{"id":4000,"date":"2019-04-22T13:30:46","date_gmt":"2019-04-22T20:30:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/?p=4000"},"modified":"2019-04-23T13:20:48","modified_gmt":"2019-04-23T20:20:48","slug":"munki-and-trunk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/2019\/munki-and-trunk\/","title":{"rendered":"Munki and Trunk: Meet the Jungle Crew \u2013 Adorable Characters, Wonderful Animation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Munkiandtrunk.jpg?resize=157%2C225&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4001\" width=\"157\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Munkiandtrunk.jpg?resize=209%2C300&amp;ssl=1 209w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Munkiandtrunk.jpg?resize=768%2C1102&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Munkiandtrunk.jpg?resize=713%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 713w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Munkiandtrunk.jpg?w=1045&amp;ssl=1 1045w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 157px) 100vw, 157px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Ain&#8217;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&#8217;s brim-full of heart, and built on a bedrock of friendship. Includes 8 tree-crashing, rock-smashing, water-splashing, fruit-mashing episodes! KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Jolleen M. comments, \u201cThe 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.\u201d Sahiba K. adds, \u201cAlthough 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.\u201d  See their full reviews below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Munki and Trunk: Meet the Jungle Crew <br>By Jolleen Mejia, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ngtRbs5xj8E?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The characters\nare so adorable and hilarious. This is such a fun DVD to watch as it teaches\nthe importance of friendship and teamwork. There is no dialogue, so the story\ncan be understood universally. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jbs407_01.jpg?resize=225%2C127&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4042\" width=\"225\" height=\"127\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jbs407_01.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jbs407_01.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jbs407_01.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jbs407_01.jpg?w=1500&amp;ssl=1 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The only\ncharacters that are named are Munki (the monkey) and Trunk (the elephant). They\nare best friends and the main characters. The other characters include a\ngiraffe, an ostrich, a baby ostrich, a chameleon, a rhino, a porcupine and a\nfrog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The animals communicate\nwith each other through sighs and grunts. Brent Dawes, voice of Munki, and\nAlison Lambole, voice of Trunk, really bring their characters to life. Somehow\nthey make it possible for us to understand their emotions or motives through\nsmall yelps and wails. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In terms of the\nanimation, this is one of my favorite animated films. I love how realistic it\nlooks with so much detail and additional adorable elements. The animators add\ngreat details to the patterns on the vegetation and the hairs on the animals.\nThe animals closely resemble actual animals with the only difference being\ngiving them bigger eyes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jbs406_01.jpg?resize=225%2C127&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4041\" width=\"225\" height=\"127\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jbs406_01.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jbs406_01.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jbs406_01.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jbs406_01.jpg?w=1500&amp;ssl=1 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>My favorite\nparts of this DVD are whenever Munki and Trunk interact. They have such an\namusing friendship. Since Trunk is an elephant and much bigger than Munki who\nis a monkey, Trunk throws Munki around or sometimes she catches him. Munki\noften jumps on Trunk\u2019s back like a trampoline. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The moral of this\nshow is centered on friendship and working together. Throughout all the\nconflicts and problems they work together. Although the pair is not the\nbrightest in coming up with solutions, they succeed in the end. This message of\nfriendship and teamwork is always a good message to be taught to children over\nand over again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I enjoyed watching this hilarious DVD and it made me laugh. Munki and Trunk\u2019s 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. <em>Munki and Trunk: Meet The Jungle Crew!<\/em> is available on DVD now so check it out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Munki and Trunk: Meet the Jungle Crew!<br>By Sahiba K., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 17<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ma2S54eFiLQ?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Munki and Trunk: Meet the Jungle Crew! <\/em>is a simple delight! Although\nsimplistic, the plots never fail to surprise me with the direction that they take,\nmaking me laugh, gasp and empathize with the characters. I fell in love with\nmain characters again and again as every episode elaborate on their\nrelationship. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jbs403_05.jpg?resize=225%2C127&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4039\" width=\"225\" height=\"127\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jbs403_05.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jbs403_05.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jbs403_05.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jbs403_05.jpg?w=1500&amp;ssl=1 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The story\nfollows best friends Munki and Trunk who run into troubles as their playfulness\nunexpectedly backfires. These bumps in the road strengthen their love for each\nother. Several episodes also explore the beauty and differences between the two\ncharacters, a concept that teaches the importance of being unique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The series is\ndevoid of any dialogue, an aspect that is for the best. It makes the\nrelationships of the jungle crew more authentic as the emotions surpass the\nlanguage barrier between the different animals. Despite having no dialogue, the\nseries masters individuality by giving side characters personality through\nglimpses of their lives. For example, a porcupine named Humph is always found\nin a bad mood, either disapproving Munki and Trunk\u2019s antics or mowing his lawn.\nFrom these few scenes, one can determine that Humph is like the grumpy old man\nof the jungle who has his soft spots. Additionally, when one of the animals re-enters\nthe plot like Humph, I became excited, because they are all humorous in their\nown way and different from each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jbs404_02.jpg?resize=225%2C127&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4040\" width=\"225\" height=\"127\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jbs404_02.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jbs404_02.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jbs404_02.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jbs404_02.jpg?w=1500&amp;ssl=1 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation\nhas its strengths, but also some weaknesses. There are several strong\ncinematography moments that create humor, shock and curiosity. For example, in\none scene, it &nbsp;cuts to a first person\nperspective with someone running, but is unclear where they are running to or\nwhy. The excitement of the moment glued me to my seat. The only criticism I have\nis with the brightly colored scenery in certain scenes. For instance, one scene\ninvolves Munki running through the prairie&#8217;s tall bright yellow grass. It is so\nbright that becomes blurred against Munki\u2019s darker brown fur. Otherwise, the simple\nanimation adds to the overall effect and specialty of the series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The message is\nthat friendship can lift you up in difficult times and bring out the best in\nyou. I give <em>Munki and Trunk: Meet the\nJungle Crew! <\/em>4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 2 to 8. It is\navailable on DVD now, so check it out. &nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ain&#8217;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&#8217;s brim-full of heart, and built on a bedrock of friendship. Includes 8 tree-crashing, rock-smashing, water-splashing, fruit-mashing episodes! KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Jolleen M. comments, \u201cThe 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.\u201d Sahiba K. adds, \u201cAlthough 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.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11],"tags":[228,227,230,224,229,226],"class_list":["post-4000","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-dvds-released","tag-alison-lambole","tag-brent-dawes","tag-lyton-levengood","tag-munki","tag-sam-wilson","tag-trunk"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paS5I2-12w","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4000","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4000"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4000\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4047,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4000\/revisions\/4047"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4000"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4000"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4000"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}