BBC iPlayer has recently added a critically acclaimed animated film that's sure to impress.
This cherished story of adventure and friendship, based on one of the most popular children's books ever penned, has been beautifully adapted into hand-drawn animation reminiscent of classic Disney films.
Following its airing on BBC One this afternoon (Sunday, 3rd August), this exhilarating tale of exploration will be available for streaming free of charge for a limited period.
With an impressive score of 97 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, viewers can expect high-quality entertainment. Plus, with a runtime of just over an hour, it's the perfect choice for a leisurely afternoon viewing.
The film, Kensuke's Kingdom, is based on the celebrated 1999 novel by Michael Morpurgo. It chronicles the exciting journey of a young boy (voiced by Aaron MacGregor) who finds himself marooned on a desert island after a sea voyage, reports the Mirror.
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Fortunately, he soon realises he's not alone. The boy, along with his dog Stella Artois, forms an unexpected bond with a Japanese man named Kensuke (Ken Watanabe) and the orangutans inhabiting the island, who assist him in surviving.
Despite his limited English, Kensuke gradually shares his own heartbreaking story of escaping Japan during the horrors of the Second World War.
This touching narrative is ideal for families with slightly older children eager to immerse themselves in a grand adventure of history, survival, and friendship.
An audience review on Rotten Tomatoes hailed Kensuke's Kingdom as "a breathtakingly beautiful film that's gentle on the senses as its delicately delivered themes."
A glowing five-star Google review concurred, stating: "Magical and emotionally powerful film that deserves to become a family classic.
"Avoiding spoilers here is hard, but there is one drop of ink in the film that took my breath away and had my throat in knots. It's beautiful, powerful, emotional, yet comfortingly familiar.
"A film to cosy up on the sofa under a blanket with your favourite young family and rewatch every year to remember the important themes of anti-war and respect for nature that run through it. Beautiful film."
Another reviewer echoed the sentiment, praising the movie: "Awesome movie with beautiful visuals and meaningful storytelling."
Over on Letterboxd, fans continued their acclaim, with one saying: "Beautiful and full of heart!
"Simple, familiar concept but so well executed. It's Cast Away mixed with Avatar and shades of Planet of the Apes.
"Very good dosage between feel good and tragedy, had a smile on my face most of the time but I also had tears in my eyes twice."
The voice cast, including Cillian Murphy and Sally Hawkins, also drew commendations from viewers.
One viewer shared their theatre experience: "Went to the theatre to hear Cillian's voice and to have a fun time. Left sobbing uncontrollably," they admitted.
"This film's message is so beautiful and moving, knowing that Cillian wanted to be part of this project makes me love him even more and I didn't even know that could be possible."
Kensuke’s Kingdom is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
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