The Magician’s Elephant Showcases The Power Of Selflessness

Netflix’s The Magician’s Elephant showcases the power of selflessness and love as young Peter goes on a search for his long lost sister.

There is something quite special about a story that helps guide young ones to learn to do the right thing. And that is exactly what viewers will get with The Magician’s Elephant. This beautifully animated film, which comes to Netflix on March 17th, follows a young boy named Peter who is in search of his baby sister, who is believed to be dead.

He has held on to hope as he recalls holding her when she was a tiny baby so when a strange fortuneteller reveals that he only needs to follow the elephant to find her, he refuses to give up his search. Noah Jupe perfectly embraces Peter, and makes him an instantly lovable character that everyone will be rooting for. He has his own hopes and dreams, but due to his connection with the elephant, is willing to put those aside. 

The overall story is one of compassion and love, and doing the right thing. When a magician (Benedict Wong) accidentally conjures a magical elephant, many wish to possess the power of the creature. One of these people happens to be a King, who challenges Peter to complete three impossible tasks if he wants control of the animal. Drawing parallels to those who are imprisoned for unjust reasons, there are some powerful messages here. 

Viewers are not only given the story of Peter, but we also see what has happened to a young girl who was orphaned during the war. There are several different characters to follow in this story, and the way they intertwine helps with the pacing and entertainment level of the film.

As with many films that are created for a younger audience, there is not a whole ton of conflict which might cause The Magician’s Elephant to drag for older viewers. That said, the overall story is inspiring and lovely, and is sure to put a smile on everyone’s face. There might even be a tear jerker moment or two in here.

Clocking in at under two hours certainly helps as well. The runtime mixed with the gorgeous visuals helps to keep even the most rambunctious little ones glued to the screen, eager to see how it all ends.

Overall Thoughts

The Magician’s Elephant delivers powerful and important messages. Not only does it teach lessons of selflessness, it showcases that anyone is capable of anything if they put their mind to it and believe in themselves. Nothing is impossible if you force yourself to think otherwise. 

The voice cast does a great job with the characters and the animation itself is stunning. This is one that families are sure to revisit, as it really is something magical.

Rating: 3 out of 5

The Magician’s Elephant Book Vs. Movie

Adapting a book into a film is not as easy as it might seem. Some things just do not crossover well. Perhaps a bit more substance needs to be added or the events need to be changed around in order for it to play out in a way that is easy for the audience to digest. 

With The Magician’s Elephant, nearly an entire second act is added to the movie as the book does not have one. This doesn’t change the overall flow or feel of the story, and the outcome remains the same, just know that things are a little bit differently. Which one is better? Well, books and films are subjective so it is impossible to say.

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About The Magician’s Elephant

When young Peter, who is searching for his long-lost sister, crosses paths with a fortune teller in the market square, there is only one question on his mind: is his sister still alive? The answer — that he must follow a mysterious elephant — sets Peter off on a remarkable journey to complete three seemingly impossible tasks that magically change the face of his town forever.

The Magician’s Elephant is based on Newbery Award-winning author Kate DiCamillo’s classic novel.

The Magician’s Elephant hits select theaters on March 10th
and comes to Netflix on March 17th.