Watch Kids' Reviews of
MUNKI AND TRUNK: MEET THE JUNGLE CREW

The characters are so adorable and hilarious. This is such a fun DVD to watch as it teaches the importance of friendship and teamwork. There is no dialogue, so the story can be understood universally.

The only characters that are named are Munki (the monkey) and Trunk (the elephant). They are best friends and the main characters. The other characters include a giraffe, an ostrich, a baby ostrich, a chameleon, a rhino, a porcupine and a frog.

The animals communicate with each other through sighs and grunts. Brent Dawes, voice of Munki, and Alison Lambole, voice of Trunk, really bring their characters to life. Somehow they make it possible for us to understand their emotions or motives through small yelps and wails.

In terms of the animation, this is one of my favorite animated films. I love how realistic it looks with so much detail and additional adorable elements. The animators add great details to the patterns on the vegetation and the hairs on the animals. The animals closely resemble actual animals with the only difference being giving them bigger eyes.

My favorite parts of this DVD are whenever Munki and Trunk interact. They have such an amusing friendship. Since Trunk is an elephant and much bigger than Munki who is a monkey, Trunk throws Munki around or sometimes she catches him. Munki often jumps on Trunk's back like a trampoline.

The moral of this show is centered on friendship and working together. Throughout all the conflicts and problems they work together. Although the pair is not the brightest in coming up with solutions, they succeed in the end. This message of friendship and teamwork is always a good message to be taught to children over and over again.

I enjoyed watching this hilarious DVD and it made me laugh. Munki and Trunk's interaction is entertaining and I love the cute animation. I recommend this for ages 2 to 7 and give it 5 out of 5 stars. Munki and Trunk: Meet The Jungle Crew! is available on DVD now so check it out!

Reviewed by Jolleen M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14

I enjoyed watching the DVD Munki and Trunk: Meet The Jungle Crew. I enjoy their attempt at making the characters not talk and only use moans and weird noises, but there are some moments where it looks as if one of the characters is about to talk and just doesn't. I sometimes wish they did. So it is good, but I would prefer that they use words.

Munki and Trunk is about a monkey named Munki and an elephant named Trunk that find a new fun adventure every day. The adventures are very fun and colorful and they always result in a problem or an emotional conflict that Munki and Trunk easily overcome. Mostly, they are joined by other friends that make a small but valuable addition to the show.

The show stars Brent Dawes as Munki and Alison Lamble as Trunk. It is directed by Sam Wilson and animated by Lynton Levengood. I have a bit of a problem with the animation. Whereas the trees, Trunk and all the animals look great together very well, Munki looks like he belongs to in totally different series. Perhaps it's because he is the only one that has actual texture on his skin. Also, he walks on his back legs like a human, which is a little weird. And, his eyes look very creepy. As for all of the other characters, their personalities are developed very well by the actors, but I would like to see more detail in most of them.

The message of this film is to explore and have fun. You should be aware that they do some dangerous stuff such as swinging off of vines, bouncing off of mushrooms and climbing really tall trees. But, no one would really try doing that, would they?

I give this film 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 4 to 7. It is available now on DVD, so check it out.

Reviewed by Lukas L., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

Munki and Trunk: Meet the Jungle Crew! is a simple delight! Although simplistic, the plots never fail to surprise me with the direction that they take, making me laugh, gasp and empathize with the characters. I fell in love with main characters again and again as every episode elaborate on their relationship.

The story follows best friends Munki and Trunk who run into troubles as their playfulness unexpectedly backfires. These bumps in the road strengthen their love for each other. Several episodes also explore the beauty and differences between the two characters, a concept that teaches the importance of being unique.

The series is devoid of any dialogue, an aspect that is for the best. It makes the relationships of the jungle crew more authentic as the emotions surpass the language barrier between the different animals. Despite having no dialogue, the series masters individuality by giving side characters personality through glimpses of their lives. For example, a porcupine named Humph is always found in a bad mood, either disapproving Munki and Trunk's antics or mowing his lawn. From these few scenes, one can determine that Humph is like the grumpy old man of the jungle who has his soft spots. Additionally, when one of the animals re-enters the plot like Humph, I became excited, because they are all humorous in their own way and different from each other.

The animation has its strengths, but also some weaknesses. There are several strong cinematography moments that create humor, shock and curiosity. For example, in one scene, it cuts to a first person perspective with someone running, but is unclear where they are running to or why. The excitement of the moment glued me to my seat. The only criticism I have is with the brightly colored scenery in certain scenes. For instance, one scene involves Munki running through the prairie's tall bright yellow grass. It is so bright that becomes blurred against Munki's darker brown fur. Otherwise, the simple animation adds to the overall effect and specialty of the series.

The message is that friendship can lift you up in difficult times and bring out the best in you. I give Munki and Trunk: Meet the Jungle Crew! 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 2 to 8. It is available on DVD now, so check it out.

Reviewed by Sahiba K., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 17

Munki and Trunk is a short form animated series featuring a titular monkey and elephant as they have little, fun adventures in the jungle. There is no spoken dialogue, as the cast communicates through giggles, gasps and guttural noises. The guttural noises go a long way in making some this considerably younger focused program not wear out its welcome with the older crowd. It adds a level of comedy for adults or older siblings watching this program with younger ones. The episodes only seven to ten minutes and usually consist of the protagonists having a tiny mishap or adventure. I enjoy that the series excels in communicating and telling stories without a narrative. The animation is very cute and simple. I recommend this for ages 2 to 5 and give it 4 out of 5 stars. Reviewed by Rachael V., KIDS FIRST! Adult Juror

Ain't no mountain high enough, river wide enough, or banana big enough to tear these two apart! Our brave, curious monkey and big-hearted elephant live together in the jungle, as children imagine it: a playground with vines to swing on, trampoline mushrooms to bounce on, and a crew of jungle buddies to share endless adventures. Munki and Trunk explore their world together, facing fears, having fun and helping friends in a comedy adventure that's brim-full of heart, and built on a bedrock of friendship. Includes 8 tree-crashing, rock-smashing, water-splashing, fruit-mashing episodes!