Babar: King of the Elephants
Babar: King of the Elephants
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Watch-outs
What this film brings
Content barometer
Violence
2/5
Moderate
Fear
2/5
A few scenes
Sexuality
0/5
None
Language
0/5
None
Narrative complexity
1/5
Accessible
Adult themes
0/5
None
Expert review
Babar: King of the Elephants is a faithful and warm-hearted adaptation of Jean de Brunhoff's classic picture books, presenting an adventure and coming-of-age story carried by a colorful cartoon aesthetic and an overall gentle tone. However, the film contains one central and early sensitive element: the death of Babar's mother, shot by a poacher in front of him, which serves as the inciting event of the entire story and may cause genuine distress in very young viewers. This traumatic event is handled without graphic violence but with clear narrative directness, and the theme of orphanhood runs through a significant portion of the film before giving way to adventure and rebuilding. Parents of sensitive young children are encouraged to anticipate this foundational scene and remain available to offer reassurance and answer questions about loss and separation.
Synopsis
Babar is a young elephant in the great forest. Whilst out with his mother a hunter kills his mother and he flees to escape the same fate. He eventually finds himself in a human city and experiences the many differences between city and forest life. Treated as an outsider he is taken in by an elderly woman, dressed in fancy suits, taught to write and count and is brought up in human culture.
Difficult scenes
Within the first few minutes of the film, Babar's mother is shot by a poacher in front of the young elephant. The scene contains no blood or graphic violence, but death is depicted clearly and immediately: his mother collapses, Babar realizes she will not get up, and he flees in panic. This moment may cause significant emotional distress in young children, particularly those who are sensitive to themes of separation or parental loss. Following his mother's death, Babar wanders alone for several days through the forest and then through an unfamiliar city. This sequence illustrates the isolation and distress of an orphaned child without a home, and while it is handled with some narrative lightness, it may resonate painfully with younger or more anxious children who fear being separated from their parents. The King of the Elephants dies accidentally after eating poisonous mushrooms. His death is reported to the characters and the audience rather than shown directly, but it represents a second significant death in the narrative and reinforces the film's recurring themes of loss and absence. A sequence depicts the military mobilization of the rhinoceroses led by Lord Rataxes, building toward an imminent conflict and threat of war against the elephants. The scene remains stylized and free of actual violence, but the suggestion of collective danger and confrontation may create brief tension for the youngest viewers.
Where to watch
No verified platform for the US market yet. We keep this section updated as availability changes.
Availability checked on Apr 01, 2026
About this title
- Format
- Feature film
- Year
- 1999
- Runtime
- 1h 16m
- Countries
- Canada, France, Germany
- Original language
- EN
- Directed by
- Raymond Jafelice
- Main cast
- Philip Williams, Wayne Robson, Ellen-Ray Hennessy, Kristin Fairlie, Dan Lett, Chris Wiggins, Jennifer Martini, Kyle Fairlie, Elizabeth Hanna, Paul Haddad
- Studios
- Nelvana, Home Made Movies, TV-Loonland, The Clifford Ross Company, Alliance Atlantis
Content barometer
Violence
2/5
Moderate
Fear
2/5
A few scenes
Sexuality
0/5
None
Language
0/5
None
Narrative complexity
1/5
Accessible
Adult themes
0/5
None
Expert review
Babar: King of the Elephants is a faithful and warm-hearted adaptation of Jean de Brunhoff's classic picture books, presenting an adventure and coming-of-age story carried by a colorful cartoon aesthetic and an overall gentle tone. However, the film contains one central and early sensitive element: the death of Babar's mother, shot by a poacher in front of him, which serves as the inciting event of the entire story and may cause genuine distress in very young viewers. This traumatic event is handled without graphic violence but with clear narrative directness, and the theme of orphanhood runs through a significant portion of the film before giving way to adventure and rebuilding. Parents of sensitive young children are encouraged to anticipate this foundational scene and remain available to offer reassurance and answer questions about loss and separation.
Synopsis
Babar is a young elephant in the great forest. Whilst out with his mother a hunter kills his mother and he flees to escape the same fate. He eventually finds himself in a human city and experiences the many differences between city and forest life. Treated as an outsider he is taken in by an elderly woman, dressed in fancy suits, taught to write and count and is brought up in human culture.
Difficult scenes
Within the first few minutes of the film, Babar's mother is shot by a poacher in front of the young elephant. The scene contains no blood or graphic violence, but death is depicted clearly and immediately: his mother collapses, Babar realizes she will not get up, and he flees in panic. This moment may cause significant emotional distress in young children, particularly those who are sensitive to themes of separation or parental loss. Following his mother's death, Babar wanders alone for several days through the forest and then through an unfamiliar city. This sequence illustrates the isolation and distress of an orphaned child without a home, and while it is handled with some narrative lightness, it may resonate painfully with younger or more anxious children who fear being separated from their parents. The King of the Elephants dies accidentally after eating poisonous mushrooms. His death is reported to the characters and the audience rather than shown directly, but it represents a second significant death in the narrative and reinforces the film's recurring themes of loss and absence. A sequence depicts the military mobilization of the rhinoceroses led by Lord Rataxes, building toward an imminent conflict and threat of war against the elephants. The scene remains stylized and free of actual violence, but the suggestion of collective danger and confrontation may create brief tension for the youngest viewers.