
Produced by
  • Leilei Hu
  • Leo Lee
Written by
  • Leo Lee
  • (original Chinese)
  • Michael Shear
  • (English adaptation)
Starring
Narrated byEd Asner
Music byBrian McKenna
CinematographyChuntao Guo
Edited byLeo Lee
Production
company
Zhejiang Versatile
Distributed by
  • Gryphon Entertainment
  • Anderson Digital
  • Arc Entertainment
Release date
  • August 2, 2013 (2013-08-02)
Running time
80 minutes
CountryChina
LanguageChinese

The English-language version titled Axel: The Biggest Little Hero was released on DVD in the United States on June 3, 2014.[3]

Plot

On the planet Earth, Axel (Yuri Lowenthal) and his best friend Jono (Colleen O'Shaughnessey) go out in search of a magical plant from the Bonta Forest that will feed their starving tribe, but they are threatened by the Lizard King (Matthew Lillard) who wants to take over the forest. The two become friends with a brave princess and a giant ostrich robot (Marc Thompson) who assist them on their journey for the plant.[3]

English cast

Release
Bonta theatrical poster

The 3-D film released nationwide across China under its original title of Bonta on August 2, 2013, before heading to film festivals in Europe and South Korea.[1][4] The project screened October 3, 2013 at the 18th Busan International Film Festival and "won wide popularity among the viewers and Korean media".[5]

DVD

As Axel: The Biggest Little Hero, the film was released on DVD in the United States on June 3, 2014.[3]

Reception

Common Sense Media gave the film three out of five stars, expressing frustration over the film's lack of immediate resolution while also commenting that they enjoyed the relationship between Axel and Jono.[6] Dove was more wholly positive and called Axel a "charming and unique animated movie".[7] Aced Magazine generally praised the film, remarking that the strangely animated characters would be appreciated by the target audience of small children. They also advised that since the adventure "gets a little rough" for youngsters, they that parents watch the film their children.[8]

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References
  1. staff (5 August 2013). "3D animated film Bonta produced by Zhejiang Versatile released". Hangzhou News. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  2. staff. "18th (2013), Bunta". BIFF archive. Busan International Film Festival. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  3. "Axel: The Biggest Little Hero – DVD". HitFix. Retrieved 2014-07-09.
  4. Ying, Huang (3 August 2013). "Hollywood comes to Hangzhou with animated saga Bonta". China Daily. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  5. staff (15 October 2013). "China-made animated movie "Bonta" enters Busan International Film Festival". Hangzhou Weekly. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  6. "Axel: The Biggest Little Hero – Movie Review". Common Sense Media. Retrieved 2016-05-25.
  7. "Axel: The Biggest Little Hero: Dove Family Friendly Movie Reviews". The Dove Foundation. Retrieved 2016-05-25.
  8. Delia, John (3 June 2014). "A FUN KIDDIE FILM 'AXEL THE BIGGEST LITTLE HERO'". Aced Magazine. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
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